This has really been bugging me lately. First, let me start with the fact that I have never been to an AA meeting so I am somewhat uninformed, maybe there are all kinds of answers there in the support system. But anyway, here is the thing that really chaps my hide. IF alcoholism is a disease then WHY do we have to treat it with the whole 12 step program? I mean what other diseases are treated this way? Why is someone who is an alcoholic automatically needing to "work the steps". If it is a physical disease then why is this the cure?. Arrgghh. I am trying to say this so that it makes sense. It makes sense in my brain. Okay, other diseases, like lets say diabetes - this is a physical disesase that is related to the inability to process sugar. In order to fight the disease you have to change your diet, eliminate sugar, make healthy choices and be educated. If you do all these things you can live and not have any active signs of the disease. So if you are an alcoholic why can't you just give up booze and make healthy choices? Why does it have to be some big mental program of steps and sponsorship and reconciling and whatever else? Why is there so much emotional crap involved??? I mean emotions are fine, but do I really need to dig deep to stay away from booze. Is drinking always tied in to some deep seated emotional damage that must be disected in a group setting? I don't get it.
My Dad went to AA for a number of years, but then he stopped going. He was sober for probably the last 30 years of his life. He didn't seem to focus on it. It just was what it was. He just didn't drink. No long story about it. Booze screwed up his life, he couldn't handle it and he was better with out it. I guess that is the solution I see. I don't want to dwell on it and I don't want it to define me. I just want to not drink and get on with doing all the other stuff that I do in life.
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