During the dry periods, I was very weak and sick. Then at times I would drink, and it was out of control. I would isolate and binge; those last drunks ended in episodes of uncontrollable shaking, living amends meaning dry heaves, and even hallucinations.
- We have been dealing with alcohol in its worst aspect.
- Two days before Christmas I was on the way to basic training.
- These are facts out of our experience.
- The Wright brothers’ almost childish faith that they could build a machine which would fly was the mainspring of their accomplishment.
Learning from Experience
To this day, I still make at least two Step meetings a week. I have a sponsor who guides me through the Steps gently but firmly, with a surehandedness I hope I am able to emulate with the two women I now sponsor. The Promises have begun to materialize for me, and there’s still so much work to do. Six months later my boss flew me to California for a trade show. I hated working the shows, but I loved to travel, so I went. I was extremely nervous about this trip because my boss liked to party and we were flying in a guy our age from Hawaii to work the show with us.
Ways of Approaching the Amends Process with Care
- Admitting the wrongdoing is the initial step in developing your amends script.
- On June 26, 1935, I came to in the hospital, and to say I was discouraged is to put it mildly.
- My husband and I met and married in law school in a romantic haze of alcohol, twinkling lights, and much promise.
- In any event, try to have your husband read this book.
- He may have the habit badly enough to gradually impair him physically and mentally.
I promised that I was going to do the right thing. We were now both working in the same agency. I got drunk one night in October, went to sleep in the rain, and woke up with pneumonia. We continued to work together, what is alcoholism and I continued to drink, but I guess, deep down within our hearts, we both knew I couldn’t stop drinking. We had several fights, and on one or two occasions I struck her with my fist. She decided that she didn’t want any more of that.
- I made every possible excuse to meet someone for a “business luncheon” so that I could have a drink or two.
- If the alcoholic tries to shield himself he may succeed for a time, but usually winds up with a bigger explosion than ever.
- Once I was drinking, I always had a plan, but that day, by the grace of God, I was out of plans.
- No person likes to think he is bodily and mentally different from his fellows.
…friendly and super personable…
- They took a drink a day or so prior to the date, and then the phenomenon of craving at once became paramount to all other interests so that the important appointment was not met.
- In time, I found myself looking forward to each new day with pleasurable anticipation.
- ” At the time, I couldn’t think of any.
- It could also mean challenging your past patterns of behavior and committing to a changed way of living.
- You might question who you should make amends with versus those who would be harmed if you did this.
- I want to get where I can find some alcoholics to help and where I can have some fellowship.
A few months later I went to bed with a bottle of Scotch one night and decided I would go to law school. If you are having trouble, try something that is even more difficult, to “show them.” That was my philosophy. It was enough to drive me to drink, and it did.
A Choice for Meaningful Treatment with Dignity
I can honestly say that nothing worked for me until I joined Alcoholics Anonymous. Eventually I ended up in a treatment center, and after a twenty-eight-day program, I began attending A.A. The treatment center introduced me to the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, and I left there knowing that the only hope for me was the Twelve Steps. In the past several years I have gone back to school and begun a new career.
These support systems ensure that individuals have the guidance and encouragement needed to navigate this challenging but rewarding aspect of recovery. Making amends is ill-advised if it involves confessing to actions the other party is unaware of, as this can lead to unnecessary pain. Sometimes, symbolic amends are made when direct contact with the person harmed is not feasible or could cause further damage.
