Corking the Bottle

“The mentality and behavior of drug addicts and alcoholics is wholly irrational until you understand that they are completely powerless over their addiction and unless they have structured help, they have no hope.” ―  Russell Brand "Structured help" may take many forms that can be different for different people. In my case, the help has been A.A., 12 Steps, my sponsor, group therapy, a psychiatrist, a therapist, God, exercise, and my caring wife.

I often tell people my ongoing recovery from alcoholism isn't attributed to one flash of light. Instead I have a toolbox. A plethora of tools has led me here. There was A.A., group therapy, a psychiatrist, medication, a therapist, my wife, books including The Big Book, inpatient treatment, and more. It hasn't been one tool Following through with the metaphor of the toolbox, I heard a line at last night's A.A. meeting: "A.A. has a wrench to fit every nut."

Let's consider today the paradox of giving up alcohol. No one could make me quit. I had to have the desire to do it and then accept the guidance of A.A. and therapists. Yesterday's Daily Reflection called sobriety "an individual adventure, something which each one of us works out in his own way." True, but I can't do it myself. I need a sponsor. I need the support of other recovering alcoholics. I need the care and concern of my family. In my case, I need medication, professional therapists, psychiatrists, and a month of in-patient rehab. See the paradox? Recovery is an individual thing that we can't do alone.