Re: How to handle 'Uncle Al' aka "Alan Schwartz" <uncleal0@ix.netcom.com>

From: Tom McDonald (tmcdonald2672_at_nohormelcharter.net)
Date: 07/29/04 

Date: Thu, 29 Jul 2004 17:52:21 -0500

Dr_Postman wrote:

> On Thu, 29 Jul 2004 17:08:14 -0500, Tom McDonald
> <tmcdonald2672@nohormelcharter.net> wrote:
>
>
>
>>Doc P,
>>
>> I wish you well. Hope the party is a great time for you.
>>
>> I took a little different route. After a one-month outpatient
>>program, I spent the next year going to frequent AA meetings
>>(several per week); followed by about a year of once-a-week
>>meetings; and then a couple of years of check-up meetings.
>>After that, I've found no need for me to attend meetings,
>>although it is a comfort to know they're their if I need them.
>>
>> After I got sober, I went to grad school to get a master's
>>degree in AODA therapy, with an emphasis on family therapy. I
>>worked for about 6 years in that field before becoming disabled,
>>and have referred many people to AA/NA/etcA.
>>
>> My view is that folks get in trouble with chemicals in many
>>ways, and while not every person will respond to one specific
>>recovery method, everyone has at least one recovery method that
>>will work for them. My education equipped me to help folks find
>>their best way back to life. I found it was very liberating for
>>clients that they weren't in a win or lose, make or break
>>situation. If the first thing they decided to try didn't work,
>>we would analyse what they learned from the experience, and made
>>a plan to try another way.
>>
>> Sorry for the long version, but I wanted to second your
>>statement that NA, and AA, don't claim that their way is the
>>only way (although some professionals, and a few folks in the
>>programs, do say that). The point is to present a situation for
>>the sufferer whereby there is always hope, always something new
>>to try.
>>
>> BTW, I've been clean and sober for about 18 or 19 years (I
>>don't keep track any more). I had one, one-day relapse that was
>>the best thing that could have happened to me. The relapse made
>>it crystal clear that holding on to the idea that 'if things get
>>bad enough, I can always go back to drinking to numb myself' was
>>pretty silly, and entirely false.
>
>
>
> I knew there was something I liked about you Tom.

        What, it wasn't my girlish giggle? :-)

I know lots of
> people who don't need to go to meetings anymore, and are still in
> recovery. I haven't gotten to that point yet, mostly because I have
> made some very close friends in my fellowship. I don't do more than
> a few meetings a month now though. If I get to feeling hincky I
> know where to go.

        That's exactly the point. There isn't one template that works
for everyone. Whatever works for the individual, works.
Recovery is above all pragmatic.

        While there is plenty of room for theory and inspiration, at
the end of the day it's whether one can go to sleep sober and
clean, and sleep well through the night.

        Plus, waking up not hung over or strung out is wonderful! 

-- 
Tom McDonald

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