What We Crave

Hi Danny,

I was sent to AA because I got 2 DUIs. It hasn’t seemed to do anything for me. Granted I’ve never found a sponsor that does what you say they should do. I was starting to wonder what the problem was, and here is this blog… I might not be an alcoholic. Or I might be in denial?

I’ve shown great progress in counseling, but the longest I’ve managed to not drink was 10 months and I didn’t go to an AA meeting the whole time. I drink on an off. Sometimes I get drunk, sometimes I don’t. It seems to go with my moods.

I don’t know if I understand craving and was hoping you might be able to clarify what it feels like?? Sometimes, well often, when I drink I find that I keep drinking the entire night until I fall asleep, and I want to keep drinking. I’m pretty good at cutting myself off right before I blackout or get sick, but the urge to keep drinking is still there. Is that craving?

But the next day I don’t want alcohol, sometimes for months at a time. As you can see, I’m confused, and you mention craving a lot, but I don’t understand it exactly. What does it feel like?

Thank you,

Janice

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Hi Janice,

The best way to describe it is probably the way it is done in the Big Book, "Alcoholics Anonymous" and is the focus of the Section in the beginning of the book called "The Doctors Opinion" This section is comprised of two letters of reference from a Doctor William Silkworth, MD who first identified the phenomenon of craving and theorized that the abnormal reaction might be a form of allergy since not everyone has the experience.

He never proved that is is an allergy - nor did the co-authors of the book "Alcoholics Anonymous" fully embrace the concept but what they did agree upon and what we do know today is this "craving' whatever it is - is very real and the only what to satisfy it is to take another drink of alcohol. (Or else maybe chain the alcoholic to a radiator till it passes) May I suggest you refer to that Section in the front of the book too. If you haven't got a book, here is a link to "The Doctors Opinion"

Also, "if when drinking, you have little control over the amount you take," (44:0) is a fair characterization that is out of the same book.

In-as-far as what it "feels" like. . . . . . . . .it feels like, "GIMME MORE! NOW!"

"Going to AA" isn't really a treatment for alcoholism for real alkies. I wish it were. it is not, even if the judge who sentenced you to 'meetings' thought it was. It is the Twelve Steps that is the solution to alcoholism.

Meetings are really just place to go to find someone who can take you through those steps. But this is becoming increasingly hard to do.

If interested in reading more about the craving and why it is impossible for the real alcoholic to "crave" alcohol months or weeks after drinking, (that is obsession - not 'craving') - I have a few articles pertaining ut together over the years. If interested:

http://recoveredalcoholic.blogspot.com/search/label/Craving

Just to clarify, it is not what I say a sponsor should do that matters. It's what the Book and what AA itself says that sponsors are supposed to do to help the alcoholic that counts --- and that is to take him through the steps.

It might be good to hear this straight from the worldwide conscience of the Fellowship itself. So here it is: (From the 53rd General Service Conference of AA)

"The basic responsibilities in a sponsorship relationship are to work the Twelve Steps as outlined in Alcoholics Anonymous, read the Big Book, the Twelve Traditions, the Twelve Concepts, and other Conference-approved literature."

That may not be all you need to know if "going to AA meetings" because a judge told you to is something hat is really going to help you, but hopefully its a start. If you really ant to know whether or not you are alcoholic I suggest you read the first forty three pages - access a recovered alcoholic who knows how to help you qualify yourself for AA membership and isn't afraid to do so.

If I can be more helpful let me know.

Peace and Love,

Danny S - RLRA
Real Live Recovered Alcoholic

http://recoveredalcoholic.blogspot.com