An alcoholic does battle with the strange mental blank spot that separates her (and all alcoholics) from the rest of humanity Alcoholism is a physical, mental, and spiritual disease. That’s what we learn in AA. Alcoholism is merely a lack of self-discipline. That’s what most of the world thinks. Alcoholics can exert all the self-disciplineContinue reading “The Strange Mental Blank Spot – Grapevine Article by Louisa P.”
Category Archives: Denial
Learning To Feel – Grapevine Article February 2023 by Laura S.
Early in my sobriety, my sponsor Linda told me that I was allowed to call and whine about a situation exactly once. After that, we were going to talk about solutions, not problems. She also gave me a time limit on feeling sorry for myself. I can’t remember if it was 10 minutes or 15Continue reading “Learning To Feel – Grapevine Article February 2023 by Laura S.”
Discovering True Worth – Humility’s Role In Overcoming Shame and Pride – Practicing These Principles by Ray A.
Feeling that we are different, that we don’t belong or fit in, is a staple of the alcoholic story. However, few openly connect the feeling with shame. Bill W does. In Pass It On and Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, we read about two circumstances that fostered the emotion in him growing up. The firstContinue reading “Discovering True Worth – Humility’s Role In Overcoming Shame and Pride – Practicing These Principles by Ray A.”
Step 1 What Is The Problem – The Steps We Took by Joe McQ
Joe McQ is the Joe of the well known Joe & Charlie BB studies, tapes, and retreats. He has some compelling wisdom for us about Step 1 in his book entitled ‘The Steps We Took’. Here is a short extract of the first portion of his chapter on Step 1 What is the Problem? WeContinue reading “Step 1 What Is The Problem – The Steps We Took by Joe McQ”
Spiritual Honesty – Grapevine Article April 1985 by W.H.
AS A RECOVERING member of Alcoholics Anonymous and an agnostic, I would like to present a few thoughts on our Fellowship from an agnostic viewpoint. One thing that makes my own experience unusual is that I came into the program eighteen years ago professing a conventional belief in God and had no problem accepting theContinue reading “Spiritual Honesty – Grapevine Article April 1985 by W.H.”
A Dose Of Reality – Grapevine Article November 2005 by Jill L.
I recently went on a Twelfth Step call with another recovering alcoholic to a woman’s home. What I saw and felt there is almost impossible to put into words, but I felt the need to try for those in the Fellowship who may be getting somewhat complacent. After many years of sobriety it’s easy toContinue reading “A Dose Of Reality – Grapevine Article November 2005 by Jill L.”
Never The Same Again – As Bill Sees It #209
It was discovered that when one alcoholic had planted in the mind of another the true nature of his malady, that person could never be the same again. Following every spree, he would have to say to himself, “Maybe those A.A.’s were right.” After a few such experiences, often before the onset of extreme difficulties,Continue reading “Never The Same Again – As Bill Sees It #209”
A World With Clear Eyes – Grapevine Article October 2022 by Brent T.
When he was drinking, he was lost in his emotions. The Steps of AA helped bring him back I was a “happy-go-lucky” drunk and an avid party goer. I was almost always happy. But when I had hangovers, I saw the truth of what I was becoming—sad, depressed and demoralized. I tried my best toContinue reading “A World With Clear Eyes – Grapevine Article October 2022 by Brent T.”
Garden Hose Sobriety – Grapevine Article by Jeff M October 2006
Having fun wasn’t much fun One of the last AA meetings I attended before my self-styled graduation from Alcoholics Anonymous was at La Tuna Federal Prison. Set in a windswept desert plain, La Tuna rises up like a Spanish hacienda surrounded by razor wire and thick white walls. I saw myself supporting AA with myContinue reading “Garden Hose Sobriety – Grapevine Article by Jeff M October 2006”
Denial: A Story In 3 Parts Grapevine Article May 2006 by Victoria P.
The thick wall finally cracks for this hard-drinking lawyer What It Was Like… These days, I don’t so much fall asleep as pass out. I go to work because my legal career is the Potemkin village of my denial. As long as I’m working, I’m not an alcoholic. I don’t think this, of course, becauseContinue reading “Denial: A Story In 3 Parts Grapevine Article May 2006 by Victoria P.”