Getting Beyond The Dry Drunk Syndrome – Stage II Recovery By Earnie Larson

The Dry-Drunk Syndrome As hateful as this label is to so many people, it names a real condition that occurs when a person breaks a primary addiction (gets sober) but doesn’t deal with the underlying living problems. “Dry drunks” can afflict people who have broken a primary addiction (Stage I) but have not gotten furtherContinue reading “Getting Beyond The Dry Drunk Syndrome – Stage II Recovery By Earnie Larson”

Eliminating Shame Through The Principles and Practices of Alcoholics Anonymous by Steve K.

The word shame is derived from the Indo-European ‘skein’, which means to hide. Shame makes us want to hide from ourselves, and our peers – making shame an existentially isolating state of mind. Feeling shame makes a person dejection-based, passive, or helpless, causing the ashamed person to focus more on devaluing or condemning his entireContinue reading “Eliminating Shame Through The Principles and Practices of Alcoholics Anonymous by Steve K.”

Unsuspected Inner Resource – How Modern Therapy Is Discovering What Is Innate And Healing Within Us by Bruce M.

How can we access the unsuspected inner resource within us as we experience conflicts with those about us and within us As we explore the perhaps many parts within us that comprise the Dr. Jekyll of us attempting to manage better (i.e. parts like our Inner Critic, Striver, People Pleaser, Know-It-All) and the Mr. HydeContinue reading “Unsuspected Inner Resource – How Modern Therapy Is Discovering What Is Innate And Healing Within Us by Bruce M.”

Darkness Visible – Grapevine Article by Toby M.

His alcoholism and bipolar disorder conspired to keep him in some fearful places My drinking started when I was 17 years old. Some friends and I got hold of some liquor and beer, which we drank in the back of my friend’s truck bed. We sat drinking and smoking cigarettes. Everyone was getting pretty drunkContinue reading “Darkness Visible – Grapevine Article by Toby M.”

Room To Grow – Grapevine Article June 1999 by Jim N.

Step 6 – Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. The way I read Step Six, Bill seems to be saying, “Don’t be in too much of a hurry to get better.” And the longer I’m sober, the clearer it becomes that I’m not really in charge of this gettingContinue reading “Room To Grow – Grapevine Article June 1999 by Jim N.”

Knowing It’s Not Personal – 12 Essential Insights for Emotional Sobriety – Dr. Allen Berger

Stop for a moment and think about all the things that upset you during the day. A friend says you’re not being attentive enough. Your partner seems to be ignoring you. The auto repair service implies you’re stupid for not knowing it was time to change the oil. A driver swerves in front of youContinue reading “Knowing It’s Not Personal – 12 Essential Insights for Emotional Sobriety – Dr. Allen Berger”

Coping With Anger – As Bill Sees It #179

Few people have been more victimized by resentments than have we alcoholics. A burst of temper could spoil a day, and a well-nursed grudge could make us miserably ineffective. Nor were we ever skillful in separating justified from unjustified anger. As we saw it, our wrath was always justified. Anger, that occasional luxury of moreContinue reading “Coping With Anger – As Bill Sees It #179”

Turning Down The Volume – Grapevine Article April 2022 by Kiko M.

Not everybody is going to like me or like what I have to offer. What matters is that I like myself enough to continue to take my inventory and be of maximum service. Recently I had the opportunity to DJ at an AA conference. To prepare, I put in months of work, attempting to absolutelyContinue reading “Turning Down The Volume – Grapevine Article April 2022 by Kiko M.”

Facing Criticism – As Bill Sees It #56

Sometimes, we register surprise, shock, and anger when people find fault with A.A. We are apt to be disturbed to such an extent that wecannot benefit by constructive criticism. This sort of resentment makes no friends and achieves no constructive purpose. Certainly, this is an area in which we can improve. << << << >>Continue reading “Facing Criticism – As Bill Sees It #56”

The Green Demon – Grapevine Article May 1962 by M.D.B.

Jealousy is poisonous – but this AA member found an effective antidote I CAN mark one thing well, in looking back at my whirling nightmare of drinking, it was the only time I was ever completely jealous of total strangers! It amazes me now to remember that I had ugly and envious thoughts about innocentContinue reading “The Green Demon – Grapevine Article May 1962 by M.D.B.”