A question.... - Al-Anon Family Group

Feather · Senior Member

A question....

leo · ~*Service Worker*~

Hi Feather,

I am in Australia as well. I am glad you asked this question I would like clarification also. My perception is that it is an A who is having a dry period (no alcohol) but is not sober for the lifetime. Luv Leo x

bobump · ~*Service Worker*~

Hi,

Someone once posted a link here on dry drunk.

http://www.minnesotarecovery.info/literature/drydrunk.htm

Are you familiar w/ the term 'stinking thinking' ? We here this in Alanon in the states alot as well. For me they mean thinking where the thought process still seems clouded by alcohol. Where the A acts in manners that are consistent w/ drinking even though they are no longer drinking. Think of some of the worst aspects of an active A's personality and a dry drunk might still have them.

For me, dry drunk is someone who stops drinking, but does not deal with their underlying issues that drove them to the bottle to begin with. My exerpience with my A is that she lost touch w/ most or all of her spirituality and also suffered from pain and anguish which she never dealt with. This continued to cloud her thinking even thought she was dry.

Bob

JulieLynn · Senior Member

Feather,

To me a "dry drunk" means someone who has quit drinking but does not have a program like AA or is not going for therapy to deal with the underlying problems that led them to drink in the first place.

Hope that helps.

Love,

Julie

kitty · ~*Service Worker*~

YES, exactly - a dry drunk is one that although is no longer using, is not facing or dealing their feelings, core issues, in therapy or what have you.

Under threats, my step-father went to a few meetings but never listened or "got" the program... it is pretty clear when someone is on their road to recovery in sobriety, they take the first step, admit their powerlessness & you can sense the shift in them.

They are no longer resentful, you fell their remorse, sorrow & contrition. It is like night & day. Dry drunks act like they are still using, the attitudes & behaviours don't change, being Master Manipulators, they might 'fake it fir a time' but watch the behaviour & don't fall for their promises.

Actions speak louder than words.

Christy · ~*Service Worker*~

Feather..

The simplest explanation that I heard was simply "Sober, but not recovered".

Christy

Feather · Senior Member

Thanks all, Iget it now!

Take Care,

Feather

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