The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
Today's C2C is highly topical for me, as I am in the midst of developing a cold right now!!
It begins by likening the symptoms of a cold to the symptoms of alcoholism- such as blackouts and mood changes. The reading suggests that we too display similar symptoms to the alcoholic with our obsession, anxiety, denial and guilt, among others. When we recognise these as symptoms of living with the disease of alcoholism, we can heal from them and be restored to sanity.
it reminds us that the alcoholic didn't choose to be sick and neither did we, so, it's OK to behave with compassion towards all affected parties.
The reading reminds us that by accepting alcoholism as a family disease, we can stop fighting a hopeless battle and instead find help and hope through al-anon and our higher power.
The quote is from "So you love an alcoholic" -
"By accepting the idea that alcoholism is an illness from which problem drinkers and those that care about them can find release, you will have no reason the be ashamed of alcoholism- no reason to fear it".
***
I don't think I had any idea that I was ill and could therefore recover- until i found myself in al-anon and started to be released from all of the "symptoms" I didn't even know that I had! Prior to that I thought of every symptom- over-reacting, obsessing, constant guilt etc as simply being part of the very flawed and "no good" individual that I was. Al-anon heped me uncover the person I was underneath the mess of symptoms I was being smothered in, as a result of a lifetime amongst alcohol and alcoholics. I feel as though i was given a second life, really; sometimes i barely recognise myself!!
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If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see? (Lewis Caroll)
Dear Ms.M. Thanks for this very important reminder.
I too thought my anger , self pity ,fear and resentments represented ;" who I was" I had no idea that these" negative attitudes" were simply "walls" that I had built to protect me from the disease. Under these self imposed destructive walls, i had hidden my love, compassion, Joy , happiness empathy, confusion etc.-- in other words all my" feeling"
Alanon gave me a safe place tot learn new constructive responses and so let down my walls.
Love this reading and your share. Thanks for your service.
Great reading today - thanks for the daily MissMel and your service. Great ESH Betty....I too assumed how I was is who I was. Before Al-Anon, I did not realize how affected I was and how the disease affected or controlled my thinking and many of my actions.
I felt justified in my anger, my resolve, my controlling and my lecturing/parenting.....boy - I was much sicker than I ever knew. Today, because of Al-Anon, I am so different. I don't judge others, I don't mistrust unless it's warranted, and I feel free to be me and to become the best version of me possible.
My walls were solid cement.....it took quite a bit of chipping to break through. I do not think I would be where I am today without this program and an awesome sponsor. I feel different, act different and am generally much more content - no matter what's going on or what I am doing!
This is a great page to bookmark.....accepting this as a disease gave me freedom to recover. Had I instead kept considering it a choice, I might have kept trying to change others!
Thank you all for being a part of my journey!!
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Practice the PAUSE...Pause before judging. Pause before assuming. Pause before accusing. Pause whenever you are about to react harshly and you will avoid doing and saying things you will later regret. ~~~~ Lori Deschene
