I take my sponsees through the steps precisely as they are in the Big Book. I agree that the 'life-story' is probably a treatment thing as I had to do this when I was in it.

What mine amounted to was an exploration of my (sad, pathetic) life to try to find excuses for my drinking.

I don't personally think that it's helpful as I think it serves no good purpose it creates or reinforces the idea that alcoholism results from some trauma in our past, which is not true. The time for that kind of rumination (apart from in Step 4) is when a spiritual awakening has been experienced and therapy can be engaged with honestly.

It also brings up all kinds of hurt and anger that detracts from the simplicity of Step 1in the big Book. No wonder I hear people saying that the steps are too difficult!

The steps in the Big Book have worked since AA started back in the 30's. Why would you try to fix something that isn't broken and has been proven to work for so many years.

I fear that the more AA gets away from using the BB as it's guide, the less people will be able to experience the true joy of sobriety that is possible today.

Treatment center stuff belongs in treatment centers. AA belongs in the Big Book. Just my humble opinion. God Bless

I like the idea of writing a story much like bill's - but obviously you need to have completed the steps to do that.

The only writing I ever did for step 1 was when my sponsor got peed off with me once and said I needed to look at step 1 again.

He got me to list 12 examples of the allergy - ie how I'd gone somewhere for a drink but had something to do later and what happened. Black out drinking. Examples of how I felt when I had a beer or two but had to stop for some reason (closing time etc). How I drove to a party and had to leave my car there by the end of the night. That kind of thing. Mind you the 5 month long 24/7 relapse was pretty self-explanatory as was each relapse that lasted a week minimum.

And 12 of the obsession - How I had something really important to do and thought I'll just have a drink first... Or how drink was organised for later on and how I was thinking during the before bit. Also examples of the peculiar mental twist in the light of past experiences.

It was only semi useful really.

The life story thing is something that is done in treatment - a guy came out of treatment recently and said that that is something they told him to do. Not really sure what it has to do with step 1.

Another one I have heard is write down your last drunk so you can use it for future reference. Like I'm gonna think of seeking that piece of paper out when I'm on a beeline for the pub... Yeah right.

Where I live there are alot of 'treatment' AAers and that is the way they seem to do it! One sponsee shared how he wrote his step 3 on holiday....wasnt happy with it so re-wrote it! It took up the whole of his skiing holiday! At the time I thought 'whatttttttttt'!

I have just started writing at step 4 and that fits well for me :)

Perhaps add a third list for the spiritual malady. Examples of how you felt when you were dry for a period. What the actual physical effect was when you subsequently had a couple of beers (I think that the allergy, obsession and spiritual malady are intrinsically linked, but that's just my opinion).

For me step 1 is simply about identifying with the early chapters of the book and realising you are fucked no matter what you try and do. Some are too shakey to hold a pen, but not too shakey to put the hands together and pray - have you noticed that?

Another thing I have against writing early on is that goes against the entire ethos of AA. It is a solitary pursuit whereas AA is one alcoholic SHARING FROM THE HEART with another. Step 1 happens there too, as does the magic of step 2.

Oh man, m8bear with the amount you think and talk, you are gonna end up with a longer sytep 4 than even me... tee hee hee

Don't dissertate, you'll die!

If you can reconsile it with the Big Book, You might want to hold it suspect, if AA were to collapse, it would be form the inside, little bits and pieces of SOMETHING NEW trying to add on to something PERFECT, typicall of Man or woman always trying to Improve, even if it aint broken, lol...There are Two Camps In AA, has been for awhile! Godbless...

Oops that was suppose to be if you ((CANT)) reconsile it With The Big Book, you might want to holdit SUSPECT! Damn Lap-top keeps making Mistakes,,lol...

It is my experience of writing a life story in treatment that makes me wonder what purpose it can possibly serve as part of step 1.

As you say Huw, I may be in a position to reflect on my life honestly and productively from the perspective I have after doing the steps, but before I had done the steps? I don't think so.

It doesn't tell us to pick up a pen and paper until Step 4 in the Big Book and I go by that in terms of the steps.

Some people may find certain writing useful but in my opinion it should be in addition to, not a replacement for, doing the steps exactly per the book.

That was a very Freudian slip there Chris - be careful !! LMAO

Yes and there is a good reason, because every step we take is the answer to the last step we took, and Step FIVE tells us EXACTLY where The Spiritual Experience BEGINS, ONce having taken this STEP witholding nothing we are delighted, we can look the world in the eye, We can be alone at perfect peace and ease, our fears fall from us, we gegin to feel the nearness of our creator, we may have had certain Spiritual Beliefs (BUT NOW WE BEGIN TO HAVE A SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE)Step 5 Is the Birth Place Of Spiritual Experience, That is the great fact for us, and nothing more, that we have had DEEP and EFECTIVE SPiritual Experiences That have revolutionized our lives, the feeling that the drink problem has disapeared will often come strongly. We feelwe are on the Broad Highway walking hand in hand with the Spirit Of The Universe. Now This My firends is an experience you MUST NOT MISS, I am sure you will not want to miss it, The truth will set you free, its gonna piss you off first, but it willl set you free... Godbless,...

I agree with you Nicky. I never ask anyone to write a life story. I believe treatment centers have influenced some people and areas. I've seen people with 60 page questionaires to use as a guide for 4th step. For my sponsees all I ask is for an overview of thier drinking history and how unmanagable thier life is all verbal. i also ask that they freely admit and that they are alcoholic. Declare the same in meetings.
More will be revealed as time goes on and the place for that is in the 4th and 5th steps done in 3 columns as the book describes. I make it clear I don't expect or want a novel. You start with the most signifigant people in your life paarents, siblings, relationships, bosses etc. Unless there are specific serious incidents I believe in using catagories for the less signifigant people like classmates, co workers, etc I don't want to hear about the 100 different people who destryed your life in JR HI to me it is one repeated incident like being picked on and one emotion. Just my thoughts.

Speaking of freudian slips Lynn...

Ramona was sharing with a girlfriend one day (Sound Familiar)lol, Anyway, she says,"Betty" ever have a Freudian slip?

Betty says - im not sure, what is it?

Ramona says, "Well for instance, i was at the airport the other day and what i meant to say to the guy behind the counter was - Excuse me sir, how much for a return ticket to Pitsburgh?

And what i heard myself say was - Excuse me sir, how much for a return ticket to TiTs-burgh?

Betty laughs at Ramona and says, "Yeah" now that you put it that way -it happens all the time,

"Really Ramona says"

Yeah says Betty,like for instance, the other day, me and the hubby were at the breakfast table getting ready to have breakfast.

And what i meant to say was (Excuse me honey, but could you please pass the Cheerios)

But what i heard myself say was (You Fuckin dick, You ruind my life)

Lol,,,Godbless

I've never wrote a life story thank f**k i chos