When people in AA meetings state they are real acoholics they are refering the the defintion on page 22 or the BB what about the real alcoholic....

A chronic alcoholic is just and alcoholic who keeps doing it ie keeps drinking. Look up the word chronic in the dictionary that will give you a better understanding hopefully.

Hope this helps

G8

G8

thanks for adding your perception of what a cross section of people mean g8
however when people in "recovery" state they are were a chronic alcoholic how does that differentiate them from anyone else in recovery
IE we all kept on doing it until we stopped
so are you saying we were all chronic alcoholics before we stopped
thanks for the tip about the dictionary but i was aware of the meaning of shrink before i posted

I agree with G8, the facts are in the Big Book.

I am a real alcoholic and know the difference between the different stages of alcoholism.

Moderate and hard drinkers still have some willpower left, they are either real alcoholics on the slippery slope down or not alcoholic at all and abusing alcohol in an unhealthy way.

AA's initial success was with "low bottom drunks" read chronic alcoholics read real alcoholics.

Other types of alcoholics are the ones who get by with meetings (fellowship) or other methods using the will or medication.

The real alcoholic needs the programme of recovery - the 12 Steps. There is no grey area here - it is the bitter end (death) or a spiritual solution.

There are countless alcoholics who know exactly what I mean. The facts and experience speak for themselves.

Some of the AA members in my meetings say long ass sentences to discribe themselves...lol.

There was a guy I never seen at a meetings last time I was there, and he said, "Hi, I'm Jeff, and I'm a drunk and a drug addict." I wasn't ready for him to call himself a drunk so it stuck in my head right then, and I said, "Hi Drunk". Then I LOL and said, "Oh I'm sorry, I mean hi Jeff. I guess I'm not used to hearing it put like that." They all laughed. I do say Hi to them pretty loudly. (o;

Yeah, I'm with rivalino. I don't understand why they would call themselves a chronic alcoholic if they Have Stopped drinking. I felt chronic, so I went to rehab. Now I'm a recovering alcoholic.

I forgot to mention I am in Cheshire, also in the UK.

If you read our Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous, the description of the various types of alcoholic starts on p20 and goes through to the top of p26. I will include a small excerpt here from p.23

"....Once this malady has a real hold, they are a baffled lot. There is the obsession that somehow, someday, they will beat the game. But they often suspect they are down for the count.

How true this is, few realize. In a vague way their families and friends sense that these drinkers are abnormal, but everybody hopefully awaits the day when the sufferer will rouse himself from his lethargy and assert his power of will.

The tragic truth is that if the man be a real alcoholic, the happy day may not arrive. He has lost control.

At a certain point in the drinking of every alcoholic, he passes into a state where the most powerful desire to stop drinking is of absolutely no avail. This tragic situation has already arrived in practically every case long before it is suspected.

The fact is that most alcoholics, for reasons yet obscure, have lost the power of choice in drink. Our so called will power becomes practically non-existent. We are unable, at certain times, to bring into our consciousness with sufficient force the memory of the suffering and humiliation of even a week or a month ago.

We are without defense against the first drink."

Karen, the difference between you and I is that I could not stop drinking until I sought help from God and did the work of the 12 Steps.

I also went to rehab but was drinking again when I came out. I had no willpower left. As the BB says, I was without defense against the next drink.

Have you ever learned about the disease concept of alcoholism? The World Health Organisation has classed it as a disease because it behaves like one - progressive and fatal.

In the Step9 promises it says "No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others."
That promise is not just talking about economic or emotional security.

Google the Jellinek chart as well, that is interesting - and nothing to do with AA.

Remember, in AA we diagnose ourselves - a real alcoholic will be in no doubt that he is one. He will know that jumping off place the Big Book talks about.

Gail, I'm not sure I understand...is there a difference between us that I haven't seen? >" Karen, the difference between you and I is that I could not stop drinking until I sought help from God and did the work of the 12 Steps. "

I miss something here? lol

Karen, have you had a spiritual awakening as a result of the 12 Steps - i.e. have you "done" the Steps formally with a sponsor?

If you are an alcoholic an alcohol causes problems in your life, it really doesn't matter if your a poka-dotted pink alcoholic.
These people are trying to create identity, and strive for AA acceptance by being different, I have been there. Label yourself and be done.
Personally I am; a happy member of AA that is not drinking today and my name is timmybuttland.

Yes, I know what you are saying Guns - all types of alcoholics are welcome in AA, as we know. So it should be. There should be no need for distinction and there isn't generally EXCEPT when it comes to sponsorship.

There is the risk of someone dying if they are the low bottom, real alcoholic. If a person carrying the message to him is not a real alcoholic and then tells the real alcoholic to take his time with the Steps (because that is what worked for him) or keeps him stuck in meeting mode, the real alcoholic may be lost. He is the one who cannot do the "Just don't take one drink for one day at a time and keep coming back." He may be unable to keep coming back. He may need the spiritual solution urgently if he is to recover.

There is a difference. I am talking from my own experience and not from my rear end.

Right Gailly, in fact I would be considered an AA in AA, I would be labeled as an "allergic alcoholic". I could go for days without drinking, but when I drank SHIT would hit the fan, "literally". I could feel the liquid oozing down my throat, adn sometimes I would get goose bumps or just a warm feeling would come over my body. And from that point on, there was no guarantee what I would do next.
Yes, the fact finding mission of the 12 steps, and supplying the action to recover from what you have found,,,, that's the real deal.

It doesn't matter how you label yourself. Doesn't make you better, doesn't make you different. You're an alcoholic...nothing more. You don't have to get creative or frilly. You don't need to be unique, as a matter of fact, it is often our desire to be special that keeps us drunk.

Sorry Leibug I can't really agree - it makes the biggest difference with sponsorship, people can die from others not understanding the different types of alcoholic described in the Big Book - pp 20, 21 and on in the chapter "More about Alcoholism."

The uniqueness you talk about is when people believe their case is different and they use it like a trump card in order to avoid doing the work of the programme.

Yes, but, not chronic vs. real....if you are an alcoholic you had a chronic drinking problem and it is a progressive disease. The doctor's opinion list 5 different types of alcoholics, but it is not necessary to "classify" your type in a meeting. You are an alcoholic, some things you share or work through with your sponsor in dealing with your disease is not necessary in a meeting. We don't need to be labeled in "classes" to see who is better or worse.