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Post by Banjo on Mar 13, 2013 8:27:02 GMT 7
Forgive me if it's personal but I've noticed some of you people are fond of a drink. This is usually fine and often a way of forgetting problems for an hour or two, especially in congenial company, but when it takes over from things you would rather be doing, or have to do, you may need to reconsider it. www.aa.org.au/ |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2013 12:02:04 GMT 7
I went once 20 yrs ago Banj, but with a sever anxiety/depressive disorder; it was just to bloody depressing for me! But, more power to those who need it and can handle those open forums; one session left me thoroughly depressed; however, I know its a wonderful and mostly life changing institution the world over! Maybe I missed something 20 years ago? Cheetal...
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Post by Banjo on Mar 13, 2013 14:10:15 GMT 7
Like many of those type of organisations, it's not for everyone, but if you don't try you don't know.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2013 14:22:13 GMT 7
my friend went 4 times he was very bad on the grog ,he would go 4 days drinking and not eating,but he said even though he was bad he was not as bad as most of them,so he stoped and stoped drinking all by himself ,i thought it was a guts effort by him, i drank a lot as well,would drink any thing,had a heart attack and met a wonderfull women and have not had a drink in 3 years,and i never missed it one little bit,so it can be done ,just wish i did it years ago .
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Post by Banjo on Mar 13, 2013 14:36:31 GMT 7
You're not alone there.
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Post by peter on Mar 13, 2013 20:29:13 GMT 7
I had an uncle who had a problem with the grog. He joined AA and as a kid I used to go to their picnics and socials. I still have memories of what a lot of happy old ex drunks they were.
The great beauty of AA is that it puts the responsibility directly back onto the one applying for membership. It requires frequent public confession. " I, Jack, am a recovering alcoholic, I admit it, I admit the damage that it has done to my life and to that of others, and I am determined to forsake it" usually followed by individual stories of their demonic behaviour whilst on the grog.
The first time one sees it, it is quite impressive, seeing these grown men stand up and make public confessions. No more excuses, no more blaming others. The identification of what is causing the problem is admitted.
Another thing required is to put right what they have put wrong. That requires repayment of damage done and apologies to those one has offended. This is not done on day one, but is a process.
The greatest value of AA, is that a drunk goes from being friendless and vilified, to being amongst people who extend friendship, patience and support to him. Imagine that, from no friends to people who will extend friendship with no thought of return. This is also the practice of "love your neighbour" and what a change that is for people who have so long fought and blamed the neighbour.
And these new friends are on your own level. They have been through the gutter and got out of it. That in fact is one of their truisms, that one will never accept his faults until he reaches the gutter and the end of his tether. Then is the time a man will say " this is beyond me", and engage in a bit of silent heartfelt prayer, and forsake the excuses and reliance upon his own mind in which he has found nothing but trouble.
Practises change and what I mention above happened fifty years ago.
AA arose out of a christian ethic, but its non denominational, but it really is "love in action". One could not have found better friends, always available, night or day. I recall the frequent comment "if he looks in a bad way, or shows signs of going back to the bottle, just call me".
From being useless, trouble making broke people, they turn 180 degrees to helping their fellow man out of compassion cause they know what its all about. From being takers, and deceivers, the become givers and helpers to their fellow man. That is a very simple karmic law way to change a life.
My last contact with them was in Manila, where an English fellow was in a very bad way with what I did not know at the time, was cirrhosis. He came to stay with me, and his condition got worse and worse. I was nonplussed what to do about, so out of the blue I called the local AA.
The response was typical. "How can we help?".
I said that I needed an opinion on treatment. Yes, no problem, we will send out our doctor and lo and behold a NZ member arrived a few days later. He was a doctor at the WHO HQ in Manila! He gave a quick summary of options............."hopeless case............and if it was me I would prefer to die in your place than in a hospital." And that is what happened about four weeks later.
Not often one can meet a group of people who are not self seeking and men with compassion, but that has been my experience with members of AA.
And the cause of alcoholism? Its mostly emotional damage that people want to cover up unconsciously, thus the importance of forgiveness, and its also a reaction to hopelessness, thus we can look back at times like the depression when alcoholism really was of plague proportions.
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Post by peter on Mar 13, 2013 20:52:23 GMT 7
And the alcohol that killed him was the cheap $1 a bottle of rum. He like so many others, used to start the day off with a shot or two. Never saw him drunk, but always having cheap rum. That rum, when you leave it stand overnight smells like kerosene in the morning. I see in Thailand that a lot of the cheap spirits are laced with methanol. I think its the same in Philippines. Too many die of cirrhosis there, both Filipinos and foreigners. Give that cheap rum a long long miss. Advanced cirrhosis is not a nice way to die.
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Post by bundyrum on Mar 14, 2013 3:38:47 GMT 7
Indonesia has got Methonol problems in the Arak..young guy from Perth just died from it..the authorities just b/s sayn their on to it..I m in Lombok for a few days and it's killed s few here..westerners too.gotta stop my 4 am nip or 2..Cirrhosis is not a nice way 2 go..but I guess when u loose everything u do drink..and C/L just don't care..but that Tanduay rum is cheap..and 8 year old..best sugar cane in Phillo..
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Post by zorro1 on Mar 14, 2013 5:11:00 GMT 7
I was a functioning alcoholic my whole life and high achiever rising to the top of my profession being hired by dealer principles of motor dealerships to show them how to run them efficiently (in an alcoholic haze)  At the peak when nursing my mother during cancer 2 years ago I hit 3/4 of 750ml johnny walker a day plus many many beers at the pub next door to the hospital. Waking up with straight scotch every day I was petrified when the doc forced me to do a blood test. Liver came up brand spanking new,jeez that organ can take some punishment! After cutting back by 90% I found that my mind decided to punish me by recalling graphically every embarrassing and painful moment in my entire life focusing on my failures that i was able to suppress with Johnny. Facing reality hurt the most. I cant drink more than a few stubbies these days due to my illness. It sounds cheezy but my ilnness stopped me from drinking myself to death  thats my story  |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2013 5:41:07 GMT 7
i worked in a brewery for 34 years,back in early days we could drink beer every break,full strength,we would guts them down,then at dinner time spend 1 hr in the pub just over the road,then go home and drink after work,day after day year after year,i saw it kill a lot of men,and send others crazy,it does that,now there is no drinking there at all,good thing, i was told by some one once to drink in moderation because if you dont the day will come when you cant enjoy a drink at all,and that is what has happened to me,cant drink now ,but i dont miss it either.
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Post by Banker on Mar 14, 2013 7:20:22 GMT 7
I worked at Kent Brewery in Sydney many years a go, I was like a kid in a candy store.  |
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Post by zorro1 on Mar 14, 2013 7:32:48 GMT 7
Its not just us knock about pensioners that are fuc*ed up. Coincidentally Im currently reading Buzz Aldrins autobiography and Im just at the chapter where he returns to earth and then turns into a chronic alcoholic and is pretty much unemployable in his chosen field Im proud that me and Buzz have something in common |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2013 8:16:52 GMT 7
ha,ha,ha,well just look at past priministers and presedents of the world,most had a drinking problem,and they say kenedy was wacked out on verry strong pain killers most of the time for back pain,cherchill liked a drink or to .
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Post by zorro1 on Mar 14, 2013 8:52:48 GMT 7
Bob Hawke held some sort of record for chugging down the fastest pint on earth
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Post by Banker on Mar 15, 2013 6:48:19 GMT 7
Bob Hawke held some sort of record for chugging down the fastest pint on earth Bob Hawke fell flat on his face one night in front of me, it was in a Chinese Restaurant in Sydney... He sure did like a drink or three. |
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