ScoobysTales

I wrote this to a lady who was at her "wit's end" with drinking. 

When your addiction is severe, withdrawal from alcohol can produce what is called the "DTs" (delerium tremors) (I think).  Dr. Silkworth treated over 40,000 alcoholics, and the treatment consists of helping them through the God-awful withdrawals.

Now that I have 6 months' sobriety, I can be honest with you and say I was an actor for quite awhile.  I'd buy grapefruit juice (washes Seroquel out of my system, btw) and then buy a pint of vodka as a nightcap.  To top it off, I'd go to my AA meeting in the morning and "act" as if I was sober.  The coffee helped.

But, for me, my own secondary problem, bipolar disorder, got worse.  I was ready to commit suicide, had blood pressure mediccation all laid out to do the deed.  I was volunteering in a place called the Victory Mission.  If it weren't for Jim, who got into my face and said, "What the F are you doing?  Let's get to a meeting."  I'd be pushing up daisies from the bottom.

Unfortunately, Jim is drinking again himself.  I went over to see him but I can't rescue him.  Keith said that he just has to bottom out, kerplunk, before he is willing to realize and acknowledge that he is powerless. 

Admitting we are powerless is the First Step.  And the growth through the steps is not a piece of cake.  A suggestion for you is to get a copy of the Big Book (either go to a meeting and they will give you one) or go to your library.  Read the book...and especially some of the testimonials - I'm sure you'll find one of the stories is just like yours!

In going to a meeting, you will have an opporotunity to talk to others.  Times are rough right now for so many people - lots don't have insurance or their insurance isn't that hot - but AA won't cost you any more than the time you spend there.

Coming to one's wit's end is where you have the opportunity to trn a corner, over a new leaf.  Alcohol is "cunning, wicked and powerful" (that's out of the book)...but the bring side is that once you tame the part of you that is craving it, you will find your heart opening up, and you will have an opportunity to make new friends.