Notes For November 8, 2012

​(week 45) 8 November 2012 Big Book 12 Step Study Workshop
More About Alcoholism page 30 from beginning of last paragraph: ‘We are like men who have lost their legs; …’ until page 32 end of first paragraph: ‘It may be worth a bad case of jitters if you get a full knowledge of your condition.’

Soul work:
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look up: remedy, exception, self-deception, experimentation, solemn, oaths, ad infinitum, diagnose.
We are like men who have lost their legs; they never grow new ones.
1. Take this sentence and write out everything you are powerless over.
In some instances there has been brief recovery, followed always by a still worse relapse.
2 Have you tried every imaginable remedy? Do you want to try any new remedies?
Despite all we can say, many who are real alcoholics, are not going to believe they are in that class.
3. Circle real alcoholics – because if you’re not a real alcoholic may not need this type of recovery.
It is vital to know where you are and what you have to do. And how you have to be in this recovery of ours.
4a. Where are you today?
Next to God recovery is the most important thing in Stephanie’s life. God is the most important relationship and working with God is the most important action. Without that she won’t work on her recovery. But then her recovery has to come next. God and recovery are the most important in her life today. Stephanie believes that she is in the class of a real alcoholic so she will go to any lengths for her relationship with God to stay vital and for her disciplines around her recovery to stay in place. 
4b Where are you with all of that?
Despite all we can say, many who are real alcoholics are not going to believe they are in that class. By every form of self-deception and experimentation they will try to prove themselves exceptions to the rule, therefore nonalcoholic.
5. Do you have any self-deception? Are you in any form of experimentation?
5a Do you do think you are an exception to the rule and therefore not a real alcoholic? (For alcohol substitute your addictions).
6. If you don’t know whether or not you are a real alcoholic, do you have somebody with whom you can follow the Big Book’s suggestion and be gut-wrenching honest? Do you have accountability person who will stand beside you? (A lot of sponsors in recovery will not give you this leeway).
Stephanie emphasizes don’t try this on our own. She doesn’t say the word don’t very often. Do this with somebody you can be 100% honest with.
If you don’t have somebody you can be gut level honest with write to Stephanie and tell her what you want to do and she will witness it and will write it back.. stephaniew324@gmail.com
Here are some of the methods we have tried…
7. Add to this list anything that may not have been mentioned e.g. hypnosis, EMDR, acupuncture etc.
8. A newcomer is very confused about what they are addicted to so where in the Big Book (what pages) would you take them to? How would you help (not tell) them come to a full realization of what their condition is?
ENDS
Resources:
To be on the members’ list and ask for a buddy, contact sue7263@aol.
A Sunday buddy group is open for everybody. It meets Sundays 10-11am EST  712 432 0800  pin 587213#. For further information about the group contact Raket irakefet@gmail.com
12stepstudyworkshop.com click on ‘Thursday’ for all the workshops since January 5th 2012. There are also handouts there.