The difference between being a sober member of AA and being recovered.

 

I've been recently engaged in an online discussion of alcoholism in an attempt to help new comers on a forum. This question was asked of me by a member of AA.

"When I say sober in AA, what does that mean to you? "

What it means to me is what it means in English. Twisting the English language and making up our own definitions of words makes communication difficult at best. If we are talking about a method of recovery from alcoholism then "what words mean to me" is dangerous. We are talking about saving peoples lives in AA.

 

We are using the English language so let's look at a definition.

 

SOBER: adjective

1. Not intoxicated or affected by the use of alcohol or drugs.
2. Abstaining from or habitually abstemious in the use of alcoholic drink or other intoxicants.
3. Straightforward and serious; not exaggerated, emotional, or silly.

 

Not drinking does not necessarily mean one is recovered from alcoholism. Being recovered from alcoholism is the great promise as described in the Big Book. So sober time in AA does not necessarily mean a person is recovered from alcoholism. Especially if that person is not a real alcoholic as described in The Doctors Opinion, There is a Solution and More about Alcoholism chapters in the Big Book.

 

It is a sad reality in the modern day AA fellowship. A good many people, some sober awhile in the fellowship have not taken some time to STUDY then two basic texts of AA society. The Big Book and Twelve and Twelve. They've been going to meetings for years and never studied even the first 164 pages of the Big Book. Why? Perhaps laziness? Resting on our laurels? Just going to meetings is easier?

 My group is a literature group. We make sure anybody new knows exactly what the AA program is as laid out in the literature. This is so they at least have the opportunity to know what's available and the promises of hope and recovery available if they are willing to do that work.

This is the great hope of AA.

RECOVER

• intransitive verb To regain the use of (a faculty) or be restored to (a normal or usual condition).
• intransitive verb To regain a normal or usual condition, as of health.
• intransitive verb To cause to be restored to a normal or usual condition.

 

Through doing the 12step program of AA I've regained my life and been restored to what most people would say is a normal existence. Nobody would guess I'm alcoholic if they looked at a day or week in my life. (except if they observed me going to meetings)