There Is A Solution

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is exploring the problem of alcoholism in their book. They focus on the experiences of real alcoholics who have a different relationship with alcohol and a loss of control once they start drinking. The book acknowledges that the reasons behind alcoholism are not fully understood and that willpower and other explanations don't capture the true struggle. AA introduces the concept of a vital spiritual experience as a solution for escaping alcoholism. The book emphasizes that alcoholism can gradually take hold of a person's life and that traditional approaches often fail. The book shares stories of individuals who found their own paths to transformation, highlighting the importance of inner change. You know, we all like to think we're pretty good at handling ourselves, right? Like, when it comes to those little bad habits we all have, we tell ourselves, come on, I got this. Just got to use a little willpower. Yes. Right. But what happens when we're talking about something that goes way beyond, you know, just needing a little willpower boost? Well, that's what I think is so interesting about what we're looking at this week. You know, this whole idea of Alcoholics Anonymous, AA as they call it, and how they approach this whole can of worms. Yeah. It's kind of wild, right? They're going deep into their book this week, chapter two, to be exact. And it's called, There is a Solution. Very optimistic. Getchy. But you know, before we get too far, I do want to say, you know, we're not here to tell anyone to join AA or anything like that, or that it's the only way. We're really just trying to get inside their worldview, so to speak. How do they lay out this whole problem of alcoholism? Because like you were saying, it gets really complicated, right? And to add to that, I think what they do that's so interesting is they really go straight to the source. Yeah. You know, they're talking about the actual experiences of people who've lived it. Yeah. Not just like quick stories, but like really getting into the nitty gritty of what makes this struggle so unique. Yeah. And they don't waste any time either. Like right off the bat, they start talking about these different types of drinkers. I mean, we've all heard the terms, right? Like moderate drinker, or even someone who's a bit of a heavy drinker. Oh, yeah. But they take it a step further with this whole concept of the real alcoholic. And that's where it gets really interesting, because it's not even about how much someone's drinking, really. They're getting at something way more fundamental, like a totally different relationship to alcohol altogether. Okay. So it's less about like how much you like to party and more about... It's like for the real alcoholic, at least how they describe it, it's not even a choice once that first drink is in play. They talk about it as this complete loss of control. Whoa. Okay. So it's like a flip or something. And then all of a sudden, totally different ballgame. That's exactly the analogy they use. They even say it's like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, this stark transformation. And they're very upfront about it, not just being someone who enjoys a drink. It's this baffling inability to just stop, even when it's clear that things are going downhill fast. Man, that's honestly kind of chilling when you put it like that. This idea that it's not even you driving anymore almost sounds terrifying. And the book doesn't shy away from that at all. They get into all the crazy stuff people will do, hiding bottles, coming up with these elaborate schemes just to get their hands on more, stuff that would make zero sense to someone who hasn't been down that road. So we're not talking about your friend who likes to have a couple of beers after work. This is like a whole other beast entirely, almost. Yeah. Exactly. They're making a very clear distinction. Yeah. Definitely something to think about. So, okay. We're talking about something this intense, this powerful, like it can really take hold of someone's life. And it made me think like, if it's that strong, what's the explanation? Is it like a purely physical thing or is it more in your head? Man, if I had a dollar for every time someone's asked me that, it's a million dollar question. And what's kind of wild is even AA themselves, with all the work they've done, all the people they've helped, they don't pretend to have all the answers when it comes to the why. Really? That's kind of surprising. I would think with all their experience, they'd have it all figured out by now. Right. Right. I think so. But I actually think there's something kind of refreshing about that, to be honest. They're not afraid to say, hey, we don't know everything. Like they acknowledge all the usual suspects, willpower. Maybe some folks have messed up wiring upstairs, even the whole moral failing thing, which always rubs me the wrong way. But they're not convinced, or at least like those explanations don't tell the whole story. Exactly. They're basically saying those things might be part of it, but they don't come close to capturing what it actually feels like to be in that alcoholic tailspin. Like trying to understand a hurricane just by looking at a puddle on the ground. You know what I mean? Totally. And it kind of makes you wonder then, like, if it's not just about willpower or making different choices, how does someone actually escape that? Like, we're talking about their book here. It's called Their I.S. a Solution. Okay. So you're thinking what I'm thinking. And this is where things get really interesting, at least in the AA world. They introduce this idea of what they call a vital spiritual experience. Okay. Yeah. No, it's not exactly your usual self-help advice. But before we unpack that whole thing, there's this other piece that I think is super important. It's almost like a tragic part of the whole thing. The book really emphasizes. Oh, okay. What's that? It makes this point that for a lot of folks, especially what they're calling the real alcoholics, talking about. It happens way before anyone even realizes it's happening. Like, even the person themselves might not fully grasp it at first. They actually use this phrase, losing control long before it is suspected. So it's like the slow burn. You don't just wake up one day and bam, you're an alcoholic. That's exactly what they're saying. It can be this really gradual thing that creeps up on you. And it's not always what you'd expect either. They give this example of a really successful businessman, right? It's like on the surface, this guy has it all together. The last person you'd think would be struggling with this behind closed doors. Totally. And the book goes on to say, this businessman, he tries everything to get a grip on his drinking. Doctors, shrinks. He even goes on a whole trip to Europe trying to find some kind of miracle cure. Wow. Talk about desperate times. And I don't know about you, but something tells me that trip to Europe was probably more stressful than relaxing. Oh, I'm right there with you. But here's the kicker. None of it works. He keeps ending up back at square one. In fact, he just seems to be getting sucked in deeper. So then what? If all the usual methods fail, doctors, willpower, even a fancy European vacation, what are you supposed to do? Is that where this whole vital spiritual experience comes in? Okay. So you're picking up what they're putting down. He ends up meeting this doctor who had been studying alcoholism for years. And this doctor basically levels with him. So in a lot of these cases, traditional approaches just don't cut it. Man, I bet that was a tough pill to swallow. So what did he suggest instead? So this doctor's like, yeah, just forget about willpower. Forget what you've heard about medicine. What you need is some kind of spiritual experience. I got to be honest. That's not exactly the first thing that pops up in my mind when I think about dealing with addiction. Right. I mean, talk about a curveball. And yeah, like you're saying, especially back then, that must have sounded pretty out there. So that's kind of what I love about these deep dives. We get to really go down these rabbit holes and explore these totally different ways of looking at things. It's like challenging all those assumptions we don't even realize we have. Totally. So what happened with this businessman? Did this whole spiritual solution actually pan out for him? Well, according to the book, yeah, it really did seem to be his turning point. Like they talk about him finally connecting with something bigger than himself, something spiritual. And that's what finally allowed him to break free. Huh. Freedom. Yeah. That's an interesting way to put it. So what does it actually look like in this context? Is it just about not drinking anymore or is there something more to it? Man, you hit the nail on the head. That's the million dollar question, right? And it's something the book spends a lot of time unpacking because, yeah, it's definitely about not drinking, but they're getting at something way deeper. It's like this whole shift in how you see the world, how you see yourself, almost like those old patterns, the drinking and all that. It just loses its appeal. Okay. I can see that. So this guy finds his freedom, which is awesome, but that's just one story, right? What about everyone else who's out there struggling? Did they all have to go find some doctor who'd tell them to get spiritual? Well, that's where the rest of the book comes in. You know, the chapter, there is a solution. It's really just the tip of the iceberg. They lay out all this groundwork about willpower and this idea of a spiritual experience in the answer. But the real meat of it is in the stories that come after. They go on to share tons of examples from people who found their own paths to this kind of transformation. So it's like they're saying, look, we've been there. We get it. And we found a way out. And it wasn't just about white knuckling it either. It was something way deeper. Exactly. And I don't know about you, but I find that really powerful. Even if you're not dealing with addiction yourself, it's this reminder that sometimes those solutions we're looking for, they're not going to come from some outside source. It's about tapping into something inside ourselves, you know, something that might have been there all along, just waiting for us to pay attention. Man, this has been quite the deep dive. We've covered a lot of ground. We talked about how AA defines alcoholism, the limits of willpower, and of course, that whole idea of a vital spiritual experience, which let's be honest, is a pretty wild concept to wrap your head around. It really is. But hey, maybe that's the takeaway here, right? Maybe this deep dive will spark something for our listeners. Give them something to chew on. Like what if those areas where we feel stuck, where willpower just doesn't seem to cut it, what if the answer does lie in exploring that inner world, that spiritual side? Who knows what we might find? Now that is a question worth pondering. And on that note, folks, we're going to have to leave you to it. But as always, thanks for joining us on this deep dive. It's been a wild ride.