Written by Lisa Kroencke, Executive Director
The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous is specific in its definition of alcoholism. Alcoholism is a disease of three parts: a physical allergy, a mental obsession, and a spiritual malady. As discussed throughout the book, the physical allergy occurs when drugs or alcohol are consumed and sets off a reaction in the body to crave another, and another, and another. The mental obsession is that even when an alcoholic is not drinking and entirely sober, the obsession to drink is so strong that it overpowers any rational thoughts that would tell her it’s not a good idea to drink. Finally, the spiritual malady is best described in The Big Book: “we have been not only mentally and physically ill, but have been spiritually sick. When the spiritual malady is overcome, we straighten out mentally and physically.”
“we have been not only mentally and physically ill, but have been spiritually sick. When the spiritual malady is overcome, we straighten out mentally and physically.”
The spiritual malady is the sickness of our soul, developed over time and can only be truly overcome by looking at ourselves first.
Alcoholism is by no stretch of the imagination our fault. No woman or man wakes up one day with the intention of becoming an “alcoholic.”
No woman or man wakes up one day with the intention of becoming an “alcoholic.”
Even in my most profound delusion, my height of drunk behaviors, I still did not want to be someone who was physically, mentally, and spiritually sick as a result of alcoholism. Numerous factors before my birth predisposed me to alcoholism, and the drink took over my mind in a way I could not control. As The Big Book correctly suggests, we are utterly powerless against alcohol when we try to fight it ourselves. Thankfully, we never have to fight alone.
Although alcoholism isn’t my fault, how I respond to the disease and take charge of my recovery is my responsibility.
Although alcoholism isn’t my fault, how I respond to the disease and take charge of my recovery is my responsibility.
By seeking the solution, I’m making the statement that I am willing to believe that I have what it takes to recover. I am taking responsibility for my disease when I take responsibility for my recovery. Nobody can recover for me. This statement is huge and set the path for my successful recovery journey.
Taking responsibility doesn’t stop at declaring that I needed help and made the decision to find the solution. Throughout the recovery process, commitment is expected at all times. As The Big Book states, in time, responsibility will become such a large part of our recovery journey that we will even “awaken to a new sense of responsibility for others” as well.
How Can I Take Responsibility for my Alcoholism?
Admitting that only I could find recovery and create a new life for myself, then seeking the solution was the first step. Committing myself entirely to the recovery process was the second.
Sometimes, when tasked with doing something difficult or challenging for my own good, I balked at the added responsibility of doing it. The Big Book couldn’t illustrate this point any better. It says that “the idea that somehow, someday he will control and enjoy his drinking is the great obsession of every abnormal drinker.” If I could control my alcoholism without the help and support of a recovery community, I would have done it long ago. All I have to do is stay committed to it.
If I could control my alcoholism without the help and support of a recovery community, I would have done it long ago. All I have to do is stay committed to it.
I Didn’t Cause my Alcoholism. So Why Should I be Responsible for it?
It was hard to understand the logic behind assuming responsibility for something I could not control and didn’t cause. Still, I need to look no further than The Big Book, which encourages me to assume responsibility so I can help others going through similar pain. “I am responsible…When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, I always want to be there. And for that: I am responsible.”
“…When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, I always want to be there. And for that: I am responsible.”
Acknowledging that I am powerless over alcoholism, but I have absolute power in how I deal with it is the entire goal behind assuming responsibility. If I am tasked with being there for others who need my help, I must first understand that responsibility begins within myself.
