>>>>>>Hi Neil,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>You are the first to identify the real problem, or at least the first to say so. True confessions time, then. I have been drunk all week. This is exactly what I was afraid would happen. I thought the motivation of working and making money again would be enough, but evidently not. The first two weeks went well. This week, off the wagon in a big way. I honestly have no explanation other than that it's a disease.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I called my AA sponsor yesterday and he was drunker than me. He has gone back to old ways. He had been sober for a year.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Reservations for the next two weeks are made. I am going to give it that long. If I can't get myself under control I will resign from the project and go back home. I was doing a lot better than this there. Many people, in AA and out, have told me my sobriety is the most important thing, more important than anything.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>The infuriating thing about it is I am happier sober.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I do believe it's a disease but ask for no sympathy. People like Tamar and Tracy who kick my a** are what I need. The people I respect in my AA group back home are the same way.
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Consider your a** kicked. Neil said it before I did, but I kind of guessed that was it.
>>>>>
>>>>>Get yourself to a bunch of meetings over the weekend and find another sponsor. Make sure you know where and when the Baton Rouge meetings are, as well. You can beat this.
>>>>>
>>>>>Tamar
>>>>
>>>>I am not quite familiar with USA practice. Does it have something to cure this? I mean some medical solution, not just social meetings.
>>>
>>>There are medicines to help with addiction as well as medicines that will make you violently ill if you drink alcohol. There are even medical specialities in the field of addiction medicine. For example, it is now known that alcohol releases more dopamine in the brain. There have been studies done on epilepsey drugs which inhibit dopamine production and may be a tool to be used in combating alcoholism and cigarette addiction among others.
>>
>>That's what I meant, i.e. if someone assumes that the disease has progressed beyond the point of emotional/spiritual cure, then, maybe, hard medications could be taken into consideration. There should be some doctors specializing in this area.
>
>I think the general practice when you see a specialist in that field (I may be wrong here) is a combination of many tools: medicine, group and individual counseling, progressive care (in house and half-way centers, etc). Many people assume AAA is the only support group and that is far from the reality.

Especially if you get a flat tire <g>. (It feels good to smile).

I do like group therapy. The spiritual / religious aspect of AA is something I have never accepted, but like being with other people who have the same affliction. There are different groups but not any near me. Maybe one here....