Sunday, July 02, 2006
Bill's Story - Progressive Isolation
"My drinking assumed more serious proporations, continuing all day and almost every night. The remonstrances of my friends terminated in a row and I became a lone wolf."
Alcoholics Anonymous
Bill's Story
page 3
Fairly early in the scientific study of problems associated with alcohol abuse, researcher E. M. Jellinek described alcoholism as a progressive disease and plotted the widely referenced "Jellinek Chart: The Progression and Recovery of the Alcoholic in the Disease of Alcoholism."
Somewhere toward the end of the "Crucial Phase" nearing the start of the "Chronic Phase," Jellinek notes (or predicts) the loss of friends as one of the milestones of the progressive spiral of the disease.
For me, that milestone came in my early twenties. It wasn't so much a "row" (as Bill W. described), but rather my friends just outgrew their tolerance for my excuses and broken promises. They were moving on and making something of their lives with professional careers, committed relationships, and adult interests. I was desperately trying to hold on to the fraternity boy lifestyle where I felt comfortable and accepted.
I felt abandoned and drank at my friends' "mistreatment" of me. My pride told me, "who needs them anyway" and I began to isolate in self pity. I too became a lone wolf.
Get the latest edition of:
Alcoholics Anonymous
AA Services
aa addiction alcoholism recovery sponsornet substance abuse
Alcoholics Anonymous
Bill's Story
page 3
Fairly early in the scientific study of problems associated with alcohol abuse, researcher E. M. Jellinek described alcoholism as a progressive disease and plotted the widely referenced "Jellinek Chart: The Progression and Recovery of the Alcoholic in the Disease of Alcoholism."
Somewhere toward the end of the "Crucial Phase" nearing the start of the "Chronic Phase," Jellinek notes (or predicts) the loss of friends as one of the milestones of the progressive spiral of the disease.
For me, that milestone came in my early twenties. It wasn't so much a "row" (as Bill W. described), but rather my friends just outgrew their tolerance for my excuses and broken promises. They were moving on and making something of their lives with professional careers, committed relationships, and adult interests. I was desperately trying to hold on to the fraternity boy lifestyle where I felt comfortable and accepted.
I felt abandoned and drank at my friends' "mistreatment" of me. My pride told me, "who needs them anyway" and I began to isolate in self pity. I too became a lone wolf.
Get the latest edition of:
Alcoholics Anonymous
AA Services
aa addiction alcoholism recovery sponsornet substance abuse
# posted by Bill B. @ 11:23 PM 
