From the books ... Alcoholics Anonymous (Big Book) and Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (12 & 12)
Click
to display the full page from the Big Book1.
... alcoholic.
12&12 p.31,
Step Two
"As psychiatrists have often observed, defiance is the outstanding characteristic of many
an alcoholic.
2.
... alcoholic.
12&12 p.37,
Step Three
3.
... alcoholic.
12&12 p.110,
Step Twelve
To watch the eyes of men and women open with wonder as they move from darkness into light, to see their lives quickly fill with new purpose and meaning, to see whole families reassembled,
to see the alcoholic outcast received back into his community in
full citizenship, and
above all to watch these people awaken to the presence of a loving God in their lives -- these things are the substance
of what we receive as we carry A.A.'s message to the next alcoholic.
4.
... alcoholic!
BB p.14,
Bill's Story
5.
... alcoholic?
BB p.21,
There Is A Solution
But what about the real alcoholic?
6.
... alcoholic.
BB p.27,
There Is A Solution
7.
... alcoholic.
BB p.31,
More About Alcoholism
Physicians who are familiar with alcoholism agree there is
no such thing as making a normal drinker out of an alcoholic.
8.
... alcoholic."
BB p.33,
More About Alcoholism
9.
... alcoholic.
BB p.34,
More About Alcoholism
10.
... alcoholic.
BB p.36,
More About Alcoholism
11.
... alcoholic.
BB p.39,
More About Alcoholism
Yet, he is alcoholic.
12.
... alcoholic.
BB p.44,
We Agnostics
13.
... alcoholic.
BB p.44,
We Agnostics
If, when you honestly want
to, you find you cannot quit
entirely, or if when drinking, you have little
control over the amount you take, you are probably alcoholic.
14.
... alcoholic.
BB p.91,
Working With Others
15.
... alcoholic.
BB p.92,
Working With Others
16.
... alcoholic.
BB p.92,
Working With Others
If he sticks to the idea
that he can still control
his drinking, tell him
that possibly he can -- if he is not too alcoholic.
17.
... alcoholic.
BB p.92,
Working With Others
18.
... alcoholic.
BB p.102,
Working With Others
19.
... alcoholic.
BB p.104,
To Wives
20.
... alcoholic.
BB p.109,
To Wives
21.
... alcoholic.
BB p.109,
To Wives
22.
... alcoholic.
BB p.117,
To Wives
23.
... alcoholic.
BB p.119,
To Wives
It is probably true that
you and your husband have been living too much alone, for drinking many times isolates the wife of an alcoholic.
24.
... alcoholic.
BB p.138,
To Employers
One day he told me about an executive
of the same bank who, from his
description, was undoubtedly alcoholic.
25.
... alcoholic.
BB p.140,
To Employers
26.
... alcoholic.
BB p.148,
To Employers
27.
... alcoholic.
BB p.149,
To Employers
As to them, his policy is undoubtedly sound, but he
did not distinguish between such people and the alcoholic.
28.
... alcoholic.(*)
BB p.155,
A Vision For You
Painfully aware of being somehow abnormal, the man did not fully realize what it meant to be alcoholic.(*)
29.
... alcoholic.
BB xiii,
Foreword to First Edition
30.
... alcoholic.
BB xvi,
Foreword to Second Edition
31.
... alcoholic.
BB xvii,
Foreword to Second Edition
By late 1937, the number of members having substantial sobriety
time behind them was sufficient to convince
the membership that a new
light had entered the dark world of the alcoholic.
32.
... alcoholic, a
wife gets worn out, resentful ...
BB p.81,
Into Action
33.
... alcoholic addiction.
BB xxvii(xxv),
The Doctor's Opinion
The subject presented
in this book seems to me to
be of paramount importance to those afflicted with alcoholic addiction.
34.
... alcoholic after
all.
12&12 p.23,
Step One
35.
... alcoholic almost
from the start.
BB p.172,
Doctor Bob's Nightmare
Never once in my life have I had a headache,
which fact leads me to believe that I was an alcoholic almost from the start.
36.
... alcoholic alternately
loves and hates her maternal ...
12&12 p.118,
Step Twelve
The wife usually goes on doing the best she knows how, but meanwhile the alcoholic alternately loves and hates her maternal care.
37.
... alcoholic, always
an alcoholic."
BB p.33,
More About Alcoholism
38.
... alcoholic an
opportunity to live and be ...
BB p.96,
Working With Others
To spend too much time on any one situation is to deny some other alcoholic an opportunity to
live and be happy.
39.
... alcoholic and
could not manage our own ...
BB p.60,
How It Works
40.
... alcoholic and
drug addiction.
BB p.162,
A Vision For You
41.
... alcoholic and
drug addiction.
BB xxvii(xxv),
The Doctor's Opinion
I say this after many years' experience as Medical Director of one of the oldest hospitals in the country treating alcoholic and drug addiction.
42.
... alcoholic and
drug addiction, gave Alcoholics Anonymous ...
BB xxv(xxiii),
The Doctor's Opinion
A well-known doctor, chief physician at a nationally prominent
hospital specializing in alcoholic
and drug addiction, gave Alcoholics Anonymous this letter:
43.
... alcoholic and
if I were really licked ...
BB p.42,
More About Alcoholism
They grinned, which I didn't like so much, and then asked me if I thought myself alcoholic and if I were
really licked this time.
44.
... alcoholic and
in a serious condition.
BB p.35,
More About Alcoholism
45.
... alcoholic, and
lack of knowledge as to ...
BB p.139,
To Employers
To me, this incident illustrates lack of understanding as to what really ails the alcoholic, and lack of knowledge as to what part employers might profitably take in salvaging their sick employees.
46.
... alcoholic and
nonalcoholic, to use the society ...
12&12 p.178,
Tradition Ten
Instead, the Washingtonians permitted politicians
and reformers, both alcoholic and nonalcoholic,
to use the society for their
own purposes.
47.
... alcoholic, and
surely no member of A.A., ...
12&12 p.71,
Step Seven
48.
... alcoholic and
the non-alcoholic.
BB p.44,
We Agnostics
49.
... alcoholic and
try again.
BB p.96,
Working With Others
50.
... alcoholic and
very far advanced, there is ...
BB p.34,
More About Alcoholism
51.
... alcoholic and
warps his mind.
BB p.157,
A Vision For You
The man in the bed was told of the acute poisoning from which he suffered, how it deteriorates the body of
an alcoholic and warps his mind.
52.
... alcoholic and
whether he should join us?
12&12 p.141,
Tradition Three
Why did we leave it to each newcomer to decide himself whether he was an alcoholic
and whether he should join
us?
53.
... alcoholic and
which finally translates the Twelve ...
12&12 p.109,
Step Twelve
The wonderful energy it
releases and the eager action by which it carries
our message to the next suffering alcoholic and
which finally translates the Twelve Steps into action upon all our affairs is the payoff, the magnificent
reality, of Alcoholics Anonymous.
54.
... alcoholic angle,
had to smile at this ...
BB p.149,
To Employers
We, who have collectively seen a great deal of business life, at least from the alcoholic angle, had to smile at this gentleman's
sincere opinion.
55.
... alcoholic, as
our behavior patterns vary.
BB p.22,
There Is A Solution
56.
... alcoholic as
the employer sees him.
BB p.136,
To Employers
57.
... alcoholic as
we were, we believe there ...
BB p.25,
There Is A Solution
58.
... alcoholic at
certain times has no effective ...
BB p.43,
More About Alcoholism
59.
... alcoholic, begin
to dwell on the hopeless ...
BB p.92,
Working With Others
If you are satisfied that he is a real alcoholic, begin to dwell on the hopeless feature of the malady.
60.
... alcoholic, but
he had succeeded only in ...
BB xvi,
Foreword to Second Edition
Prior to his journey to Akron, the broker had worked hard with many alcoholics on the theory that only an alcoholic
could help an alcoholic, but
he had succeeded only in keeping sober himself.
61.
... alcoholic, but
you can quickly diagnose yourself.
BB p.31,
More About Alcoholism
62.
... alcoholic can
ask questions like these: In ...
12&12 p.51,
Step Four
Surveying his business or employment
record, almost any alcoholic can ask questions like these: In addition to my
drinking problem, what
character defects contributed to my financial instability?
63.
... alcoholic can
stay sober at all.
12&12 p.70,
Step Seven
64.
... alcoholic capable
of honestly facing his problems ...
BB p.568(570),
Appendix II, Spiritual Experience
Most emphatically we wish to say that any alcoholic capable of honestly facing his problems in the
light of our experience
can recover, provided
he does not close his mind to
all spiritual concepts.
65.
... alcoholic center,
a kind of pilot plant ...
12&12 p.147,
Tradition Four
They figured the town needed a great big alcoholic center, a kind of pilot plant A.A. groups could duplicate everywhere.
66.
... alcoholic centers
in his mind, rather than ...
BB p.23,
There Is A Solution
67.
... alcoholic commences
to rely upon our assistance ...
BB p.98,
Working With Others
The minute we put our work on a service plane, the alcoholic commences to rely upon our assistance rather than upon God.
68.
... alcoholic condition
was relieved, as in fact ...
BB p.42,
More About Alcoholism
But the moment I made up my mind to go through with the process, I had the curious
feeling that my alcoholic
condition was relieved, as in fact it proved to be.
69.
... alcoholic continue
his program day by day.
BB p.99,
Working With Others
70.
... alcoholic continues
to demonstrate that he can ...
BB p.99,
Working With Others
These things will come to pass naturally and in good time provided, however, the
alcoholic continues to demonstrate that he can be sober, considerate, and
helpful, regardless
of what anyone says or does.
71.
... alcoholic could
affect another as no nonalcoholic ...
BB xvi,
Foreword to Second Edition
72.
... alcoholic, could
certainly be given a long-term ...
12&12 p.69,
Step Six
73.
... alcoholic could
help an alcoholic, but he ...
BB xvi,
Foreword to Second Edition
Prior to his journey to Akron, the broker had worked hard with many alcoholics on the theory that only an alcoholic
could help an alcoholic, but
he had succeeded only in keeping sober himself.
74.
... alcoholic could
live, so we had to ...
BB xix,
Foreword to Second Edition
As we discovered the principles by which the individual alcoholic could
live, so we had to evolve principles by which the A.A.
groups and A.A. as a whole could survive and function effectively.
75.
... alcoholic crackpot;
now, I suspected, a little ...
BB p.9,
Bill's Story
So that was it -- last summer an alcoholic crackpot; now, I suspected, a little cracked about religion.
76.
... alcoholic crowd?
BB p.138,
To Employers
77.
... alcoholic death
or to live on a ...
BB p.44,
We Agnostics
To be doomed to an alcoholic
death or to live on a spiritual basis are not always easy alternatives to face.
78.
... alcoholic derelictions,
the treatment about to be ...
BB p.143,
To Employers
While on the subject of confidence, can you adopt
the attitude that so far as
you are concerned this will be a strictly personal matter, that his
alcoholic derelictions, the treatment about to be undertaken, will never be discussed without his consent?
79.
... alcoholic despair.
BB p.155,
A Vision For You
His call to the clergyman
led him presently to a certain resident of the town, who, though formerly able and respected, was then nearing the nadir of alcoholic despair.
80.
... alcoholic destruction,
we soon became as open ...
BB p.48,
We Agnostics
Faced with alcoholic destruction, we soon became as open minded on spiritual matters as we had tried to be
on other questions.
81.
... alcoholic dilemma
but had failed.
BB xvi,
Foreword to Second Edition
This physician had repeatedly tried spiritual means to resolve his alcoholic dilemma but had failed.
82.
... alcoholic's dilemma
was made clear.
12&12 p.17,
Foreword
In it alcoholism was described from the alcoholic's point of view, the spiritual ideas of the Society were codified for the first time in the Twelve Steps, and the application of these Steps to the alcoholic's dilemma was made clear.
83.
... alcoholic does
not respond, there is no ...
BB p.97,
Working With Others
84.
... alcoholic's drinking
bout creates.
BB p.23,
There Is A Solution
Sometimes these excuses have a certain plausibility, but none of
them really makes sense in the light of the havoc an alcoholic's drinking bout creates.
85.
... alcoholic's drinking
exploits.
BB p.145,
To Employers
One instance comes to mind in which a malicious individual
was always making friendly little jokes about an alcoholic's drinking exploits.
86.
... alcoholic employee.
BB p.148,
To Employers
87.
... alcoholic employee
will receive a disproportionate amount ...
BB p.149,
To Employers
It is not to be expected that an alcoholic employee will receive a disproportionate amount of time and attention.
88.
... alcoholic employees,
who produce as much as ...
BB p.150,
To Employers
89.
... alcoholic ever
recovers control.
BB p.30,
More About Alcoholism
90.
... alcoholic excuses
naturally arouses suspicion.
BB p.146,
To Employers
91.
... alcoholic failed
to perfect and enlarge his ...
BB p.14,
Bill's Story
For if an alcoholic failed
to perfect and enlarge
his spiritual life through work and self-sacrifice for others, he could not survive
the certain trials and low spots ahead.
92.
... alcoholic field.
BB xxvii(xxv),
The Doctor's Opinion
The unselfishness of these men as we have come to know them, the entire absence of profit motive, and their community spirit, is indeed inspiring to one who has labored long and wearily in this alcoholic field.
93.
... alcoholic's first
drink it would, if taken, ...
12&12 p.164,
Tradition Seven
Compared to this prospect, the ten thousand dollars under consideration
wasn't much, but like the
alcoholic's first drink it would, if taken, inevitably set up a disastrous chain reaction.
94.
... Alcoholic Foundation
a sum of ten thousand ...
12&12 p.164,
Tradition Seven
When her will was read, it was
discovered she had left
Alcoholics Anonymous in trust with the
Alcoholic Foundation a
sum of ten thousand dollars.
95.
... Alcoholic Foundation,
Inc., was changed to the ...
12&12 p.140,
Tradition Three (Note)
(*) In 1954, the name of the
Alcoholic Foundation,
Inc., was changed to the General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous, Inc., and the Foundation office is now the General Service Office.
96.
... Alcoholic Foundation,
Inc., was changed to the ...
12&12 p.148,
Tradition Four (Note)
(*) In 1954, the name of the
Alcoholic Foundation,
Inc., was changed to the General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous, Inc., and the Foundation office is now the General Service Office.
97.
... Alcoholic Foundation,
Inc., was changed to the ...
12&12 p.162,
Tradition Seven (Note)
(*) In 1954, the name of the
Alcoholic Foundation,
Inc., was changed to the General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous, Inc., and the Foundation office is now the General Service Office.
98.
... Alcoholic Foundation,
Inc., was changed to the ...
12&12 p.168,
Tradition Eight (Note)
(*) In 1954, the name of the
Alcoholic Foundation,
Inc., was changed to the General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous, Inc., and the Foundation office is now the General Service Office.
99.
... Alcoholic Foundation,
Inc., was changed to the ...
12&12 p.173,
Tradition Nine (Note)
(*) In 1954, the name of the
Alcoholic Foundation,
Inc., was changed to the General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous, Inc., and the Foundation office is now the General Service Office.
100.
... Alcoholic Foundation,
Inc., was changed to the ...
12&12 p.182,
Tradition Eleven (Note)
(*) In 1954, the name of the
Alcoholic Foundation,
Inc., was changed to the General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous, Inc., and the Foundation office is now the General Service Office.
101.
... alcoholic friend
who had been in contact ...
BB xvi,
Foreword to Second Edition
Six months earlier, the broker had been
relieved of his drink obsession by a sudden spiritual experience,
following a meeting
with an alcoholic friend who
had been in contact with the Oxford Groups of that day.
102.
... alcoholic friends.
BB p.119,
To Wives
103.
... alcoholic friends
had told me, how they ...
BB p.41,
More About Alcoholism
I now remembered what my
alcoholic friends had told me, how they prophesied that if I had an alcoholic mind, the time and place would come -- I would drink again.
104.
... alcoholic friends,
who were making as much ...
12&12 p.136,
Tradition Two
105.
... alcoholic from
any moral or spiritual hilltop; ...
BB p.95,
Working With Others
Never talk down to an alcoholic from any moral or spiritual hilltop; simply lay out the kit of spiritual tools for his inspection.
106.
... alcoholic's full
chance was sometimes to pronounce ...
12&12 p.141,
Tradition Three
At last experience taught us that to take away any alcoholic's full chance was sometimes to pronounce his death sentence, and often to condemn him to endless misery.
107.
... alcoholic had
planted in the mind of ...
12&12 p.23,
Step One
It was then discovered that when one alcoholic had planted in the mind of another the true nature of his malady, that person could never be the same again.
108.
... alcoholic has
accomplished in a few weeks ...
BB p.118,
To Wives
We do not like the thought
that the contents of a book or the work of another alcoholic has accomplished in a few weeks that for which we struggled for years.
109.
... alcoholic has
been marked by escapades, funny, ...
BB p.123,
The Family Afterward
Now and then the family will be plagued by spectres from the past, for
the drinking career of
almost every alcoholic has been marked by escapades, funny, humiliating, shameful
or tragic.
110.
... alcoholic has
often seemed a fool of ...
BB p.137,
To Employers
111.
... alcoholic has
-- that his long period of ...
BB p.32,
More About Alcoholism
Then he fell victim to a belief which practically
every alcoholic has -- that
his long period of sobriety and self-discipline had qualified him to drink as
other men.
112.
... alcoholic he
did, like us, go through ...
12&12 p.99,
Step Eleven
We won't be biased or scared off by that fact, because although he was
not an alcoholic he did, like
us, go through the emotional wringer.
113.
... alcoholic, he
is almost certain to have.
BB p.142,
To Employers
If he temporizes and still thinks he can ever drink again, even beer, he might as well be discharged after the next bender which, if an alcoholic, he is almost certain to have.
114.
... alcoholic, he
passes into a state where ...
BB p.24,
There Is A Solution
At a certain point in the
drinking of every alcoholic, he passes into a state where the most powerful desire to stop drinking is of absolutely no avail.
115.
... alcoholic, he
told himself he came to ...
BB p.39,
More About Alcoholism
116.
... alcoholic, he
will laugh it off, or ...
BB p.23,
There Is A Solution
If you draw this fallacious reasoning
to the attention of an alcoholic, he will laugh it off, or become irritated and refuse to talk.
117.
... alcoholic, he
will understand you at once.
BB p.92,
Working With Others
118.
... alcoholic, he'd
receive only what we'd have ...
12&12 p.168,
Tradition Eight
119.
... alcoholic himself,
we surely have no monopoly.
BB xxi,
Foreword to Second Edition
120.
... alcoholic, his
wife, his children, his "in-laws", ...
BB p.122,
The Family Afterward
The alcoholic, his wife, his
children, his "in-laws",
each one is likely to have fixed ideas about the family's attitude towards himself or herself.
121.
... alcoholic housewife
can also make the family ...
12&12 p.51,
Step Four
122.
... alcoholic husband.
BB p.108,
To Wives
These are some of the questions which race through the mind of every woman who has an alcoholic husband.
123.
... alcoholic husband
no matter what he says ...
BB p.108,
To Wives
124.
... alcoholic illness,
for with it there goes ...
BB p.18,
There Is A Solution
But not so with the alcoholic illness, for with it there goes annihilation of all
the things worth while in life.
125.
... alcoholic illness,
we might have behaved differently.
BB p.107,
To Wives
126.
... alcoholic in
a few hours.
BB p.18,
There Is A Solution
But the ex-problem drinker who has found this solution, who is properly
armed with facts about himself, can generally win the entire confidence of another
alcoholic in a few hours.
127.
... alcoholic in
his cups is an unlovely ...
BB p.16,
Bill's Story
128.
... alcoholic in
the home is likely to ...
BB p.104,
To Wives (Note)
(*) Written in 1939, when
there were few women in A.A., this chapter assumes that the alcoholic in
the home is likely to be the
husband.
129.
... alcoholic in
your organization is many times ...
BB p.139,
To Employers
130.
... alcoholic insanity.
BB p.9,
Bill's Story
131.
... alcoholic instead!
BB p.102,
Working With Others
132.
... alcoholic is
a member of our Society ...
12&12 p.145,
Tradition Three
So the hand of Providence early gave us a sign that any alcoholic is a member of our Society when
he says so.
133.
... alcoholic is
a very sick person.
BB xiii,
Foreword to First Edition
134.
... alcoholic is
almost sure to make any ...
BB p.122,
The Family Afterward
A doctor said to us, "Years of living with an alcoholic is almost sure to make any wife or child neurotic.
135.
... alcoholic is
an extreme example of self-will ...
BB p.62,
How It Works
They arise out of ourselves, and the alcoholic
is an extreme example of
self-will run riot, though he usually doesn't think so.
136.
... alcoholic is
concerned, are not always so.
BB p.139,
To Employers
Drinking occasionally, and understanding your own reactions, it is possible for you to become
quite sure of many things which, so far as the alcoholic is concerned, are not always
so.
137.
... alcoholic is
easily understood.
BB p.137,
To Employers
138.
... alcoholic is
like a tornado roaring his ...
BB p.82,
Into Action
139.
... alcoholic is
quite as abnormal as his ...
BB xxvi(xxiv),
The Doctor's Opinion
In this statement he confirms what we who have suffered alcoholic torture must believe -- that the body of
the alcoholic is quite as abnormal as his mind.
140.
... alcoholic is
strangely irrational.
BB p.140,
To Employers
141.
... alcoholic keeps
away from drink, as he ...
BB p.22,
There Is A Solution
We know that while the alcoholic keeps away from drink, as he may do
for months or years, he reacts much like other men.
142.
... alcoholic lapses
or emotional binges than A.A.'s ...
12&12 p.38,
Step Three
143.
... alcoholic leads
a double life.
BB p.73,
Into Action
144.
... alcoholic life
seems the only normal one.
BB xxviii(xxvi),
The Doctor's Opinion
145.
... alcoholic longs
for the return of happiness ...
BB p.123,
The Family Afterward
146.
... alcoholic looks
for this spirit among us ...
BB p.103,
Working With Others
Every new alcoholic looks for this spirit among us and is immensely relieved when
he finds we are not witch-burners.
147.
... alcoholic man
or woman could be excluded ...
BB xix,
Foreword to Second Edition
It was thought that no alcoholic man or woman could be excluded from
our Society; that our leaders might serve but never govern; that each group was to be autonomous and there was to be no professional class of therapy.
148.
... alcoholic may
find it hard to re-establish ...
BB p.134,
The Family Afterward
149.
... alcoholic may
say to himself in the ...
BB p.24,
There Is A Solution
The alcoholic may say to himself in the most casual
way, "It won't burn me this time, so here's how!"
150.
... alcoholic member
has to if he would ...
BB p.135,
The Family Afterward
Whether the family goes on a spiritual basis or not, the alcoholic member has to if he would recover.
151.
... alcoholic member
is trying to live.
BB p.130,
The Family Afterward
One more suggestion: Whether the
family has spiritual convictions or not, they may do well to examine the principles by which the alcoholic member is trying to live.
152.
... alcoholic men
and women, and to all ...
BB p.171,
Doctor Bob's Nightmare
To 1950, the year of his death, he carried the A.A. message to more than 5,000 alcoholic men and women, and to all these he gave
his medical services without thought of charge.
153.
... alcoholic men
and women, desperately in need, ...
BB p.29,
There Is A Solution
Our hope is that many alcoholic men and women, desperately in need, will see these pages, and we believe that it is only by fully disclosing ourselves and our problems that they will be persuaded to say, "Yes, I am one of them too; I must have this thing."
154.
... alcoholic men
and women to recovery, there ...
BB xi,
Preface
Because this book has become the basic text for our Society and has
helped such large numbers of alcoholic men and women to recovery, there exists strong sentiment against any radical changes being made in it.
155.
... alcoholic men
and women who are banded ...
12&12 p.15,
Foreword
Alcoholics Anonymous is a worldwide fellowship
of more than one hundred thousand(*) alcoholic men and women who are banded together to solve their common problems and to help fellow sufferers in recovery
from that age-old, baffling malady, alcoholism.
156.
... alcoholic mentality,
such as I had exhibited ...
BB p.42,
More About Alcoholism
They piled on me heaps of evidence to the effect that
an alcoholic mentality,
such as I had exhibited
in Washington, was a hopeless condition.
157.
... alcoholic might
bring.
12&12 p.142,
Tradition Three
We are much more afraid of what people might
say than the trouble this strange alcoholic might bring.
158.
... alcoholic mind.
BB p.42,
More About Alcoholism
159.
... alcoholic mind,
the time and place would ...
BB p.41,
More About Alcoholism
I now remembered what my
alcoholic friends had told me, how they prophesied that if I had an alcoholic mind, the time and place would come -- I would drink again.
160.
... alcoholic mind;
there is something the matter ...
BB p.101,
Working With Others
An alcoholic who cannot meet
them, still has an alcoholic
mind; there is something
the matter with his spiritual status.
161.
... alcoholic, much
less accept a spiritual remedy ...
BB p.39,
More About Alcoholism
162.
... alcoholic myself!
BB p.137,
To Employers
163.
... alcoholic obsession
that few knew of his ...
BB p.155,
A Vision For You
164.
... alcoholic of
a type I had come ...
BB xxv(xxiii),
The Doctor's Opinion
In late 1934 I attended a patient who, though he had been a competent businessman
of good earning capacity, was an alcoholic of
a type I had come to regard as hopeless.
165.
... alcoholic of
the hopeless variety.
BB p.44,
We Agnostics
To one who feels he is an atheist or agnostic such an experience seems impossible, but to
continue as he is means
disaster, especially
if he is an alcoholic of the hopeless variety.
166.
... alcoholic of
this temperament may be quick ...
BB p.108,
To Wives
167.
... alcoholic of
your description."(*)
BB p.27,
There Is A Solution
With many individuals
the methods which I employed are successful, but I have never been successful with
an alcoholic of your description."(*)
168.
... alcoholic often
overcomes his excessive concentration upon ...
BB p.570(572),
Appendix III, The Medical View on A.A.
They help others with similar problems ... In
this atmosphere the alcoholic often overcomes his excessive
concentration upon himself.
169.
... alcoholic only
seems to be unloving and ...
BB p.108,
To Wives
Of course, there is such a
thing as incompatibility, but in nearly every instance the alcoholic only
seems to be unloving and
inconsiderate; it is usually because he is warped and sickened that he
says and does these appalling things.
170.
... alcoholic or
his wife have had love ...
BB p.124,
The Family Afterward
171.
... alcoholic or
not.
12&12 p.16,
Foreword
172.
... alcoholic ought
to be freed from his ...
BB xxvii(xxv),
The Doctor's Opinion
Of course an alcoholic ought to be freed from his physical craving for liquor, and this often requires a definite hospital procedure, before psychological
measures can be of maximum benefit.
173.
... alcoholic outcast
received back into his community ...
12&12 p.110,
Step Twelve
To watch the eyes of men and women open with wonder as they move from darkness into light, to see their lives quickly fill with new purpose and meaning, to see whole families reassembled,
to see the alcoholic outcast received back into his community in
full citizenship, and
above all to watch these people awaken to the presence of a loving God in their lives -- these things are the substance
of what we receive as we carry A.A.'s message to the next alcoholic.
174.
... alcoholic's past
thus becomes the principal asset ...
BB p.124,
The Family Afterward
The alcoholic's past thus becomes the principal asset of the family and frequently it
is almost the only one!
175.
... alcoholic patients
the whole story unless it ...
BB p.92,
Working With Others
Doctors are rightly loath to tell alcoholic patients the whole story unless it will serve some good purpose.
176.
... alcoholic people
must have depth and weight.
BB xxviii(xxvi),
The Doctor's Opinion
177.
... alcoholic pit.
BB p.79,
Into Action
Therefore, we are not to be the hasty and foolish martyr who would needlessly sacrifice
others to save himself from the alcoholic pit.
178.
... alcoholic's plight
is, in my opinion, correct.
BB p.43,
More About Alcoholism
One of these men, staff member of a world-renowned hospital, recently made this statement to some
of us: "What you say about the general hopelessness
of the average alcoholic's
plight is, in my opinion,
correct.
179.
... alcoholic's point
of view, the spiritual ideas ...
12&12 p.17,
Foreword
In it alcoholism was described from the alcoholic's point of view, the spiritual ideas of the Society were codified for the first time in the Twelve Steps, and the application of these Steps to the alcoholic's dilemma was made clear.
180.
... alcoholic problem.
BB p.111,
To Wives
181.
... alcoholic problem."
BB p.149,
To Employers
182.
... alcoholic problem,
but we shall be of ...
BB p.103,
Working With Others
Some day we hope that Alcoholics Anonymous
will help the public to a better realization of the gravity of the alcoholic problem, but we shall be of
little use if our attitude is one of bitterness or hostility.
183.
... alcoholic problem
in industry, when some became ...
12&12 p.167,
Tradition Eight
Even greater furors were provoked when
A.A. members began to run rest homes and farms for alcoholics, when
some hired out to corporations as personnel men in charge of the alcoholic problem in industry, when
some became nurses on
alcoholic wards, when others entered the field of alcohol education.
184.
... alcoholic problem,
it might pay to take ...
BB p.149,
To Employers
Even if you feel your organization has no alcoholic problem, it might pay to take another look down the line.
185.
... alcoholic problem
was so complex, and his ...
BB xxxi(xxix),
The Doctor's Opinion
His alcoholic problem was
so complex, and his depression so great, that
we felt his only hope would be
through what we then called "moral psychology," and we doubted if even that would
have any effect.
186.
... alcoholic problem
was taken away.
BB p.56,
We Agnostics
187.
... alcoholic problems
and explain our fellowship.
BB p.45,
We Agnostics
Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss his alcoholic problems and explain our
fellowship.
188.
... alcoholic prospect.
BB p.148,
To Employers
189.
... alcoholic prospect.
BB p.156,
A Vision For You
190.
... alcoholic reacts
differently from normal people.
BB p.22,
There Is A Solution
191.
... alcoholic readers
and proved to them that ...
12&12 p.17,
Foreword
This established identification with alcoholic readers and proved to them that the virtually impossible
had now become possible.
192.
... alcoholic readers
as it has been revealed ...
BB p.39,
More About Alcoholism
This is a point we wish to emphasize and re-emphasize, to smash home upon our alcoholic readers as it has been
revealed to us out of bitter experience.
193.
... alcoholic readers
may think they can do ...
BB p.27,
There Is A Solution
194.
... alcoholic, realizing
what his wife has endured, ...
12&12 p.119,
Step Twelve
The alcoholic, realizing
what his wife has endured,
and now fully understanding how much
he himself did to damage
her and his children, nearly always takes up his marriage responsibilities with a willingness to repair
what he can and to accept what he can't.
195.
... alcoholic run-around
-- provided, of course, they are ...
BB p.146,
To Employers
After your man has gone along without drinking for a few months, you may be able to make use of his services with other employees who are giving you the alcoholic run-around -- provided, of course, they
are willing to have a third party in the picture.
196.
... alcoholic say
he cannot recover unless he ...
BB p.99,
Working With Others
197.
... alcoholic say
that the only thing he ...
BB p.82,
Into Action
198.
... alcoholic, self-centered
in the extreme, doesn't care ...
12&12 p.24,
Step One
No, the average alcoholic, self-centered in the extreme,
doesn't care for this prospect -- unless he has
to do these things in order
to stay alive himself.
199.
... alcoholic, sharing
experience, strength, and hope.
BB xxii,
Foreword to Third Edition
Each day, somewhere in the world, recovery begins when one alcoholic talks with another alcoholic, sharing experience, strength,
and hope.
200.
... alcoholic sickness
is discussed at length might ...
BB p.140,
To Employers
If this presents difficulty, re-reading chapters two and three, where the alcoholic sickness is discussed at length might
be worth while.
201.
... alcoholic, so
much the better.
BB p.92,
Working With Others
202.
... alcoholic, soberly
analyzing his destructive behavior, whether ...
12&12 p.33,
Step Two
Yet no alcoholic, soberly analyzing his destructive behavior,
whether the destruction fell on the dining-room furniture or his own moral fiber, can claim "soundness of mind" for himself.
203.
... alcoholic, sometimes
the model of honesty when ...
BB p.140,
To Employers
When drinking, or getting over a bout, an alcoholic, sometimes the model of honesty when normal, will do incredible things.
204.
... alcoholic stigma,
and spread the news of ...
12&12 p.186,
Tradition Twelve
These quiet disclosures helped him
to lose his fear of the alcoholic stigma, and spread the news of A.A.'s existence in his community.
205.
... alcoholic sufferers
and perhaps to the medical ...
BB p.34,
More About Alcoholism
The experiment of quitting for a period of time will be helpful, but we think we can
render an even greater service to alcoholic sufferers and perhaps to the medical fraternity.
206.
... alcoholic survived
this ordeal without relapse, but ...
BB p.125,
The Family Afterward
207.
... alcoholic talks
with another alcoholic, sharing experience, ...
BB xxii,
Foreword to Third Edition
Each day, somewhere in the world, recovery begins when one alcoholic talks with another alcoholic, sharing experience, strength,
and hope.
208.
... alcoholic tendencies,
he has probably placed himself ...
BB p.24,
There Is A Solution
When this sort of thinking
is fully established
in an individual with alcoholic tendencies, he has
probably placed himself beyond human aid, and unless locked up, may die or go permanently insane.
209.
... alcoholic than
a total abstainer would be.
BB p.139,
To Employers
210.
... alcoholic that
I was, I nearly failed ...
BB p.2,
Bill's Story
211.
... alcoholic, the
chapter to the agnostic, and ...
BB p.60,
How It Works
Our description of the alcoholic, the chapter to the agnostic, and our personal adventures before and after make clear three pertinent ideas:
212.
... alcoholic, the
happy day may not arrive.
BB p.23,
There Is A Solution
213.
... alcoholic, the
one who is even blinder ...
12&12 p.109,
Step Twelve
Even the newest of newcomers finds undreamed rewards as he
tries to help his brother alcoholic, the one who is even blinder than he.
214.
... alcoholic, there
may be a natural annoyance ...
BB p.139,
To Employers
When dealing with an alcoholic, there may be a natural
annoyance that a man could
be so weak, stupid and irresponsible.
215.
... alcoholic, this
may seem like tempting Providence, ...
BB p.101,
Working With Others
To a person who has had experience with an alcoholic, this may seem like tempting Providence, but it isn't.
216.
... alcoholic to
conclude that dependence of any ...
12&12 p.38,
Step Three
This very form of faulty dependence has caused many a rebellious alcoholic to conclude that dependence of any sort must be intolerably damaging.
217.
... alcoholic to
discuss his situation without reserve.
BB p.18,
There Is A Solution
Highly competent psychiatrists who have dealt with us have found it sometimes impossible
to persuade an alcoholic
to discuss his situation without reserve.
218.
... alcoholic to
live in our homes for ...
BB p.97,
Working With Others
219.
... alcoholic to
read this book through, and ...
BB xxxii(xxx),
The Doctor's Opinion
I earnestly advise every alcoholic to read this book through, and though perhaps he came to scoff, he may remain to pray.
220.
... alcoholic torture
must believe -- that the body ...
BB xxvi(xxiv),
The Doctor's Opinion
In this statement he confirms what we who have suffered alcoholic torture must believe -- that the body of
the alcoholic is quite as abnormal as his mind.
221.
... alcoholic tries
to shield himself he may ...
BB p.101,
Working With Others
If the alcoholic tries to shield himself he may succeed for a time, but he usually winds up with a bigger explosion then ever.
222.
... alcoholic troubles.
BB p.125,
The Family Afterward
223.
... alcoholic turned
out to be the Akron ...
BB xvi,
Foreword to Second Edition
224.
... alcoholic wards,
when others entered the field ...
12&12 p.167,
Tradition Eight
Even greater furors were provoked when
A.A. members began to run rest homes and farms for alcoholics, when
some hired out to corporations as personnel men in charge of the alcoholic problem in industry, when
some became nurses on
alcoholic wards, when others entered the field of alcohol education.
225.
... alcoholic was
sent to a hospital for ...
BB p.145,
To Employers
226.
... alcoholic we
approached paid any attention; most ...
12&12 p.139,
Tradition Three
Hardly an alcoholic we approached paid any attention; most of those who did join us were like flickering candles in a windstorm.
227.
... alcoholic, we
suggest you leave him alone.
BB p.113,
To Wives
228.
... alcoholic, we'd
sometimes discuss those intimate and ...
12&12 p.185,
Tradition Twelve
Enthusiastic over the
spectacular recovery of a brother
alcoholic, we'd sometimes
discuss those intimate and harrowing
aspects of his case meant for his sponsor's ear alone.
229.
... alcoholic --
whether she is still drinking or ...
BB p.104,
To Wives (Note)
But many of the suggestions given here may be adapted to help the person who lives with a woman alcoholic -- whether she is still drinking or is recovering in A.A.
230.
... alcoholic which
leaves out this physical factor ...
BB xxvi(xxiv),
The Doctor's Opinion
231.
... alcoholic who
cannot meet them, still has ...
BB p.101,
Working With Others
An alcoholic who cannot meet
them, still has an alcoholic
mind; there is something
the matter with his spiritual status.
232.
... alcoholic who
comes along.
12&12 p.96,
Step Eleven
We A.A.'s are active folk, enjoying the satisfactions of dealing with the realities of life, usually for the first time in our lives, and strenuously trying to help the next alcoholic who comes along.
233.
... alcoholic who
entered there came away with ...
BB p.160,
A Vision For You
234.
... alcoholic who
had known a spiritual experience.
BB p.56,
We Agnostics
One night, when confined in a hospital,
he was approached by an alcoholic who had known a spiritual experience.
235.
... alcoholic who
has found a key to ...
12&12 p.151,
Tradition Five
236.
... alcoholic who
has lost all and is ...
BB p.62,
How It Works
He is like the retired business man who lolls in the Florida sunshine in the winter complaining of the sad state of the nation; the minister who sighs over the sins of the twentieth century; politicians and reformers who are sure all
would be Utopia if the rest
of the world would only behave; the outlaw safe cracker who thinks society has wronged him; and the alcoholic
who has lost all and is locked up.
237.
... alcoholic who
has recovered, but holds a ...
BB p.146,
To Employers
An alcoholic who has recovered, but holds a relatively unimportant job, can talk to a man with a better position.
238.
... alcoholic who
is able and willing to ...
BB p.97,
Working With Others
For the type of alcoholic who
is able and willing to get well, little charity, in the ordinary sense of the word, is needed or wanted.
239.
... alcoholic who
is still drinking can dream ...
12&12 p.24,
Step One
For practicing A.A.'s remaining eleven Steps means the adoption of attitudes
and actions that almost
no alcoholic who is still drinking can dream of taking.
240.
... alcoholic who
is very jittery or befogged.
BB xxvi(xxiv),
The Doctor's Opinion
Though we work out our solution on the spiritual as well as an altruistic plane, we favor hospitalization
for the alcoholic who is very
jittery or befogged.
241.
... alcoholic who
joins A.A. unless he has ...
12&12 p.21,
Step One
We know that little good can come to any alcoholic who joins A.A. unless he has first accepted his devastating weakness
and all its consequences.
242.
... alcoholic who
journeys will find a Fellowship ...
BB p.162,
A Vision For You
Some day we hope that every alcoholic who journeys will find a Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous
at his destination.
243.
... alcoholic who
journeys will find the Fellowship ...
BB xv,
Foreword to Second Edition
Our earliest printing
voiced the hope "that every alcoholic who journeys will find the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous
at his destination.
244.
... alcoholic who
means well and tries hard ...
12&12 p.32,
Step Two
To clergymen, doctors,
friends, and families,
the alcoholic who means well and tries hard is a heartbreaking
riddle.
245.
... alcoholic who
repeats time after time the ...
BB p.35,
More About Alcoholism
What sort of thinking dominates an alcoholic who
repeats time after time the desperate experiment
of the first drink?
246.
... alcoholic who
shows no immediate interest in ...
BB p.573(575),
Appendix VI, How to Get in Touch With A.A.
Should you be the relative or friend of an alcoholic who shows no immediate interest in A.A., it is suggested that you
write the Al-Anon Family Groups, Inc., 1600 Corporate Landing Parkway, Virginia Beach, VA 23456, USA.
247.
... alcoholic who
still suffers."
12&12 p.150,
Tradition Five
"Each group has but one primary purpose -- to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers."
248.
... alcoholic who
still suffers.
12&12 p.190,
Tradition Five (Long)
Five -- Each Alcoholics Anonymous
group ought to be a spiritual entity having
but one primary purpose -- that of carrying its message to the alcoholic who
still suffers.
249.
... alcoholic who
still suffers.
BB p.562(564),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
Five -- Each group has but one primary purpose -- to carry its message to the alcoholic who
still suffers.
250.
... alcoholic who
still suffers.
BB p.563(565),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
5. Each Alcoholics Anonymous group ought to be a spiritual entity having but one primary purpose -- that of
carrying its message to the alcoholic who
still suffers.
251.
... alcoholic who
suffers could be based only ...
12&12 p.166,
Tradition Eight
Almost from the beginning, we have been positive that face-to-face work with the alcoholic who suffers could be based only on the desire to help and be helped.
252.
... alcoholic who
wants to get over it, ...
BB p.20,
There Is A Solution
If you are an alcoholic who wants to get over it, you may already be asking -- "What do I have to do?"
253.
... alcoholic, whose
hope is the maintenance and ...
BB p.66,
How It Works
But with the alcoholic, whose
hope is the maintenance
and growth of a spiritual experience,
this business of resentment is infinitely grave.
254.
... alcoholic will
abundantly confirm this.
BB p.23,
There Is A Solution
255.
... alcoholic will
find he has much in ...
BB p.131,
The Family Afterward
Being possessed of a spiritual experience,
the alcoholic will find he has much in common with these people, though he may differ with
them on many matters.
256.
... alcoholic with
another, was vital to permanent ...
BB xvii,
Foreword to Second Edition
257.
... alcoholic, with
hardly an exception, will be ...
BB p.39,
More About Alcoholism
But the actual or potential alcoholic, with hardly an exception, will be absolutely unable to stop drinking on the basis of self-knowledge.
258.
... alcoholic work.
BB p.119,
To Wives
259.
... alcoholic work
is an avocation.
BB xiii,
Foreword to First Edition
260.
... alcoholic would
save the day.
BB p.15,
Bill's Story
This sometimes nearly
drove me back to drink, but I soon found that when all other measures failed, work with another alcoholic would save the day.
261.
... alcoholic would
shrug and say, "Oh, the ...
12&12 p.164,
Tradition Seven
Relieved of responsibility, every
alcoholic would shrug and say, "Oh, the Foundation is wealthy --
why should I bother?"
262.
... alcoholic, you
are a mighty sick man.
BB p.147,
To Employers
Passages from the Big Book Alcoholics Anonymous
and the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions
are reprinted with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.
The A.A. Preamble, copyright ©
The A.A. Grapevine, Inc., is reprinted with permission.
Permission to reprint does not in any way imply affiliation with or
endorsement by either Alcoholics Anonymous or The A.A. Grapevine, Inc.
Copyright © 2005-2012, Recovery Press LLC; All Rights Reserved.