Chris R. – Spiritual Malady – The Third Step Prayer and Vigorous Action – 2005

About This Speaker Tape

Chris R. cuts through the noise of 'war stories' and 'junior therapy sessions' to make a case for the Big Book as the only real map out of the wreckage. He traces his own path from a 'mad dog' drinker and drug user who spent seven years drifting in and out of the fellowship, to a moment of total collapse on a cold November night in 1987.

After a near-fatal attempt with pills and Black L., a voice told him to go back to AA. He describes the shift from being a 'taker' to a 'giver,' moving from the periphery of life to the center of it. He dismantles the idea of 'triggers' and the 'recovered vs. recovering' debate, arguing that the only way to stop the internal rot is a spiritual experience and rigorous action

. He maps out the necessity of the first step—conceding the disease—and the urgency of working the steps rapidly to avoid the trap of lifelong misery.

Topics

Timestamps

• 0:00 Chris opens with a gritty take on the 'boxing fans' of the fellowship.
• 5:15 Discussion on the controversy of introducing oneself as a 'recovered alcoholic'.
• 12:40 Chris tears into the 'treatment center crap' and the concept of 'triggers'.
• 18:20 The 'hummingbird juice' story and the internal discomfort of the spiritual malady.
• 25:10 Laughter: Chris discusses the 'good twin' and the failure of antidepressants to treat alcoholism.
• 34:50 Chris dismantles the 'war story' approach to recovery and the 'junior therapy sessions' in meetings.
• 42:10 The narrative of the suicide attempt and the voice that told him to go back to AA.
• 51:30 Step 3: The experience of the Third Step Prayer with a group of men.
• 56:15 Step 4: The push for 'vigorous action' and completing the inventory rapidly.
• 64:20 The 'Mad Dogs' accountability group and the necessity of service.
• 72:10 The 'clipboards' metaphor for the current state of the fellowship.
• 78:45 Applause: Closing thoughts on the tide turning and the necessity of networking.