More About Alcoholism and the Way a Drunk Concocts a Position to Hide It – Don B.

About This Speaker Tape

BBSPollock Pines - 2010

Don B. dismantles the friction between a recovering alcoholic and their family warning that a 'spiritual intoxication' can leave a spouse feeling jealous of a Higher Power who seemingly stole the father's affection. He maps out the shift in household power dynamics—where a mother who 'wore the family trousers' must suddenly negotiate space with a man reclaiming his autonomy. Through a deep dive into the 'Employer' chapter of the Big Book Don B. argues that the business community's failure to understand the disease leads to wasted talent and unnecessary suicides. He concludes by walking through the mechanics of the Step 10 inventory framing it as a necessary 'house cleaning' to avoid the emotional hangovers of anger and fear that block a person's connection to their Higher Power.

Topics

Timestamps

• 0:00 Discussion on the 11th Step and using books outside the approved AA literature.
• 4:15 Laughter: Don B. discusses the 'spiritual intoxication' of the newcomer.
• 8:30 Story about Mother T.'s early struggles and her eventual success in Calcutta.
• 15:40 Analysis of family dynamics and the 'mortgage' families feel they hold on the recovering father.
• 22:10 Discussion on the importance of early service and helping others during 'convalescence'.
• 31:00 Deep dive into the Big Book chapter on the Employer and the tragedy of the 'brilliant' alcoholic employee.
• 42:15 Don B. shares his own experience as a 'functioning' alcoholic who manipulated his employer to keep his job.
• 55:00 Laughter: The '28 days to drink successfully' joke with Dr. Mark.
• 1:05:20 Discussion on the 'emotional hangover' and the Step 10 continuous inventory.
• 1:12:00 Practical exercise using a list of assets and liabilities to define a Higher Power.