The Progressive Nature of the Illness and the Lack of Mental Defense – Karen N.

About This Speaker Tape

Iceland 2003 - 2003

A lifetime of institutionalization—13 treatment centers in 16 years—left Karen N. with a head full of recovery slogans but no sobriety. She spent years mistaking the consequences of her drinking for the essence of powerlessness believing a few minor adjustments or a bit of heroin could fix the wreckage. It wasn't until she hit a wall of absolute hopelessness at 29 that she grasped the physical reality of the 'phenomenon of craving' and the mental obsession that overrides logic. After a brush with a 'serious' step-obsessed home group and a sponsor who laughed at her intellectualized approach to the will of a Higher Power Karen N. moved from the theoretical to the practical. She describes the shift from being an atheist who viewed spirituality as 'uncool' to finding a pragmatic action-based faith that requires a daily demonstration of conviction.

Topics

Timestamps

• 0:00 Introduction and gratitude for the fellowship.
• 2:45 Discussion on the misconception of powerlessness and the 'strange consequences' of drinking.
• 6:12 History of Dr. S. and the origins of the disease concept in AA.
• 11:30 Detailed explanation of the 'phenomenon of craving' versus mental obsession.
• 16:45 The relationship between Bill W. and Dr. S.
• 21:10 The necessity of returning to Step One when facing life's dark times.
• 25:30 Laughter: Karen N. recounts her journey from atheism to a 'willingness to be willing'.
• 31:15 The story of her first home group and the 'serious' step-obsessed members.
• 35:40 Laughter: Her sponsor's reaction to her intellectualized approach to Step Three.
• 40:10 The connection between the Third Step decision and the Fourth Step action.