The Therapist Who Said His IQ Was Too High to Be an Alcoholic — Keith L.

About This Speaker Tape

A mirror in a basement on Skid Row. Yellow, bloodshot eyes and a tremor in the hand. Keith L. recalls the absurdity of standing before that glass, reading a list of "affirmations" typed out by a psychologist who claimed Keith’s IQ was too high to be an alcoholic. He was told he just needed a better self-image, but as he read that he was a "winner" and a "loving father," he realized he was actually full of crap.

Keith traces the wreckage of a life lived as a "situational atheist," chasing women and calling his own shots until he hit a floor of absolute disgust. He describes the spiritual illness that rots the foundation of a man, leaving him to survive on a loop of insomnia and depression. Through the guidance of a sponsor and the bluntness of old-timers, Keith learned the brutal utility of being wrong. He traded the delusion of being the captain of his soul for a Higher Power and a rebuilt character.

Topics

Timestamps

• 0:00 Introduction and mention of sobriety date May 1973
• 5:30 Discussion on the history of alcoholism as a disease starting with Seneca
• 11:40 Reflections on Bill W.'s spiritual awakening and the role of Dr. Silkworth
• 18:30 Personal account of drinking alone on Skid Row and reading Invictus
• 28:20 The role of the Oxford Group and the meeting of Bill W. and Dr. Bob
• 36:45 Personal struggle with honesty in relationships and meeting his wife Julia
• 47:10 The experience of being told by an old-timer that he was delusional
• 54:00 The lesson of writing 'Keith, you were wrong' on the mirror with lipstick
• 1:05:15 Discussion on the difference between faith and doubt during sponsorship
• 1:18:40 The conversation between Bill W. and Father Ed Dowling regarding pain and growth