Alcoholism is a disease, a hopeless state of mind and body that only a spiritual solution can overcome. A problem in the body causes the loss of control; a problem in the mind takes away the power of choice. Alcoholism is a two-part disease. (Page numbers refer to the 'big book' -- “Alcoholics Anonymous - The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered From Alcoholism”, 4th Ed.) The fact is that most alcoholics, for reasons yet obscure, have lost the power of choice in drink. Our so-called will power becomes practically nonexistent. We are unable, at certain times, to bring into our consciousness with sufficient force the memory of the suffering and humiliation of even a week or a month ago. We are without defense against the first drink. (p. 24:1)

• The physical part – an allergy produces a craving – When alcohol enters my body, an allergic reaction produces a craving—my body wants more and more. The [poorly understood] phenomenon of craving is limited to [alcoholics] and never occurs in the average temperate drinker (Dr. Silkworth, p. xxviii). Moderate drinkers and the hard drinker do not have this allergic reaction; the hard drinker… given sufficiently strong reason, can stop or moderate… but at some stage of his drinking career [the real alcoholic] begins to lose all control of his liquor consumption, once he starts to drink. (p.20-21)

• The mental part – an obsession of the mind – “When sober for a period of time (days, weeks, or months), I begin to feel restless, irritable and discontented, I seek the sense of ease and comfort which comes at once by having a few drinks – drinks which [I] see others taking with impunity [without consequences].” (Silkworth p. xxvii) There is an obsession; the idea that somehow, someday he will control and enjoy his drinking is the great obsession of every abnormal drinker. The persistence of this illusion is astonishing. Many pursue it into the gates of insanity or death. (p.30 & 23) Again and again, I said to myself, “I have learned my lesson. This time I can feel better by having a few drinks without losing control.”

• The Spiritual Malady - My bedevilments cause me to become restless, irritable and discontented. Page 52 says, "We were having trouble with personal relationships, we couldn't control our emotional natures, we were a prey to misery and depression, we couldn't make a living, we had a feeling of uselessness, we were full of fear, we were unhappy, we couldn't seem to be of real help to other people." Page 62 explains the cause of my problems.

• The Spiritual Solution - Dr. Silkworth said only an "entire psychic change" could overcome the malady (p. xxix) and Dr. Carl Jung carefully described the mysterious phenomenon of a psychic change, calling it a “vital spiritual experience” (p. 27). Dr. Jung said, “Deep down below the surface of the average conscience a still, small voice says to us, 'something is out of tune’.” He told Rowland Hazard “I believe that every human being has an inner search for wholeness. I have never been able to help a person who found that wholeness in alcohol. It requires a power greater than human power.” The 'big book' of Alcoholics Anonymous explains that a spiritual experience is a sudden event while a spiritual awakening occurs over a period of days, weeks, or months. Both produce a personality change sufficient to bring about recovery from alcoholism. (Appendix II, p. 567)

• The Alcoholics Anonymous program of Recovery: By diligently taking the steps and applying the principles of A.A.’s 12 Step Program of Recovery, we have a spiritual awakening. The obsession to drink leaves us; the promises of recovery, including those on p. 83-84, come true for us. Thanks to a continually growing relationship with our Higher Power -- God, as we understand him -- we become happy, joyous and free.

• AA's Great Fact: “The great fact is just this, and nothing less: That we have had deep and effective spiritual experiences which have revolutionized our whole attitude toward life, toward our fellows and toward God's universe. The central fact of our lives today is the absolute certainty that our Creator has entered into our hearts and lives in a way which is indeed miraculous. He has commenced to accomplish those things for us which we could never do by ourselves.” (p. 25:2) “Ask Him in your morning meditation what you can do each day for the man who is still sick. The answers will come, if your own house is in order. But obviously you cannot transmit something you haven't got. See to it that your relationship with Him is right, and great events will come to pass for you and countless others. This is the Great Fact for us.” (p. 164:2)