Triggers? Or Excuses?

Someone told me a few weeks ago about a guy in her home group who freaked out after taking the “Donut commitment” after seeing that the donuts were covered with powdered sugar. He wanted to quite the job, because the white sugar reminded him of cocaine and he was afraid to be “Triggered”.

Yes this was an AA meeting, not CA – but that’s another story. Cross out the word “Triggers” and replace it with “Excuses” and I think we may be getting closer to the truth. Takes the BS “Mystery” wind right out the treatment center sails – doesn’t it? That’s where “triggers’ come from. If there is something – anything – in my environment that I could change or do that will keep me away from a drink – that means I HAVE POWER over it, does it not?

We already know that alcoholism “Centers in the mind”! We will NEVER be led to believe, by the co-authors of the Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous, that alcoholism centers in the donuts or the disco or the wedding reception or the smell of sawdust or that pink and silky slip under that tight skirt. Nothing of the sort is even remotely implied.

We will be told that an un-recovered alcoholic STILL has an “Alcoholic mind” – a very specific term they use to refer to one thing: Obsession. Or “Insanity” if you prefer.

Agree or disagree – like it or not – that’s the way they describe it. And boy are they consistent with it.

After we recover there are no “Triggers” to set us off like an over wound spring just waiting to be tripped. There are ALWAYS plenty of EXCUSES available – real or imagined – recovered or not – but since we are sane when we recover, we never act on them anymore – even if we could, we don’t. It’s a miracle. (Read pages 84 and 85 where the Tenth Step Promises are if you don’t believe me)

Losing ones job is a GREAT reason to drink – for a non-alcoholic. Getting a divorce is too. So is stepping in dog shit. Ditto the death of a loved one – because the non-alcoholic boozer can survive after he’s gotten a load on. He’ll sober up and when he gets over his “life problems” he won’t need to drink anymore. For an alkie, it’s an excuse – and a threadbare one at that, considering the results that always ensure – like CRAVING more. He may not survive and is insane so he drinks anyway.

Peace,

Danny S

Just Pull the Trigger

Just the other day I heard of a guy who was apprehensive about taking the coffee & donut job in his Home Group because the confectioners sugar on the doughnuts reminded him of cocaine and he feared those donuts would “Trigger” him. I am not kidding!!

If this seem reasonable to you – PLEASE learn about alcoholism and “Our description of the alcoholic” and the promises of the tenth step.

In the meantime:

The first thing I would wonder is, “Hey Zeke, why are you buying doughnuts for an AA group if you are a cocaine addict? Should’nt you be doing service in a CA meeting? It’s a wonderful Fellowship!”

BUT of course he may ALSO be an alcoholic and therefore fully qualified as a member of AA. But it would be a fair question.

But in speaking of “Triggers” – which I always THOUGHT was just the name of a dead horse – simply cross out the word “Triggers” and replace it with “Excuses” and I think we may be getting closer to the truth of what happens to folks.

Takes the bullshit “mystery” wind right out the treatment center sails – doesn’t it?

That’s where “Triggers” come from – treatment centers. Not AA. Nowhere in The Big Book!

If there is something – anything – in my environment that I could change or do that will keep me away from a drink – that means I HAVE POWER over it, does it not?

We learn and realize (If it applies to us) that alcoholism “Centers in the mind”! (23:2) We will NEVER be led to believe, by the co-authors of this Book, that alcoholism centers in the donuts, or the disco, or the wedding reception or the smell of sawdust or slip under the skirt. If will not even be remotely implied.

We will be told that an un-recovered alcoholic STILL has an “alcoholic mind” – a very specific term they use to refer to one thing: Obsession. Or “Insanity” if you prefer. Agree of disagree – like it or not – that’s the way they describe it. And boy are they consistent with it.

After we recover there are no “Triggers” to set us off like an over wound spring just waiting to be tripped. There are ALWAYS plenty of EXCUSES available – real or imagined – recovered or not – but since we are sane when we recover, we never act on them anymore – even if we could, we don’t. It’s a miracle.

Losing ones job is a GREAT reason to drink – for a non-alcoholic. Because he can survive after he’s done. For an alkie, it’s an excuse – and threadbare at that considering the results that always ensure he will be CRAVING more. He may not survive – and is insane – so he drinks anyway.

Peace,

Danny S