YAHOO! Big Book Study

“To show other alcoholics precisely how we have recovered is the main purpose of this book.” AA, pg. xiii (And of this new Group)

NEW BIG BOOK STUDY

We have been running a Big Book Study for the past seven months or so on Yahoo. This Study is unlike anything you have ever seen on the Internet. If you are an alcoholic and seek a solution, or are already recovered and just want to keep you own studies fresh (And perhaps even help others with your experience) - you will NOT be sorry you have joined.

This Study is the most in depth, most comprehensive daily study of the Big Book in the world. We were founded on October 11, 2006 – with two purposes in mind and that was (i) to help others bring the focus of the typical Yahoo AA type recovery group back to the Program of Alcoholics Anonymous. And (ii) Provide the learning necessary for cyber group members to go back to their own face-2-face groups armed with Big Book understanding.

We have been around for a number of years and have been witnessing a very stark reality.

We see our success rate with long term sobriety slip from, “Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path” to seldom do we see a person recover from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body.

In our real-time, f2f experience we have watched the groups we were betting our lives on downsize or become history. We were not realizing the Promises of the Program of Alcoholics Anonymous. We were confused and were not comprehending the word serenity nor were we enjoying the peace we once had.

With this thought in mind, our meetings are “Open” meetings so all who have an interest in learning about the Program of Alcoholics Anonymous are welcome.

Please join us in the Fellowship of the Spirit and try to pass on the message of hope that is found only in a book titled, “ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS.”

Get there this way ——> Primary Purpose Internet Big Book Study

In Service with Love,

Danny S

Depression

Depression is a bitch. I have had my bouts since sober. For me they have been less and less as I have grown. I hope you find it that way too. A couple of summers ago was the worst (and last, so far thankfully). We do screw up our chemistries when we spend so much time effort and money self-medicating out in the field. (Read: “Drinking”)

I have put faith in the doctors who, yes, do a little crap-shooting, but heck I shot quite a bit of my own crap without a Med degree, so some controlled environment, educated gambling cannot be any worse. I always felt it to be a relief to have someone to help me with it, admitting I have not got all the answers to all the problems.

My own course consisted of three things, without either one would have been harder or impossible: 1) Getting the docs help. The right med as a jumpstart and buffer, to allow me to function. Those meds, as you already know, are not “Happy pills”. They restore normal synaptic-chemical balances and allow your own brain to do its own job.
2) While a semblance of normal functioning was being restored through modern chemistry, I threw myself heavily into working with others directly, one-on-one. AND additionally I got very involved in these Yahoo groups, which I used as one more method to get out of myself on a moments notice whenever I needed.

Sitting on the pity pot can put a ring on your ass, and the longer I sit, the worse the ring. Sometimes I would work in Yahoo groups, moderating and posting for hours of a day, if necessary. Not everyone has that luxury, but some other device for “Getting out of myself” would have worked as well. Maybe just more time working with others. And finally though PRIMARILY,

3) I took very seriously Bill Ws own “Gimmick” to snap his own depression. It worked. It worked. IT WORKED. Have I stressed that point enough. No? Well, IT WORKED. That can be found in his Grapevine article and letter entitled “Emotional Sobriety”. This “gimmick” I attribute as THE ultimate answer to my won depression. The three-punch wallop of EACH together were complimentary, fast acting and were a saving grace. I have posted it in our FILES section in case you have not access to a copy at the moment.

Now I find that working with others and continuing to maintain a health prayer ran inventory life is key. I do a lot of it. And if I ever get back into that depressive state, I can just crank up the works and disinfect my brain. Right now I think that the levels are just right, not meds, but the other tools.

Peace,