Are
today’s AA members generally being made fully aware of the depth of
the mental illness of alcoholism?
Dr.
Harry M. Tiebout. M.D. (Therapeutic Mechanism of Alcoholics
Anonymous, The American Journal of Psychiatry, January 1944.
“Characteristic
of the so-called typical alcoholic is a narcissistic egocentric core,
dominated by feelings of omnipotence, intent on maintaining at all
costs its inner integrity. While these characteristics are found in
other maladjustments, they appear in relatively pure culture in
alcoholic after alcoholic. In a careful study of a series of cases,
Sillman reported that he felt he could discern the outlines of a
common character structure among problem drinkers and that the best
terms he could find for the group of qualities noted was ‘defiant
individuality’ and ‘grandiosity’. In my opinion these words
were accurately chosen… … … This experience I label for want of
a better term, a ‘psychological awakening.’… … … In
retrospect, it is apparent that the patient became aware of his basic
ego centricity. For the first time he was able to penetrate behind
the façade of his rationalisations and defence reactions and to see
that always hitherto he had put himself first. He was literally
unaware that other souls existed except insofar as they affected him…
… … While one can question the permanence of this new pattern,
there can be no question as to the fact that the experience itself
occurred…. … … The narcissistic component in the character is
submerged, at least for the time being… … Regardless of his final
conception of that power, unless the individual attains in the course
of time a sense of the reality and nearness of a Greater Power, his
egocentric nature will re- assert itself with undiminished intensity,
and drinking will again enter into the picture…” (Extracts) (AA
Comes of Age, Appendix E:b, page 309-317)
ALCOHOLISM AS A MANIFESTATION OF ALLERGY W.D. Silkworth
Medical
Record, March 17, 1937
“Alcoholism
is considered by many physicians a chronic condition that gradually
unfolds itself to a dismal end… … … It is our purpose to show
that there is a type of alcoholism characterised by a definite
symptomatology [sic] and fixed diagnosis of a constant and specific
pathology; in short, that true alcoholism is a manifestation of an
allergy… … … he now has to drink from necessity in order to
keep going… … Later, irritability and lack of concentration
supervene. He is not the man temperamentally that he used to be… …
…he is compelled to increase the amount he consumes, and a
prolonged spree replaces a short intoxication… … …He has a
feeling of anxiety which amounts to a nameless terror… … …At
this point, even during periods of partial or complete sobriety, he
develops a state of vague fear, then depression and lack of
concentration… … … He is under such tension in the effort to
control himself that he has to have a drink in order to hold himself
together… … But he believes he must have it, even though he
realises that, in his particular case, a single drink will plunge him
into such a condition that a prolonged spree will be the inevitable
result. After the first drink, and only then, does he experience the
physical phenomenon of craving… … … I can not emphasis too
strongly the point that this man does not go on a spree for pure
deviltry or desire…… The inevitable conclusion is that true
alcoholism is an allergic state, the result of gradually increasing
sensitization by alcohol over a more or less extended time…”
(Extracts) (Medical Record, March 17, 1937)
“My
Dear Dr. Jung … … This letter has been long overdue…. … …
Though Rowland H., has long since passed away, the recollections of
his remarkable experience while under treatment by you has definitely
become part of A.A. history…. … … … Having exhausted other
means of recovery from his alcoholism it was about 1931 that he
became your patient … … … I believe he remained under your care
for perhaps a year… … … He then relapsed into intoxication ...
… … … Then followed a conversation between you that was to
become the first link in a chain of events that led to the founding
of Alcoholics Anonymous…. … … First of all, you frankly told
him of his hopelessness, so far as any further medical or psychiatric
treatment might be concerned. This candid and humble statement
of yours was no doubt the first foundation stone upon which our
society was built … (Extracts) (AA Grapevine January 1963. Language
of the Heart page 276-279)
Dr.
Bob:
“You
see, back in those days, we were groping in the dark,” Dr. Bob
said. “We knew practically nothing of alcoholism.” (Dr. Bob and
the Good Old Timers page 104)
“Medical
textbooks weren’t very helpful, either, Bob said. ‘Usually, the
information consisted of some queer treatment for D.T.’s, if a
patient had gone that far. If he hadn’t you prescribed a few
bromides and gave the fellow a good lecture.” (Dr. Bob and the Good
Old Timers page 105)
A
list of some of A.A.’s other roots:
Dr.
W.W. Bauer; American Medical association. A.A. Comes of Age p.4
Dr. Earl M. A.A. Comes of Age p.4
Dr. John L. Norris, (non-alcoholic trustee), Pass it On page 268
Dr.
O. A. Kilpatrick, psychiatrist [in
charge New York State mental institution, nonalcoholic, spoke 2nd
Intentional Convention St. Louis 1955], Pass
it On, page 358
Dr. Ester L. Richards, Pass it On, page 201
Dr. Leonard V. Strong, Jr.(non-alcoholic trustee), Pass it On, pp181-184
Dr.
A. Wiese Hammer [wife
Helen; Philadelphian; told friend Judge Curtis Bok owner publisher
Saturday
Evening Post about
A.A.; had Jack Alexander do story; secured Philadelphia Group
1st meeting rooms, introduced Dr.
Stouffer chief psychiatrist Philadelphia General Hospital to
A.A., visited other cities with A.A. members to talk A.A. up;
paid their expenses, offered buy club house], Language of the Heart, page 362
Dr.
Stouffer, Chief psychiatrist Philadelphia General Hospital Language
of the Heart, page 363
Dr.
Dudley Saul [chief
resident of St. Lukes’s and Children’s Hospital],
Language of the Heart, page 363
Dr.
Kirby Collier [psychiatrist,
with Dr. Harry Tiebout; Dr. Foster Kennedy responsible for Bill speaking at 2 medical societies, endorsed paper Bill read 1944 Medical
Society New York annual meeting, early advocate A.A],
Language
of the Heart, page 370
Dr.
Dwight Anderson [with
Dr. Kirby Collier persuaded Medical Society of New York State, 1944,
and Psychiatric Association, 1949, to let Bill W. read papers about
A.A. at annual gatherings],
Language of the Heart, page 370
Dr.
Dan Craske, [Chicago
doctor with spinal fluid theory of alcoholics],
AA Comes of Age, page 22
Dr.
Brown, [Evanston,
Indiana, introduced several patients to Earl T],
AA
Comes of Age, page 22
Dr.
Johnstone, psychiatrist, AA Comes of Age, page 29
Dr.
Foster Kennedy, [world
renowned neurologist; attended and spoke at John D. Rockefeller's
A.A. dinner February, 1940, represented medical profession; with Dr.
Harry Tiebout and Dr. Kirby Collier ; responsible for Bill speaking
to two medical societies; defended A.A. in A.M.A.; endorsed the paper
Bill read at the 1944 Medical Society of New York annual meeting;
used term "X
factor."
"There
is something at work in A.A. that we do not understand. We call this
'the X factor.' You people call it God. You can't explain God and
neither can we -- especially at the New York Academy of Medicine."],
AA
Comes of Age, page 183
Do
statements such as the following in public relations give an
impression of A.A. As being religious?
“The
origins of Alcoholics Anonymous can be traced to the Oxford Group, a
religious movement popular in the United States and Europe in the
early 20th century. Members of the Oxford Group practiced a formula
of self-improvement by performing self-inventory, admitting wrongs,
making amends, using prayer and meditation, and carrying the message
to others”.
Early
A.A. history does appear to tell us that the more we focus on the “religious
/spiritual” aspect in our public relations and newcomer relations,
the less appealing we will be to the majority of still suffering
alcoholics, and to the
professionals
who refer them to us. It would appear the same is true today.
“Scared
Off” AA Grapevine November 1998
“I
could not agree more that when a meeting is closed with hand-holding
the Lord's Prayer, we may lose many a newcomer. This has been my
experience over the years. I have "lost" many a hard-bitten
alcoholic who has scornfully left, saying: "I want none of that
religious stuff!" and the like.”
For
myself, I also have a feeling that once more organized religion, in
this case, Christianity, is being subtly introduced into our
program.”
“Cult-like
or welcoming? Reluctant conformity” AA Grapevine December 2010
“I
am a former member of a religious cult, and my children consider AA
to be similar in some ways. I am also not comfortable with holding
hands and saying the Lord's Prayer at the end of a meeting for the
same reason. AA is a spiritual, not a religious, program. I conform
because that is how I've been taught and I don't want to appear
different, but I would love to see this change for the benefit of
everyone in the Fellowship, regardless of beliefs.”
“Why
are we shouting? Chanting is bad for AA’s public relations, an
old-timer asserts”. AA Grapevine September 2010
“…By
1988, in my experience, the "Hi, Bob!" chant was pretty
much commonplace at meetings in the Northeast. This is a meeting of
Alcoholics Anonymous, where we share our experience, strength and
hope.
It
is not a cult, religion or group therapy… … … An AA friend was
watching television in the late 90s' when a show portrayed a
facsimile of an AA meeting… … … My friend said that her husband
actually laughed out loud when the group chanted: "Hi, Bill!"
she said her husband asked sarcastically, "Is this the AA that
you go to?" What does this mean? It means that we are a joke to
much of the public. Our public relations are harmed, therefore
reducing the effectiveness of Alcoholics Anonymous. … … … I had
my last drink of alcohol in February 1970 and was active in AA
through the '70s… … How many more alcoholics must perish before
we reverse this religious cult thing that I feel Alcoholics Anonymous
has morphed
into… …Anyone listening?”
“Cult-like
or just welcoming? Meetings filled with religiosity”, AA Grapevine
December 2010
“Oh
yes, I am listening, Bob. And I have done just that . . . stopped
going to meetings, pretty much. I got sober in Chicago 37 years ago
and have been sober one day at a time since, all thanks to AA, its
members, service work and regular attendance at meetings. But about
10 or so years ago I noticed my attendance at meetings was dropping
off. That started the round of checking out all sorts of groups in my
area, only to find a level of noise, chanting and cult-like
religiosity that I found very off-putting. One day at a time might
change how I see things, but for now my Higher Power, AA friends and
the Big Book will have to be enough”.
“Dear
Grapevine, My AA” AA Grapevine November 2010
“I
have been sober since 1968 and am afraid that I won't recognize my AA
in another 15 years… … it seems that no one realizes that the
Lord's Prayer is not in agreement with our Preamble. And I personally
don't care for the chanting and pumping of the hands… … I have
three alcoholic children, two of whom are in recovery. I have
grandchildren and great-grandchildren and I want the program to be
there when they need it.”
Bill
W:
“Finally,
I am often asked why I do not publicly acknowledge my very real debt
of gratitude to the Oxford Group. The answer is that, unfortunately,
a vast and sometimes unreasoning prejudice exists all over this
country against the O.G. and its successor M.R.A. My dilemma is that
if I make such an acknowledgement, I may establish a connection
between the O. G. and Alcoholics Anonymous which does not exist at
the present time. I had to ask myself which was more important: that
the O.G. receive credit and that I have the pleasure of so
discharging my debt of gratitude, or that alcoholics everywhere have
the best possible chance to stay alive regardless of who gets
credit.” (Bill W. Pass It On page 173)
Section
10
Conclusion
This
report gives analysis of hazardous departure from Tradition, serious
and growing internal divisions and public concerns.
There
is evidence Alcoholics Anonymous is being influenced by outside
business interests; a minority of A.A. groups are adopting organised
educational programs, hierarchical pyramid power structures and
international affiliations. There is evidence of fundamentalist
Christian literature distorting AA history to the extent that it
presents early A.A. groups as evangelical Christian Oxford Groups and
which advocates their return. There is evidence in the press,
internet and within the fellowship that AA is beginning to get the
reputation of being a religious cult.
A
widespread and hazardous misconception in the application of A.A.
Traditions presents a situation in A.A. where neither A.A. Tradition,
nor General Warranties of Conference are withstanding. Unless
remedial action is taken at all levels, the present dynamics in A.A.
parallel that of the Washingtonian movement and signal an early
warning of impending collapse.
This
report makes recommendations.
“Of
highest importance would be our relations with medicine and religion.
Under no circumstances must we get into competition with either. If
we appeared to be a new religious sect, we’d be done for. (Bill W.
AA Grapevine June 1955, Language of the Heart page 150)
“Education
will not only pay off in numbers treated; it can pay off even more
handsomely in prevention… … it is both a community job and a job
for specialists… … but AA as such cannot, and should not, get
directly into this field.” (Bill W. AA Grapevine March 1958.
Language of the Heart page 186-187)
“We
are sure that each group of workers in world service will be tempted
to try all sorts of innovations that may often produce little more
than painful repetition earlier mistakes. Therefore it will be an
important objective of these Concepts to forestall such repetitions
by holding the experiences of the past clearly before us. And if
mistaken departures are nevertheless made, these Concepts may then
provide a ready means of safe return to an operating
balance that might otherwise take years of floundering to
rediscover.”
The
“AA Service manual combined with the Twelve Concepts for World
Service” online:
Minority
report submitted August 2011, revised and re-submitted October 2011.
Background
documents enclosed.
THE
END
Cheerio
The
Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)
PS See also:
PS See also:
The
above are the more thoughtful ones ….. otherwise the list goes on
.. and on ….ad …..
PPS
We're looking forward to the revised version of the Minority report
with great interest
