summary 2-'naught but a story'

Summary:

An article named 'Naught but a story': Narratives of successful AA recovery' involves a study which invited individuals who held at least nine years of sobriety to tell of their recovery process stories. This article was published in October of 2009. Bill W the co-founder of AA said, "Being layman we have naught, but a story to tell," (W. 273)hence the 'naught' in the title of the article. The article explains that listening to other stories of recovery can ultimately help other alcoholics. In the study the individuals used an AA-based approach to recovery. The individuals were picked at random by the authors attending an AA meeting. The topics of discussion in the study were: findings: 'being alcoholic', first impressions of AA, decline and renewal, admittance and surrender, character change, and spiritual change. When talking about their stories, the individuals would tell of their life choices and consequences due to their addiction. One of the big steps in AA is admitting that you have a problem. Most of the people in the study claim that this happened as a result of them 'hitting rock bottom.' Realizing that you have an addiction is a critical point in AA. The study also asked the clients what their first impression of AA was. Some people had found where they belonged at the first meeting attended, others felt is was a mistake for them to be there and that they didn't belong. At AA the individuals were encouraged to look at things and life in a different way. Linda said, " You know, they say in AA that 'half measures availed us nothing.' And those that don't recover are incapable of being honest with themselves, you know when they say all theses things and I heard all of those things so many times and now I was prepared to be honest. I was so afraid that if I drank again I was going to kill myself and I don't mean with drink. I couldn't live like that anymore." (Lindy 277) All the individuals had to go through huge obstacles and maintain a new outlook in order to become sober. Admittance and surrender are huge parts of AA. You basically have to surrender yourself to the twelve steps in order to be successful. According to one of the steps, "We admitted we were powerless over alcohol..." Many of the individuals got to the point of desperation and were finally willing to give themselves to the program completely. Most of the individuals depend on AA meetings to keep them sober, but a few didn't think that they needed it anymore. Some would say not going to meetings was trouble. Character change is another huge part in the study. The participants explained that they had to come to many realizations in order to overcome the way that they were living. They are good people that are damaged and AA helped them to pull back the layers and get to the root of their problems. Having a structured life is a way for addicts to become sober. Most of the participants were involved in other things such as having their own therapist. This helped them see why they might have resorted to alcohol. One girl talked about how she was emotional deprived and had childhood problems. The last point is coming to a spiritual change. AA revolves around a 'higher power.' It doesn't necessarily have to be a 'god'. Just thinking that their is something bigger than you is a large rung on the recovery ladder. This article basically just shows ways that make it easier for alcoholics to recover and what methods they find useful.

• Bill W. (1949) "The society of Alcoholics Anonymous' American Journal of Psychiatry 106(5): 370-375
• Lindy, C (1993) Life Stories: The Creation of Coherence Oxford University Press: New York and Oxford

--This article gave me a better understanding of all the steps that alcoholics have to go through in order to live a better life. I have a lot of respect for these people, because there are many steps to recovery. I think that examining yourself is often very hard. Coming to realizations about yourself that you don't like is even harder.

*Thesis- The stories and methods of recovery that are useful for one person, are often useful for another. Many factors have influenced the way individuals have gotten help in order to attain change.