From
Ealing:
“There have been 2 suicides in the fellowship recently, both of whom I knew personally. One being a friend of 15 years standing. Difficult stuff to come to terms with. Both had serious mental issues other than alcohol.”
…......
“Regarding the 2 suicides. The first was a guy called ......., who was 28 years old and 3 1/2 years sober. He was a paranoid schizophrenic and needed medication. I was told by a few who knew him well that Happy Dennis sent this chap a text when he was a newcomer and told him to come off his medication. ......... had to spend some time in hospital because of this. He was very anti Cult and anti Dennis after that. He used to read the cultwatch website, and often talked about it in the coffee bar after the meeting. ….... I don't think his suicide was the direct result of the cult, although the cult did him no favours initially. He left a note saying he was just sick of his life, he couldn't silence the" voices" and took an overdose. His funeral was very well attended and his family were grateful that AA had helped him stay sober for the last 3 years of his life.
“Regarding the 2 suicides. The first was a guy called ......., who was 28 years old and 3 1/2 years sober. He was a paranoid schizophrenic and needed medication. I was told by a few who knew him well that Happy Dennis sent this chap a text when he was a newcomer and told him to come off his medication. ......... had to spend some time in hospital because of this. He was very anti Cult and anti Dennis after that. He used to read the cultwatch website, and often talked about it in the coffee bar after the meeting. ….... I don't think his suicide was the direct result of the cult, although the cult did him no favours initially. He left a note saying he was just sick of his life, he couldn't silence the" voices" and took an overdose. His funeral was very well attended and his family were grateful that AA had helped him stay sober for the last 3 years of his life.
The
other suicide was someone I have known for 15 years. He suffered from
severe depression and needed anti-depressants. Unfortunately he felt
that he was not "practising the program" by taking this
medication in spite of the fact that many, including myself, told him
that he must do as the doctors have told him, and that taking
prescribed medication was not "a slip". However, the
anti-medication culture in some meetings affected him. I know that he
had stopped taking his medication prior to his suicide. He hung
himself and leaves a wife and 2 children. I have no doubt that
although this chap didn’t have a sponsor telling to come off
medication, he was adversely affected by the guilt that some people
try to induce around medication issues. His first meetings were
Vision For You circa 1997, then he followed the Happy Destiny
breakaway for a while until around 1999. He left them both a long
time ago, but I think they left their ugly mark on him
psychologically. His family did not want any AAs at his funeral. Very
sad.”
And
on a relatively – but only relatively – lighter note:
“I
thought you would like to hear Happy Dennis' latest words of wisdom.
According to several sources ….... he says that.....
"given a choice between a relationship with a woman, and jumping into a pit of snakes, he would jump into a pit of snakes".
So, jumping for joy one minute - jumping into a pit of snakes the next....
Believe me …... if you had ever met this dangerous nutter, you would soon realize that no one in their right mind would ever want a relationship with this arrogant, goon-like over-elated, narcissistic control freak. Any self-respecting woman would keep him at arms length.”
"given a choice between a relationship with a woman, and jumping into a pit of snakes, he would jump into a pit of snakes".
So, jumping for joy one minute - jumping into a pit of snakes the next....
Believe me …... if you had ever met this dangerous nutter, you would soon realize that no one in their right mind would ever want a relationship with this arrogant, goon-like over-elated, narcissistic control freak. Any self-respecting woman would keep him at arms length.”
Comment:
The above clearly illustrates the importance of 'minding our own
business' when it comes to medication issues. AA members are NOT
qualified to issue advice on such matters and should leave these (diagnosis and treatment) in the hands of the professionals.
The consequences otherwise are evident from the foregoing......
See
also: Dual Recovery Anonymous: Medications and Recovery and here
and The A.A. Member—Medications and Other Drugs
The
Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)
PS
Our thanks to our Ealing correspondents
