(extracts from I-Say –
Grapevine online forum)
“Medications and AA
Submitted by Anonymous
on Thu, 2011-10-06 23:38.
I was on drugs when I
joined AA and knew folks who talked like taking any drug, even aspirin, was
tantamount to not staying sober. I did not feel I had to agree. I think that
part of why AA worked for me was AA people are ordinary folks and non
professional and because of this I felt free to only worry about what I could
grasp as being true and/or helpful that they shared about such as the 12 steps
and all that.
I already knew from
experience that it was a very bad idea to take any homespun advice about going
off my psychiatric drugs.
I did eventually taper
off of the drugs with the help and support of several doctors. I was criticized
for that because gossip had it I did not have the support of a doctor. It was
true that the idea was controversial among my doctors and the busybodies who
knew that were supposed to stay out of that outside controversy too.”
“Getting Off the Roller
Coaster
Submitted by Anonymous
on Tue, 2011-09-20 15:31.
I just read this
article in this month's Grapevine. It always scares me when AA's are told to go
off their medications. I am a dual diagnosis with a diagnosis that, like my
alcoholism, there is no cure for and will never go away. Thank God I have a
sponsor who knows that this is an outside issue, and the tradition that states
we have no opinions on outside issues, and always tells me to talk to my
doctor.”
“Getting Off the Roller
Coaster
Submitted by Anonymous
on Mon, 2011-10-03 10:43.
I, too, have a bipolar
type II depression and anxiety disorders in addition to my alcoholism. I once
had a member of AA tell me that Step 2 was my problem. That God was all or
nothing and hinted that I needed medication because I hadn't fully "come to
believe." I was devastated but admittedly I was also living in fear of my mental
disorders. This fear proved that I did need to focus on steps 2 and 3 more than
I was but I do not think that it means I don't need my meds.
The most confusing part
of have a dual-diagnosis is that both of them share the same symptoms (anxiety,
depression, obsessive thinking, highs and lows of mood, problems with
interpersonal and work relationships, etc.) I used to find myself confused and
asking "Is this my alcoholism or my bipolar?"
Fortunately, I now have
a sponsor who understands what I am going through (my last one did not and told
me I didn't need to go to counseling because I was too focused on myself as it
was. Her answer was more service work at a time that I couldn't even get myself
to take a shower on most days. I no longer resent her - she just didn't get it
and she also didn't adhere to the Tradition of having no opinions on outside
issues.)
I have learned that if
I know I am practising the principles of the program in all of my affairs and I
still feel depressed or anxious then it is my bipolar and I need to call my
doctor about my meds. And honestly, I can't work my program very well unless my
meds are working well first.
In my experience,
clinical depression affects my mental and physical abilities to take the action
needed to work my program. If I had diabetes and didn't take insulin when needed
and went into a diabetic coma, guess what? I wouldn't be able to take the action
needed to work my program either.
I can no more "will"
myself out of depression than I could "will" my body to produce the proper
amount of insulin. Who would tell a diabetic, "Well, if you really had faith in
God then you wouldn't need those insulin shots." That is ludicrous!
Ah, but now I feel I am
treading on giving my opinion on outside issues so I will end my comment here
:)”
“I couldn't agree
more
Submitted by Anonymous
on Fri, 2011-10-07 15:46.
Thank you for your
post, it's well said and comprehensive. I can't stay sober if I don't treat my
bipolar disorder and the hardest part is that some days the symptoms of bipolar
disorder mimic that of alcoholism. Let's not even talk about how I react to
trigger's of trauma. I've spent 12 years without a drink, switching meds,
therapists, doctors and sponsors. But I always come back to my sponsor that
understands about mental issues, and I now have a therapist who helps me look at
MY BARRIERS to the step in the Big Book. He actually pulls it off the shelf and
makes me read it out loud and then we discuss what that means to me today. I am
so grateful for him. I gave my Psychiatrist the AA Pamphlet 11 - Medication and
Other Drugs, as it suggests right in the pamphlet to do, and she was surprised,
as none of her patients who she saw had ever done so. I had a major breakdown 6
months ago, but I didn't drink and I didn't drive my car off the road, because
AA taught me how to ask for help. I have been in a dual diagnosis treatment
center 3-5 days a week at a daytime outpatient program and often find myself
educating the staff and other dual-diagnosed people about the principles of the
AA program they like to write down on our treatment plans as treatment for
alcoholism. It seems most of the clinicians I come across do not have too much
knowledge about the true spiritual nature of alcoholism. Many clinicians still
talk about medicating the other disorders with alcohol and drugs but don't
really understand the spiritual depravity that alcoholics are experiencing
because of the alcoholism, drinking or dry. The issue is a very important one
that needs to continue to be discussed in forum's just like this. The founder's
wrote the very prophetic "more will be revealed" and "we only know a little".
The reason this topic is so hot is because there are better medicines to help
the "manic-depressive, type of alcoholic, about whom a whole chapter could be
written" It was the Grapevine that helped to form the traditions and be a
cohesive voice for the fellowship and it seems that this is EXACTLY the forum we
should continue to have this type of discussions.
Thank you and all of
AA”
“The Roller Coaster
article
Submitted on Sun,
2011-09-25 15:28.
I too just listened to
this story and found myself getting concerned that the author was taking himself
off meds. This is my experience: I suffer from both depression and anxiety.
Someone told me as I was coming into recovery that my symptoms were likely
caused by alcohol. This always sat under my consciousness and as I came closer
to my 2nd year of recovery I decided that I should get off my meds as "they were
a crutch" and "of course I could be sober on them but could I do sobriety
without relying on them?" Dangerous thinking. I asked my doctor to move me
toward stopping the medication. She put me on a program of decreasing doses. I
got down to lowest dose and found myself getting depressed and anxious
contemplating the next step: nothing. I talked to my sponsor who assured me that
many people face need for medications in sobriety for diabetes, high blood
pressure, and a host of other ailments-- did I now think that depression wasn't
a valid ailment? I asked Higher Power to direct my thinking. I "remembered" that
I come from a lineage of depression and that my paternal grandmother killed
herself while committed to mental institution and my father had suffered from
deep depression and numerous suicide attempts. So I called my doctor and relayed
my fears and discomfort. I went back to the next to last dose. So yes, my dose
is lower but I still take a medication that helps me keep my brain chemicals in
balance. That was almost four years ago. Facing any diseases in addition to
alcoholism doesn't mean we are not doing sobriety right. I am grateful for AA
and that I am taking care of my body that I had abused for years before
recovery.”
Comment: The role of
prescribed medication is not only an outside issue for AA as such but also
remains beyond the competence of most AA members (ie. apart from those who are
additionally in possession of recognised and relevant medical qualifications).
Otherwise it is very much the case – MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!
Cheerio
The Fellas (Friends
of Alcoholics Anonymous)
