How
often have you been asked by a
well-meaning A.A. friend, "Are
you recovering or are you
recovered"? This little
chip of a document may throw some
light upon your grasp of the question
and its answer. We have
searched our Big Book (Alcoholics
Anonymous) for the root recover.
We found it 82 times.
Within the
context of Alcoholics Anonymous, the
synonyms restored or healed
are usually an appropriate
definition of recover.
For those
who seek a cure, the root cure
occurs only 4 times in the Big Book,
and in no instance does it mean that
the fundamental cause or malady is
completely taken away—sorry. Nor
does the Big Book allow us to sneak
the impression that we are normal
folk again, and that we can drink
like they do. It is clear that
eternal vigilance is the shield.
If you
consider yourself
"recovering" in order to
maintain the consciousness that you
must never drink, so be it. If you
consider yourself
"recovered" because the Big
Book says that's the way we get, then
so be that, too. Either way you will
be a winner—you won't drink,
and you will base your program
of recovery on the teachings of the
Big Book.
Here are
the 82 sentences in which recover
appears. Decide for yourself whether
the authors of the Big Book think you
are recovering or recovered.
Big Book sentences
containing RECOVER
1) The
Story of How Many Thousands of
Men and Women Have Recovered
from Alcoholism. [Big
Book, title page]
2) Because
this book has became the basic text
for our Society and has helped such
large numbers of alcoholic men and
women to recovery, there
exists a sentiment against any
radical changes being made in it. [Big
Book, page xi, line 9]
3)
Therefore, the first portion of this
volume, describing the A.A. recovery
program, has been left untouched in
the course of revisions made for both
the second and the third editions. [Big
Book, page xi, line 12]
4) WE, of
Alcoholics Anonymous, are more than
one hundred men and women who have recovered
from a seemingly hopeless state of
mind and body. [Big Book page xiii, line 2]
5) To show
other alcoholics precisely how we
have recovered is the main
purpose of this book. [Big
Book, page xiii, line 5]
6) Sixteen
years have elapsed between our first
printing of this book and the
presentation in 1955 of our second
edition. In that brief space,
Alcoholics Anonymous has mushroomed
into nearly 6,000 groups whose
membership is far above 150,000 recovered
alcoholics. [Big
Book page xv, line 9]
7) By the
end of 1939 it was estimated that 800
alcoholics were on their way to recovery.
[Big
Book, page xiii, line 14]
8) He
sobered, never to drink again up to
the moment of1his death in 1950. This
seemed to prove that one alcoholic
could affect another as no
nonalcoholic could. It also indicated
that strenuous work, one alcoholic
with another, was vital to permanent recovery
[Big
Book page xvi, line 32]
9) Hence
the two men set to work almost
frantically upon alcoholics arriving
in the ward of the Akron City
Hospital. Their very first case, a
desperate one, recovered
immediately and became A.A. number
three. [Big
Book page xvii, line 5]
10)
...public acceptance of A.A. grew by
leaps and bounds. For this there were
two principal reasons: the large
numbers of recoveries, and
reunited homes. [Big
Book, page xx, line 3]
11) The
basic principles of the A.A. program,
it appears, hold good for individuals
with many different life-styles, just
as the program has brought recovery
to those of many different
nationalities. [Big
Book, page xixi, line 16]
12) The
Twelve Steps that summarize the
program may be called los Doce Pasos
in one country, les Douze Etapes in
another, but they trace exactly the
same path to recovery that was
blazed by the earliest members of
Alcoholics Anonymous. [Big
Book, page xxii, line 21]
13) We of
Alcoholics Anonymous believe that the
reader will be interested in the
medical estimate of the plan of
recovery described in this book. [Big
Book, page xxiii, line 3]
14) In the
course of his third treatment he
acquired certain ideas concerning a
possible means of recovery. [Big
Book, page xxiii, line 18]
15) This
man and over one hundred others
appear to have recovered. [Big Book, page xxiii, line 24]
16) This is
repeated over and over, and unless
this person can experience an entire
psychic change there is very little
hope of his recovery. [Big Book, page xxvii, line 9]
17) Though
the aggregate of recoveries
resulting from psychiatric effort is
considerable, we physicians must
admit we have made little impression
upon the problem as a whole. [Big
Book, page xxvii, line 25]
18) He had
but partially recovered from a
gastric hemorrhage and seemed to be a
case of pathological mental
deterioration. [Big
Book, page xxix, line 5]
19) The
market would recover, but I
wouldn't. [Big
Book, page 6, line 17]
20) Nearly
all have recovered. [Big
Book, page 17, line 3]
21) Many
could recover if they had the
opportunity we have enjoyed. [Big Book, page 19, line 17]
22)
Doubtless you are curious to discover
how and why, in the face of expert
opinion to the contrary, we have recovered
from a hopeless condition of mind and
body. [Big Book, page 20, line 7]
23) So he
turned to this doctor, whom he
admired, and asked him point-blank
why he could not recover. [Big
Book, page 26, line 19]
24) I have
never seen one single case recover,
where that state of mind existed to
the extent that it does in you. [Big
Book, page 27, line 7]
25) Further
on, clear-cut directions are given
showing how we recovered. [Big Book, page 29, line 4]
26) We
learned that we had to fully concede
to our innermost selves that we were
alcoholics. This is the first step in
recovery. [Big
Book, page 30, line 13]
27) We know
that no real alcoholic ever recovers
control. [Big
Book, page 30, line 17]
28) In some
instances there has been brief recovery,
followed always by a still worse
relapse. [Big Book, page 31, line 3]
29) We
first saw Fred about a year ago in a
hospital where he had gone to recover
from a bad case of jitters. [Big
Book, page 39, line 22]
30) If a
mere code of morals or a better
philosophy of life were sufficient to
overcome alcoholism, many of us would
have recovered long ago. [Big Book, page 45, line 1]
31) Those
who do not recover are people
who cannot or will not completely
give themselves to this simple
program, usually men and women who
are constitutionally incapable of
being honest with themselves. [Big
Book, page 58, line 3]
32) There
are those, too, who suffer from great
emotional and mental disorders, but
many of them do recover if
they have the capacity to be honest. [Big Book, page 58, line 12]
33) Here
are the steps we took, which are
suggested as a program of recovery:
[Big Book, page 59, line 8]
34) This
brings us to the Fifth Step in the
program of recovery mentioned
in the preceding chapter. [Big
Book, page 72, line 12]
35) Small
wonder many in the medical profession
have a low opinion of alcoholics and
their chance for recovery! [Big
Book, page 73, line 32]
36) To
watch people recover, to see
them help others, to watch loneliness
vanish, to see a fellowship grow up
about you, to have a host of friends—this
is an experience you must not miss. [Big
Book, page 89, line 9]
37) Perhaps
you are not acquainted with any
drinkers who want to recover. [Big Book, page 89, line 6]
38) If he
says yes, then his attention should
be drawn to you as a person who has recovered.
[Big
Book, page 90, line 23]
39) You
should be described to him as one of
a fellowship who, as part of their
own recovery, try to help
others and who will be glad to talk
to him if he cares to see you. [Big
Book, page 90, line 25]
40) But
insist that if he is severely
afflicted, there may be little chance
he can recover by himself. [Big
Book, page 92, line 20]
41) It is
important for him to realize that
your attempt to pass this on to him
plays a vital part in your own recovery.
[Big
Book, page 94, line 9]
42) If you
leave such a person alone, he may
soon become convinced that he cannot recover
by himself. [Big
Book, page 96, line 8]
43) He
often says that if he had continued
to work on them, he might have
deprived many others, who have since recovered,
of their chance. [Big
Book, page 96, line 14]
44) He has
read this volume and says he is
prepared to go through with the
Twelve Steps of the program of recovery.
[Big
Book, page 96, line 18]
45) ...and
that he is not trying to impose upon
you for money, connections, or
shelter. Permit that and you only
harm him. You will be making it
possible for him to be insincere. You
may be aiding in his destruction
rather than his recovery. [Big Book, page 97, line
2]
46) Helping
others is the foundation stone of
your recovery. [Big
Book, page 97, line 5]
47) Should
they accept and practice spiritual
principles, there is a much better
chance that the head of the family
will recover. [Big
Book, page 97, line 30]
48) The man
should be sure of his recovery.
[Big Book, page 99, line 20
49 Let no
alcoholic say he cannot recover
unless he has his family back. [Big Book, page 99, line 30]
50) Remind
the prospect that his recovery
is not dependent upon people. It is
dependent upon his relationship with
God. [Big
Book, page 99, line 33]
51) But
many of the suggestions given here
may be adapted to help the person who
lives with a woman alcoholic—whether
she is still drinking or is recovering
in A.A. [Big
Book page 104, line 32]
52) He
knows that thousands of men, much
like himself, have recovered. [Big Book, page 113, line 8]
53) Wait
until repeated stumbling convinces
him he must act, for the more you
hurry him the longer his recovery
may be delayed. [Big
Book, page 113, line 13]
54) Yet
often such men had spectacular and
powerful recoveries. [Big Book, page 113, line 33]
55) The
slightest sign of fear or intolerance
may lessen your husband's chance of recovery.
[Big
Book, page 120, line 19]
56) Our
women-folk have suggested certain
attitudes a wife may take with her
husband who is recovering. [Big
Book, page 122, line 3]
57) At the
beginning of recovery a man
will take, as a rule, one of two
directions. He may either plunge into
a frantic attempt to get on his feet
in business, or he may be so
enthralled by his new life that he
talks or thinks of little else. [Big
Book, page 125, line 33]]
58) He is
striving to recover fortune
and reputation and feels he is doing
very well. [Big Book, page 126, line
18]
59)
Although financial recovery is
on the way for many of us, we found
we could not place money first. [Big
Book, page 127, line 15]
60) We have
recovered, and have been given
the power to help others. [Big Book, page 132, line 30]
61) A body
badly burned by alcohol does not
often recover overnight nor do
twisted thinking and depression
vanish in a twinkling. [Big
Book, page 133, line 11]
62) We, who
have recovered from serious
drinking, are miracles of mental
health. [Big Book, page 133, line
14]
63) Whether
the family goes on a spiritual basis
or not, the alcoholic member has to
if he would recover. [Big
Book, page 135, line 2]
64) He is
undoubtedly on the road to recovery.
[Big
Book, page 139, line 7]
65) After
satisfying yourself that your man
wants to recover and that he
will go to any extreme to do so, you
may suggest a definite course of
action. [Big Book, page 142, line 31]
66) We all
had to place recovery above
everything, We all had to place
recovery above everything, [Big
Book, page 14396, line 21]
67) ...for
without recovery we would have
lost both home and business. [Big Book, page 143, line 22]
68) Can you
have every confidence in his ability
to recover? [Big Book, page 143, line 25]
69)
Naturally this sort of thing
decreased the man's chance of recovery.
[Big Book, page 145, line 33]
70) An
alcoholic who has recovered,
but holds a relatively unimportant
job, can talk to a man with a better
position. [Big
Book, page 146, line 22]
71) If he
is, and is still trying to recover,
he will tell you about it even if it
means the loss of his job. [Big
Book, page 146, line 29]
72) He will
appreciate knowing you are not
bothering your head about him, that
you are not suspicious nor are you
trying to run his life so he will be
shielded from temptation to drink. If
he is conscientiously following the
program of recovery he can go
anywhere your business may call him. [Big Book, page 147, line 4]
73) The
right kind of man, the kind who recovers,
will not want this sort of thing. He
will not impose. [Big
Book, page 149, line 29]
74) The age
of miracles is still with us. Our own
recovery proves that! [Big Book, page 153, line 14]
75) He has
helped other men recover, and
is a power in the church from which
he was long absent. [Big
Book, page 158, line 25]
76)
Understanding our work, he can do
this with an eye to selecting those
who are willing and able to recover
on a spiritual basis. [Big
Book, page 162, line 13]
77) When a
few men in this city have found
themselves, and have discovered the
joy of helping others to face life
again, there will be no stopping
until everyone in that town has had
his opportunity to recover—if
he can and will. [Big Book, Page , line ]
78) One¾ Our
common welfare should come first;
personal recovery depends upon
A.A. unity. [Big
Book, page 564, line 2]
79) The
terms "spiritual experience: and
"spiritual awakening" are
used many times in this book which,
upon careful reading, shows that the
personality change sufficient to
bring about recovery from
alcoholism has manifested itself
among us in many different forms. [Big
Book, page 569, line 4]
80) Though
it was not our intention to create
such an impression, many acoholics
have nevertheless concluded that in
order to recover they must
acquire an immediate and overwhelming
"God consciousness"
followed at once by a vast change in
feeling and outlook. [Big
Book, page 569, line 14]
81) Most
emphatically we wish to say that any
alcoholic capable of honestly facing
his problems in the light of our
experience can recover,
provided he does not close his mind
to all spiritual concepts. [Big
Book, page 570, line 8]
82)
Willingness, honesty and open
mindedness are the essentials of recovery.
But these are indispensable. [Big
Book, page 570, line 13]
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