Reply #70: OK, I get it. And I agree - selective self-discipline is not real self-discipline. [View All]

[RaleighNCDUer]

And I've known plenty of people who were so proud of staying dry, even in AA, who continued to be appallingly self-destructive. I also believe that AA (and its ilk) is closet evangelism, and there are other ways other than depending on invisible beings. I can see how AA can work for believing Christians, but being told I had to get on my knees for the third step prayer rankled.

But that leads the discussion in a different direction, in which I would rather not take it.

Suffice it to say, self-discipline is only effective with understanding the core of the problem - without that understanding there is no solution that mere self-discipline can effect. You just wind up repressing and getting crazier.

I think we are in agreement, essentially, as my contention is that 'dry drunk' is a result of not addressing the underlying issues, not a matter of 'surrender to a higher power'.