Nobody truly knows the exact how of it, the precise mechanism of God’s power, which is surely unreachable and thus unknowable to us shallow, mundane creatures. The closest we can come to the answer is by experiencing it ourselves. Although once our obsession is removed and has become a reality, there is little need to ask the question anymore.
But it seemed like such a genuine and sincere inquiry, I thought it deserved some kind of pathetic-at-best answer.
Answer: God, being unlimited in Power, can do anything. He can literally rewire your brain such that you suddenly have no desire to drink or use. He restores your mind with the power of choice. As a direct result of rigorous spiritual work on self, a sincere desire and willingness to change, and when reaching out humbly, God can very suddenly or over time remove our obsession and restore us to sanity. God can alter our minds fundamentally, such that bio-chemical imbalances, obsessions, urges, thoughts, attitudes and beliefs that have haunted us for years are removed and replaced with balance, sanity, reason, spiritual principles, an entire change in attitude and the birth of a strong and accurate moral compass… but only if we work hard for it.
So if you are an alcoholic or drug addict and your obsession to drink or use is suddenly gone, you have no one to thank but God. Trust me, don’t thank yourself. You didn’t do it. If we have lost the power of choice, then how can we suddenly re-insert it? We can’t. If we have lost an innate power, the power of will, then it can only be restored by our Creator. This sort of power comes from somewhere outside of ourselves, somewhere well beyond the bounds of human faculty.
If you are a true addict and you can quit ‘upon a non-spiritual basis’, then let me know… and also let me know what the quality of your recovery is. Let me know what your relationships look like, and your career, and your emotional and spiritual well-being. I’m curious. I’ve never seen it done before, which is why I write this blog. It’s why I wrote the book.
A recent commenter (anonymous, of course) on some old post about triggers suggested I am grossly misguided regarding addiction, and that relapse prevention works for “most people”. Haha, that’s funny. Please. Talk to some parents, buddy. I went from an emaciated, lesion-covered, hopeless, pathological monster to completely and utterly free inside. I’m now a recovered alcoholic and heroin addict who hasn’t the slightest urge to self-destruct… I think I know what I’m talking about. But even so, who gives a shit about what I write? Um, does it matter one bit? I am nobody. So don’t worry about it.
God, please remove the obsession to drink and use drugs, and restore me to sanity…
I hate when they tell newcomers “just don't use and get to a meeting!” “Don't use no matter what!” If it were a simple assertion of willpower I would have stopped 12 years ago.
I hate when they tell newcomers \”just don't use and get to a meeting!\” \”Don't use no matter what!\” If it were a simple assertion of willpower I would have stopped 12 years ago.
It is not my will power that relieves my obsession. It is only my higher power that can do it. But I I have to give my will over to God. Then I can have peace.
There is no way I can use my will power to change. Only a Higher Power greater than myself can relieve me of my obsession. Giving my will to a higher power has given me peace
Exactly. WTF is “Just don't drink”? Um, that's the point. I can't just not drink. That slogan, like “Put the plug in the jug” etc. contradicts the 1st Step and core understanding of the entire program – that we are powerless over drugs and alcohol. God bless you, Dave.
Couldn't have said it better myself. Beautiful.