Featured in "The Doctors Opinion" of Alcoholics Anonymous is a letter from Dr. William D. Silkworth, the Medical Director of Townes Hospital in New York City (a renowned hospital during that time for the treatment of alcoholics). One of the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous and primary author of Alcoholics Anonymous, Bill W., was under Dr. Silkworth's care on three separate occasions there. In Dr. Silkworth's letter he states, "We doctors have realized for a long time that some form of moral psychology was of urgent importance to alcoholics ... unless [the alcoholic] can experience an entire psychic change there is very little hope for his recovery." Dr. Silkworth and his colleagues believed that not only did the thought processes of the mind need to be completely transformed but the source of what powered these thought processes altered as well. The American Heritage Dictionary defines psychology as "the science that deals with mental processes and behavior" and it holds the word moral synonymous with the word virtuous. Therefore, what the experts formulated was that the thought processes of the mind had to become virtuous. In order for this to occur the mind of the alcoholic could no longer be propelled by its own human nature or instincts but rather by the will of God through inspiration. As the latter part of the 11th Step bids, "...praying only for the knowledge of God's will for us and the power to carry that out."
The psychic change is the very core component of the solution to alcoholism - to any and all addictions, really. Through the grace of God (the source that powers the thought processes), a transformed and virtuous thought process is possible and it is real. If one experiences such a change they can recover from this disease of alcoholism and to any and all other vices, habits and addictions this disease encompasses.
Written by Armand
I sensed I was good but I thought I was bad. Alcoholism woefully attempted to fill the gap between those two forces. In the program of recovery I learned that my mind is no match for my awakened spirit, although on some days it's a street fight as my human nature is a powerful foe. The psychic change necessary for me to understand the ultimate power of The Power Within me became available only by integrating all Twelve Steps into my life in such a way that my thinking was no longer propelled solely by my mind. Instead, as you point out, Inspiration became the loving force that guides me and enables me to be in a constant state of becoming. This process has not been a matter for the mind (psychology). It has been and is the essence of spirituality (moral).
ReplyDeleteMichael we come to rely on it...thank you...Armand
DeleteArmand,
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for touching on the psychic change referred to by Dr. Silkworth which inarguably references the miracle of conversion which is so often misunderstood then tragically twisted into a reformulated metaphorical pilgrimage that will never bring us into the "promised land of sobriety." If I might, I would share again the following regarding "the benign little Dr. who loved drunks," Dr. William Duncan Silkworth and whom he believed the "Father of Light" and the "Devine Physician" to be, as related and published by Dick B. many years ago.
"Shortly before his death, the author spent an hour with Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, friend of A.A., the Rev. Sam Shoemaker, and Bill Wilson. Dr. Peale told me of the conversations he had with Bill Wilson about Bill's conversion. However, until 1997, I had never heard the following account by Peale about Dr. William Duncan Silkworth. It can be found in Norman Vincent Peale, The Positive Power of Jesus Christ (New York: Foundation for Christian Living, 1980), pp. 60-61. It appears under the title "The Wonderful Story of Charles K.":
"Charles, a businessman in Virginia, had become a full-fledged alcoholic; so much so that he had to have help, and fast, for his life was cracking up. He made an appointment with the late Dr. William Duncan Silkworth, one of the nation's greatest experts on alcoholism, who worked in a New York City hospital [the Charles Towns Hospital].
Receiving Charles into his clinic as a patient, the doctor gave him treatment for some days, then called him into his office. "Charles," he said, "I have done everything I can for you. At this moment you are free of your trouble. But there is an area in your brain where you may hold a reservation and that could, in all likelihood, cause you to return to your drinking. I wish that I might reach this place in your consciousness, but alas, I do not have the skill."
"But, doctor," exclaimed Charles, "you are the most skilled physician in this field. When I came to you it was to the greatest. If you cannot heal me, then who can possibly do so?" The doctor hesitated, then said thoughtfully, "There is another Doctor who can complete this healing, but He is very expensive."That's all right," cried Charles, "I can get the money. I can pay his fees. I cannot go home until I am healed. Who is this doctor and where is he?"
"Oh, but this Physician is not at all moderate as to expense," persisted Dr. Silkworth. "He wants everything you've got. He wants you, all of you. Then He gives the healing. His price is your entire self." Then he added slowly and impressively, "His name is Jesus Christ and He keeps office in the New Testament and is available whenever you need Him. Dr. Peale then describes the healing of Charles through the power of Jesus Christ."
This Good News is the clarion call proclaimed throughout all of the Bible. My favorite three Old Testament verses, 2 Chronicles 7:14-16, written three thousand years ago reveals, in its entirety, the spiritual process and promise of all 12 Steps of AA. "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear them from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.16 For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually." It was through the 12 Steps of AA, the testimony of the founders and the undeniable power of Jesus Christ that this gratefully recovering alcoholic has found all of the above so written to be absolutely experientially true. And for that fact I remain eternally grateful..
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic.
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic many years ago in the rooms of AA I asked "what is it that God wants of me" and in that moment in an unheard of voice within me "all of me>'...Thank you...Armand
DeleteThank you Armand. If my thinking is diseased, how can I heal it? Dr. Silkworth seems to grapple with language as he tries to describe the solution in a way that will not make him appear unscientific. In the same part of the Opinion in which he describes "moral psychology" which you unpack so well, he also refers to the "power of good." It was suggested to me that I remove one "o" from the word "good" to get a better sense of what the Doctor was really saying in this section. I can only recover from alcoholism and other addiction, and indeed my own flawed psyche and thought process, with the help of the transformative Power that I find through working the twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous.
ReplyDeleteDan the back half of the 11th step says 'praying only for knowledge of God's will for me and the power to carry it out."...Thank you...Armand
DeleteArmand,
ReplyDeleteThere are doctors and there are doctors. We, of Alcoholics Anonymous are so lucky that Bill W. was under the care of Dr. Silkworth. Today, we are able to celebrate 85 years of our wonderful fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous.
I was also lucky when I ended up under the care of a certain doctor. I need not mention his name, but I will say he started a program for Drug & Alcohol addiction at one of the facilities I frequented. I was under his care for 1 year. I was able to understand him when he spoke to me about my "life problems" other than my drug addiction. I learned "that the body of the alcoholic is quite as abnormal as the mind." After almost 3 years in the program, which about 12 months were under the doctors care, he suggested to me that I pass this gift on, To show other alcoholics how I have recovered from this seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. With courage and strength through the Grace of God and my dear friend Karen W. (deceased) I was able to start a program at Malvern Institute, which we called Re-Entry. Karen was a close friend of my younger sister and I hadn't seen her in many years. I know today that it was not a coincidence that we happened to meet. God has a plan for all of us.
Sid P
Sid that plan that God has for us all can only materialize in His will for us...thank you...Armand
ReplyDelete