Untreated alcoholism often described as having lots of problems in life, being upset, depressed, angry, or anxious, etc.
One can certainly have untreated alcoholism in a drunken condition, in that one is, well, drunk.
Is it possible to have untreated alcoholism, sober, once one has been detoxed? What would that look like? What would treated alcoholism look like?
If the central problem of alcoholism, sober, is the obedience of one’s own impulse to drink, untreated alcoholism is a condition in which one would obey an impulse to drink, and treated alcoholism is a condition in which one would not obey such an impulse (instead recoiling (page 84), going and finding an alcoholic to carry the message to (page 15), engaging in intensive work with other alcoholics (page 89), phoning a clergyman (154), etc.)
The difference between untreated and treated alcoholism is not, therefore, whether one has practical or emotional problems but whether one is serving self (treating oneself as God, playing God) or abandoning self (treating God as God, serving God) (page 15, page 59, page 63, page 164, page 199).
“We could actually have earnest religious beliefs which remained barren because we were still trying to play God ourselves.” (Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions)
“Either we had tried to play God and dominate those about us, or we had insisted on being over-dependent upon them.” (Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions)
“If we really depended upon God, we couldn’t very well play God to our fellows nor would we feel the urge wholly to rely on human protection and care.” (Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions)
The person who has treated alcoholism might still have lots of problems but have surrendered to God.
The person with untreated alcoholism might have no problems and be having quite a jolly day, centred entirely on self: What programme? God who?
I think this is the best description of untreated alcoholism in the book (page 43):
“Physically, I felt fine. Neither did I have any pressing problems or worries. My business came off well, I was pleased and knew my partners would be too. It was the end of a perfect day, not a cloud on the horizon.”
“I … I … My … I … my …”
The best description of treated alcoholism in the book (page 15).
“We commenced to make many fast friends and a fellowship has grown up among us of which it is a wonderful thing to feel a part. The joy of living we really have, even under pressure and difficulty. … There is scarcely any form of trouble and misery which has not been overcome among us. In one western city and its environs there are one thousand of us and our families. We meet frequently so that newcomers may find the fellowship they seek. At these informal gatherings one may often see from 50 to 200 persons. We are growing in numbers and power.”
“We … us … to feel a part … joy of living we really have … among us … of us … our families … We meet frequently … 50 to 200 persons … we.”
The treatment of my alcoholism has been the journey from ‘I’ to ‘we’, and I can tell a lot about whether my alcoholism is being treated by the number, nature, and depth of interactions with other human beings, especially alcoholics, on a daily basis.