"help" in the Big Book

Perhaps I could help some of them.

Our very lives, as ex-problem drinkers, depend upon our constant thought of others and how we may help meet their needs.

We were in a position where life was becoming impossible, and if we had passed into the region from which there is no return through human aid, we had but two alternatives: One was to go on to the bitter end, blotting out the consciousness of our intolerable situation as best we could; and the other, to accept spiritual help.

Some of our alcoholic readers may think they can do without spiritual help.

How then shall we help our readers determine, to their own satisfaction, whether they are one of us?

I saw that will power and self-knowledge would not help in those strange mental blank spots.

As to two of you men, whose stories I have heard, there is no doubt in my mind that you were 100% hopeless, apart from divine help.

We were having trouble with personal relationships, we couldn’t control our emotional natures, we were a prey to misery and depression, we couldn’t make a living, we had a feeling of uselessness, we were full of fear, we were unhappy, we couldn’t seem to be of real help to other people— was not a basic solution of these bedevilments more important than whether we should see newsreels of lunar flight?

Without help it is too much for us.

We had to have God’s help.

Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life.

We asked God to help us show them the same tolerance, pity, and patience that we would cheerfully grant a sick friend.

We asked God to mold our ideals and help us to live up to them.

Most people approached in this way will be glad to help; they will be honored by our confidence.

If we still cling to something we will not let go, we ask God to help us be willing.

If we have obtained permission, have consulted with others, asked God to help and the drastic step is indicated we must not shrink.

Then we resolutely turn our thoughts to someone we can help.

You can help when no one else can.

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.

Don’t deal with him when he is very drunk, unless he is ugly and the family needs your help.

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.

Perhaps your story will help him see where he has failed to practice the very precepts he knows so well.

Make it plain he is under no obligation to you, that you hope only that he will try to help other alcoholics when he escapes his own difficulties.

Tell him that if he wants to get well you will do anything to help.

If he is, you might try to help him about getting a job, or give him a little financial assistance.

Some day we hope that Alcoholics Anonymous will help the public to a better realization of the gravity of the alcoholic problem, but we shall be of little use if our attitude is one of bitterness or hostility.

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. A further source of help is noted on page 121.

They need your companionship and your help.

Drinkers like to help other drinkers.

Meanwhile you might try to help the wife of another serious drinker.

At first, some of us did not believe we needed this help.

Showing others who suffer how we were given help is the very thing which makes life seem so worth while to us now.

Nothing will help the man who is off on a spiritual tangent so much as the wife who adopts a sane spiritual program, making a better practical use of it.

We have recovered, and have been given the power to help others.

Nearly every modern employer feels a moral responsibility for the well-being of his help, and he tries to meet these responsibilities.

I wanted to throw up my hands in discouragement, for I saw that I had failed to help my banker friend understand.

If you desire to help it might be well to disregard your own drinking, or lack of it.

Seeing your attempt to understand and help, some men will try to take advantage of your kindness.

He wants to quit drinking and you want to help him, even if it be only a matter of good business.

They often jeopardize their own positions by trying to help serious drinkers who should have been fired long ago, or else given an opportunity to get well.

The firm wants to help you get over it, and if you are interested, there is a way out.

We hope our suggestions will help you plug up this sometimes serious leak.

I don’t see how you can be of any help to us for, as you see, we don’t have

I have enjoyed every moment spent in getting them straightened out.* * See Appendix VI—We shall be happy to hear from you if we can be of help.

Though they knew they must help other alcoholics if they would remain sober, that motive became secondary.

Many of us, former patients, go there to help.