We are very clear in our 12 Step work with newcomers: “continue to drink and the choices are slow death, institutionalization, or insanity.”
We rely on fear of drinking to motivate and compel the actions that we know will result in recovery. And for many, it works. They identify with our stories and we can see the fear in their eyes. But until that wonderful mix of fear and desperation is apparent and clear, we often see serial failures and slips.
Finally, we see that fear in their eyes and we know that the confidence in their own ability to ‘lick the problem’ has slipped away; they have hit a solid bottom. Then recovery starts with a genuine commitment to the steps.