Alcohol

There is always a reason to drink: summer, winter, holidays, family get togethers, sporting events, eating out, eating in, birthdays, anniversaries, parties, camping, hunting, fishing, community events, “it’s 5 pm somewhere,” “we won the game,” “we lost the game,” “I got the job,” or “I didn’t get the job.” Alcohol is everywhere; and for many, there is always a justified reason to drink.

In my 24 years as a therapist, I have never (and I mean never) found any amount of alcohol, small or large, to be beneficial in the recovery process, not only for the obvious alcoholic but also for the sex addict, intimacy anorexic, trauma survivor, codependent, depressed or anxious individual.

The etymology of the word alcohol or al-kuhul, al-khul, al-ghoul, algol or alcofol is a fine powder produced by sublimation; used to darken the eyelids; a stain, paint; also a volatile liquid; the pure spirit of anything. Algol is the root of algorithm, but that’s another topic.

The root of khul, goul, or ghoul is from the Arabic meaning an evil spirit; the demon that robs graves and feeds on corpses; from ghala meaning to be seized. Algol in the constellation Perseus, meaning the demon.

Have you ever wondered why they call the local liquor store Wine and Spirits? Spirits are the captured vapor that evaporates from the fermented boiling grain mash.

The etymology of the word spirits means to make more active or energetic; to carry away secretly as by a supernatural agency.

Do you think the human spirit can be influenced by alcohol?

Since alcohol is made from capturing the vapor or spirits of fermented grain, is it possible alcohol can capture your spirit?

According to the origin of the root word alcohol, the answer is yes.

Liquor, licor, likur, or liquere can mean fluid or liquid; any matter in a liquid state; fermented or distilled drink.

Jinn means demons, spirits or angels. Ginn is the root of Genie. Genie means tutelary spirit.

Vodka is a rectified corn-spirits and can mean little water, or wet.

“Alcoholism is a psychic disease…the physical body is infected by the drinking of alcoholic liquors. Alcohol is excellent and trustworthy, while kept as a servant, or used as a medium in the making of pharmaceutical preparations. But alcohol, as a spirit is ruthless and relentless when it becomes master… Alcohol is a preserving spirit in nature; but it kills the thing which it preserves. The spirit of drunkenness fears the Conscious Light in the human and strives to incapacitate the human. The only sure way to be a master and not the slave of the spirit of alcohol is: Do not taste it.”

Thinking and Destiny Harold W. Percival 1946 p. 975

So, in short, alcohol is used to darken eyelids. It is a volatile wet liquid from pure natural spirit of grain. A jinn, genie, angel, evil spirit, or demon that feeds, seizes the body and mind of the dead; which are carried away secretly by the supernatural.

Have you ever sat down and calculated the quantifiable cost of alcohol regarding the time and money spent, divorce, or earnings lost from drinking. The nontangible secondary cost of stress, as well as direct and indirect relationships negatively impacted are often beyond measure and comprehension.

Is it causing you a problem?

Many of the clients who drink have never had any problems with the law, financial difficulties, health issues, or job loss due to their drinking. However, their drinking usually causes relational problems, and that is why they contact our office. Many who drink are functioning alcoholics with a high tolerance, which is not a good thing.

There are far more functioning alcoholics in the world all around us than there are diagnosed alcoholics in meetings or treatment. “It’s normal, everyone is doing it.”

Our kids have told us that all their friends’ parents drink, and we are the only ones their friends know who don’t drink.

Perhaps everyone is doing it. It is “normal.” But as I have said before and I will say it again, “Normal” is sick and unhealthy. If you are going to be healthy, you are going to have to begin to be “abnormal.”

Many are surprised to be informed that their drinking may be a central part of their anger problem, irresponsibility, irritability, memory loss, sleep issues, fatigue, low energy, health problems, obesity, heart issues, immune, nervous, digestive system and more. It all makes more sense when you understand that there is a medium, a spirit, that fears the light within you and is trying to put that light out by killing that which is consuming and hosting it.

As we say in recovery, your emotional age is frozen; stunted at the age you started drinking.

What is your emotional age as compared to your physical age?

It’s been said that nothing tastes as good as thin feels.

If you drink alcohol, can you or would you ever agree that no alcohol taste as good as sobriety feels?

Is alcohol a problem in your life?

Take the Substance Abuse Self-Assessment today to find out.

Cory Schortzman Executive Director

Cory Schortzman is an author, speaker, teacher and licensed mental health professional. Since 2008, he has served as the Executive Director of Transformed Hearts Counseling Center in Colorado Springs, CO. He is the founder of SARA, the Sexual Addiction Recovery Association. Cory is passionate about helping couples and individuals overcome sex addiction. He is also passionate about bringing awareness to the public and supporting the elimination of sex and human trafficking. Cory has been married since 1998 to his beautiful wife, Kerry, and lives in Colorado with their four daughters. He and Kerry have been seen on the CBS Early Show, Inside Edition, and ABC Good Morning America, Fox 21 News, and TLC/Discovery discussing the harm of sex addiction and the joys of recovery. He has also been heard on numerous radio programs.

Cory’s books include: Out of the Darkness, Into the Light the Workbook, Into the Light the Steps, Ashes to Beauty the Steps, 301 Dating Ideas, 301 Conversational Ideas, 301 Ways to Say I Love You, 301 Ways to Love Your Children & 301 Recovery Tools & Tips.