Uniquely Qualified to help like no other

Why an alcoholic/addict/co-dependent/ACOA/Alanon/compulsive overeater or compulsive anything is uniquely qualified to help like no other...


A drunk fell in a hole and couldn’t get out.

A businessman went by.  The drunk called out for help.  The businessman threw some money and told him to get himself a ladder.  But the drunk could not find a ladder in this hole he was in.

A doctor walked by.  The drunk said, “Help, I can’t get out.”  The doctor gave him drugs and said, “Take this, it will relieve the pain.”  The drunk said thanks, but when the pills ran out, he was still in the hole.

A renowned psychiatrist rode by and heard the drunk crying for help.  He stopped and said, “How did you get there?  Were you born there?  Were you put there by your parents?  Tell me about yourself; it will alleviate your sense of loneliness.”  So the drunk talked with him for an hour, then the psychiatrist had to leave, but he said he’d be back next week.  The drunk thanked him, but he was still in his hole.

A priest came by and the drunk called for help.  The priest gave him a bible and said, “I’ll say a prayer for you.”  He got down on his knees and prayed for the drunk, then left.  The drunk was very grateful; he read the bible but was still stuck in the hole.

A recovering alcoholic happened to be passing by and the drunk cried out, “Hey, help me, I’m stuck in this hole.”  Right away, the recovering alcoholic jumped in the hole with him.  The drunk said, “What are you doing?  Now we are both stuck in here.”

But the recovering alcoholic said, “It’s okay, I’ve been here before; I know the way out.”