We recently did an intake on a man who attempted suicide a few years ago while in our program. He survived the attempt and we heard he was placed in a psychiatric unit at the hospital after his injuries were treated. Then we lost track of him. For all we knew, the man was still in the hospital.

One of those who did the intake said when he returned he not only had the scars from the suicide attempt, but he also had lost one eye. The injury apparently had occurred during a street brawl while he was drinking or drugging.

When we heard of his return it reminded all of us one more time of the things that can befall us until we finally get clean and sober. True,life happens to us all. We have accidents, we might be assaulted, we fall ill, lose jobs, or get divorced. But these things seem to happen to those of us who are drinking or drugging more often than it happens to those living a so-called "normal" life. Hummm...

If this man stays in our program he's going to have to start dealing with the real issues in his life. While none of us at TLC are psychiatrists or psychologists, one thing we have observed is that those who work 12 step programs don't often try to take their own lives.

Working the 12 steps seems to help those who have tried to run away from the issues in their life. In the rooms we hear stories of those who wanted to take their own lives. And we hear from those who made the attempt and failed. Many say they came back to the program with the realization that they couldn't do anything right, even kill themselves. But from there many have rebuilt their lives and found support in the Fellowship of the 12 step programs.