I’m really not trying to be a dick, but let’s just say I know people with cancer who have a disease that they didn’t inflict on themselves who take offense to that “alcoholism/drug addiction is a disease” stuff. Like I said, if calling it a disease helps in the recovery, then that’s great but under standard usage, it’s really not one. And I’m sorry, by that dictionary definition, a common cold could be an “impairment of health” and could be called a disease when we all know it’s not.
Stevo
It could be argued that full-blown alcoholics have no choice over what they’re doing…that their physical, emotional, and chemical dependence is beyond their control. One you cannot control something like that, it is a disease.
And why isn’t a common cold a “disease?”
One of the difficulties in recognizing alcoholism as a disease is it just plain doesn’t seem like one. It doesn’t look, sound, smell and it certainly doesn’t act like a disease. To make matters worse, generally it denies it exists and resists treatment.
Alcoholism has been recognized for many years by professional medical organizations as a primary, chronic, progressive and sometimes fatal disease. The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence offers a detailed and complete definition of alcoholism, but probably the most simple way to describe it is “a mental obsession that causes a physical compulsion to drink.”
Mental obsession? Did you ever wake up in the morning with a song playing over and over in your head? It might have been a commercial jingle you heard on television, or a song from the radio, but it kept playing …and playing and playing.
Mental Obsession
Remember what that was like? No matter what you did, that silly tune kept on playing. You could try to whistle or sing another song or turn on the radio and listen to another tune, but the one in your head just kept on playing. Think about it. There was something going on in your mind that you didn’t put there and, no matter how hard you tried, couldn’t get out!
That is an example of a simple mental obsession – a thought process over which you have no control. Such is the nature of the disease of alcoholism. When the drinking “song” starts playing in the mind of an alcoholic, he is powerless. He didn’t put the song there and the only way to get it to stop is to take another drink.
The problem is the alcoholic’s mental obsession with alcohol is much more subtle than a song playing in his mind. In fact, he may not even know it’s there. All he knows is he suddenly has an urge to take a drink – a physical compulsion to drink.
Progressive Disease
Compounding the problem is the progressive nature of the disease. In its early stages, taking one or two drinks may be all it takes to get the “song” to stop. But soon it takes six or seven and later maybe ten or twelve. Somewhere down the road the only time the song stops is when he passes out.
The progression of the disease is so subtle and usually takes place over such an extended period of time, that even the alcoholic himself failed to notice the point at which he lost control – and alcohol took over – his life.
does that clear it up, steveo? and the people you know with cancer taking offense to a semi less serious disease is pretty fuckin weak if you ask me. my disease is better than yours!!
oh…btw…my dad had cancer and was an alcoholic…not once did he say “ya know , son…i only have one disease.”
and guess which one killed him?!
Ummm…alcoholism?
The “non-disease?”
actually isnt alcoholism a virus?
Man, Steveo. You’re completely entitled to your opinons and all, but I don’t think this thread was the appropriate time to express them.
Yeah, Yeah…probably not.
All I was saying is that saying it is a disease implies that it’s not your fault. Seems like a cop-out. Obviously once it gets out of control, it’s very disease-like in that you have no control over the addiction but it certainly didn’t start that way. Maybe they can just come up with a better word for it…
Stevo
Well, either way, I’m “Down with Disease”
sorry that was totally lame and I don’t even know what I meant by it…it just came to mind
I would agree its a disease if you are drinking ALL DAY, EVERYDAY. My body just won’t let me do that. Scary thing is, I probably would if I could.
and welcome back Brett.
My advice (and I am a doctor)…smoke more pot!
Dick’s don’t try to be dick’s. We just are! That being said it IS a disease and sorry about your friends but i will not make them feel better by pointing out those who brought the disease upon themselves or otherwise.
Brett. We were worried about ya old man. Someone here even inlisted my help in stalking you(just kiddin you know who). I’m glad to hear everything is goin well and of course i wish you the best luck in fighting this disease. As you know i too have an addictive personality and relate quite well to this. I have nothin but love and rachmunis(yiddish for simpathy) for you buddy. Let me know if there is anything i can do to help! Cha boy, B
I’m not sure what conditioning lead you to believe in this statement but its flawed logic and therefore wrong.
Lets think about this logically.
“Lung Cancer is a disease.”
I think we can all agree that statement is true.
Lung cancer can have many causes, some of which may not be ones fault, such as being born in close proximity to a faculty that expels air-borne pathogens… lets say a dirty coal power plant or some such polluting place. Such exposure may lead to lung cancer later in ones life. On the other hand one may contract lung cancer from smoking cigarettes. In both cases a person has contracted a disease, lung cancer. One case was not the persons fault and the other case was.
Therefore the definition “disease implies that it’s not your fault.” is false.
Thank you,
Mr. Penishead
Good job, glad to hear you’re well & sober!
Hey guys and gals, thanks for all the support!
Stevo, I enjoy all your sports posts and I’m a fellow Meechigander, but I do have to disagree with you. I’m not trying to compare this to other diseases, but it is very real. I don’t think you would think any less of someone who contracted H.I.V. because they had unprotected sex and now they have a disease. Anyway, I’m not going there, but I really do appreciate all of you and your support. I am proud to say that I am 2 weeks sober today and have never felt better!
Brett that’s truly great … it’s a real inspiring thing to see someone doing better for themselves.
stay strong, way to realize your issue and come up with a solution if more people did this the world would be a much nicer place
keep it up
I popped in the Lille, France show as soon as I got out of rehab, not knowing what disc it was b/c it was not labeled.
The first 3 songs were just so ironic I had to post this.
[color=red]Oblivious Fool (what/where I was):
the terrible thing about hell
is that when you’re there you can’t even tell
as you move through this life you love so
you could be there and not even know
but you say so what I’m doing just fine
the irony is that it’s all in your mind
and that’s why hell is so vicious and cruel
but you’ll just go on an oblivious fool
[color=yellow]Dog Stole Things (described my addiction):
Dog Stole things I needed bad
Cats took what I never had.
Pillows for my aching head
A glass of milk next to my bed
(Chorus 1)
The creatures that seem oh so kind
Then sleep all day and ease your mind
at night they softly paddle on
and look to steal things that you own
(Chorus 2)
So now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the lord that I might keep
my soul for one more night or two
and hope the creatures never do
[color=green]Taste (how it felt to be free!)
Im up and I can take what you give
And Im here but I dont want you to live with me
`cause all I want is a taste for free
Im down and I will drag you along and around
Until you burst into song and unwind
And leave your new life behind for a while
Cause I can see through the lines
Cause I can see through the lines
Im down and I will drag you along and around
Until you burst into song and unwind
And leave your new life behind for a while
Im out and I will stay here alone and without
Someone controlled by the phone and tv
`cause what its doing to me is fine
Cause I can see through the lines
Cause I can see through the lines
Oooh oooh
Step into space
Oooh oooh
Alter my place
Oooh oooh
That someone else made
Why I have stayed
Into things I could be
Or if I could see
Into fog that surrounds
And pins me to the ground
I can see through the lines
I can see through the lines
I can see through the lines
I can see through the lines
Just thought it was funny.
Heady brah.
Eh…like ladyphish said above, this probably wasn’t the best place for me to bring it up. It’s mostly just my issue with the choice of words rather than me downplaying alcoholism or saying it isn’t as serious as other things. Like I said in my first post, I know how extremely difficult it is to get off any type of addiction. Good for you.
P.S. I’d refrain from watching the Lions lately…nothing makes me want to drink more than them. Might want to be careful 
Stevo
once again, Phish plays your life.
or, your life plays Phish.
or
or
or
something.