The complicated and all encompassing nature of alcoholism never ceases to amaze me. It seems that every time I am asked about the disease that I have to concentrate on just one facet lest I confuse myself in the explanation. The mental, physical, social and environmental aspects of the disease are all very relevant and easy to explain one at a time, but together they have a pathological relationship that can be as difficult to understand as quantum physics.
Today I was asked how someone could continue to drink knowing full well the damage it is causing which raises a whole other issue; the lack of perspective those with healthy minds have in relating to those suffering from this mental illness.
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The mental aspect is one of the most difficult things for an alcoholic to explain, I would guess that it is just as difficult for someone to explain how schizophrenia "feels". Those with normal brains and thought process just don't have a way to place this information in context and have a difficult time relating.
So the best way I can do this is by saying that our desire for alcohol is so strong that we have the ability to minimize the importance of any task, chore, duty, or relationship as secondary to drinking. Conversely we also inflate the importance of these same things so that the fear and stress generated by them overshadow the negative consequences of drinking. I think because we have only one way of dealing with issues in life that we too lose all perspective unable to see logical alternatives. Alcohol is the problem, alcohol is the solution, and alcohol is the only choice- so the end result is always going to be the same.
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Your last sentence sums up the whole thing quite nicely I thought - "Alcohol is the problem, alcohol is the solution, and alcohol is the only choice- so the end result is always going to be the same."
I've been reading an excellent book on the subject called alive! by Eileen DeClemente. She has recorded her journey from alcoholic and addict through recovery and offers a real insight into not only the alcoholic's mind, but also the minds of her family members in dealing with her and her illnesses.
posting a review of the book when you finsish. I would love to hear what you thought of it.
Regards,
TDA
Our 'job' as an alcoholic is to keep drinking. I believe at some level we know this is not good for us, yet we 'must' continue to do so. Therefore we will create any blather, fantasy or fiction that makes it OK to keep drinking. I'm not that bad...I only...If you had my.... Somehow we have to validate our destructive behavior to the point it makes sense to us.
Things fall apart when we try to justify our beliefs to another, therefore it is easier to not do so, put distance between family and friends and isolate.
I remember trying to illustrate the addictive mindset to my father, who is not an alcoholic. I said dad, picture this, you go out on your birthday get drunk, make a fool out of yourself get sick as a dog and wake up feeling miserable...what would you do? He blinked and said I wouldn't drink for a long time. I said an alcoholic would make themselves a Bloody Mary. (every alcoholic gets that) He said why would you do that if booze made you sick? He just couldn't wrap his mind around the alcoholic thinking.
Bill
the disease stops after it progresses past just substance abuse... and because of this really few have the necessary knowledge to understand the disease concept.
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