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..how much power this disease has. We lost a friend at work today...to alcohol. He died a painful death, swollen from liver and kidney failure, on a ventilator. He left behind 3 young children, who no longer have any parents. The pull of alcohol so strong...stronger than the bond between a parent child. What is it with addiction that it makes someone sacrifice everything for it....what is it??? I don't think I'll ever understand. Just venting..thanks for listening.
Am sorry u lost a friend and co worker today , I know i will never understand this disease either I am not an alcoholic , and seems to baffle even the one suffering . Alcoholics call this disease cunning , baffling and powerful . I have learned to have a great deal of respect for those three words and to never take them lightly. Louise
What helps me is attending AA meetings. Their I learn time and time again...if they could stop what they are doing they would. They are doing the best they can. Just as I am everyday...the best I can. It is a shame to lose someone to this disease but I have to accept the fact that only God and that particular person are the only ones that can fight the battle. Without God, there is no power.
I was listening to talk radio on my way home from work, and the host was speaking with a Seattle police chief. The Chief explained how alcohol was the most disturbing common symptom in society. Constant is the violence and collateral damage that stems from this scourge. Opium was considered the first. Freud, after succumbing and supposedly overcoming, penned cocaine as the second. I believe alcohol to be the 3rd great scourge. Horrid disease, devastating in so many ways, to include taking of love... not many other diseases have that claim. It depresses me so to think about.
much love to you all cj
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time to stop going to the hardware store to buy bread.
I'm sorry you lost a friend.... This is something I will never understand either.
I have a good friend who is battling an addiction to meth. She was clean and sober when I met her, getting her life back together and doing well rebuilding her relationship with her 4 kids. Then this old guy comes back into her life, and it was like she could not stay away. She is once again estranged from her beautiful family. I saw her for a couple of hours in December, we had coffee one afternoon. I think she was sober that day, but her face was looking pretty gaunt... you know the look of meth users. She told me that day she can't bear to be alone because the shame and guilt are just too much for her. I think this is a great example of powerlessness. She knows her actions are wrong and hurtful, and knows that she needs to find a way back to sobriety... but it is so strong.
When AH was in treatment, there was a lecture for addicts and family members every Sunday, on visiting day, so I heard those 3 words a lot. It is truly cunning, baffling and powerful and takes on a life force of it's own.
I think we should all be very greatful and thankful that we DON'T understand!!!! I wouldn't want to understand! To be in a place where I get that - no thanks!
As for the rest, I would say that Alcohol is #1 not #3. People on opiates can be functional same with cocaine it's just a matter of getting it and staying on it that causes the problem. People on alcohol become violent, and the fact is that it's more socially acceptable sometimes almost expected whereas heroin and coke are less so. Most people don't go to a party and shoot up but almost all go and drink! My 2 cents here is that they turned around the wrong drug when they ended prohibition. I think marijuana would have been a lot less harmful than alcohol but it was too difficult to monitor and regulate!
I'm so sorry about your friend and even sorrier for his children!
As long as I live I will never fully understand it either. I know it's a disease. I get that. But that's why they say it is cunning, baffling and powerful. My condolences to you on your loss and to the family. I will say an extra prayer for them tonight.
Love and blessings to you and your family.
Live strong, Karilynn
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It's your life. Take no prisoners. You will have it your way.
I don't know that it amazes me. I think it is very sad when people cannot choose recovery. At the same time I know my own strugle with recovery is sometimes a life or death one. I struggle tremendously and my stuff is less obvious to others. My life can be life/death too. I know my health has certainly been affected adversely by the A and his antics.
I also know I have my own charactor defects that led me to the A in the first place.
I try to set distance between myself and those who drink. The A has a friend who is on his last legs, probably will be dead in a year if that. His girlfriend preceded him a few years ago. I think personaly he is hellbent to join her.
I know for me it is good to grieve. I grieve for my sister's children but there is very little I can do for them beyond grieve. I have very very limited resources and these days I accept that rather than try to make a dent in them again.
Thanks all for your words of support and encouragement. This damn "disease". I agree with Carolinagirl that our society almost thinks of you as "abnormal" when you don't drink. Almost everything within our society socially revolves around alcohol. In a perfect world.......but that's not in our lifetime.
and us alanonics.....we have our own disease....the alcoholic/addict....and think how hard it is to even think about giving them (the a) up...how many times we go back....how bad we feel- if we leave, if we stay...and even if we leave, how much we still love them...or at least our memory of the good times with them. Glad you are here, I know I am!!!
