I hope this helps, not sure where I got it.

Hello. As a recovering Alcoholic, I too struggled for years with the acceptance of Alcoholism being a disease...because I had always been taught it had to do with being weak willed,etc. How many times I cried out to God to free me of this horrible desire,crave,compulsion. Promised God this would be my last drink so many times just to find myself drinking again later. Finally, I lost hope and even my faith in God,which btw is one of the symtoms of alcoholism. Now I finally have accepted Alcoholism/substance abuse as a disease, although I am not so sure about all the other so called afflictions that have more recently been called a disease, simply because of the fact that most of these other so called diseases i.e. sex addiction for instance,etc. have copied the A.A. promises and principles to aid them in getting a handle on many varying garden variety problems. But hey, if it helps so be it.

How I came to finally believe and accept alcoholism as a disease is simple...and not from a scientific viewpoint, although science has proven that there is a genetic link...is this:

From what I have experienced and learned from being around other alcoholics in recovery and being one myself is: As with any disease there are symtoms, and people who are practicing and non-practicing alcoholics all tend to have the same symtoms and they are physically,mentally, and spiritually much the same. If it looks like a duck,quacks like a duck, it probably is one.

Also personally, once I managed to abstain long enough the physical part of Alcoholism (the crave,inability to stop,body screaming out for more) would arrest, or go into remission/leave me. I learned from several relapses, that "the alcoholics body never forgets"...I can wake up my alcoholism again and may never be able to find my way back simply by drinking a drink. One is too many and 1000 is not enough,as they say. All hope leaves again,guilt,shame,fears,embarrassment,mental turmoil,depression,suicidal thoughts,etc. returns as a result.

So yes, I came to believe Alcoholism is a disease. I believe, for many alcoholics this inability to get themselves some sober time, because of thier not accepting and knowing that alcoholism is a disease has been one of the biggest stumbling blocks in getting well.

I have learned too, alcoholism being a physical illness takes on many other facets, as with any disease. Alcoholism like for instance diabetes must have maintenence. I have heard it said,alcoholism is but a symtom of the disease, but in saying that I personally believe, that all the things that come along as a result of the alcoholism are just symtoms of the disease. Alcoholism never goes away,and alcoholism kills. And that is why we must always practice with daily reprieve,support,work on things that kept us sick, change playmates and playgrounds, and practice our spirituality to keep us mentally in touch with this fact. For the alcoholic, it is far too easy to kid ourselves into thinking that alcoholism is not a disease. i.e. Come On...why can't I have that little glass of champagne at the wedding for instance.

I am using this true metaphor as a further example: I have a brother who is unfortunately schizophenic. It was not long ago it was and even today still is somewhat stigmatized. My own father rejected my poor suffering brother breaking my heart. Saying it was all in his head etc. In reality it is. He has a diseased brain. And sadly schizophenia was once considered demonic possession.

He is stabilized by medication now, but it took him years to accept his disease. He'd get to feeling better because of his meds and think he did not need them anymore and he would stop taking them just to become very ill again needing hospitalization. This happened I know at least 5 times over the years before he finally accepted that he must keep taking his medications.------------------------------------------------------------------

The good news in science however, regarding alcoholism is that there are new drugs that have been developed to help in the treatment of alcoholism. I am so glad for this and I personally hope I can partake of such a helpful aid in my continued sobriety. These new drugs are suppose to take much of the desire/crave for alcohol, nothing like the old days of antabuse...where if you drank on that drug one would get violently ill, and was not too often a deterrent. Not to a true alcoholic anyway.

My dear friends, I wanted to share this with you from a recovering alcoholics point of view in the hope of more understanding.

(I am not an advocate of alcoholism with all the pain and suffering it causes but merely to contribute to the topic on the concept of Alcoholism, as being a disease.)

"Alcoholics are not bad people who need to get good, but sick people who need to get well".

"There is no disgrace in being an alcoholic, but there is in not trying to get well".

Thank you for allowing me to share.

Quote ~ I thought that one day God would open up the gates of heaven and let me in. He didnt. He opened up the gates of hell and let me out.

-- Edited by Breakingfree on Thursday 8th of August 2013 11:15:21 AM