The "disease" of alcoholism.

[Morbo]

[justscott]

I hope so that way its not my fault.

[vhawk01]

[ QUOTE ]
I hope so that way its not my fault.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, that was what I was wondering a few posts ago. Is this the idea that is driving the agenda to not consider alcoholism a disease? If so, you don't need to worry. A large percentage of diseases could have been prevented.

[Utah]

Up until a couple of weeks ago I would have told you the idea is silly. I hated the idea that alcoholism is a disease and I thought the whole debate was silly either way - you either drink or don't drink. That is the reality. Who cares how you classify it.

I have not had a drink in 16 years and I would not call myself an alcoholic in the least. I simply made a choice to stop and I never looked back and it has never really been difficult for me (other than the huge early social adjustments).

But, 2 weeks ago I had a non-alcoholic beer just for a chance of pace of drinking diet colas all the time. I would maybe have 1-2 non-acoholic beers every year but no more because there is a tiny amount of alcohol in the beer that used to make me a touch uncomfortable. I noticed 2 weeks ago that the near beer had a wonderful calming effect on me. My body reacted to even the tiniest amount of alcohol in the bottle. I really didnt feel any different mentally. Just a bit calmer. I am someone who bounces of the walls all day long and that bit of calming is very nice. In fact, I have had a bottle almost every day since. There is simply something chemical going on that is very advantagous to me that has absolutely zero to do with the things associated with drinking or weakness or messed up lives or whatever. I can now easily see alcohol serving a profound chemical need in someone that has little to do with drunkness - ie, they will still drink it if it did not make them drunk in the least.

This is all conjecture on my part and it is only personal experience. But, it shocked me a couple of weeks ago.