Alcoholism and Addiction a Disease?

Alkoholism
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I have wondered plenty of time rather alcoholism or drug addiction is actually a disease. Like cancer is a disease.  It sure does kill folks and destroy families and all that wacky stuff.

But is it a disease?

It’s a disease packaged in pretty bottles.
It’s a disease of choice, right? But wait!!
If you take a drink… Do you want another? And another?

Why would you want to keep doing something that could cause many problems for you and even kill you?

There’s no doubt about it. There is something up.

If you or somebody you love has ever dealt with (chances are you know somebody) addiction then you gotta think…. What the hell? That guy is sick!

Is he sick? Or perhaps –

He Can’t handle his liquor

What a way to be thought of — The dude that ‘can’t handle his liquor’

Now…What to do about it? Moderation???

It’s great to have so many resources these days…
The internet is a wonderful thing. What did we ever do without it?

You know we started crushing grapes a long time ago… This issue has been around a while huh?

What is Addiction?

de: Struktur von Dopamin; en: Structure of dop...
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I like talking about addiction.. first of all, let’s clear up the difference between, addiction, and chemical dependency.

Remember, you can be addicted to good things as well as bad things. The real trick is realizing if your addiction is self-destructive, self-defeating, or not! for instance addicted to fishing, raising horses, hobbies, music, may or may not be a bad thing.. however, obesity, obsessive behavior, about anything can be self-destructive.

Obesity, is like a dog chasing his tail, you have low self-esteem, and it causes you to over eat, which causes you lower self-esteem, and the solution is eat.. no end without an intervention. Chemical dependency.. is very similar, but different. You lack something,(dopamine) that lets you feel good about yourself!!

Alcohol, and other similar drugs produce a “artificial” dopamine that gives you the sensation of dopamine.. a fantasy feel good… alcohol, is the most common because it is more readilly avaliable and acceptable.

Cocaine, meth, and certain prescription drugs produce the same effect but have much more damaging effects sometimes permanent!.. and have a much more demanding requirement for more, more, more..

It is amazing to me.. why anyone would ever do cocaine, or heroine, the first time!! Knowing it is the most addictive drugs on the planet@!! but, there are plenty of addicts with that going on.. I have to conclude that their self-esteem was extremely low in order to try it the first time??

Well, any way you look at it, chemical dependency is always self-defeating, self-destructive thinking and behaviour.. I would certainly be better off without the dependence on a drug.. (pain pill, anxiety pill, alcohol, whatever) I will stop for now.. to be continued

-Guest Post From Tommy -A new staff member here at the Hip Opinion.

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