by jststartin » Wed Feb 21, 2007 1:17 pm
I think that not taking responsibility is giving in and giving up. Those who go to AA meetings or admit they have a problem are finally taking ownership for their addicition and taking responsibility for the fact that they have a problem. It is a tough thing to acknowledge. Its interesting that most diseases have a clear diagnosis. If someone went to their doctor and was told they are terminally ill and that they have to make a lifestyle change in order to survive, I think most of the time those people will make an effort to change.
What's interesting is that alcoholism is a terminal disease that is as dibilitating as any other chronic illness. The great thing is that alcoholics have an opporunity to take responsibility for their problem and effect a change in their behaviors in order that they might save their life (whether that be literally or figuratively in terms of "quality of life").
I often try to think about those people who are terminally ill with, fo example, cancer. I think, how would these people feel if they had an opportunity to heal themselves. I am sure many would give an arm and a leg to know that they have an opportunity to heal.
I think as an alcoholic I need to take responsibility in order to better my life, but I also feel an obligation to those who do not have an opportunity to heal.
While the decay caused by alcoholism may be more gradual than that of terminal cancer, the turth is that it is a terminal disease. I have taken ownership for the fact that I can do one of three things continue drinking and die; fight the good fight and die trying; or find my way to wellness. The later are definetly the better options. I think that what makes alcoholism a disease is the fact that the desire for hooch clouds ones ability to implore logic and rational.
Every alcoholic is aware of the fact that their behavior is self-destructive. The thing that makes it a disease is the fact that people don't take "seemingly" logical and rational steps to save themselves.
I think that not taking responsibility is giving in and giving up. Those who go to AA meetings or admit they have a problem are finally taking ownership for their addicition and taking responsibility for the fact that they have a problem. It is a tough thing to acknowledge. Its interesting that most diseases have a clear diagnosis. If someone went to their doctor and was told they are terminally ill and that they have to make a lifestyle change in order to survive, I think most of the time those people will make an effort to change.
What's interesting is that alcoholism is a terminal disease that is as dibilitating as any other chronic illness. The great thing is that alcoholics have an opporunity to take responsibility for their problem and effect a change in their behaviors in order that they might save their life (whether that be literally or figuratively in terms of "quality of life").
I often try to think about those people who are terminally ill with, fo example, cancer. I think, how would these people feel if they had an opportunity to heal themselves. I am sure many would give an arm and a leg to know that they have an opportunity to heal.
I think as an alcoholic I need to take responsibility in order to better my life, but I also feel an obligation to those who do not have an opportunity to heal.
While the decay caused by alcoholism may be more gradual than that of terminal cancer, the turth is that it is a terminal disease. I have taken ownership for the fact that I can do one of three things continue drinking and die; fight the good fight and die trying; or find my way to wellness. The later are definetly the better options. I think that what makes alcoholism a disease is the fact that the desire for hooch clouds ones ability to implore logic and rational.
Every alcoholic is aware of the fact that their behavior is self-destructive. The thing that makes it a disease is the fact that people don't take "seemingly" logical and rational steps to save themselves.