The Misunderstood Disease

Alcoholism is a misunderstood disease and as one who has struggled with this illness since high school perhaps I can speak to this subject. Most people consider it a lack of will power and a problem of deficient morality. However, I can not imagine that anyone dreams of becoming an alcoholic or has it on their “to do” list. To begin with, I want to make it clear that I am not minimizing the devastating impact on others by such a self centered disease. I will only deal with my experience here.
The AMA has recognized that alcoholism is a disease and it receives education in medical schools. Because there are symptoms, genetic, primary, chronic, scientifically valid, progressive and often fatal it legitimizes the AMA’s decision. But this is difficult sell to the families of alcoholics, society or even to those with the disease. The afflicted drink because of the guilt over their behavior and their loved one’s having become short on forgiveness.
Alcoholism is one disease which can be arrested and the most successful is Alcoholics Anonymous. It may be easier to accept this phenomena if the patient could keep it arrested by chemotherapy, injections or a pill. Instead remission is possible through unconventional methods by helping other alcoholic and attendance at meetings.
For some alcoholics they remember crossing an invisible line where the inability to stop becomes a real problem. But for this alcoholic the realization occurred as soon as I realized what alcohol could do for me. While growing up I had painful bouts with anxiety and a sense of foreboding. To be able to quiet this discomfort it became evident that alcohol was an effective escape and my daily medicine.
Alcoholics Anonymous has helped millions of people get sober and stay sober. There are sayings that made no sense to me in this program. Most alcoholics are unable to grasp the concept that it is the first drink that gets them drunk. A great deal of time is spent analyzing this concept while getting numb enough not to care anymore. Wouldn’t it seem logical that the tenth, twentieth or even the thirtieth was responsible for getting drunk? However, if one realizes before they are dead that if it were not for the first one the switch would not be turned on. After that the possibility of regaining control is impossible. Another saying in AA is “A Day at a Time”. It is difficult to get the newly sober person to focus on only twenty four hours in the day. Many want to make up for lost time but the energy spent on staying sober (meetings and the twelve steps) will build a foundation for sobriety. Every disease should have a recuperation period.
Even though this disease often lands the alcoholic in the hospital there are no visitors, flowers or “Get Well” cards found in their room. In cases of a long progression, irreversible damage to loved ones has occurred to warrant these pleasantries. Alcoholism is an isolating, debilitating and deadly disease. Detection is difficult in the early stages and although it is not caused by depression but there is often a link between the two.
If one survives the near death experiences of active alcoholism, deals with the degradation as a result of their behavior and accept that one is unable to stop with one drink than they have a chance for remission. As the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous says, “You will be rocketed into a fourth dimension”. Thank you Bill W. and Doctor Bob for your perserverance.