The Myth of Addiction as a Disease

19 Sep The Myth of Addiction as a Disease

Often people like us have some of the strongest will power that exists. I am not a representative of AA and I do not speak on behalf of the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. I am just an agnostic member of AA who believes in the program of recovery. At times, I express my personal opinions about issues that have directly affected my journey.

• However, when we entered into a recovery model that included the spiritual, we found a solution.
• To show other alcoholics and addicts precisely how we have recovered is the main purpose of the book, Alcoholics Anonymous.
• No one is perfect at first when attempting to live a spiritual life, especially when we are coming back from a long spiritual hiatus.
• A business which takes no regular inventory usually goes broke.
• It’s the “spiritual malady”, as manifested by my EGO (selfishness-self-centeredness), that can eventually lead me back to drinking or sometimes even suicide.

Addicts and alcoholics may rid themselves of their drug or alcohol dependency by completing the Twelve Step process. This will allow them to undergo the required shift in thought that will free them from their addiction. However, that does not mean addicts are confronting this spiritual ailment by themselves. While an addict’s spiritual malady triggers a compulsive need to use drugs, other people’s spiritual conflicts may take the form of a gambling problem, anxiety, depression, or eating disorder. Addiction is a spiritual disease because it represents an individual’s attempt to disconnect from reality and any sense of spirituality.

Big Book ASL – Foreword to First Edition

People like us are obsessed with the thought of controlling and enjoying our drugs or alcohol. The biggest problem is that our mind buys the lie that the next time it will be different. You deserve it and the consequences are not important. The reason we cannot just quit is that our mind constantly has us believe that we can control and enjoy our drinking. No matter what the consequences were in the past, our mind will be obsessed with the thought of drinking. Basically, the alcoholic, once they start they cannot control the amount they take.

As explained in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, “we have been not only mentally and physically ill, we have been spiritually sick. When the spiritual malady is overcome, we straighten out mentally and physically.” When men and women look inwardly, the spiritual component of the disease becomes apparent. This essentially means that the alcoholic is going think and live by a new set of spiritual principles. Spiritual principles are correlated with arresting the symptoms of the malady, thus allowing the alcoholic’s mind and body to straighten out and recover from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. This is all accomplished by the alcoholic working all Twelve Steps which facilitates a spiritual experience or awakening.

Take Your First Step To Recovery

The bottom line, a true alcoholic or addict has no power to stop, avoid, or control their drinking. We begin to obsess and buy the lie because we want to feel the ease and comfort of the first drink. We drink and set off the craving and the cycle of addiction starts all over again. What can that statement possibly mean to an agnostic? Is the whole idea of someone being spiritually ill acceptable? These are questions that I have had to struggle with as an agnostic in AA.

• The reason we cannot just quit is that our mind constantly has us believe that we can control and enjoy our drinking.
• The book may also be sold by Intergroup/Central Offices or recovery book stores at List Price
    or slightly higher.
• When an individual begins to work the 12-Steps and sincerely follows through, a new belief and lifestyle emerges.
• Finally, someone explained to me that those things are not the insanity that the Big Book talks about; nor are those things why the alcoholic’s life becomes unmanageable.

That, we think, is the root of our troubles.” This “SELFISHNESS-self-centeredness” (or the “ego”, as some people refer to it) drives us to respond to life situations with the above “symptoms” as well as disorders and addictions other than alcoholism. The spiritual malady is the result of my being out of order with my higher power who I choose to call God. I was the director in the drama of life and managing the world so I could  get what I thought I needed to feel ok.

Big Book ASL – Appendix VI – How to Get in Touch With A.A.

We felt that breaking physical dependence would work, or focused on a psychiatric solution. However, when we entered into a recovery model that included the spiritual, we found a solution. The Big Book explains, “If, when you honestly want to, you find that you cannot quit entirely, or if when drinking, you have little control over the amount you take, you are probably an alcoholic. If that be the case, you may be suffering from an illness which only a spiritual experience will conquer.” We embark upon a journey of recovery that allows us to develop a deep spiritual connection.

But when it comes to alcohol and drugs, there is no will power. The reason is that our reaction to alcohol https://ecosoberhouse.com/ and drugs is physical, it’s not mental. The allergy is not about the mind or our will power.

Recovery is a Journey

Alcoholics Anonymous often makes reference to the publication of WIlliam James, “The Varieties of Religious Experiences,” which was published in 1902. Almost everyone who evolves spiritually has certain key characteristics, according to the book. Below is an overview of the 12 admissions spiritual malady that support the 12 steps toward recovery. Also, they cannot fathom how other people manage to deal with crises in life – even when they have it worse. Sure, it’s possible to work the steps superficially, but without rigorous honesty it’s unlikely emotionally sobriety will follow.

• If it were as easy as not eating a peanut anymore, then you would have stopped long ago.
• Traditionally trained medical doctors are trained to treat diseases.
• What the book says is that the only thing that will solve our drink problem is a spiritual awakening, spiritual experience, attitude adjustment, or psychic change.
• Following this program will cause them to feel less alone or closed off from the messages of life, thus relieving them from the burden of isolation.
• These are questions that I have had to struggle with as an agnostic in AA.

In conclusion, we find that alcoholism/addiction is not a disease but a spiritual malady. A malady that can be remedied with a simple, moral-spiritual approach, as instructed in the text of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. Doing so will give you a better idea of how a spiritual malady affects an alcoholic. On page 62 the text explains that “Selfishness-self-centeredness!

One object is to disclose damaged or unsalable goods, to get rid of them promptly and without regret. If the owner of the business is to be successful, he cannot fool himself about values. Alcoholics Anonymous bases the 12-step program on 12 affirmations, or what they call 12 traditions. These expressions that help people recovering from addiction regain a spiritual footing once again.

Simply put, they feel a terrible loneliness at their very soul or center of being. However, this does not mean, necessarily, they’ve abandoned their faith. This resistance to anything spiritual is the biggest obstacle some addicts confront. To beat their addiction, people must face the reality that there is indeed a power larger than themselves. Therefore, they must make an effort to establish a rapport with this higher power.