4 ms·

The first thing you hear when you go to many treatment centers is that addiction is a disease. The 12 steps are posted on the wall and you are told you are "pow

The first thing you hear when you go to many treatment centers is that addiction is a disease. The 12 steps are posted on the wall and you are told you are "powerlessness" over it. You will hear, "It's not a problem of willpower." That idea will be driven into your skull many times. I'm not sure I will ever understand addiction. But I know that when I accepted personal responsibility for the things that I did to myself and others in order to get drunk/high, life became a least a little easier. It's not perfect, but to use AA terminology it's not "unmanageable" anymore, at least not as much as it once was. And I am grateful to be where I am today. I guess, for me, my compulsion to drink and drug was mainly caused by my surroundings and upbringing. Although I don't go to AA or NA anymore, if it is working for some, I hope they see it through. Whatever is getting you through to the next day as an alcoholic/addict, my advice is to keep doing it. Whether it is spiritual cleansing or acceptance or doses of naltrexone/buprenorphine.

nerdponx 10y ago
I just recently read the actual 12 Steps for the first time (mostly out of curiosity) the other day, and was very surprised to find that the theme was about admitting powerlessness and giving in to God. I also think it's mistaken to conflate "power" and "willpower." It may indeed not be a "problem of willpower", but that (at least to me) does not imply total powerlessness over a disease state in one's own body.
- throwaway_6543 10y ago
  The Big Book, as it is called, is pretty clear that, in the writers' opinions, that only through a Higher Power does one become sober. The meaning of powerlessness I think they intended is that without help an alcoholic will not break the cycle. AA teaches that your sobriety depends on your connection to that power. According to them, no amount of self-knowledge or desire to stop will enable one to actually make an alcoholic/addict to put the stuff down. I guess that's how I was intending to describe their version of powerlessness. For me, I believe that was not the answer. I credit my sobriety to that I realize things could be much worse. I am grateful to be where I am and know that, on average, most people that have lived this life would not have made it through or had a chance to even do so. I honestly don't know if addiction is a disease. Certainly, anybody that has had the dts or benzo/opiate withdrawal will admit that there is a physical component to continued alcohol/drug abuse. I know many addicts (and myself was one) that continued using longer than wanted out of here of withdrawal. But I didn't need to completely "give in" or submit to the disease, at least I think (others may be able to judge that better though). I wanted and still want so bad to never have to go through some of the things an active addict has to go through again that I am completely terrified to go out again. But at an AA meeting they would probably say that that time will come if I do not develop a spiritual connection to something greater than myself
  - deleted 10y ago
    [deleted]
- cbsmith 10y ago
  I don't suffer from addiction, but I can say that a key challenge with almost any "disorder" is recognizing that the disorder is causing leading to consequences in your life that you don't want, yet continue to occur. It's the key distinction between a disorder and a "personality quirk". Acknowledging that you don't have that kind of control is a huge psychological cliff to get over... it has been likened to mourning. In the end, it is quite freeing, because as you pointed out, it opens up a lot of options (power) to deal with your problem in a different way than you normally would (particularly: acknowledging that you need help). So, while you are write that "powerlessness" probably is far too sweeping a word to use... it's helpful for getting people over that mental cliff and into a place where they can, ironically, exert some degree of power over their problems.
  - jdpigeon 10y ago
    This is what I was taught in University is the defining trait of addiction: engagement in a behaviour despite the recognition that it leads to negative consequences. Personally, I think that this is enough to justify addiction as a true 'disease' that merits outside help. It takes a belief in some kind of strong definition of free will in order to maintain that people are suffering from character defects or should just pull themselves out of it at that point.
redmaverick 10y ago
Many people do not understand why or how other people become addicted to drugs. It is often mistakenly assumed that drug abusers lack moral principles or willpower and that they could stop using drugs simply by choosing to change their behavior. In reality, drug addiction is a complex disease, and quitting takes more than good intentions or a strong will. The genes that people are born with––in combination with environmental influences––account for about half of their addiction vulnerability. Additionally, gender, ethnicity, and the presence of other mental disorders may influence risk for drug abuse and addiction. -- drugabuse.gov Maybe you got lucky that a combination of your genes and lack of certain mental disorders helped you get out of your addiction with sheer effort. Others may not be that lucky. If you had the same predisposition to getting addicted as other people you might not have made it no matter how hard you try. So, you can't generalize your individual experience with others.

nerdponx 10y ago

I just recently read the actual 12 Steps for the first time (mostly out of curiosity) the other day, and was very surprised to find that the theme was about admitting powerlessness and giving in to God. I also think it's mistaken to conflate "power" and "willpower." It may indeed not be a "problem of willpower", but that (at least to me) does not imply total powerlessness over a disease state in one's own body.

throwaway_6543 10y ago
The Big Book, as it is called, is pretty clear that, in the writers' opinions, that only through a Higher Power does one become sober. The meaning of powerlessness I think they intended is that without help an alcoholic will not break the cycle. AA teaches that your sobriety depends on your connection to that power. According to them, no amount of self-knowledge or desire to stop will enable one to actually make an alcoholic/addict to put the stuff down. I guess that's how I was intending to describe their version of powerlessness. For me, I believe that was not the answer. I credit my sobriety to that I realize things could be much worse. I am grateful to be where I am and know that, on average, most people that have lived this life would not have made it through or had a chance to even do so. I honestly don't know if addiction is a disease. Certainly, anybody that has had the dts or benzo/opiate withdrawal will admit that there is a physical component to continued alcohol/drug abuse. I know many addicts (and myself was one) that continued using longer than wanted out of here of withdrawal. But I didn't need to completely "give in" or submit to the disease, at least I think (others may be able to judge that better though). I wanted and still want so bad to never have to go through some of the things an active addict has to go through again that I am completely terrified to go out again. But at an AA meeting they would probably say that that time will come if I do not develop a spiritual connection to something greater than myself
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]
cbsmith 10y ago
I don't suffer from addiction, but I can say that a key challenge with almost any "disorder" is recognizing that the disorder is causing leading to consequences in your life that you don't want, yet continue to occur. It's the key distinction between a disorder and a "personality quirk". Acknowledging that you don't have that kind of control is a huge psychological cliff to get over... it has been likened to mourning. In the end, it is quite freeing, because as you pointed out, it opens up a lot of options (power) to deal with your problem in a different way than you normally would (particularly: acknowledging that you need help). So, while you are write that "powerlessness" probably is far too sweeping a word to use... it's helpful for getting people over that mental cliff and into a place where they can, ironically, exert some degree of power over their problems.
- jdpigeon 10y ago
  This is what I was taught in University is the defining trait of addiction: engagement in a behaviour despite the recognition that it leads to negative consequences. Personally, I think that this is enough to justify addiction as a true 'disease' that merits outside help. It takes a belief in some kind of strong definition of free will in order to maintain that people are suffering from character defects or should just pull themselves out of it at that point.

redmaverick 10y ago

Many people do not understand why or how other people become addicted to drugs. It is often mistakenly assumed that drug abusers lack moral principles or willpower and that they could stop using drugs simply by choosing to change their behavior. In reality, drug addiction is a complex disease, and quitting takes more than good intentions or a strong will. The genes that people are born with––in combination with environmental influences––account for about half of their addiction vulnerability. Additionally, gender, ethnicity, and the presence of other mental disorders may influence risk for drug abuse and addiction. -- drugabuse.gov Maybe you got lucky that a combination of your genes and lack of certain mental disorders helped you get out of your addiction with sheer effort. Others may not be that lucky. If you had the same predisposition to getting addicted as other people you might not have made it no matter how hard you try. So, you can't generalize your individual experience with others.