puppetmaker (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
puppetmaker) wrote2005-12-08 07:53 am
puppetmaker) wrote2005-12-08 07:53 am
Prost!
I watched South Park last night. Having seen the episode, I am wondering of Parker and Stone watch Penn & Tellers: B*lls**t since the story followed along the lines of one of their shows about 12 step programs. They both commented on the idea that some have declared alcoholism as a disease. I'm sorry but cancer is a disease, even syphilis is a disease but alcohol is a choice. You can "cure" yourself by not drinking which is will power and self-control. If you can get rid of cancer with self-control I know some scientists who want to talk to you. Some people have little or no self-control and need structure to over come their problem. That is how I think 12 step programs work. I am not saying that for some they don't work. I'm objecting to calling addiction to anything (Video Games, drugs, gambling, a TV show actor) a disease.
I have worked with a lot of people in my time at various jobs. I have had to deal with functional alcoholics and drug addicts with possibly some video game junkies thrown in for good measure. For the majority I have found that they really don't take personal responsibility for their actions (It's not their fault that they had a four martini lunch, it was the Mayor's[This really was an excuse I was given when someone showed up plastered]) and there is a sense of self-loathing. They don't like themselves very much so they drink to feel better. I am sure there are other reasons as well but it comes down to the fact that they have a choice to pick up that next drink or not. I have a friend who has never had a drop of alcohol in his life. It is a conscious choice on his part since he watched a good part of his family and extended family drink themselves to death. He knows himself well enough to know that if he started he might not stop so he has chosen not to even start. I am very proud of him for doing so. Yes, I do imbibe in alcohol, Yes, I have imbibed to excess from time to time but I have made the choices that put me in that state and I have made the choice not to find myself in that state again. Self-control is hard especially at an open bar but everyone can do it if they want to.
We may be getting another dusting of snow. Maybe an inch or so at most which will then turn to cold rain as the sun comes up. This time it will stick since we have been in a deep freeze since the last storm when through. I plan to use my anti-snow juju and stock up on things we need so that the storm will not come. Laugh if you will but we went from dire predictions of 5 to 12 inches to 3 to 5 to 1 to 3 after I did this on Monday so I am going to do it again today.
The living room, dining room, and kitchen are clean. Today I can concentrate on my back log of e-mail in my various accounts and getting some materials together for my next project along with running a few other errands that need running.
I am grateful for my parents teaching me about how to handle alcohol by both word and example.
I have worked with a lot of people in my time at various jobs. I have had to deal with functional alcoholics and drug addicts with possibly some video game junkies thrown in for good measure. For the majority I have found that they really don't take personal responsibility for their actions (It's not their fault that they had a four martini lunch, it was the Mayor's[This really was an excuse I was given when someone showed up plastered]) and there is a sense of self-loathing. They don't like themselves very much so they drink to feel better. I am sure there are other reasons as well but it comes down to the fact that they have a choice to pick up that next drink or not. I have a friend who has never had a drop of alcohol in his life. It is a conscious choice on his part since he watched a good part of his family and extended family drink themselves to death. He knows himself well enough to know that if he started he might not stop so he has chosen not to even start. I am very proud of him for doing so. Yes, I do imbibe in alcohol, Yes, I have imbibed to excess from time to time but I have made the choices that put me in that state and I have made the choice not to find myself in that state again. Self-control is hard especially at an open bar but everyone can do it if they want to.
We may be getting another dusting of snow. Maybe an inch or so at most which will then turn to cold rain as the sun comes up. This time it will stick since we have been in a deep freeze since the last storm when through. I plan to use my anti-snow juju and stock up on things we need so that the storm will not come. Laugh if you will but we went from dire predictions of 5 to 12 inches to 3 to 5 to 1 to 3 after I did this on Monday so I am going to do it again today.
The living room, dining room, and kitchen are clean. Today I can concentrate on my back log of e-mail in my various accounts and getting some materials together for my next project along with running a few other errands that need running.
I am grateful for my parents teaching me about how to handle alcohol by both word and example.
no subject
If alcoholism and addiction is just a choice and willpower, then when you are depressed you should be able to pull yourself out of it by willpower as well. Just cheer up.
I find these attitudes absolutely jaw-dropping stupid.
It may not be a disease like cancer or AIDS, but there are mental diseases too, ones that affect the entire being, like MPD or depression. Addiction is one of those, and there is a physical component as well.
There is a screaming need in the body, a physical reaction at some point. It is torture to have a portion of your brain or body saying all the time "Feed me" and riding you. It's like food addiction, so these people should just stop eating. Simple enough.
I understand what you are saying, but until you have lived with the hell of drug or alcohol addiction or chronic depression, or studied living cases and worked with these people, I would respectfully suggest that comments be refrained from being made.
no subject
We are going to just have to agree that we disagree about a number of forms of addiction. Doesn't mean I think any less of you for your POV if anything I give you more points for expressing it.
no subject
no subject