So even if a person never has another drink they will always be an alcoholic? I don't get it. How can a person be cured and still have the disease for the rest of their lives? I never hear people say once depressed always depressed or once with the flu always with the flu.
2007-10-09 06:41:07 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
Because alcoholism is a two-fold malady - mental AND physical. There is a mental obsession - with which you can probably clearly see - and which many problems drinkers can be "counseled" to overcome - but in alcoholism is also COMBINED with real PHYSICAL DAMAGE which cannot be reversed. A heavy drinker crosses the line into being alcoholic once this physical damage is done.
The physical damage is caused by his body no longer being able to metabolize alcohol the way it "used to" which results in an abnormal reaction to alcohol once ANY amount whatever enters hid body. This abnormal reaction (one which most people do not ever experience) is a phenomenon of craving so intense as to be beyond mental control.
If you can imagine that a diabetic CRAVES sugar - yet if he gets any it cold kill him, then you are thinking along the right lines. He can usually control it until he gets sugar, then he CRAVES MORE!
The physical side of alcoholism is similar, except that the craving is utterly impossible to control. The alcohol will continue to drink - no matter what, regardless of the e consequences.
Alcoholics never "CRAVE" alcohol unless the first have some - whether that be by glass or even an undercooked cheesecake or even a splash of brandy in a dessert sauce.
This article may help further:
http://recoveredalcoholic.blogspot.com/2007/10/seething-caldron-of-debate.html
Many alcoholics such as myself can and DO recover from the illness by having the OBSESSION side of the coinsolved - but since we are still "allergic" then we prefer to say we are not "cured". We can neevr drink without experiecneing the craving - SO we turn to means like The Twelve Steps which removes the obsession in the first place so there is never a craving int he second. The cycle is broken.
There is no such thing as a "RecoverING" alcoholic - even if it is a popular term in treatment centers and rehabs - and yes it has even "leaked" into many AA - meetings -- but not not into the AA Program - nor or in my experience. AA does not have such a concept in it's Program of recovery - We either IS or we ISN’T recovered.
I hope that helps.
Peace,
Danny S
http://recoveredalcoholic.blogspot.com
2007-10-09 15:47:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have to say there is some truth to that phrase. I am a recovering alcoholic. I starting drinking at an early age I would get up in the morning and have to have vodka and OJ. I would drink all day, finally i realized I had a problem and got help. Then after being sober for a couple of years my life got bad and I went out with a friend and had a drink and I couldn't stop, I again craved it. I believe that if you are recovering and you have a little taste it is easy to stay an alcoholic. So, yes you will always be an alcoholic like it or not, it doesn't mean you have to act upon it.
2007-10-09 07:56:06 · answer #2 · answered by winkerbinker 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You should be very proud of yourself. And of course you are now benefiting from being sober. People can be cruel but you are now in control of yourself. And only now can you see how hurtful people can be. As everybody knows you had a problem anyway, try joking with them. Don't be ashamed. For instance laugh at yourself say to them, "You know, I used to drink and drive, but I spilt it. So I did'nt do it again". Or, being sober does have it's downside. When I fall over now, I can feel it. At least when I was drunk, I could'nt feel a damned thing. And when I was hurting the next day, I was so busy trying to remember how I did it in the first place, I forgot how much it hurt. If you were in a position to talk to 100 people one to one about what you went through, more than half would admit that either they, their parents, husband, wife had the same problem. Maybe thats why these people are awful to you. It maybe a little bit too close to home for them. Good Luck My Friend. Have a wonderful and fulfulling life.
2016-03-19 08:38:49 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The theory is that the psychological addiction is still there and permanent, even if you're not drinking. Some folks who have been sober a long time acknowledge their alcoholism as a way of remaining aware of the dangers of falling into old patterns.
2007-10-09 06:46:36 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because alcoholics crave alcohol. Just because they find a way to deny themselves the wonderful taste and feel of alchohol doesn't mean that they're not still craving it. They'll always crave it (because it's so good), they'll just have to try to live their lives one day without a drink at a time- because they know that they can't handle the stuff.
The flu- you get it, your immune system beats it up- it's gone. Very different. Depression, I don't know about. A couple of beers and I'm very happy.
2007-10-09 06:46:26 · answer #5 · answered by W. Coastal Eddie 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There is NO cure for alcoholism. And yes, once an alcoholic---ALWAYS an alcoholic. If you are sober, then you are an alcoholic in recovery. But all it would take is ONE alcoholic beverage and you be right back where you were at the lowest point of your life.
Depression can be cured.
The flu can be cured.
Alcoholism, drug addiction, gambling addiction, eating addiction.....there is no cure.
2007-10-09 06:47:07 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
just because once you've been an alcoholic, your body responds differently to alcohol, forever. so if you were an alcoholic, now if you even have one drink, it is totally different for you than for someone who never was an alcoholic. it just means that it always effects your system. it's like quitting smoking, you are always "i've quit for this long" it's a never-ending timeline, because you always could take that one more cigarette or one more drink.
2007-10-09 06:50:23 · answer #7 · answered by KJC 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They are never cured from that disease, what it means is that person maybe able to drink one beer and than not drink again or they can drink several beers and become an alcoholic again. The temptation will always be there.
2007-10-09 06:50:13 · answer #8 · answered by Tommy's_Sweet_Girl 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You are never cured, it is always with you. My dad was and I lived in fear everyday that he would start drinking again. It's
an addiction that never goes away, a craving that stays.
I was once depressed and if not carefull i will fall back into it.
somethings never go away................................sorry
2007-10-09 06:48:21 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Soneone cannot be cured, it can only be stabilized or (as an alcoholic i know says, in remission)....
2007-10-09 06:47:34 · answer #10 · answered by FavoredbyU 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋