So one of the questions in this break down on the 1st step is… What does the disease of addiction mean to me??? I would love to hear what others think about this question.
What it means to me…
That i have to accept i can no longer drink anymore.
I can no longer use drugs or partake in the party the way i use to.
That i have to accept there is no cure…there will never be a “one time” or "just this time"
That i must maintain my sobriety at all cost because I’m not a normal drinker/user and i never will be.
But it also means to me that its ok…
It means accepting that because I’m an addict doesn’t mean my life’s over…it doesn’t mean i can’t be the life of the party…it doesn’t mean there is no more fun to be had because i can’t drink or use anymore.
It means that now I’m stronger, I’m healthier, it means I’m more ME then i ever was!
With acceptance comes an understanding and the ability to learn!
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Take the word disease out of the question for a second and ask yourself What does your addiction look like to you? How has it affected your life? What happens to you after you drink or drug? The way AA describes the “disease” of addiction is like an allergy. I have an allergy to dust, if I Stand in a dusty room, that dust triggers receptors in my body, and I will sneeze, eyes swell, skin itches. If I drink alcohol or take a pill, my mind/body reacts to that “allergen” in a way that I can’t control either. To counter dust allergens, I can take a med to decrease my bodies response to them, to counter my addictions I avoid alcohol/drugs and my “medication” for that, for me is the program of AA, exercise, meditation, music, prayer, etc. Whatever it takes. Hope that helped a little…it sounded great in my head. …lol…
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It means my brain works different then others. Other’s can enjoy a social whiskey or 2 with a friend. My brain simply 9 out of 10 times won’t allow me that pleasure. It will overcome me with the want for that taste to continue until I eventually black out. Makes no difference whom I hurt or put in danger. Sadly I feel strongly this will never change. However HAPPILY I’m so blessed to have been led to making this decision to change my life in its entirety.
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I wish I would have shared this at the meeting tonight… Experience strength and hope … This is how we help each other stay clean…
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@Mendocina
You are exactly right! Together we can do what I CAN’T do alone. I know myself well enough to know I am all or nothing! I either give recovery eveything I have or I sink right back into my addictions and live a slow death there…I choose the program of AA, fellowship of recovery and the grace of a God of my understanding! Life is really good today😃
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Like I said tonight jails,institutions, or death… OR SOBRIETY today I choose SOBRIETY…
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Amen to that! Me too 
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Uploading… We are breaking step one down… It’s amazing what all comes up when I break down each little section…
I’ve never thought of that…hmmm
I guess it makes me things about my husband and I being that he truly has no addiction to alcohol or any drug for that matter.To him it doesn’t even taste good. He can have a few sips of his drink and decide he just doesn’t want it.
I realize I suffer from the disease of addiction because when I have a taste of alcohol, I always want more. I enjoy the taste, it’s as if my brain has tricked my taste buds into thinking the more percentage of alcohol the better it will taste since it’s going to feel so good.If that makes sense…
I literally will convince myself that the more I drink the better it will get, then I get drunker and convince myself I probably won’t have a hangover the next day.Of course I do and It only takes bout 2 days to recover and wanna do it again. That’s insanity!Which is how I know I suffer from the disease of addiction.
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