Thank you so much everyone for discussing this issue with me. I feel as though this conversation has taken a turn and would like to close this discussion to further comments before things start to get heated. That’s not why we’re here.
Happy sober day everyone. 
Oh you’re welcome! 
You’re right actually, I was a huge B about it. A nerve got hit when someone else threw in believing it a certain way as disrespectful and you agreed. We may not agree on all counts, but I shouldn’t get nasty about it. I apologize!!! @MissQuinn
Or wait, is this me making an amends? Lol
the only good that will come out of this discussion is that it will take your mind off drinking for a short period of time. If you drink to much and cannot stop you are a “drunkard” simple really,
@Rod I’m kinda glad you haven’t posted anything threatening because of your avatar lol. I dunno how I would react to an angry Chucky first thing in the morning 
discussion does help but this discussion goes round in circles. i agree with your sentiment entirely but no matter how much the topic is debated you will not reach consensus.
i fully agree with your view that it is not a disease. But others may think differently.
This disease vs. non-disease issue always gets into a heated discussion and I think we can all “agree to disagree”.
Ok guys I feel as though I should give a quick clarification. I wasn’t intending to get into a debate about whether or not it is or isn’t a disease. I saw the downward spiral of negativity that happened in the comment section of @Oliverjava’s post on the issue. The truth is no one really knows definitively 100% without a doubt that it is or isn’t. There are lots of opinions - medical and otherwise. We could debate that till the end of time (or until there is definitive science to back up the theory). BUT!
When I said this:
I phrased it very poorly. I was talking about my perspective on my own sobriety. What I meant was that for me - I choose not to think of it as a disease because of all the reasons I mentioned in my comments and for my own psychological well being.
The intention of the post was to spark a discussion about how calling it a disease has contributed positively or negatively to each person’s sobriety individually. Also, how society views alcoholism. Not necessarily to debate the stance that the AMA has on the issue. None of us (to my knowledge) are medical doctors or research scientists. Therefore all we can contribute is what we have found in our own personal experiences and independent research.
Words can hurt. Or they can help. How does hearing the word “disease” in reference to alcoholism affect your sobriety journey? Do you think it is more or less conducive to maintaining long term sobriety? That was more of what I was trying to discuss.
Dr. Johnson here! 
I actually don’t think of it as a disease to be completely honest, but I do understand why someone would label it as such. I’ve just identified with the term alcoholic and know that I suck at moderation in this one area.
For me just coming to terms with that has helped maintain my sobriety. Personally, if I thought of it that way, as a disease that is, I think I might develop some learned helplessness. Like F it, it’s a disease right? No escape!
When you put it that way, it’s much more relateable, something I think the previous topic failed to do.
Thanks for clarifying @MissQuinn
I thought it’d probably go sideways when the words ‘very disrespectful’ popped up (although I do get their context).
The forum’s a discussion site so maybe we need to discuss a way to avoid the grenades. I hit 90 days today, and the main reason is the kindness and generosity of half the people on this single thread. We all need each other, so thank you all for my 90 days here and here’s to the next 90.
Disease or not let’s call alcoholism / alcohol abuse what it really is… a fucking bitch.
Pardon my Portuguese.
Couldn’t put it better!
People need to stop playing the victim. I was stateing my opinion. Just because you dont agree dosnt mean i am attacking you why have an open discussion if you want it to be 1 sided
Hi @VSue, I agree. I’m going to be tested for ADD myself. Addiction can be a symptom of ADHD/ADD which is genetic. It is also one for burn out. And I am sure there is more.
Do you really think you’re being silenced? I’m sorry if you do. But quite honestly I think the “not a disease” group is the majority here.
Personally, I don’t think it is a disease in the medical sense…I think it is a symptom of something else. BUT I think it is important for it to be labelled as a disease for medical coverage and for protection of rights. If it isn’t a disease then it gets perceived by society in general as “it’s your fault, not my problem” and that isn’t good.
I guess it is the same for the AA vs nonAA discussions. We are all different and that is just it.
No one should feel the need to defend their beliefs.
@Oliverjava I totally understand why you are frustrated. I saw what happened in a thread you posted about this topic. As you said to me earlier - please continue to share your views even if you are in the minority. That’s how change happens - when people ask hard questions and challenge people to think outside the box.
Intention is so difficult to convey digitally. I think a lot of us are saying the same things but it is coming out all wrong and people get offended and defensive. Also we don’t know each other in real life so it’s hard to put these comments in any context other than our own vision of each other.
@VSue I agree with you. Also I hadn’t considered the insurance thing until you brought it up initially. Had I considered this fact before posting…I think my phrasing would have conveyed my intention more clearly.
We’re all just here trying to figure this whole thing out one day at a time. And we’re all sensitive people. All we can do is share our feelings and try to be kind and accepting of others. If people say negative, hurtful things - it’s just a reflection of their own insecurities. I try extremely hard to remain objective and to not let shit other people say get to me. That in itself is part of my personal recovery and self-improvement process. I think very carefully about how I interact with others but there is always going to be someone who isn’t as thoughtful.
Think of it this way guys: we frequently talk about how when you tell someone in your circle that you have stopped drinking that they will subconsciously rate their drinking as it compares to yours. The same thing happens with these types of conversations online. Someone will read something, pick out a line of text, and apply it to their own life and experiences. Sometimes something that wasn’t intended as offensive becomes offensive to the reader.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve encountered this. For instance: when someone asks me to hang out…if I want to and am excited about it I’ll respond with “sure”… In my head it sounds like this “YES ABSOLUTELY! THAT SOUNDS AWESOME!”
But that’s not how it reads unless you know me and have heard me say it. It could be taken as “I really don’t give a shit. I guess so.” Really we have very little control over how someone interprets what we type online.
Serious students always refer to the classics of their discipline. In the discipline of recovery there are 2 giants; The Big Book and Fr. Martin. “The Doctors Opinion” chapter from the BB and the “Chalk Talk” videos from Fr. Martin explain perfectly (IMHO) the concept of alcoholism as being a disease of Body, Mind, and Spirit. They really are worth reading/viewing.
