I can only speak for my experience though, except to say that I’ve heard from many others who have shared a similar one, so I wouldn’t necessarily suggest people completely avoid it. Just be aware that it’s not without risk and it’s definitely not a miracle, at least not for everyone!
1 Like
‘We look for the similarities, not the differences’
That is one of the many important lessons I’ve learnt in AA.
To add to that, the thread he commented that he thinks AA is like a cult in was a thread where the OP was struggling because their mother had called it a cult. Not in any way a helpful comment to make and it’s plain stupidity to make such a comment and not expect hostility.
1 Like
Like walking in to a pub of Manchester United fans and shouting Come on Liverpool!
3 Likes
Great game last night though, go Liverpool!! Haha
1 Like
I’ve found that AA was never a thing for me either. It was a truly spiritual journey for me. I found that Celebrate Recovery was exactly what I needed. It was getting in touch with God, not just the “god as you know him” with other programs. It has made all the difference in my sobriety. 2 years as of this coming Monday with absolutely no desire to drink, praise God!
4 Likes
Congratulations in advance on two years!! Also for building such a solid recovery <3
Don’t really follow soccer but I saw the headlines. Must have been a good game. Well was for the kop! 
Bloody hell! High fives to your dad!
ICD diagnoses cover basically any reason you’d go to the doctor: mystery symptoms, adjustment disorder (my cat died), even idiopathic diagnoses (we don’t know!) to explain to insurance the reason for the visit. Not all of it is a disease.
If you visit the doctor and say you’ve been abusing alcohol, it’s coded as alcohol use disorder, not because of a disease but because of what you describe and what’s happened.
I tried saying “well I’m just an alcoholic” but that didn’t work. That almost justified in my mind continuing to drink. And it did nothing to work on the reasons why.
It’s a behavioral disorder with many potential causes.
Thanks for clearing up my misconceptions about ICD.
I think behavioral disorder is a better term than disease. Purely anecdotal, but I’ve sponsored people on medication for mood disorders and anxiety. I’ve dealt with anxiety from PTSD. The addiction stayed behind even after treating those conditions.
Semantics aside, I think we can all agree it’s a problem. After I acknowledged my problem and had a desire to change, nothing worked until I decided I would do whatever it takes to deal with it.
2 Likes
I can’t speak for anyone but myself but I AM powerless over alcohol. You said it yourself. We give it the power which makes us powerless over it. It had the power to control my life.
No babe we can’t go out and eat cuz we don’t have the money but I sure as hell had the money for that bottle or 30 pack. Alcohol had all of the power and we have no power over it. We don’t control it, it controlled us.
6 Likes
Oh man this is ME… and in the moment it just makes total sense. Addiction makes us so foolish.
Wrong actually, alcohol use disorder (from ‘substance use disorder’) is a very broad diagnosis which doesn’t imply addiction. They are separate things.
It is entirely possible that you are not suffering from addiction, if your doctor has diagnosed alcohol use disorder, they are unsure.
Correct, there are many ICD diagnoses to cover many things, some of them are diseases, some are not. It’s completely irrelevant.
Addiction is classified by the medical community, as a disease.
This is not my opinion I’m sharing, this is the combined opinion of medical professionals worldwide.
1 Like
When I was diagnosed it was based on me meeting certain criteria that medical professionals use to make such a diagnosis. Self-reporting was not part of the process. In fact I told the doctor that I did not have a problem with alcohol. Then we went through process and my doctor listed it as a diagnosis lol.
2 Likes
Yeah I had a similar experience! My GP gave me a referral to an addiction specialist. Sadly no magic there though, surprise surprise!
Right, and I’ve never been addicted to alcohol chemically, just habitually. I’m physically hooked on caffeine but my drinking pattern was routine blackouts. It depends on what you mean by addiction. I couldn’t stop once started, in that aspect I was powerless.
Well if that’s all the problem is for you the solution is staring you in the face. Just don’t start. Problem solved, easy! Don’t drink and you’ll be fine.
3 Likes
Habitual dependency is just as much of a problem, if not worse, than chemical depdency. Chemical dependency wears off after detoxing, mental/habitual dependency is the much bigger battle to beat. That’s what keeps you sober.
4 Likes
Zombie thread. Enjoy!
1 Like
Love the hairball analogy
1 Like