Let me preface my remarks with this is only my thoughts on the saubject and I'm sure there are as many shades of thinking on the subject of addiction as there are drunks and treatment professionals. After an initial period of time once one breaks the physical addiction choice becomes increasingly operative. Personally, once one has physically detoxed I do not believe in the disease concept...The diabetes example often equated with alcoholism does not hold water. One cannot "cure" diabetes simply by stopping a behavior as one can with addictive behaviors...

I believe it's always a choice.

Once my thinking led me to the first drink I had no choice, I had to drink, I could not stop drinking. Once started everything else was pushed aside in my need to drink.

As for the diabetes, it is a comparison, if the diabetic takes the insulin they can live a 'normalish' life. Stop the insulin and the symptoms return. The diabetic is not cured when they take the insulin.

As an alcoholic, if I stop drinking I do not have the alcoholic symptoms. I believe that if I put alcohol in my system in then I will drink alcoholically. I am not cured when I stop drinking. (ie the similarity).

Having said this I do understand others state they do have choice and in doing so have been able to stay sober, which is the real outcome I suggest we all want. However, I also believe that others need to understand that will power may not be enough for them to put the drink down and don't pick up again, which again is what I suggest is what we all want.

Guess in conclusion it is important I stayed open till I found the glass slipper that fitted that I could live and grow with.

G8

Thanks. I believe it true that our brain chemistry changes and sometimes we have no choice. I know from experience that it is just like another person or entity taking over, and I truly had no choice but to pick up. Well, just the way I feel.

I have a choice about the first one, but after one there ceases to be a choice for me. Soooo. 1is2many

G what I found so interesting in reading that was it brought back to me the days early on when I had hoped that neat and tidy and recovering was a act in the same Play...painful Yes!! but soo liberating at many levels in understanding the dynamics my personality helped to play in a pseudo act of instant gratification (being orderly) shadowed by the need to be blind !! I was Young and had-lots of time to explore all options if I wanted:) And I have...that one just fed my Narcissism and I still felt empty
Billy!

I think it's not a choice to become an addict- who would choose that?

BUT, it is a choice whether or not to let the addiction win.

Last I checked, bottles of vodka did not magically appear in my freezer all those years ago. I had to consciously purchase them and pour it down my throat.

It's not a choice to be diabetic, but it is a choice to eat the Twinkie. Same with obesity.

Great. Now I'm officially an old fart.

My experience is similar to yours Gr8 - I had no choice in drink. I couldn't stop once I started and I couldn't stop starting - simple as that.

I believe what makes us an alcoholic is that we are powerless over one drink. The first drink leads to another drink, which sets up a craving for another and so forth, and it is always the last one, but we are not in control over our drinking at this point. The choice comes in to decide not to take the first drink.

But doesn't that "first drink" choice begin with each new day?

As an alcoholic, I needed booze like others needed air.
It was not a matter of choice. I had no choice.

I am powerless over alcohol, in any form, once I take a sip/ drink.
I have no choice once I'm drinking. Today I choose to do the work to keep me spiritually fit (sober) so I can avoid that first drink. That's where choice ends for me and obsession would take over.

I have to believe that it is a choice. Because if it is not a choice I can't do anything about it. I have to start making better choices.

I believe that it is always a choice we make.

IMO, it is a choice. What you decide to eat is your choice. What you decide to drink is your choice. No one is putting a gun to your head to have alcohol. This is only my opinion.