Let's try "Alcoholism is a disease, like diabetes". A diabetic will live in denial right up to the bitter end (this is from experience) and not provide the care for themselves to lead a happy, productive life. An alcoholic will do the same, even when there are treatments and programs available to work through the where-for's and why-to's of their drinking. The uncontrollable urge to have a drink, along with the inability to stop until we've crashed and burned. Tis a disease, just as many other diseases that require daily medication to stave of bad results.
You might be interested to know that many patients with terminal diseases spend quite a bit of time In denial. I am one of them. Tis best to learn of the subject you wish to speak about...

Hugs,
Dennis

alcoholism is a disease that tells you you do not have a disease...see the doctors opinion in the book Alcoholics anonymous to read what Dr. Silkworth wrote about the disease of alcoholism....hugs bill

Enough,

That's a big questions and I'll wager there will be lots of lively discussion about it here.

Alcoholics Anonymous and most alcohol treatment centers in the U.S. use the *disease model* to diagnose and treat alcoholism.

I believe that it is less ambiguous say that alcoholism is an addiction; an illness that affects both the mind and the body.

If I were in denial about being an alcoholic, the fact that alcohol is treated like a disease does not change my responsibility to myself nor to my loved ones. I owe it to myself and my family to take care of myself, just as I would for any other physical or behavior health issue where my denial was causing harm.

Whether it's a disease or not, the fact remains it is a destroyer of lives.

Addictive alcoholic type drinking can cause one to become physically addicted. We've come a long way since the Belladonna treatment of the 1930s. We've become very good at treating this part.

Further, recent scientific breakthroughs have begun to find drug therapies that help immensely with the phenomena of craving that leads credence to the idea that harmful alcoholic type drinking is a mental condition.

For example, many of us suffering from mental conditions stop taking necessary treatments, because we don't like the side effects, the bland new reality and/or felt "more alive" untreated...HMMMM

Here;s some History.... make up your own Mind!! I got sober in AA but in the 80's it was not used to explain my dilemma as having the disease ,they used the words suffering with Alcoholism..I never went to a treatment center so the focus was far different . Those I used in helping me were like a friend said here on the boards recently....Help is where I find it and when I begin to use what I find:)
Billy

http://www.baldwinresearch.com/alcoholism.cfm

http://ncadd.org/about-ncadd/testimonials-from-the-media/499-what-the-alcoholic-owes-to-marty-mann

oh ....in the beginning he uses the word choice that I don't buy at a simple level ...My choice was to relieve the suffering through being wasted and not aware after that the choice was gone for Me!

One more thing, just remember a analogy is only a visual that tends to draw your attention to the consequences like Denny's analogy,the cancer analogy or the being allergic to strawberries Analogy Just dont eat Strawberries! I used to hear when I take a drink I wake up in Handcuffs !!! It made perfect sense to me!

The newly published SCM-5 uses "alcohol use disorder". I can live with that. Of course the updated version is causing some debate (LOL).

http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/32196/title/The-DSM-5-Alcohol-Debate/

:))Thanks for letting me share I'll pass Now hehe

:))
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQ_RZE__kJI

I'll split the hair of using the word choice. It is what drinking does in our lives that makes us choose to stop. That moment of clarity.

From there it is my choice to get the help I need from any source possible. Basically, there is no disease in the parking lot doing pushups.

Hello enoughisenough2,

There is a lot of debate about whether or not alcoholism is an illness/disease but does the label really matter?

Alcoholism affects the mind and body of an alcoholic and there is a strong case for calling it a disease or an illness. The mental part is an obsession that drives the alcoholic to take the first drink and the physical part is an abnormal reaction to alcohol that develops in the body. An alcoholic is not the same in body and mind as a normal person, where alcohol is concerned.

Personally, I prefer to call alcoholism a condition but that is only my personal choice. Regardless of what you call it, there are solutions to the problem. You are in danger of getting tied up in controversial debates about various aspects of the approach to alcoholism and this is understandable as you try to come to terms with your husbands drinking. What I would urge you to do is to step back from the debating and concentrate on a solution. You may or may not be able to help your husband but at the very least you can learn how to look after your own welfare and wellbeing.

The link below will give you good information about how alcoholism affects the mind and body of an alcoholic and about one possible solution to the problem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pVBDQPC2XQ

I asked this question of a counselor about 6 or 7 years ago and his answer was that alcoholism is a disease because it can be diagnosed and treated.

enoughisenough2

In the context of family members it is well to remember that there is only so much we can do to help them stop drinking. The final choice to seek out help lies with them. There is a dose of powerlessness for the non-alcoholic over a loved one's drinking. Seeing how others dealt with the situation can help you make the changes in your that fit best for you.

No one has ever denied having cancer? Really? I personally know a woman who did. She just couldnt come to terms with it. She wouldnt accept it. She died of it.
My father in law was in deep denial over his alcoholism *and* his terminal cancer. In the end, the former sped up the later.
I am an alcoholic. Is it a disease? I don't know, and I don't care. I know I can't drink today. And that's what keeps my life moving forward in a positive, productive and joyful way.