Alcoholism Support Group
Alcoholism is the continued consumption of alcoholic beverages, even when it is negatively affecting your health, work, relationships and life. If you think alcohol is causing you to lose control, it's time to seek help. Our group is a safe place to vent, check in, get back up if you fall, and reach sobriety.
Is Alcoholism The Result Of Nature Or Nurture?
The debate as to whether alcoholism is a product of nature (genetic) or nurture (life experiences and upbringing) or a blend of the two, shows no signs of abating any time soon. However, amongst virtually all professionals in the addictions field, you'll find agreement that there is at the very least, a strong genetic component to addiction in general. Some people just seem to be more predisposed or vulnerable to addiction. We have identified certain genes and markers for various addictions, and we know that this genetic factor helps the substance or addiction "vehicle" literally hijack the brain. Owing to modern technology, addiction can now be actually "seen" on brain scans.
We feel that the nature or nurture question about addiction doesn't really have to be an "either/or" question, because we look at the nature/nurture question like this: Your genes give you the "gun," but your environment, and how well you cope with your environment, dictate whether or not the trigger gets pulled. So if you inherited the genetic "gun" for addiction, and you respond poorly to your environment with poor or substandard coping and problem-solving skills, you would obviously be at risk for solving your problem by "medicating" them away. In effect, the "trigger" gets pulled.
That's why in recovery, we say that no matter what "thing" you're addicted to, the "thing" is not the problem, it's the symptom of the problem. The real problem is "how you solve your problems." And how you solve your problems is by avoiding them, softening them, or making them go away temporarily with your "medication" of choice. The commonality among an alcoholic, a cocaine addict, a compulsive gambler and someone internet chatting for twenty hours a day is that they're all avoid the ugliness of their perception of life by "medicating."
And ultimately, every time they "medicate," their brain is responding by the release of chemicals, not least among them, dopamine and seratonin. The brain becomes adapted to this, and ultimately, it's the only thing it's concerned with. The modern, or thinking part of the brain that normally says "No," "think about this for a minute," what are the consequences?" becomes compromised, and allows the ancient, impulsive "Go" part of the brain to take over.
The bottom-line? When you are dealing with an alcoholic or addict you are dealing with someone suffering from a compromised brain. If you want to call that a disease, so be it, but once they reach that stage, the normal rules of behavior, conduct and logic go out the window. Do not expect an alcoholic or drug addict to think logically or rationally about what they are doing to themselves and those around them.
Despite what they say and how they act, alcoholics don't like being alcoholics, nor do addicts like being addicts. In reality, they are people who are trying to cope with something inside that they either don't understand, or can't bring themselves to face. More often than not, there's an inner shame that they know is there, yet they can't describe it or articulate it, even to themselves.
And as exasperating, unpredictable, and even frightening as they may be at times, no one is filled with more fear, frustration and anxiety than them. how that inner fear, that inner shame, or as many describe it - that "hole in the soul," translates to behavior and personality. "Most people don't know how all-encompassing alcoholism is. I can remember walking to the liquor store in the morning sweating and shaking like crazy causing I was beginning to go into withdrawal.
And as soon as I bought my bottle and had it tucked in my breast pocket, I actually began to get better - and I mean physically better.
The sweating eased off a bit, and the shaking would almost completely stop. Without even taking a drink yet, my brain would begin telling my body that it was going to be okay, we had what we needed and we would be "fed" soon!
And if that sounds like a monstrous way to live, believe me, it is. And it's only one dimension of alcoholism
Recovery Without Limits
Is A Life Without Limitation
Taylor - almost 2 years clean & sober
All positive options . com
"
The debate as to whether alcoholism is a product of nature (genetic) or nurture (life experiences and upbringing) or a blend of the two, shows no signs of abating any time soon. However, amongst virtually all professionals in the addictions field, you'll find agreement that there is at the very least, a strong genetic component to addiction in general. Some people just seem to be more predisposed or vulnerable to addiction. We have identified certain genes and markers for various addictions, and we know that this genetic factor helps the substance or addiction "vehicle" literally hijack the brain. Owing to modern technology, addiction can now be actually "seen" on brain scans.
We feel that the nature or nurture question about addiction doesn't really have to be an "either/or" question, because we look at the nature/nurture question like this: Your genes give you the "gun," but your environment, and how well you cope with your environment, dictate whether or not the trigger gets pulled. So if you inherited the genetic "gun" for addiction, and you respond poorly to your environment with poor or substandard coping and problem-solving skills, you would obviously be at risk for solving your problem by "medicating" them away. In effect, the "trigger" gets pulled.
That's why in recovery, we say that no matter what "thing" you're addicted to, the "thing" is not the problem, it's the symptom of the problem. The real problem is "how you solve your problems." And how you solve your problems is by avoiding them, softening them, or making them go away temporarily with your "medication" of choice. The commonality among an alcoholic, a cocaine addict, a compulsive gambler and someone internet chatting for twenty hours a day is that they're all avoid the ugliness of their perception of life by "medicating."
And ultimately, every time they "medicate," their brain is responding by the release of chemicals, not least among them, dopamine and seratonin. The brain becomes adapted to this, and ultimately, it's the only thing it's concerned with. The modern, or thinking part of the brain that normally says "No," "think about this for a minute," what are the consequences?" becomes compromised, and allows the ancient, impulsive "Go" part of the brain to take over.
The bottom-line? When you are dealing with an alcoholic or addict you are dealing with someone suffering from a compromised brain. If you want to call that a disease, so be it, but once they reach that stage, the normal rules of behavior, conduct and logic go out the window. Do not expect an alcoholic or drug addict to think logically or rationally about what they are doing to themselves and those around them.
Despite what they say and how they act, alcoholics don't like being alcoholics, nor do addicts like being addicts. In reality, they are people who are trying to cope with something inside that they either don't understand, or can't bring themselves to face. More often than not, there's an inner shame that they know is there, yet they can't describe it or articulate it, even to themselves.
And as exasperating, unpredictable, and even frightening as they may be at times, no one is filled with more fear, frustration and anxiety than them. how that inner fear, that inner shame, or as many describe it - that "hole in the soul," translates to behavior and personality. "Most people don't know how all-encompassing alcoholism is. I can remember walking to the liquor store in the morning sweating and shaking like crazy causing I was beginning to go into withdrawal.
And as soon as I bought my bottle and had it tucked in my breast pocket, I actually began to get better - and I mean physically better.
The sweating eased off a bit, and the shaking would almost completely stop. Without even taking a drink yet, my brain would begin telling my body that it was going to be okay, we had what we needed and we would be "fed" soon!
And if that sounds like a monstrous way to live, believe me, it is. And it's only one dimension of alcoholism
Recovery Without Limits
Is A Life Without Limitation
Taylor - almost 2 years clean & sober
All positive options . com
"
Thank you.
I have learned that no matter what I call myself, what lable I am given by professionals or others, my life is better as long as I do not take that first drink.
My program is ultra simple. Don't drink and I won't get drunk.