Is addiction curable? Is addiction a mind disorder?

[Ayisha]

I am a 53 year old alcoholic. Luckily I am a functioning alcoholic who only drinks in the evening. My research tells me that addiction is an incurable disorder. (I hate the word addict, so I call myself as having SAD...substance abuse disorder).

I know that many people have successfully achieved abstinence. But does that mean they are cured?

Ayisha

[IsaJett]

Hi there Ayisha

first of all welcome to this forum.

someone I know who is a close friend is a high functioning addict ...so meaning he is rich and able to afford the lifestyle ...which sometimes mask the problem . For yourself I think u coming to this forum means u r self aware and want to quit . I was once a smoker and pretty heavily .i ain’t no expert on the topic but the thing that got me out of it was reading up on how much damage these things do to you ..alcohol is really lethal ...smokes too

I think if u really get into the way to damages your body then u get put off the whole process. It’s definitely curable . If there’s a will that there is a way . And you are like in the best position because u making that first step and that is half the battle won ..start small ...cull it ...but I suggest that you try some exercises too ...because when u start getting healthy ...u can almost feel it instantly when u give yourself some booze or smoke ...your healthy body just feels the damage u r doing , well that’s my experience anyways ,.i just knew ..oh my goodness this is so bad on my body ...and I worked my way out of it ..

i started not only feeling better but looking better as well

sp definitely there’s hope ..

good luck ...let us know how you progress along .hope to hear from you again ...keep well

[Ayisha]

Thank you for your post and advice. Very kind of you.

Do you have any knowledge or opinion on whether addiction is a mental condition?

Ishy

[Idkme]

Hi Ishy,

you have an interesting question which can only be answered by a qualified person.

However I think it’s good to look at what the word is, one such website quotes “Addiction is a physical or psychological need to do, take or use something, to the point where it could be harmful to you.”

so to me it’s both... it’s to do with the body wanting it and the brain wanting it... and then it’s the reaction to the body being withdrawn from it or the brain being withdrawn from it.

It’s kind of like chewing nails.... no one ‘wants’ to chew nails but it’s so hard to stop.... you have to find the underlying reasons (in chewing nails it’s often anxiety related) and then you have to have the desire to change... ie a wedding to attend or the fact you want your nails to look nice.... without determination and motivation it won’t change and can often get worse....

so if you want to change you have to be willing to deal with the issues and have the determination. Doctors can give you drugs to stop you worrying about the reasons you are drinking but more importantly you need to deal with them and want to change. This will often need help and support which a doctor and psychologist can provide.

Hope that helps?

[Lilly18]

Hi Ayisha,

I beleive it's a combination of your genetics and environmental factors which make someone addicted.

Personally I don't think it can be cured, iam 15months sober. I will never drink again because I will end up back where I was, if not worse.

Have a good christmas

[geoff]

Hello Ayisha, thanks so much for posting your comment.

My views are different from what has been said because having a drink every night is no different than having a cup of coffee and how many people sit down and say how relaxed they are with their first cup in the morning, so it's a habit, rather than an addiction.

I know that's not what the experts say, but I wonder how many of them have a drink every night, whether it's only a glass or two, I wouldn't call this being addicted and I'm sure they wouldn't want us to say that to them.

Addiction can be related to mental illness, and yes it can be cured if that's what you decide to do and congratulations Lilly for not drinking in 15 months because it's not what could happen but what you have decided not to do.

People at AA have a 12 step program and those who have stopped drinking 25 years ago still say they are an alcoholic, but are they, or are they still addicted, I don't think so and not because they could easily start once again.

Alcohol, that is a glass or two at night can't be called lethal, it's something you pleasure yourself with, sure a bottle of scotch a night is lethal but certainly not a couple of glasses.

Will continue.

Geoff.