Posted by seldomseen on December 6, 2008, at 4:15:31
In reply to Doesn't have to be an alcoholic Xmas, posted by 64bowtie on December 5, 2008, at 0:51:48
"People drink in excess to 1. forget what they've done, and 2. what those things might say about who they are... Truly-mature adults never intentionally connect those two states of being... So, who are the alcoholics hiding their distorted and defective true natures from???
Yep!!! Themselves!!!"
I think if it were just that simple, millions of alcoholics would be cured.
I also would disagree that alcoholics have distorted and defective natures.
In fact, the overwhelming majority of addicts have some sort of underlying, undiagnosed mental illness and/or co-morbid abuse history.
In some families, I was shocked to learn, it is more acceptable to drink than to seek mental health care.
As someone who has worked with addiction in chronic pain situations for years, it is apparent to me that the old "pull yourself up by your bootstraps and get moving" attitude only goes so far. I'm not denying it works for some, but for so many the situation has layers and layers of complexity.
poster:seldomseen
thread:866795
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20081126/msgs/866965.html