What is the "disease model" approach to behavioral addiction

[11visionary11]

Alcoholism or any addiction is NOT a disease..its a choice. Every one knows it.

[Hammersley1967]

@11visionary11

Unfortunately, not everybody knows it...

[11visionary11]

I think they do inside, they just don't want to adit it, even to themselves for some persoanl reason. They want to justify their actions....so its a disease.

[Hammersley1967]

@11visionary11

Something like a fervent "faith" in their own lies...

Hard to argue with that if you've ever gone head to head with one of these guys on YT...

If you corner them and dismantle their argument, just watch how they dig their heels in, start clutching at straws, and throw up all sorts of nonsense in order to maintain their belief in the unbelievable....

Yes, their commitment to the disease myth certainly seems to be born of irrational emotion rather than fact and logic...

[11visionary11]

Well put.

[PersephoneInExile]

@11visionary11 BS. No choice to it. Not everyone reacts the same once the substances are at play. I believe that patients who've fallen prey to prescription opiates can attest to this, as they weren't engaging in "choice-making" behaviors considered "risky" by our society.

[driven6996]

However, the 12 step / AA approach would have you wind back the clock to day 1 as if you had completely fallen back into your old philosophy and addiction. Thus, giving you another reason to drink! Basically, with the AA approach, you'd be more likely to go on a binge for days or weeks after a slip because you'd say to yourself, "Ah, what the hell, I might as well drink up now that I'm off the wagon!"

[prschuster]

That reminds me of when my sister was kicked out of a halfway house for drinking. She came to stay with me for the night and said that she was going to go to a bar and get drunk... why not? She had already blown a couple months of sobriety... back to square one. So we both got pissed that night. That was before I quit drinking. She had gone to at least 7 rehabs (at last count), one of which was the world famous Hazelden. She eventually died of a heart attack probably as a result of her drinking.

[prschuster]

I entered my first rehab in 1990 and my second in 1996. I am very familiar with the disease model and 12 steps. Do you know what has kept me sober for the past 12 years? It has been my unremitting belief in myself and my ability to make decisions about my lifestyle and to take responsibility for my behavior. All of this flies in the face of the way I was conditioned to think of my alcoholism when I went to those rehabs and subsequent AA meetings. Thanks for speaking up.

[driven6996]

In my opinion, the 12 step model is a very disempowering way to look at and overcome addictions, especially if you are not particularly religious oriented.

[prschuster]

I did get drunk one time in the last 12 years, but thanks to positive thinking I knew I could sober up again without psyching myself into thinking I have to go on a big bender because alcohol is so powerful and I am so helpless. By holding my own feet to the fire I made sure not to give myself an excuse to spiral out of control. Addictions are darn hard to beat and it takes much effort, but you can akways say: "yes I can.".

[driven6996]

Yes, and that's just it! With a more empowering approach to addictions like cognitive behavioral therapy, which focuses on changing your thinking to get results, you would see the night you had out drinking as a slip, learn from it, and get right back on track immediately after the episode.

[mls71492]

I am amazed at how much misunderstanding about the 12 steps.

Change of thinking is exactly what the 12steps will bring about!

The first change in my thinking was the idea that Its over doing it that was the problem. In other words total abstinence of any mood altering substance became something I desired ; Instead of using in moderation!

Using in moderation is not the only thing I have accepted I am powerless over.

[mls71492]

I am also powerless to control your attitudes and actions like if you agree with me, approve of me, like me or not.

That doesnt mean I am powerless I can change my attitudes and actions If I dont put alcohol in my body I wont react to it. Its the first drink that gets me drunk not the14th.

By changing my actions/ my thinking has changed!

[driven6996]

Sure, the 12 step approach emphasizes changing dysfunctional thinking as one aspect of it. However, there are many other unnecessary aspects of it that are given far too overemphasis such as branding oneself with stigmatizing labels for life, requirement of a higher power, lifetime supply of meetings that often lead to want drink after attending, etc.

[mls71492]

What stigmatizing label for life?

Are referring to in meetings the way I introduce myself: This is another misunderstanding.I introduce myself as an alcoholic in meetings to confirm that I have had the experience of being addicted to alcohol and thus I can speak about my experience strength and hope, on what I was like, what I did, and what I am like now!

As for requiring a higher power, it can be as simple as the relying on seeking the truth about a situation instead of wishful thinking.

[mls71492]

When I was using alcohol I thought the problem was I needed to learn to maintain at a certain level of control. Like 16 drinks over 3 hours instead of 24. The Truth Is ITS THE FIRST ONE! In such a case the truth is more powerful then the bull Ive been wanting to believe.

[driven6996]

You have a more positive and uplifting way of presenting the 12 step model. However, I rarely see it presented in such a fashion. AA proponents that I've come into contact with typically are very dogmatic, zealous, and seem to get very angry and defensive if anyone disagrees with their viewpoints.

[mls71492]

Thanks!

Dont forget we are just people who have/ have had a common problem.

The opinions we express are just opinions and a lot of what you will hear has nothing to with the program or the process! And 2 or more people can call themselves a group!

I have seen people whose primary purpose pr seems to proselytize every one into Born again Christian.

[mls71492]

I have seen people whose primary purpose pr seems to date newcomers

I have seen people tell others they can use cocaine.

I have seen people tell others they can get off their meds.

I have seen people tell others they can use marijuana.

I have people tell me I had done a step all wrong.

I have seen a group 86 a member for relapses. In my experiences these were good examples of what not to do.

[mls71492]

But I have found that every one who has shared this common alcoholic experience, I can identify!

Unfortunately that is as far as some take it.

[mls71492]

I have many times more examples of people altruistically living sober!

On the flip side I havehad people ask me to sponsor them who did not want to learn to work the program but wanted to

Have bible study!

Permission to party!

Date newcomers! And so on

Also I praise RR and SOS. I believe that although the language is different I see a very similar beast (alcoholism) painted by most programs!

[kidspeaker]

good

[Godlyguitarman]

Yeah is guy has not a clue about the program. It teaches you to take responiblity for you actions and understand that is the only thing you can control is your actions.

[LeeSuzanna]

@prschuster , so do you believe the disease model of addiction is accurate, or do you thing it sets up people for failure?

[prschuster]

@LeeSuzanna The disease model would be accurate if it were limited to the physical changes in the brain that affected cravings. But when it comes to addictive behavior it really gets on shaky ground. Medicalizing behavior is hogwash unless you're talking about psychotic hallucinations or delusions. The only time my free will to drink or to abstain has been compromised is when I was too drunk to think clearly or in violent withdrawals. The disease model makes it all too easy to find excuses.