Posted on 05/15/2012 6:25:37 PM PDT by tedw
New You Tube Video on Addiction. Basically I am sick and tired of the so-called "experts" spouting off nonsense regarding drug and alcohol addiction.
The most current one I found was a licensed Clincial Psychologist "enlightening" (tongue in check) us that addiction is a "brain disease". You can find his link here:
http://tinyurl.com/d7h5c6q
The problem with these so-called experts is that they understand nothing. They do not recognize the spiritual realm so they reduce these problems to a physiological level.
They do not recognize the existence of demons or evil and the role it plays in addiction. As a consequence they help nobody. At best they adddict people to anonymous and only rarely is anybody ever really helped.
It's time we had a little light on the subject
Dumb post. Its a hereditary disease. Stop posting nonsense..
I am only speaking of what I know. Dad died at 42. Im 41 and have an insatiable craving for alcohol. I don’t think its behavior. Its passed on genetically..(im irish and 1/4 native american)..if that matters.. not sure. If I did id be rich..
I’m 26 and addicted to heavy metal music. Does that mean I’m being possessed by a demon?
Going back several generations, there is no evidence of alcoholism or even alcohol abuse in my family history yet my brother is and unapologetic alcoholic and I’m not an alcholic. So much for genetics. IMHO
“... it’s passed on genetically”.
I absolutely agree with you. I’m Irish on my Dad’s side and yes... in that family there were addictions. Many of my cousins refused ALL alcohol (even sacramental wine) as a way of “not activating the gene”. Could someone have that gene and be going through a difficult time in their life that equals an addiction? Sure. My Uncle returned home from WWII an alcoholic. He remained one until cancer took him out. So, there were some personal demons... but I believed him when he told me he became a drunk with his first sip of alcohol.
Is this another HumbleGumby thread?
Get a copy of the book Alcoholics Anonymous and read the Doctor’s opinion.
Yeah, I would click on that link but I probably don't have enough spiritual faith, moral fortitude, or capacity for religious discernment, so why bother? In fact, i probably have multiple demons living within me, all doing battle for eternal and perpetual control of my pathetic, defective soul. Otherwise, why else would i see this thread and then start craving chocolate?
Don’t underestimate the desire, unto compulsion, to avoid pain. One dose can wipe it away before it starts, where “it” is agony worth fearing.
“... no evidence of alcoholism or even alcohol abuse...”
Just wondering if you think your brother may be treating an undiagnosed mental disorder like Bipolar with alcohol? I use to work with two women who had issues with alcohol until they were diagnosed with Bipolar. The treatment/medication for Bipolar helped them (although not perfectly). They did, however, get off of alcohol completely.
probably
Before I rush out and buy this book, could you explain to me why I should?
And you received your Doctorate in Neurobiology exactly when?
>>Im 26 and addicted to heavy metal music. Does that mean Im being possessed by a demon?<<
Yes. Hell, yes.
The best information is that addiction is less genetic than it is related to maturity when addictive substances are consumed.
The human brain does not fully mature until the early 20s. The younger a person begins to consume addictive substances, the more their brain adapts to be prone to addiction, not just to a single substance, but to the realm of addictive substances and behaviors.
If they can hold off to their later teenage years, it becomes progressively harder for them to develop an addiction, and if they do develop one as an adult, it is much easier to break the addiction.
Perhaps the worst addictive substance is alcohol, for several reasons. The first is that it does have a genetic component, that being how fast the liver metabolizes alcohol. Those who metabolize it quickly are able to consume much more, and in turn it is more likely to affect their brain.
In the brain, alcohol is almost unique, because it affects almost every one of the multitude of neurochemicals that direct our extremely complex brain function. And these effects may be transitory, or may last weeks or months.
Nicotine is one of the more interesting addictive substances, because the human body is loaded with receptors for that molecule, even in our intestines. It is very puzzling why we are so adapted to a substance we do not naturally produce and would typically only rarely consume.
THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, also has a molecular shape that is like one of our natural molecules, but it is almost completely non-addictive, except psychologically.
The most dangerous addictive substances are opiates and synthetic opiates. They are so effective at causing addiction that they almost transcend the brain maturity rule. They do this by performing a function similar to one of our most important brain chemicals that is not a neurotransmitter: the endorphines.
Endorphines are the bodies natural painkillers, and keep us from being overwhelmed by sensory input. Typically, they block over 98% of our sensory information, to protect us.
When addicted to heroin or other opiates, the production of endorphines permanently diminishes, and even temporarily halts. So when a junkie gives up his drug, he is soon overwhelmed by sensation that his brain interprets as pain.
This is the infamous “crawling up the walls”.
Referring back to the original post, I don’t believe alcoholism is a spiritual problem. I believe a alcoholism can have a spiritual solution through AA. Im a hardcore alcoholic and believe there is a genetic nature. There has to be some truth to the theory... not that im a bad person. In working on my 4th degree(mba). My weekends are just a blur.. I think its in the blood and not a weakness of spirit..
He is 60 years old (I’m 65) and doubt he will change, having no desire to do so regardless the underlying reason.
I was trying to rebuke the idea that alcoholism was necessarily genetic, not to attempt a “cure” for my brother.
Or were you being sarcastic?
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