How is Alcoholism a Disease?

In my extended family, many members struggle with mental health issues, which is not unlike a lot of families because there really isn’t a normal person in the world. I have a friend who likes to say, “Normal is a setting on a washing machine,” not a description of a human being. We all have our struggles or crosses to bear when it comes to mental health.

For example, here are a few mental health diseases our family has faced in their lifetime:

Alcoholism
Depression
Anxiety
Addiction
Bi-Polar disorder
Schizophrenia
Eating disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Let’s take alcoholism, for instance. It is said that alcoholics face a three-part disease: an obsession of the mind, an allergy of the body, and a malady of the spirit. First things first, though – the alcoholic must stop drinking and engage in an alcohol and drug treatment program, one with a detox component if the person is deeply affected physically.

Specifically, a treatment program consisting of a continuum of care that spans the needs of those questioning if they have an issue with drugs and/or alcohol; those who feel their use is out of control; and those who are practicing recovery, but may still benefit from professional support such as an intensive out-patient service (IOP).

University Behavioral Center shares the following description of alcoholism, “The debate over whether addiction is a choice or a disease often centers on the psychological aspects of addiction. Addiction is recognized by the medical community as a complex psychological disorder. This means that while initial use of alcohol may be a choice, the development of addiction involves changes in the brain that create a compulsive need to drink.

Addiction, including alcohol addiction, is classified as a disease because it involves changes in the brain that affect behavior, control and decision-making. The American Society of Addiction Medicine defines addiction as a chronic disease, much like diabetes or heart disease, which requires ongoing management and care,”.

Causes of mental illness

My grandfather (Papa) was emotionally and physically abused by his mom. She was a narcissist who was not only abusive to her children but to her husband (their father) as well.

When my Papa had two young children in his early thirties and married to my grandmother (Nana), his dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Back then, their only treatment was to remove a man’s testicles, and when that happened, his wife tortured him by saying he was less than a man.

After my Papa’s father suffered PTSD as a result of the loss due to cancer and the narcissistic abuse, sadly, he committed suicide. In those days, men were expected to be strong and not to cry or grieve, so my Papa medicated his grief with alcohol.

It did not help that he was a AAA baseball player and was a salesman who drove a beer truck. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that ALL beer truck drivers have alcoholism, but it happened to be the case with my Papa.

Furthermore, add the untreated trauma that he endured in his home as a child to the loss of his father to suicide, and in my opinion, you have the perfect storm or recipe for alcoholism.

According to the National Institute of Health – National Library of Medicine, here are some potential reasons why someone might have to face a crisis with mental illness, “There is no single cause for mental illness. A number of factors can contribute to risk for mental illness, such as:

Your genes and family history
Your life experiences, such as stress or a history of abuse, especially if they happen in childhood
Biological factors such as chemical imbalances in the brain
A traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Prenatal (before birth) exposure to viruses, toxic chemicals, or other substances such as alcohol and drugs.
Use of alcohol or recreational drugs
Having a serious medical condition like cancer
Having few friends, and feeling lonely or isolated,”.

What are 5 symptoms of alcoholism?

From what I have learned about alcoholism, alcohol is but a symptom. In a sense, this means that alcoholism’s main symptom is drinking alcohol to overcome the following symptoms and feelings. Including many more than five symptoms of alcoholism below:

Restless, irritable, discontented
Maladjusted to life
Inability to control drinking or to drink moderately
Unable to stop drinking based on self-knowledge
Being unable to limit the amount of alcohol one drinks
Wanting to cut down on drinking but unsuccessful in doing so
Spending a lot of time drinking, getting alcohol, hiding it, or recovering from alcohol abuse hangovers
Feeling a strong craving or urge to drink alcohol
Anxiety
Depression
Blackouts
Guilt, shame, and remorse after drinking which continues the vicious cycle
Decided to stop drinking for a week or so, but it only lasted a couple of days
Switched from one kind of drink to another in the hopes that this would keep one from getting drunk
Had to have a drink upon awakening during the past year
Envious of people who can drink without getting into trouble
Problems connected with drinking during the past year
Drinking causing trouble at home
Tries to get “extra” drinks at a party because of worrying that one will not get enough
Think that one can stop drinking at any time, even though one gets drunk when not intentional
Missed days of work or school because of drinking
Felt that life would be better without drinking

From a prominent book about alcoholism, which has helped millions of alcoholics to recover, Alcoholics Anonymous suggests that in trying to control their drinking, alcoholics, “By every form of self-deception and experimentation, they will try to prove themselves exceptions to the rule, therefore nonalcoholic.

Heaven knows, we have tried hard enough and long enough to drink like other people!

Here are some of the methods we have tried: Drinking beer only, limiting the number of drinks, never drinking alone, never drinking in the morning, drinking only at home, never having it in the house, never drinking during business hours, drinking only at parties, switching from scotch to brandy, drinking only natural wines, agreeing to resign if ever drunk on the job, taking a trip, not taking a trip, swearing off forever (with and without a solemn oath), taking more physical exercise, reading inspirational books, going to health farms and sanitariums, accepting voluntary commitment to asylums-we could increase the list ad infinitum.

We do not like to pronounce any individual as alcoholic, but you can quickly diagnose yourself,”.

In conclusion, alcoholism is a chronic, progressive, and fatal disease rooted in trauma, biology, and behavior—treatable with compassion, support, and ongoing care for lasting recovery and healing.