Do you think addiction it’s a choice ?
10 Likes
What sort of insane question is that. I'm hoping for sarcasm.
1 Like
I believe I was an addict way before I ever had a drink or a drug. I think it was inevitable that I was going to suffer from this disease at some point in my life. Active addiction took away my ability to see that I had a choice. For me sobriety is a choice I make every day. A huge part of my recovery program is making sure I’m aware of this choice (mindfulness).
5 Likes
I feel we are not given that choice. It is a disease. Some take it and leave it, while many, as in me, cannot leave it once I go to take it. I have found this to be true not only with my alcohol addiction, but also cigarettes, eating, ect. I have been in recovery for almost 10 months, and I know if I allow one glass of choice I’d alcohol, I will be back to purchases Bottles non ending.
1 Like
It's a choice that's been around for a long time. Vice or virtue, the easy way or the hard way. Long journey, lot of sacrifice but the rewards from hard work are better than the easy way- the short sited quick reward. Lasting strength comes from choosing virtue-the hard way.
Amen!
Absolutely not. Dumb question. Do some research. Sorry but it bothers me when people think that I just decided to get an addiction to alcohol, to have to be admitted 3 different times because of being physically addicted to the point I had to have it. No not a choice I ever wanted.
My addiction has alienated me from so many things. Especially family. So no not my choice. I wish every night that this never happened. So my choice NO
I read and educate myself daily.
3 Likes
I’m speaking for myself. I think it’s a choice. No one put a gun to my head and made me drink. I didn’t start to drink on a regular basis until I was 35. But I guess everyone’s situation is different. I shy away from AA bc once I was told that I’m not a true alcoholic.
1 Like
That's a tough one. I didn't consciously become one but when I realised I was overdoing it I didn't stop myself and should have. I knew exactly what I was doing as I continued to drink. I chose to ignore all the signs and continued until I blacked out one last time.
2 Likes
The word alcoholic is really an outdated term. Alcohol use occurs on a spectrum and if you’re on that spectrum and alcohol is no longer working for you then you get to decide that you’re done and you need help. Sorry you were told that. Stay strong in your decision.
3 Likes
I think addiction is a mind fk yet what we do with the fukery is the Choice! 
We can't choose how drugs and alcohol affect human brains. They are addictive to everyone, we just get there at different speeds... Which causes some of us to think we're "addicts" because we got there faster. Everyone would with enough substance use over time though. It's just how our brains work.
At least for me, learning how addiction works in our brains helped me to take it less personally. I don't believe I'm an "addict" in the sense that addicts are born different. I did choose to drink enough in my life to make some scary changes to my normal human brain. I made that choice with bad information and I have empathy for my past self but I did make those choices. Now I'm better informed and better equipped emotionally. So, now that I see it for what it is, I can make the choice not to let my brain get hijacked by a sneaky, dangerous substance.
4 Likes
The only choice is whether I pick up or not. After that the obsession takes over. It is a sickness, but it’s my decision whether I treat it or not. If I have cancer and decide not to do chemotherapy, that’s my choice right choice.
3 Likes
Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite adverse consequences. It is considered a brain disorder, because it involves functional changes to brain circuits involved in reward, stress, and self-control.
Brain disorder doesn’t equal choice.
It’s what you do about your addiction that is a choice
3 Likes
Never a dumb question!!!
When the alcohol keeps away from the drink, he reacts much like others do.we are equally positive that once he takes any alcohol into his system something happens, both bodily and mentally which makes it virtually impossible for him to stop. The experience of any alcohol/addict will abundantly confirm this.
Once I pick up, my choice has been chosen for me.
There is a Solution BB.
1 Like
Do you mind if I ask who told you you weren’t an alcoholic. Why would someone choose a miserable life like addiction? Not fun hard to quit and does a heck of a job on every aspect of your life. Choose that nope.
I believe it’s called alcohol use disorder but bottom line all the same. It’s really sad how they glamorize drinking on TV, highway signs etc but they don’t show the reality of it.
The death because your in total liver failure and turning yellow. That’s how my brother died or bleeding out from alcoholism that’s how my friend was found in his car.
Choice think not
Using or drinking is a choice we make, but addiction is not a choice.
I meet people that successfully limit their intake whereas with someone like me one shot leads to half a bottle and a 6 pack of beer.
Your explanation is the one that fits my description, we have a choice to pick up but not stop until we destroy ourselves.
1 Like
There’s a saying that goes something like this…I choose the first drink, and then the drink chooses me
13 Likes