Meditation reading for Friday November 22, 2024
EXPLAINING ALCOHOLISM —
Over the years, there have been many theories about the causes of alcoholism. One of the old theories was that we drink because we have deep psychological problems. It followed that if we could clear up these problems, we would no longer need to drink excessively. Another theory was that staying dry for a long period of time would dislodge one's alcoholic tendencies. After a certain length of sobriety, we would be able to return to normal drinking. Both theories sound plausible, but in practice neither works.
Many of us came to regret trying to make these ideas work. What we eventually learn about psychological problems is that they may intensify our troubles, but they are not the real cause of our alcoholism. The cause may be rooted in some physical problem that affects how alcoholics process alcohol. We do know that one drink acts as a trigger for more drinking, at least for us.
The truth is the best solution has been, first and foremost, to eliminate the first drink. Even if it doesn't square with theories, it works. Today, I’ll skip trying to find a theory that explains my alcoholism and remember that no matter how long I've been sober, one drink would be deadly to me.