Why I Pray In The Shower

I wrote in a previous post titled The Whys of Addiction about studies being done on addiction and the brain.  These types of studies have added a lot of credibility to the idea that addiction is a disease which is still being debated today. I am basically in agreement with this because the changes addiction causes in the brain currently fits the definition of disease. However, I am more in agreement with the idea that substance abuse and dependency is a symptom of something else. It seems many times there are underlying reasons why someone uses a substance to begin with, and continues to use it to the point that they become addicted to it. Fortunately, often times when those reasons are uncovered and corrected, the symptom can go away. This requires change on the individual’s part beginning with their thought processes. When the addicted person learns how to change their old way of thinking, the way that almost always got them drunk or high, they begin to change themselves. I slowly changed who I was after I stopped drinking, and over time it no longer mattered how I defined myself as a former drinker. I do call myself a “recovered” alcoholic, but I was more of a problem drinker; not the stereotypical alcoholic we see on TV and in movies. Some people recover from substance dependency without help, and some people need all the help they can get. The latter is why I wish the people who say that addiction isn’t a disease, would stop. It can prevent many people from getting any help at all, and in some cases this can be a death sentence. By definition addiction is a disease of the brain. Our brains literally change over time when we abuse drugs and alcohol. As a result, some people cannot stop using a substance no matter how bad their life, their relationships, or their health gets. It’s time for everyone to stop disagreeing about whether or not addiction is a disease, and begin to work together to help find answers to the growing problem of addiction.

My grandchild turned five today and I decided to post a poem I wrote just a few days after he was born. It’s not only about him, but relates to some things I wrote about my children in my book.  My wife is from Germany so he calls me Opie. A variation of the German word for grandpa, which is Opa.