As with any disease symptoms are merely signs that one is afflicted with a disease. The disease will run “its” course or “it” will be discovered and a possible treatment can be started to curb the disease. Possibly cure…
Cure, that is always what most want to hear. “Is there a cure Doc.?” Once confronted with the idea that one has a disease, many questions arise. There are all about the same. “How did I catch this? How long do I have to deal with this? When will treatment be over? Etc. etc. etc. etc.
Some diseases go into remission… Some are curable, some require treatment that will continue for the rest of ones natural life. In their current vehicle/ dimension.
It is known that certain percentages of the population are more prone to certain types of diseases. Certain life style choices can introduces a disease into ones body. I will not bother listing all of them I am certain the readership is an educated bunch that understands all the different types of disease that are out there, and that can be avoided by choice.
Along with all the diseases that are available by no choice at all. Some people just get them. And again the numbers the statistics have shown that a certain number of the population is going to have to deal with the ticking time bomb inside their current vehicle being used in this stellar adventure.
I find it exciting and interesting. The acceptance of clinical depression is being more and more widely accepted as an illness. Is it because it is treatable with a pill? Depression is viewed by me personally in the same way one would view high blood pressure, or diabetes. It is about blood flow. The advancement that pharmaceutical researchers have been making to assist a portion of the population in finding treatment, has been amazing. Acceptance of depression as a disease is critical in finding help… Wouldn’t you agree?
It was not that long ago in society when somebody was “suffering” from depression the impatient ones who did not accept, would tell folks “Snap out of it…” Makes about as much sense as telling a diabetic to stop being so sweet. It is a physical condition. Correct? I think most are in agreement you cannot tell a diabetic to just stop.
It is statistically shown that high blood pressure will affect certain age groups ethnic groups etc. etc. more than others. So we take precautions before the onset in hopes to avoid having to deal with the “symptoms” of the disease. Because really the symptoms are the red flags right? Symptoms can be very uncomfortable. One might say they cause dis-ease. So…
What I find absolutely amazing is how huge sections of the population view a disease (known, and recognized by the medical community) called addiction. Some still call “it” a moral issue, or a spiritual issue, or (your god) forbid a matter of will power. No kidding, for some reason many would rather contract a venereal disease then admit to having the disease of addiction. Why? Acceptance that’s why. Without society accepting the issue as a disease, many are very uneasy around someone who understands and accepts that they are suffering from a disease. They knee jerk into some super moral hero or something I suppose. Or do they fear facing their own addiction issue?
Addiction is not limited to only narcotics we all know that. (Alcohol is a narcotic accept that it is a mind altering narcotic.) There are many mind altering substances that are controlled and doled out legally. So what about this idea of mind altering substances?
Sugar is another one, caffeine, nicotine. How about this one… Food. Yet our prison systems are brimming with many who have been suffering from addiction. Last I checked obesity is a symptom of the disease called addiction. Some overdo it, some underdo it, bulimia is considered a disease, anorexia is considered a disease. Yet these unfortunate people suffering from a disease are not in the prison system.
Look I am not advocating get loaded and drive a car. Obviously when the actions of an addict cause harm to others that is where the line of law is crossed and the risk factor goes up. So that being said… The consumption of so called foods causes certain people to get unhealthy, that does put a risk economically on the rest of society. However I do not think anybody would be advocating the imprisonment of people suffering from poor eating habits. Look around you… there are everyday people functioning while under the influence of something. Something that is recognized as a mind altering substance.
Like diabetes and other illness’s a certain number of the population is afflicted with the disease of addiction, I have seen numbers that vary from 8% to as high as 14%, of a population will be afflicted with the disease of addiction. Sadly the acceptance of this issue is still a ways off.
It is getting better but nowhere near effective enough to actually truly start understanding and dealing with it. Many only see the symptoms of the disease of addiction and that causes great dis-ease too many.
For this cosmic camper the only way I can truly accept something is… I need to be open to the idea of absolute understanding. Then, and only then can I move on to the next step. You don’t start by dividing fractions, without understanding whole numbers first.
Will power is a choice of words. Used by those who don’t want to accept the idea of addiction as a disease… “Just stop it…” I personally love it when I have heard others preach the virtues of will power to others. As they sit in their self appointed lofty assumptions.
I once faced a certain individual of lofty virtues. I asked if there will power was strong? Strong enough to stop behaving in a certain way… Strong enough To change a behavior? “Of course!” They replied. I asked them to prove it… “Prove it by refraining from judging others and preaching to them for a month. Just accept people as they are for a month. Just stop being an arse for a month, just do it accept others and… Well frankly can you just keep your opinions to yourself? Muster up all of that lofty will power and hush.”
You know how long this strong willed leader of moral courage and will power lasted? Yep about two seconds after I asked… They began spewing forth their bile about their tremendous virtue and others just need to follow their lead. Upon the completion of the bile… I said “I rest my case.” I think of that person at times when my own arrogant lofty virtues get in the way of acceptance. Ahh, but I digress… (nothing new)
OK here we go. The laws of this country (the USA) governing the use of mind altering substances needs to be overhauled. It is not going to stop. People will always be looking for ease and comfort in whatever form. Outlawing mind altering substances is simply a backwards approach. Regulate and tax it. Across the board. Look we are talking 8 to 14% of the population correct? Only a small number of those afflicted with narcotic addiction. (If my numbers are off feel free to correct them.) I dispute the numbers my self.
Addiction is a disease, a disease about ease and comfort. Addiction has symptoms, if you have a head cold, you have a head cold. The runny nose can be treated while waiting for the cold to run it’s course.
If you have addiction… Just like high blood pressure or depression you have it. Addiction comes in so many forms. Some people cannot control how they spend their money, overspending or ultra cheap. So many forms of addiction. Yet who do we lock up? Those horrible drug addicts, whoops not all drug addicts, just the ones that do those really evil drugs… Hence my notion, my thoughts that acceptance is not fully realized yet on the subject of addiction. We are getting closer , but have so much further to go.
Fast food mega giants are pushing death the same way a heroin dealer is. So here comes the argument… “Dude a triple ground sludge burger with dairy imitations on it don’t cause car accidents.” Yes but a massive heart attack does.
Look the fast food giants are just as guilty of pushing toxic waste as the drug dealer. It only makes sense to let the government get all the way into the drug dealing. There are many institutions that deal death anyway.
Before anybody starts going off about obesity is not a disease, well think to yourself for a moment… Have you walked in the shoes of somebody who has been fighting the issue? If not then how do you know. The medical community are already trying to educate the ignorant of the subject. The eating is a symptom. Recall that the key point is the symptom here. The symptoms point out the fact that there is a disease, without a malfunction in the system everything would be just fine, but the overeating is a symptom. Some might say depression.
A personal side note here… I have done the yo-yo with weight. I sought refuge from comfort foods. I have attempted to end my dis-ease from whatever thru food. It is a conundrum, the more taken in the worse you feel later, much like with narcotics. Yep been down that road as well. Both legal and Dr. prescribed, government sanctioned.
So don’t tell me or others that overeating is about will power, please unless you have actually had to fight that demon you know not of what you spew.
If you find it funny when a large person has trouble moving around, ask yourself would you laugh at somebody in a wheelchair? Lets say for a moment that person in the wheelchair has ended up their as a result of diabetes, still laughing??? Still thinking it was all about will power? Well suppose that the person in the wheelchair, ate themselves there because they ignored some symptoms, or family history? Would you take away their chair? Would you get all lofty and arrogant towards them?
Here is another one to consider… Unless the person exhibiting symptoms is willing to look at the disease that is causing them to engage in the behaviors/ symptoms all the preaching and science in the world is not going to mean anything.
Prison for addicts is one of the absolutely worst interventions ever devised. I think that. I really do. It may stem the symptom for a while. Some might say anything to get the addict off the narcotic is OK. Well when then do we start locking up the smokers? Or the overeaters. Or how about the intoxicated prescription drug abuser? That shows no visible sign of drug abuse. Or the bottle of wine a night. Oh if that is a bottle every two or three nights look out you could be locked up as well. See the ridiculous nature of the argument to lock up the addict yet as a viable means of intervention?
If your addiction has led you to commit crimes against society that hurt others economically or physically we have a different conversation about prison. If your're convicted of a crime that is solely about possession,.. Hello! If you did not hurt anybody how is that a prison sentence? (Please use logic when defining hurting somebody…)
The point is addiction is hand in hand with depression, they are like the best of friends. I suppose it breaks down to this for me personally, with acceptance one can move on to the next step. Don‘t judge harshly. I see suffering each day. I see joy each day. I see others trying to look away while others look to help.
When you think about it addiction is the disease of seeking ease and comfort… What is it that makes you so uncomfortable that you need an outside stimulus to ease the dis-ease? When watching somebody suffering… Do you kick them when they are down, or lend a hand to help them up? The person mentioned earlier that judged and spoke of will power is somebody who is a caring person, they just need my help or yours in understanding that they need understanding… “What’s so funny about peace love and understanding?” Nick Lowe.
We all have our addictions. Currently I am attempting to feed my addiction for understanding… The rest will follow.
Chris…
All rights reserved
Chris J Hutchins
©2011
Dog Hair Productions
Cure, that is always what most want to hear. “Is there a cure Doc.?” Once confronted with the idea that one has a disease, many questions arise. There are all about the same. “How did I catch this? How long do I have to deal with this? When will treatment be over? Etc. etc. etc. etc.
Some diseases go into remission… Some are curable, some require treatment that will continue for the rest of ones natural life. In their current vehicle/ dimension.
It is known that certain percentages of the population are more prone to certain types of diseases. Certain life style choices can introduces a disease into ones body. I will not bother listing all of them I am certain the readership is an educated bunch that understands all the different types of disease that are out there, and that can be avoided by choice.
Along with all the diseases that are available by no choice at all. Some people just get them. And again the numbers the statistics have shown that a certain number of the population is going to have to deal with the ticking time bomb inside their current vehicle being used in this stellar adventure.
I find it exciting and interesting. The acceptance of clinical depression is being more and more widely accepted as an illness. Is it because it is treatable with a pill? Depression is viewed by me personally in the same way one would view high blood pressure, or diabetes. It is about blood flow. The advancement that pharmaceutical researchers have been making to assist a portion of the population in finding treatment, has been amazing. Acceptance of depression as a disease is critical in finding help… Wouldn’t you agree?
It was not that long ago in society when somebody was “suffering” from depression the impatient ones who did not accept, would tell folks “Snap out of it…” Makes about as much sense as telling a diabetic to stop being so sweet. It is a physical condition. Correct? I think most are in agreement you cannot tell a diabetic to just stop.
It is statistically shown that high blood pressure will affect certain age groups ethnic groups etc. etc. more than others. So we take precautions before the onset in hopes to avoid having to deal with the “symptoms” of the disease. Because really the symptoms are the red flags right? Symptoms can be very uncomfortable. One might say they cause dis-ease. So…
What I find absolutely amazing is how huge sections of the population view a disease (known, and recognized by the medical community) called addiction. Some still call “it” a moral issue, or a spiritual issue, or (your god) forbid a matter of will power. No kidding, for some reason many would rather contract a venereal disease then admit to having the disease of addiction. Why? Acceptance that’s why. Without society accepting the issue as a disease, many are very uneasy around someone who understands and accepts that they are suffering from a disease. They knee jerk into some super moral hero or something I suppose. Or do they fear facing their own addiction issue?
Addiction is not limited to only narcotics we all know that. (Alcohol is a narcotic accept that it is a mind altering narcotic.) There are many mind altering substances that are controlled and doled out legally. So what about this idea of mind altering substances?
Sugar is another one, caffeine, nicotine. How about this one… Food. Yet our prison systems are brimming with many who have been suffering from addiction. Last I checked obesity is a symptom of the disease called addiction. Some overdo it, some underdo it, bulimia is considered a disease, anorexia is considered a disease. Yet these unfortunate people suffering from a disease are not in the prison system.
Look I am not advocating get loaded and drive a car. Obviously when the actions of an addict cause harm to others that is where the line of law is crossed and the risk factor goes up. So that being said… The consumption of so called foods causes certain people to get unhealthy, that does put a risk economically on the rest of society. However I do not think anybody would be advocating the imprisonment of people suffering from poor eating habits. Look around you… there are everyday people functioning while under the influence of something. Something that is recognized as a mind altering substance.
Like diabetes and other illness’s a certain number of the population is afflicted with the disease of addiction, I have seen numbers that vary from 8% to as high as 14%, of a population will be afflicted with the disease of addiction. Sadly the acceptance of this issue is still a ways off.
It is getting better but nowhere near effective enough to actually truly start understanding and dealing with it. Many only see the symptoms of the disease of addiction and that causes great dis-ease too many.
For this cosmic camper the only way I can truly accept something is… I need to be open to the idea of absolute understanding. Then, and only then can I move on to the next step. You don’t start by dividing fractions, without understanding whole numbers first.
Will power is a choice of words. Used by those who don’t want to accept the idea of addiction as a disease… “Just stop it…” I personally love it when I have heard others preach the virtues of will power to others. As they sit in their self appointed lofty assumptions.
I once faced a certain individual of lofty virtues. I asked if there will power was strong? Strong enough to stop behaving in a certain way… Strong enough To change a behavior? “Of course!” They replied. I asked them to prove it… “Prove it by refraining from judging others and preaching to them for a month. Just accept people as they are for a month. Just stop being an arse for a month, just do it accept others and… Well frankly can you just keep your opinions to yourself? Muster up all of that lofty will power and hush.”
You know how long this strong willed leader of moral courage and will power lasted? Yep about two seconds after I asked… They began spewing forth their bile about their tremendous virtue and others just need to follow their lead. Upon the completion of the bile… I said “I rest my case.” I think of that person at times when my own arrogant lofty virtues get in the way of acceptance. Ahh, but I digress… (nothing new)
OK here we go. The laws of this country (the USA) governing the use of mind altering substances needs to be overhauled. It is not going to stop. People will always be looking for ease and comfort in whatever form. Outlawing mind altering substances is simply a backwards approach. Regulate and tax it. Across the board. Look we are talking 8 to 14% of the population correct? Only a small number of those afflicted with narcotic addiction. (If my numbers are off feel free to correct them.) I dispute the numbers my self.
Addiction is a disease, a disease about ease and comfort. Addiction has symptoms, if you have a head cold, you have a head cold. The runny nose can be treated while waiting for the cold to run it’s course.
If you have addiction… Just like high blood pressure or depression you have it. Addiction comes in so many forms. Some people cannot control how they spend their money, overspending or ultra cheap. So many forms of addiction. Yet who do we lock up? Those horrible drug addicts, whoops not all drug addicts, just the ones that do those really evil drugs… Hence my notion, my thoughts that acceptance is not fully realized yet on the subject of addiction. We are getting closer , but have so much further to go.
Fast food mega giants are pushing death the same way a heroin dealer is. So here comes the argument… “Dude a triple ground sludge burger with dairy imitations on it don’t cause car accidents.” Yes but a massive heart attack does.
Look the fast food giants are just as guilty of pushing toxic waste as the drug dealer. It only makes sense to let the government get all the way into the drug dealing. There are many institutions that deal death anyway.
Before anybody starts going off about obesity is not a disease, well think to yourself for a moment… Have you walked in the shoes of somebody who has been fighting the issue? If not then how do you know. The medical community are already trying to educate the ignorant of the subject. The eating is a symptom. Recall that the key point is the symptom here. The symptoms point out the fact that there is a disease, without a malfunction in the system everything would be just fine, but the overeating is a symptom. Some might say depression.
A personal side note here… I have done the yo-yo with weight. I sought refuge from comfort foods. I have attempted to end my dis-ease from whatever thru food. It is a conundrum, the more taken in the worse you feel later, much like with narcotics. Yep been down that road as well. Both legal and Dr. prescribed, government sanctioned.
So don’t tell me or others that overeating is about will power, please unless you have actually had to fight that demon you know not of what you spew.
If you find it funny when a large person has trouble moving around, ask yourself would you laugh at somebody in a wheelchair? Lets say for a moment that person in the wheelchair has ended up their as a result of diabetes, still laughing??? Still thinking it was all about will power? Well suppose that the person in the wheelchair, ate themselves there because they ignored some symptoms, or family history? Would you take away their chair? Would you get all lofty and arrogant towards them?
Here is another one to consider… Unless the person exhibiting symptoms is willing to look at the disease that is causing them to engage in the behaviors/ symptoms all the preaching and science in the world is not going to mean anything.
Prison for addicts is one of the absolutely worst interventions ever devised. I think that. I really do. It may stem the symptom for a while. Some might say anything to get the addict off the narcotic is OK. Well when then do we start locking up the smokers? Or the overeaters. Or how about the intoxicated prescription drug abuser? That shows no visible sign of drug abuse. Or the bottle of wine a night. Oh if that is a bottle every two or three nights look out you could be locked up as well. See the ridiculous nature of the argument to lock up the addict yet as a viable means of intervention?
If your addiction has led you to commit crimes against society that hurt others economically or physically we have a different conversation about prison. If your're convicted of a crime that is solely about possession,.. Hello! If you did not hurt anybody how is that a prison sentence? (Please use logic when defining hurting somebody…)
The point is addiction is hand in hand with depression, they are like the best of friends. I suppose it breaks down to this for me personally, with acceptance one can move on to the next step. Don‘t judge harshly. I see suffering each day. I see joy each day. I see others trying to look away while others look to help.
When you think about it addiction is the disease of seeking ease and comfort… What is it that makes you so uncomfortable that you need an outside stimulus to ease the dis-ease? When watching somebody suffering… Do you kick them when they are down, or lend a hand to help them up? The person mentioned earlier that judged and spoke of will power is somebody who is a caring person, they just need my help or yours in understanding that they need understanding… “What’s so funny about peace love and understanding?” Nick Lowe.
We all have our addictions. Currently I am attempting to feed my addiction for understanding… The rest will follow.
Chris…
All rights reserved
Chris J Hutchins
©2011
Dog Hair Productions
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