freedom rings
Ex-Bluelighter
- Joined
- May 4, 2018
- Messages
- 94
Both of these doctors influenced my current approach to recovery.
While the aim of this thread is not to discuss my own personal opinions regarding what addiction actually is (a ton of money is at stake here surrounding addiction and the recovery industry...) I do want to encourage a discussion on the disease concept of addiction.
Lance Dodes says according to modern research it is not a disease. Walter Ling says according to decades and decades of research it very much is a brain disease.
I have read their books.
What I find interesting is that despite how they view addiction differently, they both empower someone struggling with addiction by laying forth a way in which they can master their own minds basically.
They encourage us to feel empowered. We are not powerless according to modern experts on addiction.
What year was that first step made again by a guy named Bill I believe...?
Edit: Perhaps the 12 Steps are inherently spiritual in nature so the idea of powerlessness should only be seen as while under the influence...either way I find no need to engage in them with other resources available today. Much of 12-step meeting benefits stem from borrowing wisdom from spiritual teachings one could delve into directly if they were inclined and connecting people to a positive community which one can do in a myriad of ways that do not necessarily involve attending self-help groups. Just saying. If you work it and it works keep working it.
While the aim of this thread is not to discuss my own personal opinions regarding what addiction actually is (a ton of money is at stake here surrounding addiction and the recovery industry...) I do want to encourage a discussion on the disease concept of addiction.
Lance Dodes says according to modern research it is not a disease. Walter Ling says according to decades and decades of research it very much is a brain disease.
I have read their books.
What I find interesting is that despite how they view addiction differently, they both empower someone struggling with addiction by laying forth a way in which they can master their own minds basically.
They encourage us to feel empowered. We are not powerless according to modern experts on addiction.
What year was that first step made again by a guy named Bill I believe...?
Edit: Perhaps the 12 Steps are inherently spiritual in nature so the idea of powerlessness should only be seen as while under the influence...either way I find no need to engage in them with other resources available today. Much of 12-step meeting benefits stem from borrowing wisdom from spiritual teachings one could delve into directly if they were inclined and connecting people to a positive community which one can do in a myriad of ways that do not necessarily involve attending self-help groups. Just saying. If you work it and it works keep working it.
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