Will Power And Addiction

"More than anything will power is necessary, isn't it? No need for treatment in hospitals. I will stop drinking on my own." A family of an alcoholic brought him to the treatment center of a hospital where he expressed his feeling that he can stop without treatment. The family heard his words with dismay for it was not the first time they were uttered and a return to drinking shortly after. 

Refusal to accept help is very common. Sadly there are not only a few who have this understanding of alcoholism as something they can control on their own. Words by the head of a hospital alcoholic center written up in the Catholic Times.

Aime Duval a French Jesuit priest (1918-1984)  who in the 1950's and 60s was a singer and song writer,  famous not only in Europe, but traveled  all over the world with his guitar giving concerts. The stress that came with his success took a toll on his mental health. He couldn't sleep and began drinking and ended up in a hospital for treatment. He needed help.

"Courage was useless. Will power, strength, hate for the situation, encouragement, knowledge, money, glory, credentials, diplomas even prayer which I tried was useless." When he acknowledged that he failed in everything he tried, change took place. He put down his self-righteousness and stubbornness and saw his alcoholism for what it was and receiving help from others was on the way to health. He joined a self-help group and went on to assist  many in France and Europe to find sobriety.

Many think that the abuse of alcohol, drugs, gambling  is simply a lack of will power.  "Why do I go in search of a doctor and medicine when the problem is my lack of will power?" With this kind of thinking the alcoholic blames himself and his lack of will power. This is a serious obstacle to treatment which drives the person even more into darkness. Alcoholism is a sickness and not a lack of will power. When a person is alcoholic the control of the will becomes difficult.

Consequently,  thoughts that follow addiction are frightening. Often we have the feeling of being victimized and blaming others, anger is not controlled and  unhesitatingly becomes violent. Those around the sick person don't realize this as a characteristic  of the disease and quarrel with the sick one, hate one another, reproach and  often give up on treatment.

Those who are involved in the treatment of addiction make known the poisonous psychological foundations surrounding addiction.Despair is the the worst point  from which a person has to drop for  hope to appear.  At this time the person will willingly grasp at any straw that is offered and all the strength is mustered for the healing.

Know-how, medicines, the treatment and the rehabilitation facilities are all available  for a return to normal life. The only thing in the way 자구책is biases, misunderstandings which blocks the path to recovery. Necessary is the urgent desire on the part of the sick one for help.