No offence Sheff but that's a load of bollix. Alcoholism is an addiction. Cancer is a disease. Big difference.
I can't recall saying that smoking is the ONLY thing that causes cancer. THAT is a silly thing to say!!!
Indeed mate but smoking itself isn't an illness. Its effects can cause an illness alright, namely cancer. Alcoholism is but a symptom of a possible illness of the addict. Perhaps some sort of depression or anxiety disorder. Overeating for example is not an illness either but is yet another addiction which can bring about various illnesses if not checked. We must get our terminology right.
Because, in MY opinon both are illnesses. Now, would you like to offer an apology for your earlier error?
Not in and of it itself, no. An addiction is an addiction and is almost always the result of some sort of mental problem - some severe, some more moderate. The mental issue is the illness and the addiction is the result of it. Treat the root cause of the addiction and the symptoms will dissipate. Gazza's illness for example isn't alcoholism. Its the mental problems that lead him to substance abuse in the first place. And that's what needs to be treated, not the addiction itself.
Ok sorry to bring the science lesson in here....I am suppose to be off for the weekend too! People with addicted personalities have been shown to alterations in a small group neurones in the interconnected brain areas called the medial forebrain , these neurones contain the neurotransmitter dopamine which plays a big role in our requirement to get pleasure/reward. Which is what we all depend on to survive..it is how we got to evolve! This dopamine-using pleasure circuitry is in all of us. Some people have an over or under expression of dopamine or its receptor in their brains which means they need more input than an ordinary person to get a reward.....and are constantly struggling to get the same feelings of pleasure and satisfaction than "ordinary" people do...these people have "addictive" personalities. There is a spectrum in this area...from low level collectors....to full scale..addicted to all forms of pleasure/gratification...sociopaths Additionally, these circuitry's can be over-ridden and eventually downgraded in people in which imbalance did not originally exist by the use of drugs of all sorts......psychoactive substances that carry a risk for addiction, like cocaine, heroin, nicotine or alcohol. Addiction is a disease like any others (e.g. diabetes...where you have a decrease in insulin or autoimmunity...where you have an increase in antibodies...etc) Low level addictive personality can be a positive thing...the desire to "get things right"....but coupled with other disorders where there is another imbalance (eg manic depression, schizophenia)..it is devasting Please do not argue over whether he can help it or not...it has taken a grip Initially this addicted personality worked in his favour..he was a magnificant football player...but now he has not got that left...the pleasure seeking centres have moved to look for it else where...alcohol and drugs There for the grace of God...go I!
An apology for saying 'it's a silly thing to say' ..... Not when I still rthink it is a silly thing to say.
Because Col its quite obvious that some are out to discredit me...So , as a friend of Paul Merson and his family, i stand by what i said i dont care if im believed or not. If i am them great. If not, then it shows those who have no F-king idea. Each to thier own and believe what you (not you) want.. ,
You are welcome to say 'what a silly thing to say' IF I had said smoking is the only cause of cancer. I DIDN'T, ergo you should apologise.
It may be impossible to help him but that is no reason to stop trying. Good for Redknapp.[/QUOTE] You are dead right there Sylvio. Well said, and very well done Arry.
Cheers Beth, that would explain why it's so rife in the music industry. They must still need a degree of intoxication after the natural buzz of performing in front of thousands of fans. Poor Gazza. What a bloody shame.
Where does willpower feature at all in this very eloquently put scientific explanation of addiction? If you WANT to get off ***s/drink/drugs you CAN do it, and God knows if you want to there is enough help out there for a recovering "addict' Thats why it's ridiculous to compare it to cancer of which we have no choice whether or not we are struck down with it I speak as the son of an alcoholic who died at 52 of drink despite several attempts to help hI'm. To this day I see it as a selfish act and have little time fir the like of "poor gazza" as a result
You tend to find strong-willed characters have no time for the addictive type characters. Sadly, everyone is different and some just don't have the will-power, for whatever reason, to kick addictions. My first wife was an addictive personality and went through several addictions and her father, brother and sister were all the same in different ways. Anyone in such a sorry state, regardless of why, has my sympathy...
