admin
02-02-2008, 01:56 AM
The Phenomenon of Craving
By Barefoot Bill L. from Upper Darby, PA The Big Book on page xxiv
(The Doctor's Opinion) says that an alcoholic has an "allergy to
alcohol". An allergy is an abnormal reaction to any food, liquid or
substance. If nine out of ten people have one reaction and one out of
ten people have a different reaction, then the reaction of the one
out of ten is abnormal. It also says on page xxvi that "the action of
alcohol on an alcoholic is a manifestation of an allergy; that the
phenomenon of craving is LIMITED to this class and NEVER occurs in
the average temperate drinker." (A phenomenon is something that you
can see but can't explain). "These allergic types can NEVER safely
use alcohol in ANY FORM AT ALL". Then on page 22, "We know that while
the alcoholic keeps away from drink, as he may do for months or
years, he reacts much like other men. We are equally positive that
once he takes ANY ALCOHOL WHATEVER into his system, something
happens, both in the bodily and mental sense,
which makes it virtually impossible for him to stop." This includes
substances that contain alcohol like mouthwash, cold remedies, some
chocolates, food prepared with alcohol, etc.). Your body doesn't know
if you are having a drink or taking Nyquil for a cold, it only senses
alcohol and begins to process it. It also says on page xxviii
that, "all the different classifications of alcoholics have ONE
symptom in common: they CANNOT start drinking without developing the
phenomenon of craving. This phenomenon may be the manifestation of an
allergy which differentiates these people, and sets them apart as a
distinct entity." Dr. William D. Silkworth, M.D. who at that time had
nine years experience specializing in the treatment of alcoholics and
drug addicts, wrote this in the late 1930's. He called it
a "phenomenon of craving" because at that time there was no way to
study metabolism. Since then, science has proven his theory as
correct. The following is an explanation of
what happens when alcoholics put alcohol into their bodies, and how
it is a completely different experience compared to non-alcoholics.
No wonder why non-alcoholics can't relate, and make statements
like, "Can't you just stop after one or two drinks?" It shows why
alcoholics can use their willpower against everything EXCEPT alcohol.
Alcoholics make up about 12% of the population. The body of the
alcoholic is physically different. The liver and pancreas of the
alcoholic process alcohol at one-third to one-tenth the rate of a
normal pancreas and liver. Now as alcohol enters the body, it breaks
down into various components, one of which is acetate. We know now
that acetate triggers a craving for more acetate. In a normal
drinker, the acetate moves through the system quickly and exits. But
that doesn't happen in an alcoholic. In alcoholics, the acetate of
the first drink is barely processed out, so by staying in their body,
it triggers a craving for more acetate. The
alcoholic then has a second drink, now adding to most of the acetate
of the first drink, and that makes them want a drink twice as much as
the normal drinker. So they have another. Then, having almost three
times the craving as a normal drinker, they have another. You can see
from that point how alcoholics have no control over how much they
drink. The craving cycle has begun and they have no choice but to
keep drinking. Once the acetate accumulates in their body, and that
begins to happen with only ONE drink, they will crave another. And
how many times does an alcoholic think it would be nice to have JUST
ONE drink to relax, but has many more? Now you see why. AND THIS CAN
NEVER CHANGE! On top of THAT (like so far it's not bad enough),
alcohol is a poison because it destroys human tissue. The two organs
that alcohol damages the most are the liver and the pancreas. So the
more the alcoholic drinks as time passes (or doesn't drink, because
the liver and pancreas also
deteriorate naturally as we age), the less their body is able to
processes the acetate. THAT is why alcoholism is a progressive, fatal
illness. Bill W. says on page 30, "We are convinced to a man that
alcoholics of our type are in the grip of a progressive illness. Over
any considerable period we get worse, never better." Pretty
revealing, huh. It explains many things I never before understood.
But if you think about it, we never have to deal with ANY of this if
we DON'T put alcohol into our bodies in the first place. So the MAIN
problem of the alcoholic centers in their mind and in their spiritual
condition. My mind tells me it's okay to TAKE the first drink and
doesn't see that what I'm about to do is harmful (otherwise known as
the obsession or powerlessness) , and if I'm NOT spiritually fit I
can't STAND being sober because it's too uncomfortable (otherwise
known as unmanageability) . Coincidentally, the Steps deal DIRECTLY
and EFFECTIVELY with both. So that's what
it means to be an alcoholic - I can't handle drinking and I can't
handle not drinking. Barefoot Bill
from Upper Darby, PA
By Barefoot Bill L. from Upper Darby, PA The Big Book on page xxiv
(The Doctor's Opinion) says that an alcoholic has an "allergy to
alcohol". An allergy is an abnormal reaction to any food, liquid or
substance. If nine out of ten people have one reaction and one out of
ten people have a different reaction, then the reaction of the one
out of ten is abnormal. It also says on page xxvi that "the action of
alcohol on an alcoholic is a manifestation of an allergy; that the
phenomenon of craving is LIMITED to this class and NEVER occurs in
the average temperate drinker." (A phenomenon is something that you
can see but can't explain). "These allergic types can NEVER safely
use alcohol in ANY FORM AT ALL". Then on page 22, "We know that while
the alcoholic keeps away from drink, as he may do for months or
years, he reacts much like other men. We are equally positive that
once he takes ANY ALCOHOL WHATEVER into his system, something
happens, both in the bodily and mental sense,
which makes it virtually impossible for him to stop." This includes
substances that contain alcohol like mouthwash, cold remedies, some
chocolates, food prepared with alcohol, etc.). Your body doesn't know
if you are having a drink or taking Nyquil for a cold, it only senses
alcohol and begins to process it. It also says on page xxviii
that, "all the different classifications of alcoholics have ONE
symptom in common: they CANNOT start drinking without developing the
phenomenon of craving. This phenomenon may be the manifestation of an
allergy which differentiates these people, and sets them apart as a
distinct entity." Dr. William D. Silkworth, M.D. who at that time had
nine years experience specializing in the treatment of alcoholics and
drug addicts, wrote this in the late 1930's. He called it
a "phenomenon of craving" because at that time there was no way to
study metabolism. Since then, science has proven his theory as
correct. The following is an explanation of
what happens when alcoholics put alcohol into their bodies, and how
it is a completely different experience compared to non-alcoholics.
No wonder why non-alcoholics can't relate, and make statements
like, "Can't you just stop after one or two drinks?" It shows why
alcoholics can use their willpower against everything EXCEPT alcohol.
Alcoholics make up about 12% of the population. The body of the
alcoholic is physically different. The liver and pancreas of the
alcoholic process alcohol at one-third to one-tenth the rate of a
normal pancreas and liver. Now as alcohol enters the body, it breaks
down into various components, one of which is acetate. We know now
that acetate triggers a craving for more acetate. In a normal
drinker, the acetate moves through the system quickly and exits. But
that doesn't happen in an alcoholic. In alcoholics, the acetate of
the first drink is barely processed out, so by staying in their body,
it triggers a craving for more acetate. The
alcoholic then has a second drink, now adding to most of the acetate
of the first drink, and that makes them want a drink twice as much as
the normal drinker. So they have another. Then, having almost three
times the craving as a normal drinker, they have another. You can see
from that point how alcoholics have no control over how much they
drink. The craving cycle has begun and they have no choice but to
keep drinking. Once the acetate accumulates in their body, and that
begins to happen with only ONE drink, they will crave another. And
how many times does an alcoholic think it would be nice to have JUST
ONE drink to relax, but has many more? Now you see why. AND THIS CAN
NEVER CHANGE! On top of THAT (like so far it's not bad enough),
alcohol is a poison because it destroys human tissue. The two organs
that alcohol damages the most are the liver and the pancreas. So the
more the alcoholic drinks as time passes (or doesn't drink, because
the liver and pancreas also
deteriorate naturally as we age), the less their body is able to
processes the acetate. THAT is why alcoholism is a progressive, fatal
illness. Bill W. says on page 30, "We are convinced to a man that
alcoholics of our type are in the grip of a progressive illness. Over
any considerable period we get worse, never better." Pretty
revealing, huh. It explains many things I never before understood.
But if you think about it, we never have to deal with ANY of this if
we DON'T put alcohol into our bodies in the first place. So the MAIN
problem of the alcoholic centers in their mind and in their spiritual
condition. My mind tells me it's okay to TAKE the first drink and
doesn't see that what I'm about to do is harmful (otherwise known as
the obsession or powerlessness) , and if I'm NOT spiritually fit I
can't STAND being sober because it's too uncomfortable (otherwise
known as unmanageability) . Coincidentally, the Steps deal DIRECTLY
and EFFECTIVELY with both. So that's what
it means to be an alcoholic - I can't handle drinking and I can't
handle not drinking. Barefoot Bill
from Upper Darby, PA