Most people, and the medical community agree that alcoholism is a disease...but people don't react to it like they do other diseases. You can call in to work after your vacation and say, "I got bit by a mosquito in Brazil and I got malaria. I won't be in to work for a few days," and your boss will say, "That's okay. It's not like you tried to get malaria. Take as long as you need until you feel better."
You can't call in to work and say "My alcoholism is acting up. I caught it in high school. I won't be in for a week or so." Your boss will not react as supportively as he did with the malaria.
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change. Courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Rheinhold Niebuhr
This all may be true and I believe somewhere back in the 70's the AMA declared alcoholism as a disease. However the BB of AA calls it a sickness or illness. I know a few ppl that actually got away with hiring an attorney over their alcoholism saying that they were incapable of working at a paying job anymore and actually today receive disability benefits. If I did something like that , I would consider that a cop-out. Especially since there happens to be a solution to my problem of alcoholism.
Just more proof that God, and AA really are the easier, softer way ....
There are a LOT of practicing alcoholics that have managed to get on disability. Many of the day laborers that I hire through a temp agency are on SSI. The monday-wednesday after those monthly checks are sent out, there's a shortage of them, as they are drinking up their SSI check.
-- Edited by StPeteDean on Saturday 6th of February 2010 07:20:08 AM
Yes and there are a lot of people in AA who work the whole disability thing too for various reasons. When I say "work" it, I mean they aren't really disabled...some of course are. But generally speaking, if you can make it to 3 meetings a day, you could work. Whatever, work keeps me from being at home flipping out over BS and I'm lucky to have a job cuz nobody ever gets rich off disability and it's not a pleasant option for getting by. On the lighter side, I might call into work Gay on Monday. Though they don't classify that one as an illness anymore...
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Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
Whoa - tough room. That was a joke. Pure Joke. I don't think that way, I don't feel that way. I put "alcoholism & disease" down a hopper into my brain-grinder, seasoned it with a 1/4 cup of irony, a 1/4 cup of simile and that joke came out. Just a joke.
yup it may be poor you if you have diabetes or cancer or some other illness but find out you are an alcoholic and its like you got the plague.When my 23 year old son went into ICU from what they thought was an asthma attack they hovered over him and were intense in the attention paid to him,when his blood came back dirty and they realized he had OD'ED the atmosphere and attention dropped to"thats what you get" kinda attitude...in the blink of an eye!!They claimed HIPPA rules and really just ignored us......good point taken on "illness that they think we initiated!! God is always there for us,He is the ultimate Doctor....I get my prescriptions for my illnesses from Him!!!!...................
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Selfishness-self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles.
