Addiction is a disease

[poetofparables]

Poet,
There are no simple answers to establish a clear connection between Divine healing and the use of natural remedies. Perhaps this will help:
1. Sickness, disease and death are a result of sin.
2. God has used signs, wonders, and miracles of healing from time to time, particulary when Christ and His apostles were on earth. The primary reason was to authenticate who Christ was and that the Gospel and the apostles were from God.
3. Towards the end of this period "the prayer of faith" was the method to obtain Divine healing (James 5:13-18). It is still in effect.
4. God has placed healing properties within numerous plants, and many have been discovered and used very effectively. But the ultimate Healer is God Himself, who has power over life and death. So God is not against the use of medication.
5. Manufactured pharmaceuticals are generally synthetic and have serious side effects. The profit motive dominates. These are the first resort for doctors and the last resort for patients.
6. God does not necessarily answer every prayer for healing today. In contrast, when Christ was on earth, anyone and everyone who came to Him for healing was healed. How do we explain this? It is one of God's mysteries.
7. God's ultimate goal is to "heal" every human being from "sin", and all its deleterious effects (sickness, pain and death). That is only in and through Christ.
8. There will come a day when every Christian will be absolutely perfect (body, soul and spirit) as well as glorious (emanating light). That condition will be for eternity, and will bring eternal glory and praise to God.

Even though you say there is no clear answer to make a connection, the rest of your post was very well thought out and articulate.

 

[Christ_empowered]

I'm not sure addiction is a disease. I've been abused by mental health "professionals" who sell the disease model for filthy lucre's sake. After 2 rounds of involuntary electroshock, confidentiality violations, multiple diagnoses, and now a misdemeanor from an angry ex-shrink...

...I'm not buying what they're selling. Is there a physical component? Yes. I think psychiatry and psychology can be religions just as surely as Christianity, Judaism, or any other bona fide, deity-based religion. Dr.Thomas Szasz wrote extensively on this. I always found it interesting on how many shrinks are either Catholic or Jewish. I have no idea why so many Jewish MDs go into psychiatry, but Szasz wrote an essay comparing mental health today to the Inquisition of yester year. I mean...

...mental illness generally doesn't show up on brain scans. The effects of electroshock, brain surgeries, drugs, etc. do show up, but the (alleged) illnesses do not. There are no blood test for mental illness. I say this as someone who has been on the receiving end of a lot of abuse from mental health "professionals" : take it all with a grain of salt.

The problem with saying "addiction is a disease" is that it hands more power to the medical establishment and dis-empowers addicts and their families. If you say a problem can only be handled by properly trained experts, then you rob everyday people (and religious people) of the power to step in.

I'm not saying addicts are bad people or that they don't need compassion. Far from it. When I needed compassion for my drug issues (high dose Rx amphetamines and high dose Rx benzodiazepines, combined), I was punished...by mental health "professionals." I was ugly, stupid, poor. See what I'm saying? Had I been attractive, smart, and affluent, they would have rolled out the red carpet. And I'm not the only one, either.

I don't know that there is a good answer for addiction. I mean, if we keep pushing the medical model, everybody's gonna have some kind of DSM label slapped on them eventually. One of my ex-counselors, when I was 20, diagnosed a ton of stuff, including (get ready...)..."caffeine dependence." Yeah, he hated me.

As a Christian, I think the best bet is to treat withdrawal, repent, and draw nigh unto God and try to get your life straight. After my drug issues had resolved, but my "psychiatric" issues intensified (largely because of trauma), I got to go to Teen Challenge. I didn't belong there, but they worked with me. Good program. I think they're a little too punitive, but a good program. Then again...labels and drugs and telling someone "you will be an addict for the rest of your life" is punitive as well. Its what Szasz calls "cruel compassion."

So...not to sound harsh, but I don't think embracing what the psychiatrists and psychologists are saying about addiction will prove to be too helpful. They'll make money and create more victims with labels attached to them for the rest of their lives.

 

[poetofparables]

I'm not sure addiction is a disease. I've been abused by mental health "professionals" who sell the disease model for filthy lucre's sake. After 2 rounds of involuntary electroshock, confidentiality violations, multiple diagnoses, and now a misdemeanor from an angry ex-shrink...

...I'm not buying what they're selling. Is there a physical component? Yes. I think psychiatry and psychology can be religions just as surely as Christianity, Judaism, or any other bona fide, deity-based religion. Dr.Thomas Szasz wrote extensively on this. I always found it interesting on how many shrinks are either Catholic or Jewish. I have no idea why so many Jewish MDs go into psychiatry, but Szasz wrote an essay comparing mental health today to the Inquisition of yester year. I mean...

...mental illness generally doesn't show up on brain scans. The effects of electroshock, brain surgeries, drugs, etc. do show up, but the (alleged) illnesses do not. There are no blood test for mental illness. I say this as someone who has been on the receiving end of a lot of abuse from mental health "professionals" : take it all with a grain of salt.

The problem with saying "addiction is a disease" is that it hands more power to the medical establishment and dis-empowers addicts and their families. If you say a problem can only be handled by properly trained experts, then you rob everyday people (and religious people) of the power to step in.

I'm not saying addicts are bad people or that they don't need compassion. Far from it. When I needed compassion for my drug issues (high dose Rx amphetamines and high dose Rx benzodiazepines, combined), I was punished...by mental health "professionals." I was ugly, stupid, poor. See what I'm saying? Had I been attractive, smart, and affluent, they would have rolled out the red carpet. And I'm not the only one, either.

I don't know that there is a good answer for addiction. I mean, if we keep pushing the medical model, everybody's gonna have some kind of DSM label slapped on them eventually. One of my ex-counselors, when I was 20, diagnosed a ton of stuff, including (get ready...)..."caffeine dependence." Yeah, he hated me.

As a Christian, I think the best bet is to treat withdrawal, repent, and draw nigh unto God and try to get your life straight. After my drug issues had resolved, but my "psychiatric" issues intensified (largely because of trauma), I got to go to Teen Challenge. I didn't belong there, but they worked with me. Good program. I think they're a little too punitive, but a good program. Then again...labels and drugs and telling someone "you will be an addict for the rest of your life" is punitive as well. Its what Szasz calls "cruel compassion."

So...not to sound harsh, but I don't think embracing what the psychiatrists and psychologists are saying about addiction will prove to be too helpful. They'll make money and create more victims with labels attached to them for the rest of their lives.

I can assure you that my addiction has made me a very bad person, theres many reasons why people do bad things. But all it takes is critical thinking and personal accountability and you can overcome any bad thing. But that being said just disregard this post if what you ment was "addicts can be good people, even if they are bad"

 

[evenifigoalone]

I guess I'm kind of an outsider, but the depression I experienced...disease, or not? I don't know, but something definitely wasn't right and it was definitely hurting me. It was torture.

 

[poetofparables]

I guess I'm kind of an outsider, but the depression I experienced...disease, or not? I don't know, but something definitely wasn't right and it was definitely hurting me. It was torture.

I dont know, we can look into that if you want.

 

[Lewis]

Okay, okay I have heard enough, addiction is a Spiritual thing. The secular world calls it a disease.

 

[evenifigoalone]

Okay, okay I have heard enough, addiction is a Spiritual thing. The secular world calls it a disease.

If the spiritual world exists as we believe it does, then would it not fit the laws of the universe that have been in place since the beginning? We tend to think of the spiritual realm as the place where anything's possible, but what if it's bound by scientific laws, too? (Aside from the obvious divine intervention.) We don't know much about the spiritual world outside of what scripture tells me (not all that much) because we can't really observe it and neither can our scientific instruments.

Our brains definitely have a part in the emotions we feel, though they may be spiritual. The brain works with chemicals, which to my understanding are shown to be connected to the emotions we experience. I don't know anything about that stuff really, but chemical imbalances causing psychological issues does make sense.


...don't mind me, I just find some of this stuff pretty fascinating to muse on.

 

[evenifigoalone]

I dont know, we can look into that if you want.

Okay. What are your thoughts? What does or does not make a disease?

 

[Malachi]

If the spiritual world exists as we believe it does, then would it not fit the laws of the universe that have been in place since the beginning?

questdriven,
You have touched on something here which seems to have escaped everyone's attention. Not only is the spirit world real, but the malevolent component of the spirit world (Satan and all his evil spirits) has not even been discussed in connection with addiction.

Who is to say that the unsaved addicts are not being ultimately controlled by evil spirits driving them to destructive behaviors? That was evident at the time of Christ, though addiction was not the issue. Who's to say that Christians struggling with addictions are not being oppressed by the Devil and his minions and therefore remaining in bondage?

The secular world loves to talk about "chemicals" and "chemistry" because it has dismissed demons in the world today. But Christians have no such excuse. We know who our enemies are, and we know what the remedies are (2 Cor 10:3-6; Eph 6:10-18). There is spiritual warfare, and addiction could be one form of attack.

 

[evenifigoalone]

questdriven,
You have touched on something here which seems to have escaped everyone's attention. Not only is the spirit world real, but the malevolent component of the spirit world (Satan and all his evil spirits) has not even been discussed in connection with addiction.

Who is to say that the unsaved addicts are not being ultimately controlled by evil spirits driving them to destructive behaviors? That was evident at the time of Christ, though addiction was not the issue. Who's to say that Christians struggling with addictions are not being oppressed by the Devil and his minions and therefore remaining in bondage?

The secular world loves to talk about "chemicals" and "chemistry" because it has dismissed demons in the world today. But Christians have no such excuse. We know who our enemies are, and we know what the remedies are (2 Cor 10:3-6; Eph 6:10-18). There is spiritual warfare, and addiction could be one form of attack.

With there being so much we don't know, almost anything's possible. Are the medical health professionals ever helpful? I wouldn't know. Are they ever an adequate answer, have any of the advancements that have been made in this area actually been advancements? I have no idea. I love science, and I find psychological health fascinating, but I'm not studying in that area.
Meh I'm rambling, but point is, you may be right, or partly right. Though, I can see this going wrong, too..."you're not healed yet? you don't have enough faith". I can tell you, it's not that simple.

I got out of whatever I was in without going to a professional, that doesn't mean I necessarily think that will work for everybody. There's simply so much we don't know. And that's really all I can say, not being any kind of expert in this field and having nothing more than my own very limited experience to go on.

 

[poetofparables]

Okay. What are your thoughts? What does or does not make a disease?

I dont know quest, only my experience tells me that addiction may not be a disease. But that doesnt qualify in my book, ill see what I can dig up online about your case with depression.

 

[stovebolts]

StoveBolts,

I was an addict. I'm not sure what you mean in particular about the brain re-wiring? I am aware to not get overconfident because I could go down that path again, but it would be by my own choice, just like it was the first time.

This a great discussion StovBolts, but I am on my phone and will have to wait till later. Blessings& happy new year

I'm on my phone now too, so yeah... No long replies lol. Tomorrow I will be on the computer and I have much to write in regard to the disease model. I will also address the point about choice.

Until then, ponder this. Why do some people like certain foods while others hate those foods? Example: Brussels sprouts will literally cause me to puke. My wife would have them every day.

Why then is it that some people can get high, and they don't like it? Others only get high on occasion while others get high all the time?

What drives those cravings and why do some have to really put forth effort to resist that craving while others have no craving at all?

These are the things I want to discuss and we will look inside the mind from a molecular level to explain it.

 

[th1b.taylor]

Back to my Chemo... not every form of chemo is right for every person or cancer .... In other words what works for one may not work for another.. Praise God you did not need chemo Praise God He had chemo for me..

Amen God is good all of the time!

 

[stovebolts]

questdriven,
You have touched on something here which seems to have escaped everyone's attention. Not only is the spirit world real, but the malevolent component of the spirit world (Satan and all his evil spirits) has not even been discussed in connection with addiction.

Who is to say that the unsaved addicts are not being ultimately controlled by evil spirits driving them to destructive behaviors? That was evident at the time of Christ, though addiction was not the issue. Who's to say that Christians struggling with addictions are not being oppressed by the Devil and his minions and therefore remaining in bondage?

The secular world loves to talk about "chemicals" and "chemistry" because it has dismissed demons in the world today. But Christians have no such excuse. We know who our enemies are, and we know what the remedies are (2 Cor 10:3-6; Eph 6:10-18). There is spiritual warfare, and addiction could be one form of attack.

It certainly could be. No denying that one bit. That's why recovery for an addict is holistic. Its about mind, body and spirit. Even Jesus preached this approach.

Look, nothing wrong with an antidepressant for helping with chronic depression Ssdi system). Its a chemical thing. But you have to treat the whole person. Get them out exercising which creates the release of endorphins and raised dopamine and address their spiritual needs.

You can't just say,"I'll pray for you.". You ALSO have to commit to HELPING that person.

Addiction isn't just spiritual.
Do you understand what I'm getting at?

 

[th1b.taylor]

Yet at its core, this is the issue. Please read what I wrote about endorphins...

We have a prescription drug epidemic in our country that is killing more people each day than all illegal drugs and alcohol related deaths. Guess what? They are opioids. Legal heroin.

Sad thing about it? There isn't available resources to help them. I personally know a guy who took his kid to Ohio to find a rehab center with an open bed. I could tell many stories.

I'm not hiding my agenda. Its a disease like mental illness. One people accept the science, it will cause healthcare to cover it.

The war on drugs isn't working

You're right, I have avoided these like the plague but as a Vet can get them any time I wish. Instead I take Tramadol, Snake, Scorpion and Spider Poison. The world of medicine is not right!

 

[th1b.taylor]

First,
Why did you self medicate all them years? What was your childhood like? Did you experience any trauma in the military?

What caused you to hit rock bottom? Who made that much of a difference in your life it prompted you to change?

My self medication began when I found Heinen's head looking at me from the 105mm case that he used for a library. You are more on tract than most of the VA Shrinks.

 

[Gary]

Addiction is a state of mind.

 

[th1b.taylor]

Okay, okay I have heard enough, addiction is a Spiritual thing. The secular world calls it a disease.

You're right... Pilgrim!

 

[jasonc]

It certainly could be. No denying that one bit. That's why recovery for an addict is holistic. Its about mind, body and spirit. Even Jesus preached this approach.

Look, nothing wrong with an antidepressant for helping with chronic depression Ssdi system). Its a chemical thing. But you have to treat the whole person. Get them out exercising which creates the release of endorphins and raised dopamine and address their spiritual needs.

You can't just say,"I'll pray for you.". You ALSO have to commit to HELPING that person.

Addiction isn't just spiritual.
Do you understand what I'm getting at?

the problem is that some people do just that and then say the person who received that prayer over them didn't believe enough. or when they themselves pray its the same.

 

[Lewis]

You're right... Pilgrim!

Thank you Doc