The Struggle

It’s a struggle. And for some of us, one we endure from both sides of the fence.

Like any disease, addiction can be battled with aggressive, well placed and timed treatment. Radiation and Chemotherapy are the standard  for Cancer. For alcohol and drug addiction we standardly use AA and NA.

After chemo and radiation. There is a small chance that the Cancer could become aggressively active after being in remission. The medical profession will tell us that it’s time to start a new course, a more agressive approach. Much the same, an addict can relapse. Having to start over with a more aggressive approach, different places, people, a new look at the disease.

No one chooses a disease. We don’t wake up one day and say, “hmmm …I think I could handle a dose of lymphoma.”  That Just sounds silly, right?

But lots of people think the addict “made a choice”. An addict doesn’t wake up one day sober and say, “I think I’m going to go get drunk today” or “Hey those Meth Addicts I read about seem to have some great ideas! ” However, society generally thinks that’s exactly how it happens. It is, I assure you, not how it works.

The cells of the Alcoholic or Drug addicted human being, lay inert as long as we keep up with the programs. Our medicine and care are our scheduled fellowship and our meetings. Just as the cancer patient needs to keep up regular chemo and radiation. There is no canceling of scheduled appointments. Or thinking, “I’ll just sit this one out.”

People tend to judge addiction, thinking, “why don’t you just stop? You think you would have learned by now!” No one ever says that to a cancer patient.  

We say positive things like, “stay strong” “we’re sending hugs, well wishes, please let us know how we can help you and the family.” Right?

The addict knows people are sick of hearing about the next tragedy, relationship, drama, and soap box podium marathon. Oh boy, do we know!

People try to be supportive but the addict feels the disappointment. We know we are stretching the boundaries of the relationship. Sometimes we are just powerless in the disease.

The Cancer patient knows people are sad and angry with Cancer.  Their friends say, “Call me, I’m here.” The cancer patient very seldom reaches out for support or help. They feel burdensome.

The Addict feels that same weight, but, the shame is the biggest burden. Knowing you are viewed as weak and selfish, we simply don’t reach out for fear of rejection.

Why do some of us place such stigmas on addiction? It’s a physical disease just as any thing deemed medical. We must, as with so many other social barriers in this big, crazy world, stop the judgement.

We’ve seen horrible travesty with racial prejudice. The tension in the workplace for Mothers. Immigrants facing bigotry. Internet trafficking of minors for sex. I hate to see any of these things. I pray for a day when we can be a world completely free of these things. I know, I’m humming the “I’d like to teach the world to sing” Coca Cola commercial too.

Now I ask you, wouldn’t that just be a cliff dive into wonderful?

There is a blind spot placed on addiction, although we’ve been told since the 1930’s that addiction is a disease. Alcoholism and Drug Addiction are still socially regarded differently then a diagnosis of a medical term from an MD. Not always, but often.

For both the Cancer Patient and the Addict, the things that show love and support are simple. If we could Just reach deep Inside ourselves and…

~Be kind

~Smile and mean it

~Walk a mile

~Above all love one another

~ Share Joy in Music and Art

~ Laugh

~ Find a Uplifting quote or poem and share it

These small things can make a difference in anyone’s life. In crisis or not. They costs nothing. They are so simple. Why is it so hard for us to find?