What Is Addiction? – Introduction
Jim Maclaine discusses ‘What is Addiction’ – video 1 of 7 Summary Your addicted one is controlled by a pathologically indulgent self. Addicted people choose to do it over and over again in spite of consequences against their own values standards and commonsense. This shows that they are mentally ill. But they don’t realise it: Sharon (p.94) an addict and alcoholic from when she was 16 years old. She thought she was in control until her life was a complete mess. Ian (p.110) an alcoholic who was very confident in his alcoholic ego. When his wife eventually left, insulated by drink, he couldn’t believe she’d be so stupid. Hillary (p.111) was so locked into her addictive self images she had no idea what she was actually like. She was furious when her son told her the truth. Recognised by the medical profession as a mental illness. Addiction is a mental health disorder that accords with the classic notion of psychiatric illness, or insanity: a continuing and damaging inability to respond to obvious reality. But even though they have a disorder, they can choose to recognise they have a problem, they can choose to get help, and they can choose to do what is necessary to recover. To do this they will join a 12 step fellowship, find their own personal miracle and through developing their self help process, become a normal caring person. www.jimmaclaine.com