Half following on from the Paul McGrath thread where people are kinda sympathising with McGrath and calling alcoholism a disease etc. Went out with a girl whose father was an alcoholic and she thought he was a prick who could just give up the sup but was too selfish to do so.
I suppose what I’m asking is, is alcoholism a disease or something that can be overcome with a bit of willpower? I would’ve thought about it a bit back then and I think it’s somewhere in the middle. Does anybody want to be an alcoholic? Probably not. But can they choose not to be? Probably.
I see where you’re coming from but I’d be more inclined towards the disease manner of thinking. I think most people can easily choose not be alcoholics, and there are certainly people who are well able to make that decision but don’t bother. However, having read the Paul McGrath interviews and whatever - he had a harrowing life and he was deeply mentally unwell (that bit I posted today about his legs becoming physically stuck together because he was lying still for so long). Alcohol was an escape mechanism obviously, but it was coupled with larger problems in his life as a whole so I don’t think he could realistically avoid it.
Wasn’t one of your ex’s posting on this board? Presume it’s someone else.