scacra1

Hi All,

Just wondering... what is it that makes an alcoholic an alcoholic? is it physical addiction, mental addiction or both?
Is it possible to have just one? and still be an alcoholic? and for those that just have the mental addiction how does the mental addiction work?

Thanks in advance!

Learn2Live

Both. Though I believe the physical addiction comes first and which is what causes the mental addiction.

Really, you need to get this book.
Amazon.com: Under the Influence: A Guide to the Myths and Realities of Alcoholism (9780553274875): James Robert Milam, Katherine Ketcham: Books

suki44883

Physical addiction to alcohol can be cured in a relatively short time. Once the alcohol is completely out of your system, the rest is psychological. Many people are alcoholic without yet being physically addicted. I wasn't ever physically addicted. I didn't get the shakes or anything if I didn't drink. Mine was a psychological addiction all the way. The psychological addiction is what rehab and programs like AA, AVRT and others are for.

Learn2Live

I'm no scientist but I have read articles that describe how alcohol actually changes the cells and cell walls of the body. I wish I could remember where I read about this (sorry I don't) but I recall that it discussed actual dependence, by the body's cells, on alcohol. Here is an article that is somewhat related, haven't read the whole thing but it does talk about the changes at the cellular level due to alcoholism. Pretty interesting.

http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh21-1/42.pdf

Pelican

Here is a link to a sticky post that contains excerpts from the book L2L mentioned "Under the Influence": http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...influence.html