hello-kitty

I just keep thinking lung cancer, heart disease, obesity... these are all diseases that we do tend to assign some blame (responsibility) to the the person who has them... if only they would have quit smoking/ate healthier/exercised more....

lesliej

or the systematic dis-ease of codependency...
"if only they could let go" "if only they could see they deserve better"
"why are they so desperate to stay?" "why do they keep giving so much?"

we all have our own lives to lead, and we will lead them as healthy as we are able. once we find the tools to treat our conditions and see that there is recovery from our dis-eases it is up to us to follow a path toward wellness...or not.

Tresha

My husband is terminally unique. He looks down on men who bring mouthwash to work because they can't get through an 8-hour shift without alcohol. However, when HE has to carry mouthwash in his workbag (or rum in his truck), there is a valid reason (usually pointing blame at me or someone else). HIS situation is different. Men who abuse their wives are horrible people ... utter cowards. However, whenever HE chases his own wife down the hall, hacks his way through the locked door and chokes her, it was her fault and none of his doing. If he cant make it through a full day's work, its because the job sucks or the boss is unreasonable ... certainly not because he is shaking and needs to self medicate. He is special. The general rules of society do not apply to him because he is terminally unique. Any man would do the same in his shoes ... of course.

Titanic

From Principles of Addiction Medicine, Fourth Edition (2009 American Society of Addiction Medicine) at page 1432:

DSM-IV-TR Substance abuse & dependence disorders.jpg