One of the main debates about alcoholism is whether or not it is in fact a disease. Some people believe that alcoholism is a self controlled aspect, that anyone can quit, at anytime. In recent years, medical professionals have brought alcoholism into the main light as a disease. They recognize alcoholism as a primary, chronic, progressive and sometimes fatal disease. This sometimes fatal disease is described as a mental obsession that causes physical compulsions. What is this physical compulsion? Drinking, it is always on an alcoholic’s mind. They are mentally obsessed with the thought of alcoholic. Whether it is used to calm their nerves, to forget about something that brings them pain, or to combat their feelings of loneliness, alcoholics are constantly thinking about drinking to deal with their everyday life situations.

So why is alcoholism considered a disease? Mental obsession has a lot to do with the disease factor. A mental obsession is something that is very hard to control and often hard to get out of your head. Think of this theory from a different perspective. Have you ever had something stuck in your head that you could not get out? For most people that would be a song or a commercial jingle. No matter how hard you try, that song or jingle keeps popping back up in your head. You may start to sing it, hum it, or whistle it, just to try to get it out of your head. Now think if that song was alcohol. What would you do to stop thinking about alcohol? You would go have a drink right? Just like having a food craving, you would go indulge yourself in whatever type of food you were craving. The only problem is that with alcohol, you build up a tolerance. So, in order to get the desired effect you are looking for to satisfy your cravings, you need to keep drinking more and more alcohol. Before you know it, you are drinking everyday and cannot find a way to stop on your own.

That is where the progressive nature of this disease comes into play. The progression of the disease is very subtle, you will not notice it at first. You might not notice it at all. It usually takes a friend or family member to snap you back into reality, but even then it is hard to admit you have a problem. Alcoholism consumes your life, completely. Denial also plays a huge factor in this disease. You spend so much time denying that you have a problem, that by the time you finally realize there is a problem, the damage is already done. The damage alcohol does to the body is very dangerous, not to mention what happens when you drink and drive. Killing someone in a drunk driving accident, may snap you back into reality, but what did it take? Taking the life of an innocent person was the price to pay to get a wake up call. That is why it is so important to reach out and ask for help. By saving yourself, you will be saving the lives of others as well.