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You said it way better than I ever could have, DanaC.
And I do not believe that addiction is a choice. You can choose to try to come to terms with it, and do the work to overcome, but you do not choose the predisposition.
In my life are two very important people: one who has been sober 9 years...loves life and family, and is still the funniest guy I know. The other has fled the state because he doesn't want to quit drinking, and is leaving behind beautiful grandchildren and people who love him. Did he choose this? I can't believe that he would choose to give up what was once a very good life, if he wasn't in the arms of something much bigger than he can deal with.
What made the difference in these two people? If we knew that, there would be no addiction. Something, someone, something deep inside him made the former able to find the strength to achieve sobriety. His illness is not the illness of the latter one; each has his own illness that we cannot begin to comprehend because we are not them.
I thank God every day for the one who is doing great. I pray for the one who is not.
But I know they didn't choose the illness.
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