That’s Why They Call it a Disease

My last 1/2 ironman in August of 2009.

 

I am preparing to do two-1/2 ironman triathlons this summer/fall.  I will spend anywhere from 8 to 15 hours per week training and the events will take me somewhere between 5 and 6 hours.  One of my “bucket list” goals is to do a full ironman before I die and if I die doing it…then I will still consider myself an ironman.  The ironman distances include a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and a 26.2 mile run.  By doing two 1/2’s this year, I am proving to myself mentally that I can do it.  Obviously training and nutrition are important components of successfully completing an ironman, but after that it comes down to sheer will power.   I’ve done four 1/2 ironmans and in each one of those races I reached a point where my ability to finish the race was simple “mind over matter.” 

I’ve always been mentally tough.  I know there is nothing I can’t do if I put my mind to it.  I am not boasting, I am just telling you I understand the importance the mind plays in making anything great happen in life.  The key is to always nourish the mind with positive, healthy thoughts and having personal anchoring techniques in place when the negative thoughts come creeping in. 

Ok, you may be wondering what this is all about.  Well here is the deal.  The last few months I’ve had more phone calls from people struggling with various forms of addiction than I’ve had in the last couple of years combined.  But when I tell them what they need to do in order to get their act together they either don’t hear me, don’t want to hear me or actually they are in denial about the fact that they are in the throws of a disease that wants to not only kill them but destroy everyone around them.  There are some who do listen and they are doing pretty well right now (you know who you are).  

The disease of addiction (includes alcoholism) is cunning, baffling and powerful.  If not handled it causes insanity…been there done that.  When diagnosed as an addict or alcoholic you are told it is a disease and no amount of human will power will help you overcome it, thus the reason for my introduction about my triathlons…I have a tremendous amount of will power and it didn’t do jack-crap to help me handle my disease. 

I’ve been asked several times over the years; “why can some people, who once seemed to be in the throws of alcoholism or drug addiction, just quit and never pick up again, where others require treatment, counseling, 12 Step meetings and God?”  My experience tells me that those who quit and stay quit, either never crossed the line into the world of addiction (but were probably pretty close), have switched addictions, or they are living the miserable life of a dry drunk and/or addict.  I believe we all have so many drinks, drugs, bets, porn exposures, compulsive buys, food binging and purging experiences, etc…  prior to stepping over the line and some of us have a higher propensity for addiction than others. 

The bottom line is this.  If you or a loved one can’t quit whatever you are in bondage to then there is a good chance you have an addiction and just like any other disease, there is treatment available in order to keep the disease in check one day at a time.  When a person is told they are diabetic they are normally put on medication for the diabetes.  And if the diabetic takes his or her medication the way they are supposed to take it, and combine it with the correct diet, there is good reason to think they will keep the disease in check a day at a time.  The same holds true for any addiction and the best treatment for addiction is a daily dose of surrendering to God, walking the 12 Spiritual Steps and acquiring the willingness to listen to and be helped by others. 

Here is the deal, if you are wondering whether or not you have a problem…people without an addiction problem normally don’t “wonder” if they have a drinking or an addiction problem.  Let me repeat that, people who don’t have a problem do not call me wondering if they have a problem.  People without a problem don’t get drunk everytime they drink.  People without a problem don’t have to sneak, lie and cheat.  People without a problem do not let their marriages and relationships with their kids get destroyed.  People without a problem, do not ever swear “this is the last day” and then break their promise to themself day after day after day. 

When I was in the throws of addiction I would have taken a bullet for anyone in my family because I loved them so much, but I could not stop drinking and drugging for the same family I loved so much.  Addiction is a disease and  can only be whipped a day at a time with the right “medicine” just like any other disease…believe me, I tried whipping it with will power and mind over matter and it darn near cost me everything. 

Now I need to get to bed and get some rest in preparation for a 2 hour workout in the morning. 

P.E.A.C.E. 

jay@eaglelaunch.com