19 years into my quit and 33 years into marriage. I am so sorry to have ended up with COPD as a result of my selfish addictions. Mrs. Troutnut smoked too, and we quit together. But that still doesn’t lessen the guilt, shame, and remorse that comes from having given myself the terminal disease of emphysema. I suffered with alcoholism as well but did something about that 21 years ago. My dual addictions hurt a lot of people including myself. It is likely that I will die from my addictions even though decades have since passed since I indulged them.
Still, we need always remember that addiction is a legitimate disease recognized as such by the medical and psychiatric professions, and even the might IRS. Once addiction has set in, the user has generally lost control. My dear deceased AA sponsor was always careful to remind me that addiction and alcoholism are not sins, a character flaw, or a lack of will power. It is a sickness. He called in a physical compulsion coupled with a mental obsession. He said we are not bad people trying to be good, but rather sick people wanting to be well. While we are never “cured” of addiction, the lucky ones among us will enjoy “sustained remission”, so long as we stay away from that FIRST puff, or that FIRST drink (or both in my case).
Your friend in Montana
Troutnut1-dennis
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