“The phenomenon of craving” is how Dr. William D. Silkworth separates the alcoholic from the social drinker in “The Doctor’s Opinion” Chapter of A.A.’s basic text, Alcoholics Anonymous.
When I drink, it seems this ‘craving’ is what qualifies me as “depraved”. Guilt, shame, self-pity, and a host of other emotions are all mine when this craving for ‘more’ takes over. Even in a blackout state, my brain seems to crave, no, require, more alcohol than my body can process. ‘More’ until I blackout and ‘more’ until I pass out. ‘More’ until I find the hospital door. Or it finds me.
This ‘craving’, if it were to be described (as society, our culture, and some religious communities do) as a sin, would neatly fit within the “Seven Deadly Sins”. That Sin is Avarice, the ‘craving’ for ‘more’. The Sin of Avarice is its own punishment, hell on earth, as it were, because ‘more’ is never enough.
More is never enough.
Enough.
Move on.
from All Drinking Aside (Rough Draft, Chapter 75)
Thankfully craving and/or requiring alcohol isn't a phenomenom that affects me. That's not to say other things have.
ReplyDelete