Question by Adamismyname: Is this common for an alcoholic to recover the way I describe below?
I am wondering if it is common that an alcoholic, in the case of the neighbor a severe alcoholic, can just get better on their own as this neighbor of my parents did. The neighbor just died of cancer (unrelated to her past alcoholism) and was much better in her last 10+ years of life to the point of being sober for about 6 years or so. She did not go to AA or therapy and just on her own seemed to get better. The son of hers who told my parents this at the funeral was very open about her drinking so he seemed sincere in saying that for unknown reasons it just got better. He credits prayer and I wondered if this happens sometimes. She had been an alcoholic for about 20-25 years before getting better.
So I was just curious if this happens or if it almost always requires detox and therapy?

Best answer:

Answer by zeldaslexicon
No, “detox” is not necessarily a requirement for an alcoholic (or anyone with an addiction problem) to “get better”. Some people deal with alcohol or drug addiction without the help of a doctor, AA, counseling, or similar. While detoxing off alcohol is perhaps more dangerous than detoxing off other drugs of abuse, it can and has been done.

It’s not uncommon for those with an addiction to “transfer” their addiction to something else while in recovery. Many find that religion works well for this, and become, in effect, “addicted” to religion or prayer instead of alcohol or drugs. Others may become “addicted” to exercise, or food, or some other coping mechanism that is a bit less damaging to their physical health and more socially acceptable. So it may be that your neighbor found prayer to be an acceptable substitute for alcohol.

Some people actually become “addicted” to therapy. But it’s not required. Many have kicked a bad habit on their own.

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Question by Sky: Why do some prescription drugs have some really adverse effects on people?
I just came out of kidney surgery yesterday for stones–twice this year alone–and the drugs I’m on have made me really jumpy, nervous, wiped out, and just too energetic for my tastes.

Why am I feeling like this? Is it because I don’t have the same tolerance to meds as some people do, or is it because I lack that “addiction” factor that sometimes pops up with blatant drug abuse?

Thanks.

(Yes, they put a stent in me.)

Best answer:

Answer by rick29148
Nothing is perfect, everything is a compromise. The drug(s) have a side affect, and your doctor has decided that the side affect is not bad enough to have you stop taking it. I has in a truck wreck 5-1/2 years ago, and there were some internal injuries. One of my daily meds is a super niacin pill for spleen damage. If I don’t take it with an asprin at the right time, it will make my skin turn red and try to crawl up my back….not terrible, but not my idea of a good time. Doc says it’s the only med available to keep the spleen producing the white blood cells I need, so, I take the pills. Ask your doc, maybe there is another med you can take that will do the same thing without the side affects… Good Luck.

Answer by Susan Yarrawonga
Prescription drugs are regarded as invasive alien substances by our bodies that reject them and the side effects are basically protests by our bodies.

Unfortunately, we sometimes or even often need prescription medication as it usually works much faster than natural medication which often fails to overcome the relevant medical problem. Natural medication sometimes helps a bit but often not enough so then you have to take prescription medication which is rarely without side effects.

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