The Great Responsibility Evasion

Welcome to the magical world of alcoholism, where personal responsibility goes to die a slow, painful death, usually around 2 AM with a kebab in hand. It's a place where "I made a choice" becomes "I have a disease," and where accountability goes to take a long nap on the couch of denial.

Here's the thing about personal responsibility: it's like vegetables - nobody really wants to deal with it, but it's good for you. And just like vegetables, we've become experts at finding creative ways to avoid it. "I can't eat my vegetables, I have a condition!" "I can't take responsibility, I have a disease!"

The Science of Choice

Let's talk about what neuroscience actually tells us about choice and addiction. Yes, alcohol changes your brain chemistry. Yes, it affects your decision-making. But here's the kicker: it doesn't remove your ability to choose. It just makes choosing differently really, really hard.

It's like trying to drive a car with the parking brake on. Sure, it's harder, but it's not impossible. Your brain might be working against you, but it's still your brain. And last time I checked, you're still the one driving the car.

The Disease Model Dodge

Ah, the disease model - the psychological equivalent of a "get out of jail free" card. "I can't help it, I have a disease!" has become the modern version of "the dog ate my homework."

Here's what's interesting about the disease model: it's the only disease where the treatment involves... making different choices. When was the last time someone cured their diabetes by deciding not to have it anymore? Yet people recover from addiction every day by making different choices.

The Blame Game

Let's play a game called "Whose Fault Is It Anyway?" Here are the contestants:

• Your genes: "It's in my DNA!"
• Your brain chemistry: "My neurotransmitters made me do it!"
• Your childhood: "My parents didn't love me enough!"
• Society: "We live in a drinking culture!"
• Your ex: "They drove me to drink!"
• Your job: "Work stress made me do it!"

Notice who's missing from this list? You. The person actually doing the drinking. Funny how that works.

The Neuroscience of Responsibility

Here's what neuroscience actually tells us about responsibility and addiction:

1. Your prefrontal cortex (the decision-making part) is impaired by alcohol
2. Your reward system is hijacked by alcohol
3. Your impulse control is weakened by alcohol
4. None of these things remove your ability to make choices

It's like having a car with a sticky accelerator. Sure, it's harder to control, but you're still the one behind the wheel. You might need help fixing the car, but that doesn't mean you're not responsible for where it goes.

The Recovery Industry's Favorite Word

Let's talk about why the recovery industry loves the disease model so much. It's simple: diseases need treatment. Treatment needs professionals. Professionals need to get paid.

It's almost as if there's a financial incentive to keep people thinking they're sick. Like how the fitness industry profits from people thinking they're not fit enough. Or how the beauty industry profits from people thinking they're not beautiful enough. Funny how that works.

The Power of Personal Agency

Here's a radical idea: maybe taking responsibility for your choices is actually empowering. Maybe acknowledging that you have control over your actions doesn't make you a bad person - it makes you an adult.

It's like saying "I chose to eat that entire pizza" instead of "I have the pizza-eating disease." One statement gives you power to change; the other makes you a passive victim of your own actions.

The "But It's Hard!" Reality

Of course changing is hard. So is learning to play the piano. So is running a marathon. So is learning a new language. We don't call those things "diseases" just because they're difficult.

Hard doesn't equal disease. Hard equals... hard. It's like saying "I have the exercise disease" because going to the gym is difficult. No, going to the gym is just difficult. Some things in life are hard - that doesn't make them diseases.

The Recovery Process

Here's the thing about recovery: it requires taking responsibility. Not for having a disease, but for making different choices. It's like learning to drive that car with the parking brake on - it's harder, but it's possible.

Your brain might be working against you, but it's still your brain. And you're still the one who gets to decide what to do with it. That's not always easy, but it's always true.

The Final Word

Here's the thing about personal responsibility: it's not about blame. It's about power. When you take responsibility for your choices, you take back the power to change them.

Your brain might be working against you, but it's still your brain. And you're still the one who gets to decide what to do with it. That's not always easy, but it's always true.

So maybe instead of looking for excuses, look for solutions. Maybe instead of blaming your brain chemistry, work with it. Maybe instead of avoiding responsibility, embrace it.

Because at the end of the day, the only person who can change your relationship with alcohol is you. And that's not a burden - it's a power.