Originally Posted by willravel

Count yourself lucky that you haven't experienced real addiction.
Maybe my experience with heroin can help. Okay, I am in a waking dream all night, feeling empty and cold. I've been sober a day or two, and it's hurting badly. Imagine a headache with a purpous....driving you to use again. I wake up at 7 am finally, and have some breakfast. My apetite is kinda wierd, so my stomach hurts. All I can think about is how sober I am. I go to work or school and can't concentrate. Every waking moment there is an emptyness that overshadows whatever you think or do. It's not weakness. It's victimization, if anything. I've seen people stronger than I am succumb to addiction. Strength of will really has little to do with it. In my mind, luck and help are what really get you out of the hole. I don't know if I could have gotten out myself. It took the death of my best friend and the help of friends to get me out.

Whever I hear people suggest addiction is a lack of self control/willpower or lazyness, I chuckle to myself. It's like having a painting described to you by a blind man. The best explaination of the painting has to come from the artist.