^^Alcoholism being a disease is like saying depression is an illness. Some drink heavily in emotional response to circumstances, while some are depressed by circumstances. Calling it either a sickness in itself if it isn't a chemical addiction or imbalance is not good because it removes responsibility from the person. Both conditions become a sickness, where one should do everything possible to change his circumstances and improve his holistic well-being, but to do this one must first understand how. Sometimes medication is necessary to help, and therapy is always recommended. There's always hope, at least when there's some wise guidance. Sometimes it's a real chemical disease, sometimes more psychological.
Oh and rabber_335i of course you need to want to live sober and find how to be satisfied in life to find that high from other things. Spirituality, nature, art, nutrition, the whole holistic thing, find your purpose, etc, that's where the hope is.
I knew that day would come, I always felt somehow Alexi wasn't going to live to his fifties, he just gave all to that music and rock lifestyle and he knew no other life until recently. And just when I was remembering some lost friendships this happened, it's really weird and sad when the voice of such a creative wild spirit suddenly falls silent for the rest of our lives. Memories come and many of us have surely changed since getting into Bodom (at least I have), and we realize the dark enchanting energy Alexi discovered in his deep musical meditations gave us strength to carry thru some phase in our lives.
My next post (nr 10 k) will be my last here, and the one where I'll let you listen to my new album which I think would never have been born without discovering Follow the Reaper over twenty years ago, and the songs are unbelievably wicked so it's all good, just got to do the last one... the bitter-sweet circle of life.