"I think once I made up my mind that I was allergic to alcohol, and that's what I learned, it made sense to me. And I think it was kind of pointed out that you know if you were allergic to strawberries, you wouldn't eat strawberries. And that made sense to me"

Betty Ford describes her realization about her relationship with alcohol by likening it to an allergy. By framing her struggle with alcoholism as an allergic reaction, she underscores that her body and mind responded to alcohol in a way that was fundamentally unhealthy, beyond ordinary indulgence or lack of willpower. The comparison to a strawberry allergy brings the issue into clearer focus: if someone knows they are allergic to a food, it is only logical to avoid consuming it, no matter how normal or tempting it might be for others. This analogy invites a perspective shift regarding substance use disorders. Instead of viewing alcoholism as a personal failing or moral shortcoming, Ford sees it through the lens of health and physical reality, emphasizing involuntary, physiological responses.

This understanding provided her with clarity. It shifted her decision-making process from being a struggle with temptation or social pressures to a matter of taking care of her health. If eating strawberries would cause an allergic person to become ill, then drinking alcohol would do the same for someone with a predisposition to alcoholism. The logic is simple and pragmatic, and for Ford, adopting this mindset removed some of the guilt, shame, or confusion that frequently plague those suffering from addiction.

Through this lens, abstinence is not about deprivation or denial, but about self-preservation. The quote suggests that internalizing this concept made her recovery more manageable and comprehensible. She could explain her choice, both to herself and to others, without resorting to abstract ideas of "control" or "strength". Instead, she is simply avoiding something her system cannot tolerate. By speaking openly and plainly about her sobriety using easily accessible terms, Ford reduces the stigma around addiction and encourages empathy. Her insight points to the importance of understanding and accepting our unique vulnerabilities as a crucial step toward healing and self-compassion.