[keithj]

Hi Woody,

Since you posted in the Step 1 thread, I'm guessing that you are trying to get a grip on whether or not you need to quit drinking or whether or not you are an alcoholic. AA's Big Book gives a couple of guidelines for diagnosing oneself on page 44.

"We hope we have made clear the distinction between the alcoholic and the non-alcoholic. If, when you honestly want to, you find you cannot quit entirely, or if when drinking, you have little control over the amount you take, you are probably alcoholic."

It goes on to say that if you are alcoholic you may be suffering from an illness which only a spiritual experience will conquer. That's left for later steps.

It is important to know what that definition of alcoholic means in terms of the Big Book. The first 3 chapters give a pretty good description of the physical craving and mental obsession associated with alcoholism.

BB Quotes, 1st Edition