Am I a real alcoholic?? - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

ebonyquincy · 10-19-2007, 10:45 AM

Hi. This is a first for me in SoberRecovery. I am a recovered alcoholic and would like to share my views on what I feel is important to the new guy or gal. (keep an open mind) The first thing I feel is of the greatest importance is, do you qualify, are you really an alcoholic. eg: when anyone in today's market go's
to a realittor to buy a house the first thing asked is how much money can you comfortibly afford. After this is properly investigated by both the prospective buyer's and the realitor and found to be agreeable they proceed.Much the same applies to the newcomer. If their problem is alcohol and things are considerably better when they stop drinking. (for themselves,the family, the job, the boss, friends etc.) they do not need A A, just stop drinking alcohol.But if they become irritable, restless discontent, angry, depressed, perinoid etc. and can not live life on life's terms, and a drink or two takes the edge off to get through the day, than you may want to consider going to Alcoholics Anonymous.

GlassPrisoner · 10-19-2007, 11:14 AM

What happens when you take a couple of drinks and start catching a buzz ?

If you're like me, you continue to drink until you pass out or run out of booze. Also, If I manage to put it down for any period of time, I obesess over when, where and how I'll get my next drink.

GrouchoTheCat · 10-19-2007, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlassPrisoner

What happens when you take a couple of drinks and start catching a buzz ?

If you're like me, you continue to drink until you pass out or run out of booze. Also, If I manage to put it down for any period of time, I obesess over when, where and how I'll get my next drink.

Now That hit home!!!!!!

Thanks for bringing it to the basics!

Hi there ebonyquincy, welcome to SR and jump right in!

Ted

**CarolD** · 10-19-2007, 11:41 AM

Welcome to SR.. ebonyquincy

Quote:

Am I a real alcoholic??

Gee...it's not a term I choose to use
even tho it's from our AA Big Book.

Do you fit the description there?

Blessings

livenletlive · 10-19-2007, 07:37 PM

I agree with Carol. If you have a Big Book or can find it online, the chapter more about alcoholism helped me. There is a contrast in this chapter that describes the alcoholic vs. non-alcoholic.

What is interesting about your question and what I found, was that I had to determine on my own findings whether or not I felt I was alcoholic or not. This question is really not something that can be anwered by us. You have to answer your own question.

**CarolD** · 10-20-2007, 08:18 AM

Quote:

"Most of us have been unwilling to admit we were real alcoholics. No person likes to think he is bodily and mentally different from his fellows. Therefore, it is not surprising that our drinking careers have been characterized by countless vain attempts to prove we could drink like other people. The idea that somehow, someday he will control and enjoy his drinking is the great obsession of every abnormal drinker. The persistence of this illusion is astonishing. Many pursue it into the gates of insanity or death."

Â©Alcoholics Anonymous 3rd Edition More About Alcoholism Page 30

RufusACanal · 10-20-2007, 10:06 AM

I appreciate your honesty Ebonyquincy, though I am wondering why it is important to justify whether drinking leads to AA or not. You mention you are recovered, please tell us what that means for you. Above in Carol's quote you will see what the our basic text, the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous says about controlled drinking, being unique and powerful. Maybe you are the exception. I wish you well.

Carol87 · 10-20-2007, 10:59 AM

If only you knew how long I struggled with that question. Finally someone led me to this in the Big Book ... and I had my answer

"Could I be an alcoholic without some of the hair-raising experiences I had heard of in meetings? The answer came to me very simply in the first step of the Twelve Steps of AA. 'We admitted we were powerless over alcohol - that our lives had become unmanageable.' This didn't say we had to be in jail, ten, fifty, or one hundred times. It didn't say I had to lose one, five or ten jobs. It didn't say I had to lose my family. It didn't say I had to finally live on skid row and drink bay rum, canned heat or lemon extract. It did say 'admitted I was powerless over alcohol; that my life had become unmanageable.'

Most certainly I was powerless over alcohol, and for me, my life had become unmanageable. It wasn't how far I had gone, but where I was headed. It was important to me to see what alcohol had done to me and would continue to do if I didn't have help." - excerpt page 379, Alcoholics Anonymous, Third Edition, page 354, Fourth Edition

RufusACanal · 10-20-2007, 01:36 PM

<<<<< Loves that Third Edition !

10-19-2007, 10:45 AM	#1 (permalink)
ebonyquincy Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 6	Am I a real alcoholic?? Hi. This is a first for me in SoberRecovery. I am a recovered alcoholic and would like to share my views on what I feel is important to the new guy or gal. (keep an open mind) The first thing I feel is of the greatest importance is, do you qualify, are you really an alcoholic. eg: when anyone in today's market go's to a realittor to buy a house the first thing asked is how much money can you comfortibly afford. After this is properly investigated by both the prospective buyer's and the realitor and found to be agreeable they proceed.Much the same applies to the newcomer. If their problem is alcohol and things are considerably better when they stop drinking. (for themselves,the family, the job, the boss, friends etc.) they do not need A A, just stop drinking alcohol.But if they become irritable, restless discontent, angry, depressed, perinoid etc. and can not live life on life's terms, and a drink or two takes the edge off to get through the day, than you may want to consider going to Alcoholics Anonymous.

10-19-2007, 11:14 AM	#2 (permalink)
GlassPrisoner Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Murrieta, Ca Posts: 2,683	What happens when you take a couple of drinks and start catching a buzz ? If you're like me, you continue to drink until you pass out or run out of booze. Also, If I manage to put it down for any period of time, I obesess over when, where and how I'll get my next drink. __________________ Life Happens

10-19-2007, 07:37 PM	#5 (permalink)
livenletlive Getting Restored To Sanity Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 180	I agree with Carol. If you have a Big Book or can find it online, the chapter more about alcoholism helped me. There is a contrast in this chapter that describes the alcoholic vs. non-alcoholic. What is interesting about your question and what I found, was that I had to determine on my own findings whether or not I felt I was alcoholic or not. This question is really not something that can be anwered by us. You have to answer your own question. __________________ Is living sober the way to go?

10-20-2007, 10:59 AM	#8 (permalink)
Carol87 Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Nebraska Posts: 187	If only you knew how long I struggled with that question. Finally someone led me to this in the Big Book ... and I had my answer "Could I be an alcoholic without some of the hair-raising experiences I had heard of in meetings? The answer came to me very simply in the first step of the Twelve Steps of AA. 'We admitted we were powerless over alcohol - that our lives had become unmanageable.' This didn't say we had to be in jail, ten, fifty, or one hundred times. It didn't say I had to lose one, five or ten jobs. It didn't say I had to lose my family. It didn't say I had to finally live on skid row and drink bay rum, canned heat or lemon extract. It did say 'admitted I was powerless over alcohol; that my life had become unmanageable.' Most certainly I was powerless over alcohol, and for me, my life had become unmanageable. It wasn't how far I had gone, but where I was headed. It was important to me to see what alcohol had done to me and would continue to do if I didn't have help." - excerpt page 379, Alcoholics Anonymous, Third Edition, page 354, Fourth Edition __________________ *"As God's people, we stand on our feet; we don't crawl before anyone." (Page 83, Alcoholics Anonymous)*

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10-20-2007, 10:06 AM	#7 (permalink)
RufusACanal Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 1,927	I appreciate your honesty Ebonyquincy, though I am wondering why it is important to justify whether drinking leads to AA or not. You mention you are recovered, please tell us what that means for you. Above in Carol's quote you will see what the our basic text, the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous says about controlled drinking, being unique and powerful. Maybe you are the exception. I wish you well.

10-20-2007, 01:36 PM	#9 (permalink)
RufusACanal Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 1,927	<<<<< Loves that Third Edition !

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