Originally Posted by
Gottalife 
What is the experience on this? I am told a heroin addict will be driven to use again because of the pain of withdrawal.
Is it the same for alcoholics? Did you drink to stave off withdrawal? Where you chemically compelled to drink?
For me -
YES!!!
I started drinking heavily/alcoholically (whatever anyone wants to call it) in my early to mid 20s and stopped at the age of 51 (July 2011). But, I did a lot of my mental heavy lifting about eight to nine years before I stopped drinking. So, I would say, especially for the last couple years of my drinking, it was simply a physical addiction. I think that's why stopping, FOR ME, was actually pretty easy at the time, because I'd already worked through most of my s***, and did and still have a great life. And, my life is even that much better, as a non-drinker.