What is alcoholism to you?
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 2
What is alcoholism to you?
Hi all,
First post. I'm sure this question has been discussed ad nauseam, so apologies for redundancy.
I'm just curious as to what alcoholism is defined as, and I simply ask because I worry about everything, drinking included. As the user name suggests, I'm not too sure what to classify myself as. I don't think I'm an alcoholic, but there are so many different definitions, you never know.
I'm worried because alcoholism runs in my family, but I've always been a person who feels you make your own decisions in life and I can control what I do. In the last year or so, my drinking has picked up. I've developed anxiety out of the blue, which has come a year or so after the death of a close friend. I mostly reserve my drinking for shortly before bed time and have a couple of beers to sleep better because otherwise, I constantly jump out of my sleep. This comes from a fear of and obsession with death.
Anyways, I'm so paranoid about alcoholism, I log the number of drinks I have each day. I generally keep it between 2-3 a night, with one or two days of no drinking. On weekends, I generally drink between 6-8 one night and maybe 4-6 the other. Every once in awhile, I go out and I sometimes tend to go overboard, but I've been better recently.
Alcohol has negatively affected my life in the past, but nowadays, I mostly keep the consumption at my own home, away from vehicles and other drunk people. Alcohol has never interfered with school or work, but I have done the typical horribly stupid things, such as get behind the wheel and constantly fighting. I'm not always violent when drinking, but sometimes for the worst reason, my mood switches in a public setting. I used to black out quite frequently when I drank on weekends with friends, but again, I don't go out much now and I avoid liquor as much as possible (the reason for my downfall).
I guess what I'm getting at is, for those who have struggled with the disease, I'm curious as to what triggered your drinking, how it progressed into alcoholism, and what types of numbers of drinks you consumed daily.
I don't want to let this get out of control and I know that I should be going to a therapist to better deal with issues that have caused anxiety and in turn, a want to drink.
Thanks for "listening" and best of luck.
First post. I'm sure this question has been discussed ad nauseam, so apologies for redundancy.
I'm just curious as to what alcoholism is defined as, and I simply ask because I worry about everything, drinking included. As the user name suggests, I'm not too sure what to classify myself as. I don't think I'm an alcoholic, but there are so many different definitions, you never know.
I'm worried because alcoholism runs in my family, but I've always been a person who feels you make your own decisions in life and I can control what I do. In the last year or so, my drinking has picked up. I've developed anxiety out of the blue, which has come a year or so after the death of a close friend. I mostly reserve my drinking for shortly before bed time and have a couple of beers to sleep better because otherwise, I constantly jump out of my sleep. This comes from a fear of and obsession with death.
Anyways, I'm so paranoid about alcoholism, I log the number of drinks I have each day. I generally keep it between 2-3 a night, with one or two days of no drinking. On weekends, I generally drink between 6-8 one night and maybe 4-6 the other. Every once in awhile, I go out and I sometimes tend to go overboard, but I've been better recently.
Alcohol has negatively affected my life in the past, but nowadays, I mostly keep the consumption at my own home, away from vehicles and other drunk people. Alcohol has never interfered with school or work, but I have done the typical horribly stupid things, such as get behind the wheel and constantly fighting. I'm not always violent when drinking, but sometimes for the worst reason, my mood switches in a public setting. I used to black out quite frequently when I drank on weekends with friends, but again, I don't go out much now and I avoid liquor as much as possible (the reason for my downfall).
I guess what I'm getting at is, for those who have struggled with the disease, I'm curious as to what triggered your drinking, how it progressed into alcoholism, and what types of numbers of drinks you consumed daily.
I don't want to let this get out of control and I know that I should be going to a therapist to better deal with issues that have caused anxiety and in turn, a want to drink.
Thanks for "listening" and best of luck.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: manchester
Posts: 22
Hi there.
When you drink can you control the amount you drink?
If you want to stop drinking can you?
these question do not define alcoholism or an alcoholic but can roughly describe one.
Try some controlled drinking, can you do it?
Alcoholism is a progressive illness, is your drinking causing your problems or your problems causing your drinking?
Many people just need help with personal issues and can then drink sociially, an alcoholic can not, one drink is too many and 100 is never enough.
AA has a pamphlet 20 questions, you can get it off the web try the questions and see what you think.
Dont fall into the trap of confusing problem drinking with alcoholic drinking.
From your description i would say you are not an alcoholic but then again it is a disease of denial and only you can decide.
I am an alcoholic, if i burnt my house down whilst drinking i would need a drink, normal drinkers would consider it a reason to stop.
Again, when drinking can you control the amount you drink?
When you want to stop can you?
If you can you are probably not an alcoholic but again only you can decide.
If you are, there is help, you are not alone, if you are not, there is help, you are not alone.
Therapist-AA
Good luck my friend
When you drink can you control the amount you drink?
If you want to stop drinking can you?
these question do not define alcoholism or an alcoholic but can roughly describe one.
Try some controlled drinking, can you do it?
Alcoholism is a progressive illness, is your drinking causing your problems or your problems causing your drinking?
Many people just need help with personal issues and can then drink sociially, an alcoholic can not, one drink is too many and 100 is never enough.
AA has a pamphlet 20 questions, you can get it off the web try the questions and see what you think.
Dont fall into the trap of confusing problem drinking with alcoholic drinking.
From your description i would say you are not an alcoholic but then again it is a disease of denial and only you can decide.
I am an alcoholic, if i burnt my house down whilst drinking i would need a drink, normal drinkers would consider it a reason to stop.
Again, when drinking can you control the amount you drink?
When you want to stop can you?
If you can you are probably not an alcoholic but again only you can decide.
If you are, there is help, you are not alone, if you are not, there is help, you are not alone.
Therapist-AA
Good luck my friend
Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 4,682
I could have posted that in my mid twenties, i am 38 now...looking back i was displaying all the characteristics of being an alcoholic from about 10 years old i would say, started to withdraw already, felt very different, couldn't relate to people or concepts that other kids could...all i needed was to get a bit older and to be able to buy booze and i was away.
I went through a 'wild phase' between 17 and 21, my mother knew i had a problem then and made me go to a psychotherapist and to AA, i went to one meeting and did not return. The reason it was obvious that i had a problem was that i literally changed as soon as i drank, whereas my friends would drink as much as me they would, at the end of the evening, be very drunk versions of themselves, i would be a completely different person...just literally a different personality completely and would act on it...friends woould say at the time and the next day why did you do that or say that, and i didn't know why?!
I tried to fix myself along the way in my twenties, went out with a girl for 5 years which slowed it down a bit, moved around a bit and then changed careeers at 29. I moved back to London and made some new friends, again my behavour was completely erratic and i didn't understand why i did the things i did...strips clubs, brothels...anywhere staggering out at 7am, not even interested in the women just wanted to get another drink...then i would drink once every 2 weeks, so get drunk, wonder why i did what i did then spend 2 weeks locked away from the world at home, feel better and repeat...needless to say this drove me a bit nuts!
I moved back to my home town at 30 and tried to stop drinking again, i had made a load of money in london so stopped working...i bought a chalk board and thought if i could get to 28 days i would be fine...never made it, would get to 3 weeks and then order taxi, off to casino and drunk again...so i moved country...then the **** really hit the fan...
I remember when i was 31 i woke up one morning and thought thank goodness i didn't go out last night, then thought i did go out and get drunk why did i go out i said i wouldn't...at the time i didn't realise but this was real trouble in the making...the last 7 years of my drinking were on and off getting progressively worse until i accepted that i drank almost everyday and just completely withdrew from everything...it was at this time that i was sure that i needed to kill myself as i couldn't carry on living this way...went to rehab for a few weeks, then finally went to AA and begged for help, did everything they told me to do...been sober since that day last year....last year i used to pray, well drunk praying, that i could just have one year free of alcohol and alll that goes with it...it's been just over 6 months, honestly if all i get is that year and i get hit by a bus then thats cool, i would like more but thats not up to me....its a miracle that i am sober!
Hope that didn't bore you, 2 real points really and they are that things will get a lot worse for you, if you are an alcoholic, and being dry doesn't mean **** you have to have a drastic personality change to be able to get any form of freedom from this and to be able to live...that's all with the benefit of hindsight of course!
I have a massive history of alcoholism in my family so i would put aside the you make your own choicees and the willpower ******** if i were you and head down to an AA meeting, grab someone who has been sober for 20 years and say how the hell did you do it.
If you are anything like me this post will have no effect on you whatsoever and you will find out for yourself in which case i wish you good luck and hope you are one of the ones, like me, that make it...3 of my friends died along the way...
I went through a 'wild phase' between 17 and 21, my mother knew i had a problem then and made me go to a psychotherapist and to AA, i went to one meeting and did not return. The reason it was obvious that i had a problem was that i literally changed as soon as i drank, whereas my friends would drink as much as me they would, at the end of the evening, be very drunk versions of themselves, i would be a completely different person...just literally a different personality completely and would act on it...friends woould say at the time and the next day why did you do that or say that, and i didn't know why?!
I tried to fix myself along the way in my twenties, went out with a girl for 5 years which slowed it down a bit, moved around a bit and then changed careeers at 29. I moved back to London and made some new friends, again my behavour was completely erratic and i didn't understand why i did the things i did...strips clubs, brothels...anywhere staggering out at 7am, not even interested in the women just wanted to get another drink...then i would drink once every 2 weeks, so get drunk, wonder why i did what i did then spend 2 weeks locked away from the world at home, feel better and repeat...needless to say this drove me a bit nuts!
I moved back to my home town at 30 and tried to stop drinking again, i had made a load of money in london so stopped working...i bought a chalk board and thought if i could get to 28 days i would be fine...never made it, would get to 3 weeks and then order taxi, off to casino and drunk again...so i moved country...then the **** really hit the fan...
I remember when i was 31 i woke up one morning and thought thank goodness i didn't go out last night, then thought i did go out and get drunk why did i go out i said i wouldn't...at the time i didn't realise but this was real trouble in the making...the last 7 years of my drinking were on and off getting progressively worse until i accepted that i drank almost everyday and just completely withdrew from everything...it was at this time that i was sure that i needed to kill myself as i couldn't carry on living this way...went to rehab for a few weeks, then finally went to AA and begged for help, did everything they told me to do...been sober since that day last year....last year i used to pray, well drunk praying, that i could just have one year free of alcohol and alll that goes with it...it's been just over 6 months, honestly if all i get is that year and i get hit by a bus then thats cool, i would like more but thats not up to me....its a miracle that i am sober!
Hope that didn't bore you, 2 real points really and they are that things will get a lot worse for you, if you are an alcoholic, and being dry doesn't mean **** you have to have a drastic personality change to be able to get any form of freedom from this and to be able to live...that's all with the benefit of hindsight of course!
I have a massive history of alcoholism in my family so i would put aside the you make your own choicees and the willpower ******** if i were you and head down to an AA meeting, grab someone who has been sober for 20 years and say how the hell did you do it.
If you are anything like me this post will have no effect on you whatsoever and you will find out for yourself in which case i wish you good luck and hope you are one of the ones, like me, that make it...3 of my friends died along the way...
Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 652
A viscious circle..you drink because you feel good and want to feel better..next morning your not so hot and have one to pick you up..soon you are only drinking to keep withdrawal symptoms at bay.
You just can't even get out of bed and have a shower without a drink.
You lose everything. Your selfrespect, your family, your job , your house and almost your life.
You need alcohol or you feel you will go mad.
That's what it was for me.
Wish you well.
“Alice: It would be so nice if something made sense for a change.”
Alice in wonderland.
You just can't even get out of bed and have a shower without a drink.
You lose everything. Your selfrespect, your family, your job , your house and almost your life.
You need alcohol or you feel you will go mad.
That's what it was for me.
Wish you well.
“Alice: It would be so nice if something made sense for a change.”
Alice in wonderland.
Don't resist, allow
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: South East of England
Posts: 1,521
Hi NotTooSure,
I don't think comparing numbers of drinks is helpful. You will always be able to say "well I don't drink anywhere near that, so I am not an alcoholic". I did that for a long time.
The fact that you are here and are actively trying to control your drinking, suggests that it is a real problem for you. One thing I would guess most, if not all, us alcoholics have in common is that we have been able to control our drinking at some times in our lives creating the illusion that we were not alcoholics. We just have not been able to control it all the time and that is what makes us different to the normal drinkers.
I am currently reading Beyond the Influence by Katherine ketcham/William Asbury. There is a lot in the book about what makes a normal drinker different to a problem drinker or an alcoholic. It also explains the different stages of alcoholism. Most people recognise alcoholism as the late stage and that is what they try to compare themselves to when they ask the questions "am I an alcoholic?" But the disease can be recognised earlier than that.
The book also details much evidence about the genetic link with alcoholism - considering your family history you may find this helpful.
A question the book raises is if it is the alcohol which causes the anxiety rather than the anxiety causing the urge to drink. When you understand how the chemicals in alcohol affect the central nervous system, its easy to see how this can be a viscious cycle.
That's not to say that you don't need to see a therapist but it is something to think about.
There is a sticky on this forum with excerps from "Under the Influence" which was a book by the same author written earlier which would be worthwhile you reading.
I don't think comparing numbers of drinks is helpful. You will always be able to say "well I don't drink anywhere near that, so I am not an alcoholic". I did that for a long time.
The fact that you are here and are actively trying to control your drinking, suggests that it is a real problem for you. One thing I would guess most, if not all, us alcoholics have in common is that we have been able to control our drinking at some times in our lives creating the illusion that we were not alcoholics. We just have not been able to control it all the time and that is what makes us different to the normal drinkers.
I am currently reading Beyond the Influence by Katherine ketcham/William Asbury. There is a lot in the book about what makes a normal drinker different to a problem drinker or an alcoholic. It also explains the different stages of alcoholism. Most people recognise alcoholism as the late stage and that is what they try to compare themselves to when they ask the questions "am I an alcoholic?" But the disease can be recognised earlier than that.
The book also details much evidence about the genetic link with alcoholism - considering your family history you may find this helpful.
Originally Posted by NotTooSure 
I don't want to let this get out of control and I know that I should be going to a therapist to better deal with issues that have caused anxiety and in turn, a want to drink.
That's not to say that you don't need to see a therapist but it is something to think about.
There is a sticky on this forum with excerps from "Under the Influence" which was a book by the same author written earlier which would be worthwhile you reading.
Not the center of the Universe
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Orchard Lake, Michigan
Posts: 974
Hi NotTooSure,
If one person told you that you were an alcoholic, would you immediately stop drinking? Two people? Ten people?
If alcoholism runs in your family and you are already drinking on a daily basis, have experienced black-outs, and have experienced other negative consequences from drinking, what proof are you looking for? If one person told you that you were definitely not an alcoholic, would you put aside that silly notion and drink without concern? Two people? Ten people?
Alcoholism runs in my family too. I remember when I was drinking on a daily basis, I found out my sister was drinking in the morning and I was shocked. Six years later, I was drinking in the morning because I couldn't leave my house without it.
I never wanted to admit I was an alcoholic because I would have to do something about it. I did all the experiments and all the temporary fixes with the goal of proving that I wasn't an alcoholic. I would rig the experiments, lie to myself about the 20 question tests, and take any tiny period of sobriety as proof that I wasn't an alcoholic. Because if I was an alcoholic, the only answer was to stop drinking.
I ended up in rehab and the counselors were telling me all this stuff I would have to do maintain my sobriety. I remember thinking "Why do I have to do all this stuff? Why can't I just stop drinking?" That was the real question for me. Why can't I just stop drinking? The answer for me turned out to be "Because I am an alcoholic."
Well, with a lot of help, I did stop drinking. I am still an alcoholic. I just don't suffer any more.
Also,
that was exactly the case for me. I used to have the worst panic attacks and anxiety and I would drink to deal with the anxiety and prevent the panic attacks. Very soon after I stopped drinking, the panic attacks stopped happening. About a year so after I stopped drinking, the anxiety was gone or at least down to a level where it didn't impact my life on a daily basis. That's part of what I mean when I say I just don't suffer any more.
If one person told you that you were an alcoholic, would you immediately stop drinking? Two people? Ten people?
If alcoholism runs in your family and you are already drinking on a daily basis, have experienced black-outs, and have experienced other negative consequences from drinking, what proof are you looking for? If one person told you that you were definitely not an alcoholic, would you put aside that silly notion and drink without concern? Two people? Ten people?
Alcoholism runs in my family too. I remember when I was drinking on a daily basis, I found out my sister was drinking in the morning and I was shocked. Six years later, I was drinking in the morning because I couldn't leave my house without it.
I never wanted to admit I was an alcoholic because I would have to do something about it. I did all the experiments and all the temporary fixes with the goal of proving that I wasn't an alcoholic. I would rig the experiments, lie to myself about the 20 question tests, and take any tiny period of sobriety as proof that I wasn't an alcoholic. Because if I was an alcoholic, the only answer was to stop drinking.
I ended up in rehab and the counselors were telling me all this stuff I would have to do maintain my sobriety. I remember thinking "Why do I have to do all this stuff? Why can't I just stop drinking?" That was the real question for me. Why can't I just stop drinking? The answer for me turned out to be "Because I am an alcoholic."
Well, with a lot of help, I did stop drinking. I am still an alcoholic. I just don't suffer any more.
Also,
A question the book raises is if it is the alcohol which causes the anxiety rather than the anxiety causing the urge to drink. When you understand how the chemicals in alcohol affect the central nervous system, its easy to see how this can be a viscious cycle.
Forum Leader
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 10,944
Alcoholism has taken many forms with the people in my life and family....
It is my stepson nearly drinking himself to death in his room and going through DT's, jaundice, and hepatitis in the hospital....then turning to crack.
It is my maternal grandmother getting drunk, weepy, slobbery, and wetting the bed on a regular basis.
It is my cousin's inability to go to a family wedding without packing alcohol in the trunk of the vehicle even though the wedding is supposed to be dry.
It is my step grandfather picking up my mother from school when she was a girl and then leaving her in the car while he stopped at the bar on the way home for a few drinks.
It is my sister's use of alcohol and cocaine to numb her pain, but it is also her ability to maintain her recovery now for 13+ years.
It is my mother's ACOA and codependent behaviors and thought patterns rubbing off on me....
Hugs and prayers....HG
It is my stepson nearly drinking himself to death in his room and going through DT's, jaundice, and hepatitis in the hospital....then turning to crack.
It is my maternal grandmother getting drunk, weepy, slobbery, and wetting the bed on a regular basis.
It is my cousin's inability to go to a family wedding without packing alcohol in the trunk of the vehicle even though the wedding is supposed to be dry.
It is my step grandfather picking up my mother from school when she was a girl and then leaving her in the car while he stopped at the bar on the way home for a few drinks.
It is my sister's use of alcohol and cocaine to numb her pain, but it is also her ability to maintain her recovery now for 13+ years.
It is my mother's ACOA and codependent behaviors and thought patterns rubbing off on me....
Hugs and prayers....HG
Go ask the Multivax
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,481
I thought all alcoholics generally started out the same. Like me, hooked after drink #1 at around 13 years old.
Well, that's far from the truth. I'm still floored by the number of us who spent years being moderate drinkers until something "clicked" in.
It really brought home the idea of alcoholism as a disease. Like cancer, you can be genetically predisposed to it. Or, it can strike out of nowhere. Chances are anyone lurking around this particular website may be recognizing a symptom of a disease. It's always better to start treating these things in phase 1.
Well, that's far from the truth. I'm still floored by the number of us who spent years being moderate drinkers until something "clicked" in.
It really brought home the idea of alcoholism as a disease. Like cancer, you can be genetically predisposed to it. Or, it can strike out of nowhere. Chances are anyone lurking around this particular website may be recognizing a symptom of a disease. It's always better to start treating these things in phase 1.
Forward we go...side by side-Rest In Peace
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Serene In Dixie
Posts: 36,740
Welcome to SR and to our Alcoholism Forum....
You may have missed this article on addiction
How We Get Addicted - TIME
I do hope you are seeing a doctor about your anxiety
and being honest about your drinking.
That would be a wise idea.
All my best...
You may have missed this article on addiction
How We Get Addicted - TIME
I do hope you are seeing a doctor about your anxiety
and being honest about your drinking.
That would be a wise idea.
All my best...
Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: KC MO
Posts: 980
Out of control.
I was a 5 oclock drunk. If you don't work how do you support your habit? I guess thats one thing that scared me.
But I was like jeckle and hyde. When I got off work,it was beer oclock. EVERYTHING got put off till the weekend, because in the evening I would get too drunk to get anything done. It was sheer hell for me to go anywhere after 5 if I had to postpone beer. If I didn't get started on beer till say 9 oclock. I would slam a 12 pack in 45 minutes. I drank at least a 12 pack every night. Every morning I would say "not today, I'm gonna stop". After lunch my attitude would change, and by 2 or 3 oclock I was thinking about how good a beer was gonna be.
It is kind of like being in prison. You do something you know that you didn't want to do when you woke up this morning. and you are going to hate yourself for tomorrow morning. But I want a beer now,and there just really isn't anything else that matters.
Out of control.
Fred
I was a 5 oclock drunk. If you don't work how do you support your habit? I guess thats one thing that scared me.
But I was like jeckle and hyde. When I got off work,it was beer oclock. EVERYTHING got put off till the weekend, because in the evening I would get too drunk to get anything done. It was sheer hell for me to go anywhere after 5 if I had to postpone beer. If I didn't get started on beer till say 9 oclock. I would slam a 12 pack in 45 minutes. I drank at least a 12 pack every night. Every morning I would say "not today, I'm gonna stop". After lunch my attitude would change, and by 2 or 3 oclock I was thinking about how good a beer was gonna be.
It is kind of like being in prison. You do something you know that you didn't want to do when you woke up this morning. and you are going to hate yourself for tomorrow morning. But I want a beer now,and there just really isn't anything else that matters.
Out of control.
Fred
Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Virginia
Posts: 32
I'm pretty new around here, and I don't do AA, or any recovery "program" for that matter, so I'm not yet skilled or well-versed yet at being powerless....nonetheless I'll give it my best shot-
We all have varying degrees of mental illness and/or life stressors- depression, anxiety disorders, and the like; difficult family/work situations, relationship problems; even chronic pain. These maladies painfully stick out like jagged rocks exposed on a jedi at low tide in the midday sun. Without proper coping mechanisms or proper treatments, the harsh waves crashing over them cause us repeated pain and grief, over and over...seemingly endless as the waves. But ALCOHOL provides us the ability to artificially "bring in the tide," so to speak, so that our pain is "underwater"; seemingly now our issues are submerged and all is serene on the water surface....as we sober up the tide goes back out and the rocks become exposed...so we drink again to...keep the tide in and our pain covered, unexposed.
We all have varying degrees of mental illness and/or life stressors- depression, anxiety disorders, and the like; difficult family/work situations, relationship problems; even chronic pain. These maladies painfully stick out like jagged rocks exposed on a jedi at low tide in the midday sun. Without proper coping mechanisms or proper treatments, the harsh waves crashing over them cause us repeated pain and grief, over and over...seemingly endless as the waves. But ALCOHOL provides us the ability to artificially "bring in the tide," so to speak, so that our pain is "underwater"; seemingly now our issues are submerged and all is serene on the water surface....as we sober up the tide goes back out and the rocks become exposed...so we drink again to...keep the tide in and our pain covered, unexposed.
Forward we go...side by side-Rest In Peace
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Serene In Dixie
Posts: 36,740
I forgot to answer the question...".What is alcoholism to you"
My alcoholism is a chronic .... progressive and fatal disease
caused by my inability to process a toxin/alcohol effectively
I can keep it in remission only by abstinance.
I've been sucessfully doing so for over 20 years
and expect to continue .
On my path.
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Home
Posts: 330
Hi NTS,
Drinking was causing problems, so I quit. I was choosing to release with alcohol instead of connecting with people.
That is my definition of alcoholism.
It is tough, one simple question, but YOUR answer will change your life.
55438
Drinking was causing problems, so I quit. I was choosing to release with alcohol instead of connecting with people.
That is my definition of alcoholism.
It is tough, one simple question, but YOUR answer will change your life.
55438
Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 37
I'm not in a good mood today, sorry, this may not go down so well. I really do not 'buy' the "it runs in the family" thing at all! I mean that's like saying " well my father went after little boys so that's why I'm attracted to little boys", I mean that's ********, This is a chronic, progressive illness, it's not a choice!One of the greatest speakers in A.A. history, Bob D, clearly states that his family were not alcoholic, he'd never even seen anyone drunk, in fact he didn't even know it got you drunk!
And I'm that guy, my family never drank, I have nobody or anything to blame this on! It's just me, I strongly believe I was born this way...
You can take all alcohol and drugs away from me and I still suffer from alcoholism everyday, In fact I had alcoholism before I knew what Alcohol was!
If anyone wants to differentiate between alcoholism and problem drinking please find it in your soul to take 60 minutes out your whole life and listen to this!!!
Go to XA speakers and type in Bob D into the A.A. section, the 47th is a good one, I think it's first on the list.
All the best
And I'm that guy, my family never drank, I have nobody or anything to blame this on! It's just me, I strongly believe I was born this way...
You can take all alcohol and drugs away from me and I still suffer from alcoholism everyday, In fact I had alcoholism before I knew what Alcohol was!
If anyone wants to differentiate between alcoholism and problem drinking please find it in your soul to take 60 minutes out your whole life and listen to this!!!
Go to XA speakers and type in Bob D into the A.A. section, the 47th is a good one, I think it's first on the list.
All the best
Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: scotland
Posts: 126
Hi big respect to you Yeahgr8, thats quite a journey you,ve been on, i too am one of the sceptical about the almost cult like AA, Though i have much happiness in seeing the
ppl, here that have found peace and happiness as a result, trying to be normal for me is
to try hard and discipline onesself to have if needed a couple of nights were i can drink
like the rest of society! though if this cannot be acheived will need drastic action, i never
actually started drinking until i was 29 yrs old, now in my forties, i have nothing but
admiration for ppl here and there honesty and courage overcoming these things
it is an emotional place to visit, with many courageous stories,
good fortune of
your own making to all.:day6 its good to see so much support.
ppl, here that have found peace and happiness as a result, trying to be normal for me is
to try hard and discipline onesself to have if needed a couple of nights were i can drink
like the rest of society! though if this cannot be acheived will need drastic action, i never
actually started drinking until i was 29 yrs old, now in my forties, i have nothing but
admiration for ppl here and there honesty and courage overcoming these things
it is an emotional place to visit, with many courageous stories,
good fortune ofyour own making to all.:day6 its good to see so much support.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Virginia
Posts: 818
If you Googled "definition of alcoholism" you'd get 164,000 hits. If you Googled "definition of alcoholic" you'd get over 4 million hits. And none of them agree. Alcoholism to me is being powerless over alcohol. That is, if I start drinking, I am powerless over stopping. One drink is too many, and 100 isn't enough as the old saying goes. It also means that my life is unmanageable. I tend to obsess over alcohol - when can I drink, do I have enough, where can I get some, how many am I going to have. Normal drinkers don't have these problems nor do they think this way. Alcoholism is funny in that it affects me not only when I drink but also when I don't drink.
But you're the only one who can determine if you're an alcoholic. I'd say you have all the signs and symptoms, and if your not there yet your going to be. Why not try AA for a while? It's a pretty successful program in helping people stop drinking, and you'd get a better handle on you own problem by attending some meetings. It's free, too!
But you're the only one who can determine if you're an alcoholic. I'd say you have all the signs and symptoms, and if your not there yet your going to be. Why not try AA for a while? It's a pretty successful program in helping people stop drinking, and you'd get a better handle on you own problem by attending some meetings. It's free, too!
Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 37
'I tend to obsess over alcohol - when can I drink, do I have enough, where can I get some, how many am I going to have. Normal drinkers don't have these problems nor do they think this way. Alcoholism is funny in that it affects me not only when I drink but also when I don't drink'
thank you, and AMEN!
thank you, and AMEN!
The New Me starting 1/11/09
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: California
Posts: 678
Quoting Drinking: A Love Story by Caroline Knapp ...
When you question your alcoholism, you say to yourself: If I am an alcoholic, I shouldn't drink and if I'm not an alcoholic, I don't need to. That's a nice piece of logic. You say: People who aren't alcoholics do not lie in bed at two-thirty in the morning wondering if they're alcoholics. A good reality check.
When you question your alcoholism, you say to yourself: If I am an alcoholic, I shouldn't drink and if I'm not an alcoholic, I don't need to. That's a nice piece of logic. You say: People who aren't alcoholics do not lie in bed at two-thirty in the morning wondering if they're alcoholics. A good reality check.
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