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Alcoholism

Old 03-31-2010, 01:07 PM
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Alcoholism

Hi, My name is stephen and I'm a chronic alcoholic,
I just wanted to share something that's been
really annoying me recently, i've been gritting
my teeth to the point of breaking them thinking
about this, and I need to get this off my chest!

There are many differnet types of alcoholics,
people drink for a million different reasons,
but there's two types that stand out to me,
the 'problem drinker' and the 'chronic alcoholic'

The 'problem drinker'is a person who faces a tough
time in life and hits the bottle, gets to a horrible
place (perhaps they pee in the house, hit their wife,
puke on the sofa, sell something for money to fund drink
etc).That type of alcoholic gets detoxed and has had
such a fright that they never get into that state again!
And they're happy and grateful that the 'burden' has gone.

The 'chronic alcoholic' has a totaly different situation,
They lose everything, the wife, the house, the job, the
self respect, the car, done some time in a hospital or jail and
they know that all the evidence is in that this is crazy,
but, they do not sit and think 'well that was really bad,
I need to stop this sh*t'They hit the bottle again because
they suffer from alcoholism, it's two totaly different
worlds.They don't drink again because it will solve anything,
they know full well that this will cause and has caused extreme
situations.They drink again because they were born with alcoholism.


Really bad advice from well meaning people gets the 'chronic alcoholic'
KILLED.For example, I'm laying on a hospital bed dying and I get some
nurse say to me "it's just a bad patch, you will be able to drink again
normally once you've sorted your head out", that's like saying to
someone who has cancer "it's in your head, you'll get through this
and be able to have cancer like a normal person, you can unlearn
this, it's a learned behaviour"

It's ridiculous and gets people who suffer from alcoholim in a grave!

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that the 'problem drinker'
doesn't suffer, of course they do, they go through hell, but it's curable.
They get the support of Relapse prevention and all that crap and they're OK!

The difference is, the person with Alcoholism puts the bottle down and the
problems START!, the only cure for folks like us is A.A. or N.A. to
'manage' this illness, I'ts the only cure for a guy like me!

Does anyone agree?

wee spiced.


PS, sorry for any spelling mistakes.
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Old 03-31-2010, 01:36 PM
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same planet...different world
 
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Hello spiced -

I'm sorry you're sick.
But how great you can get here from a hospital bed?

For the most part -

the posters here at SR tend to go by the descriptions
outlined in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Not because it's liek a rule or anything -
it's just handy, and used in almost
every recovery program there is -
including the AMA.

I think using the same definitions
helps the new reader here
understand exactly where they are on the scale of alcoholism.

I hope you are feeling better soon
and will get a chance to look over
the descriptions in the Big Book.

Communication is vital
in early recovery
and the phears 'keep it simple'
works.
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Old 03-31-2010, 01:48 PM
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No offence my friend but I've studied the book cover to cover and listened to hundreds of hours of shares, I think you have misunderstood me!
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Old 03-31-2010, 01:57 PM
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must have.
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Old 03-31-2010, 02:11 PM
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You're kind of preaching to the choir, spiced. We know there is a lot of bad information out there. That's why we recommend folks seek professional help for quitting, and then get with a group of people who understand alcoholism, to help you remain sober. There are programs available other than AA if that's not your cup of tea.
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Old 03-31-2010, 02:26 PM
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Oh my god, so misunderstood, listen to Bob D and get your facts right, I'm never visiting this site again, go ahead, get people killed with your 2d views.

Good luck and goodbye!
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Old 03-31-2010, 02:38 PM
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:wtf2
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Old 03-31-2010, 02:55 PM
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Originally Posted by spicedT84 View Post
The difference is, the person with Alcoholism puts the bottle down and the
problems START!, the only cure for folks like us is A.A. or N.A. to
'manage' this illness, I'ts the only cure for a guy like me!
I think you'll find that many of us agree completely.
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Old 03-31-2010, 03:10 PM
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To a certain extent Perception becomes reality. If you think you're chronic and obsess about it... Look out. Best thing to do is go out there and live life with out drinking for awhile and see what happens. It is an obsession of the mind that takes time to reprogram. Accordingly, "faking it till your making it" and "not taking the first drink" now makes utter and complete sense to me. Some really are sicker than others; and the more time there is between today and my last drink the less "sick" I am.
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Old 03-31-2010, 03:30 PM
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Wow..
Sorry to see you go, there's lots of help and support here.
There's also a freedom of different viewpoints regarding addiction and recovery as well. Some I agree with, some I don't.
I'm sorry you're having a hard time, but really getting hung up on definitions here is like suki said, preaching to the choir.
There's lots of answers to the question of addiction.. luckily.
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Old 03-31-2010, 03:39 PM
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Smile

And this is why I dont post a whole lot anymore.......so much is taken out of context........oh my.....
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Old 03-31-2010, 04:05 PM
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Originally Posted by spicedT84 View Post
Hi, My name is stephen and I'm a chronic alcoholic,
I just wanted to share something that's been
really annoying me recently, i've been gritting
my teeth to the point of breaking them thinking
about this, and I need to get this off my chest!
10th step: who, cause, affects ?, your role

Getting something off your chest in an online forum doesn't replace a 10th step.
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Old 03-31-2010, 04:41 PM
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Let's all chill a bit please.. ..

It's true....sometimes our shares do not reflect the point
that was the orginal topic. It's not a question of
you are wrong or you are correct.

Let's remember we came here to explore our drinking
and to find answers Obviously.....not all
of us find the same solution.

Members come ...members go
Many return too....and welcomed to do so.
Bless them all on their journey....
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Old 03-31-2010, 04:58 PM
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If anyone is interested in terms......


Progression of Alcoholism

Here's how alcoholism typically progresses:

SOCIAL DRINKERS — Most Americans are characterized as social drinkers. Statistics indicate, however, that one of every 16 drinkers will become alcoholic.

WARNING SIGNS — The individual begins to drink more frequently and more than his associates. He drinks for confidence or to tolerate or escape problems. No party or other occasion is complete without a couple of drinks. Driving and drinking become routine.

EARLY ALCOHOLISM — With increasing frequency, the individual drinks too much. "Blackouts," or temporary amnesia, occur during or following drinking episodes. He drinks more rapidly than others, sneaks drinks and in other ways conceals the quantity that he drinks. He resents any reference to his drinking habits.

BASIC ALCOHOLISM — The individual begins to lose control as to the time, place and amount of his drinking. He gets drunk unintentionally. He hides and protects his liquor supply. He drinks to overcome the hangover from his prior drinking. He tries new patterns of drinking as to time and place of drinking. He attempts cures by moving to new locations or by changing his drinking companions.

CHRONIC ALCOHOLISM — The individual becomes a loner in his drinking. He develops alibis, excuses and rationalizations to cover up or explain his drinking. Personality and behavior changes occur that affect all relationships — family, employment, community. Extended binges, physical tremors, hallucinations and delirium, complete rejection of social reality, malnutrition with accompanying illness and disease and early death all occur as chronic alcoholism progresses.


Source: American Medical Association
What is wet brain?
Dr. James West, Betty Ford Center

"Good question. The term wet brain refers to a very real condition known as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. This chronic brain syndrome is caused by long-term alcoholism and is accompanied by a triad of symptoms: 1) mental disturbance; 2) confusion, drowsiness and paralysis of eye movements; and 3) ataxia or a staggering gait. A primary cause for this is a thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency due to severe malnutrition and poor intestinal absorption of food and vitamins caused by alcohol. The person with wet brain acts much like the Alzheimer’s victim with loss of recent memory, disorientation with regard to time and place, confusion and confabulation, or telling imagined and untrue experiences as truth. If wet brain is identified in its early onset, an infusion of thiamine (B1) may help. Unfortunately, there is no recovery from Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. Therefore, it is one of the most tragic consequences of alcoholism."
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Old 03-31-2010, 06:59 PM
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Well i do agree...would call them heavy drinkers and alcoholics, not problem drinkers and chronic alcoholics though!

Anyways...anyone who understands what you have written will most likely be in AA and ones that don't will either be using some other method to stay sober or too insane to understand:-)
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Old 03-31-2010, 08:29 PM
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Originally Posted by spicedT84 View Post

Does anyone agree?
Chris R's been saying this for years in his open talks.

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Old 03-31-2010, 08:54 PM
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Spiced.. you need to let the "bad advice" roll off your shoulders. It's just a meaningless resentment. The nurse is not an expert on alcoholism. Also, she may have said that to lift your spirits (even though we all know that isn't good advice). Just assume she was trying to help you. Nothing anyone says or does can put you in the grave. Only YOU can do that. Blaming another person for your actions is what puts you in the grave.

I understand you're in a tough place right now, but you can get better. It takes action on your part but it is possible. I could care less about the difference between a "problem drinker" and a "chronic alcoholic". Those are just lables. The bottom line is YOU ARE ALIVE and can fight this. Go to a meeting, get a sponsor, and don't worry about what a nurse tells you. Just be happy she was there to help at a very tough point in your life.

Best of luck, hang in there, and let go of the bullshitt that's bringing you down!
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Old 04-03-2010, 04:08 AM
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The OP touched on something that occasionally tugs on my resentment strings...I think I understand his gripe actually. What I see too often is the heavy drinker (sometimes even the not so heavy drinker who just happened to mess something up) coming to AA, working the steps, speaking at all the meetings, and sponsoring like 15 people. The problem is, they arent alcoholics, which is probably why they are doing so "well" with the program. They simply dont have the same difficulties somebody with a really nasty and lengthy career drinking does. They will identify with the definitions of alcoholism in the big book in what is probably just an unconscious desire to belong. Then they end up sponsoring a real alcoholic and all hell ensues. Maybe the alcoholic relapses and develops a bad resentment against AA.
I guess I'm just venting as well LOL. I'm not going to leave the site tho...yall arent that lucky!
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Old 04-04-2010, 09:21 AM
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Originally Posted by Boleo View Post
Chris R's been saying this for years in his open talks.

XA-Speakers - The lights are on!
I said I would never visit this site again but I have to say to Boleo,

You're god dam right buddy!

People could and should listen to Chris R on XA Speakers, queens64 is a great share!

Also thanks to preta, my dog's called preta lol,

You two GET IT!!!

Thank you two!

spiced.
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Old 04-04-2010, 10:12 AM
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Keep in mind that there's also alot of bad advise being regurgitated in Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings too. That's why we shouldn't become dependant on meetings. Meetings are full of that "Human Power" that couldn't keep us sober as stated in pertainant idea #2
The book should be read and re read and used as a guide to living your life. When we shitcan that "Suggestions" thought and take the steps as they are written "Not Drinking" just becomes a by product of what we are really after in the first place. With no thought whatsoever. Not Drinking comes to us with no un natural or forced effort on our part.
As stated in the Big Book First edition.
We will see that our new attitude toward liquor has been given us without any thought or effort on our part. It just comes! That is the miracle of it. We are not fighting it, neither are we avoiding temptation.
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