Kawboy

There are many forms of drinking that involve problematic behaviors that may or may not lead to alcoholism:

• the habitual drinker - drinks because of established habit, possibly to excess
• the bored drinker - drinks to pass the time, possibly to excess
• the anxious drinker - drinks to alleviate anxiety, possibly to excess
• the coping mechanism drinker - drinks to alleviate past/present/future stress, possibly to excess
• the abuser - primary intent is to get drunk for "fun" (ex. college party animal)
• the weekend binger - drinks only on weekends/non-work days, possibly to excess
• the time of day drinker - drinks only after a specified time of day (ex. 5pm), possibly to excess

It's true that problematic behaviors, or any combination of, can potentially lead to alcoholism. But it's not always definitive. I think many people who recognize themselves engaging in these behaviors are the ones who struggle with the idea of being an alcoholic and ask themselves (or others) "am I an alcoholic or not?"

Thoughts?

bigsombrero

I try not to overcomplicate or categorize too much. There's so much variation out there (as you'll probably see from responses) that I just can't fit people into lists and groups. I'm an alcoholic. I drank too much and it almost killed me. I'm not sure what led to my problem but it's best for me to keep my eyes forward on a sober life moving forward.

2granddaughters

I heard it said and it's proven quite true in my experience ......

If you are a problem drinker then quit drinking and your problem goes away.

If you are an alcoholic and quit drinking.... your problems are just beginning.



All the best.

Bob R

hope22

I agree with bigsombrero, I wouldn't put too much emphasis on a "category". I was told by an addiction specialist that the term alcoholic is not even used by the medical community. In the US a person either suffers from alcohol dependence or alcohol abuse. But that's putting a person in a category again with a different "spin".

Bottom line is I drank too much, it caused problems in my life, so I quit. The costs started to outweigh the benefits. (and benefits of drinking? today I can't really think of any)

Fandy

I agree, and not to trigger a long sermon( complete with giant fonts and several quotes from the bb please no)..... I believe, from my own experiences that stopping drinking does not mean your problems are "just beginning", they do not magically disappear, but you have learn to react and problem-solve with sober logic

Kawboy

I'm one who also does not like being labeled or categorized. During my abstinence period, for me, it's helpful to identify behaviors and triggers on my path to self-discovery. I think it's good to experience those trigger situations and not drink, whereas before I would, so I can gauge my response to it and learn from it.

I know for some people it may be easy to say that they are an alcoholic or dependent, but others may struggle. Even when it comes down to differentiating between abuse and dependence. One thing that I'm learning is that it truly is subjective.

Boleo

Some people have alcohol-issues and not-drinking fixes that. Other people (like me) have alcohol-ism and not-drinking won't fix it.

john44

Never heard that one before. Not true for me at all. Guess I'm not an alcoholic. Phew.

hypochondriac

I think there are so many variations as to make categorising impossible. I am not sure I believe in alcoholism the way the BB describes it based on how people get there. It would seem to fit me because I was always a problem drinker but some people seem to drink 'socially' for years before it becomes a problem for them. I could describe a lot of people I know as alcohol dependent but that doesn't necessarily mean alcohol is a problem for them... yet. I think the reasons why we drink are largely irrelevant. Knowing them may help us be aware of danger areas but none of them mean we have to drink.

Fandy

what hope said is absolutely true, both from the addiction specialist (and the medical codes for insurance, that is the precise description).

I'm sure that Boleo & bob have a program that they relate to and that is great if it works for them. However, i also think that projecting negativity "your problems are just beginning" per say, isn't the message anyone struggling would find helpful and encouraging.

sorry Kawboy, i didn't mean to hijack your thread....how are you doing with your sobriety/abstinence? I hope you feel well, it's been a while since i have read your postings

caboblanco

I believe there are many different levels of alcoholism, but that doesn't seem to go over well in recovery circles. I hear that everybody is sick and the more you deny it the more sick you are

SoberKnitter

I think trying to draw a distinction between problem drinking and alcoholism is an exercise in futility. I've never seen why the label matters. After all, the labels are self-applied.

If drinking is causing problems, cut back. If you can't cut back, quit. Easier said than done, but that's the deal. Choosing the best label doesn't seem especially helpful.

soberlicious

Drinking that causes "problematic behaviors" is a problem. If you want to be able to solve problems that stem from drinking, then the drinking must stop.

kawboy, I don't see that list as "forms" of drinking, I see it as excuses for drinking...and the list is infinite.

Even if one believes they have an "ism" that is not cured by simply quitting drinking, they would still agree that it's the starting point. They aren't going to solve their "ism" with continued drinking either.

Dee74

I'm with the calling a spade a bloody shovel brigade too.

No matter what the self assessed severity of the problem is - to get better we have to stop drinking.


I would think that would be true for all of us reading here who've signed up to a recovery website.


'Habitual drinkers' can suffer all the problems and repercussions 'alcoholics' can.


D

choublak

This is like discussing which "variety" of racism is more "tolerable".

Dee74

Actually, it's not remotely like that Choublak.

I think it best we not go off on hyperbolic tangents.

D

scoteesh

I am (was) everyone of them.

In ten minutes i will be seven days free of that life........and looking forward to the next seven.

Good night all

awuh1

There is nothing wrong with saying this. When these statements are prefaced by words like “in my experience” as used by Bob or words like “Other people (like me) as used by Boleo, these are statements of FACTUAL. To label it as “projecting” is itself projecting.

IMO if someone can relate to what has been sincerely and factually stated then it is the essence of something helpful and encouraging.

nomis

Meh, I don't really care what other people want to call themselves. I'm an alcoholic, the stuff is toxic for me, always has been. If other decide they are problem drinkers, whatever that is, that's up to them. My own problem with booze is not better or worse than anybody else's, but it is MY problem.

ru12

I'm just a person that doesn't drink. That is all the label I need.