Myths About Alcoholics + Alcoholism
Laozi Old Man
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Detroit, MI
Posts: 6,665
Originally Posted by BackToSquareOne 
What are some of your favorites?
It's a fear based program.
We must always remember our last drunk else we will repeat it.
People relapse because they want to drink more than they want to get sober.
Not-drinking treats alcohol-ISM.
Admitting powerlessness keeps us weak.
There is no such thing as a RECOVERED alcoholic.
A Spiritual Awakening gives us the strength to choose to not-drink ODAAT.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bethlehem, PA.
Posts: 1,781
One of the most destructive myths for me was that alcoholics can't stop for periods of time or that they can't drink normally for brief periods. I wonder how many others didn't use this misinformation to justify their drinking.
Bender style drinkers will often drink insane amounts of alcohol on a bender. They will drink until they are too sick to drink any longer, go through horrific withdrawals often with audio and visual hallucinations. Many of this type die in withdrawal or from alcohol poisoning while still on the bender. This type will often have periods of sobriety thrown into the mix, those sober periods give a very false sense of security.
Most people seem to start out as binke drinkers, this is the weekend party style drinker. The frequency of their binges can increase over time. There are also functional alcoholics in many stages of addiction. Then come daily drinkers but they don't drink in the suicidal way bender drinkers often do. If they did they would be dead in short order.
In my experience, the fact that one could stop for periods of time or drink normally for short periods meant nothing.
Bender style drinkers will often drink insane amounts of alcohol on a bender. They will drink until they are too sick to drink any longer, go through horrific withdrawals often with audio and visual hallucinations. Many of this type die in withdrawal or from alcohol poisoning while still on the bender. This type will often have periods of sobriety thrown into the mix, those sober periods give a very false sense of security.
Most people seem to start out as binke drinkers, this is the weekend party style drinker. The frequency of their binges can increase over time. There are also functional alcoholics in many stages of addiction. Then come daily drinkers but they don't drink in the suicidal way bender drinkers often do. If they did they would be dead in short order.
In my experience, the fact that one could stop for periods of time or drink normally for short periods meant nothing.
The Long and Winding Road....
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Brisbane QLD
Posts: 897
[QUOTE=caboblanco;4326653]There is very little you can believe from the AA or the disease model. The so called science on alcoholism is really just one big myth
we are powerless over alcohol...myth
alcoholism is an inherited disease...myth
once you have one drink an alcoholic can't stop drinking...myth
alcoholics can never moderate and to do so would always be dangerous...myth
alcoholics are all spiritually flawed..myth
no alcoholic is unique...myth
all alcoholics have permanently altered their brain chemistry and will be an alcoholic for life even if the are sober for the rest of their lives...myth
brain scans from alcoholics are always different from non alcoholics....myth
the only thing I find valid is the physical response of withdrawal..and the kindling effect. I also find the information on what alcohol can do to the liver and other organs valid[/QUOT
some of these ideas are very dangerous to someone who is trying to stop drinking.please use your brain .
v
we are powerless over alcohol...myth
alcoholism is an inherited disease...myth
once you have one drink an alcoholic can't stop drinking...myth
alcoholics can never moderate and to do so would always be dangerous...myth
alcoholics are all spiritually flawed..myth
no alcoholic is unique...myth
all alcoholics have permanently altered their brain chemistry and will be an alcoholic for life even if the are sober for the rest of their lives...myth
brain scans from alcoholics are always different from non alcoholics....myth
the only thing I find valid is the physical response of withdrawal..and the kindling effect. I also find the information on what alcohol can do to the liver and other organs valid[/QUOT
some of these ideas are very dangerous to someone who is trying to stop drinking.please use your brain .
v
Recovered
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,129
Myth: a widely held but false belief or idea.
Maybe I am missing the point, but what is true for a person may not be for another (more eloquently stated by tomsteve).
When I got sober, my thinker was broken. I needed help to gain the tools to make good decisions and be shown a path to sobriety and happiness so that I was not reinventing the wheel.
Maybe this should be "what is your opinion on things" thread.
Maybe I am missing the point, but what is true for a person may not be for another (more eloquently stated by tomsteve).
When I got sober, my thinker was broken. I needed help to gain the tools to make good decisions and be shown a path to sobriety and happiness so that I was not reinventing the wheel.
Maybe this should be "what is your opinion on things" thread.
Grateful to be free
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Arizona
Posts: 3,680
That to be an alcoholic you have to drink 24/7 or show up drunk a lot of places. I was mostly a closet drinker.
That attending meetings means you are sober. I know a lot of people who use meeting attendance as a cover to get someone off their back about drinking.
That wealthy people, educated people or religious people are less likely to be alcoholics.
That attending meetings means you are sober. I know a lot of people who use meeting attendance as a cover to get someone off their back about drinking.
That wealthy people, educated people or religious people are less likely to be alcoholics.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Ohio
Posts: 3,785
You might be an alcoholic if....
You have lost your car, home or job. Myth, in my case.
That the person is just weak and that it is a matter of willpower. Myth, in my case.
You have multiple run ins with the law, DUI, speeding, stealing, drugs etc. Myth, in my case.
You have lost your car, home or job. Myth, in my case.
That the person is just weak and that it is a matter of willpower. Myth, in my case.
You have multiple run ins with the law, DUI, speeding, stealing, drugs etc. Myth, in my case.
Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Central America/Florida USA
Posts: 4,064
A few myths in my opinion -
1) Alcoholics are easy to spot: they look like unshaven bums with pork-pie hats!
2) AA should be the first place alcoholics go upon deciding to get sober.
3) Recovering alcoholics can still hang out at the bars with their old gang. They can just drink seltzer water or soda and it will be fun like the old days.
4) Atheists can't go to AA.
5) Alcoholics are tortured, mournful souls who live an up-and-down existence, living only for extreme highs and extreme lows.
1) Alcoholics are easy to spot: they look like unshaven bums with pork-pie hats!
2) AA should be the first place alcoholics go upon deciding to get sober.
3) Recovering alcoholics can still hang out at the bars with their old gang. They can just drink seltzer water or soda and it will be fun like the old days.
4) Atheists can't go to AA.
5) Alcoholics are tortured, mournful souls who live an up-and-down existence, living only for extreme highs and extreme lows.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Canada
Posts: 300
Alcoholics(or anyone drinking heavily) cannot play sports well.
Example: My ex-hockey team needed a callup. I organized a spot for my little brother(hes not actually little 6'4 250..). We did the ritual of doing my/our pregame drinking before stepping on the ice. Guess he had alittle more than he could handle - ridiculous behavior..ie; picking fights, verbal garbage, smashing the glass with his stick till it broke....the referee booted him right away. Obviously he was never allowed to play again. horribly embarrassing.
The next game a teammate made a comment to me saying, ''good thing your nothing like your brother... how did he possibly think he could play hockey drunk?''
Meanwhile, I was drunk..and we were getting dressed preparing to step on the ice.
At the time, I found this funny. This only fueled my drinking, thinking that I was on top of everything.
How wrong I was.
Pisses me off when people think that when someone is drinking they cant do anything that requires hand/eye coordination.
I was on the top line..
but now in early recovery...i don't even play.
oh well, got more important things to think about.
Example: My ex-hockey team needed a callup. I organized a spot for my little brother(hes not actually little 6'4 250..). We did the ritual of doing my/our pregame drinking before stepping on the ice. Guess he had alittle more than he could handle - ridiculous behavior..ie; picking fights, verbal garbage, smashing the glass with his stick till it broke....the referee booted him right away. Obviously he was never allowed to play again. horribly embarrassing.
The next game a teammate made a comment to me saying, ''good thing your nothing like your brother... how did he possibly think he could play hockey drunk?''
Meanwhile, I was drunk..and we were getting dressed preparing to step on the ice.
At the time, I found this funny. This only fueled my drinking, thinking that I was on top of everything.
How wrong I was.
Pisses me off when people think that when someone is drinking they cant do anything that requires hand/eye coordination.
I was on the top line..
but now in early recovery...i don't even play.
oh well, got more important things to think about.
voices ca**y
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: St. Paul Minnesota
Posts: 4,359
Originally Posted by BackToSquareOne
One of the most destructive myths for me was that alcoholics can't stop for periods of time or that they can't drink normally for brief periods. I wonder how many others didn't use this misinformation to justify their drinking
Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Soberville
Posts: 38
Originally Posted by KateL
I am not self centred at all fundamentally never have been. Of course I was like a lunatic when I was drinking but that wasn't me. I am/was an alcoholic, whatever you want to call it. But still, if someone calls me self centred, I would find that extremely rude.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Michigan
Posts: 164
Originally Posted by MaxxPower
Alcoholics(or anyone drinking heavily) cannot play sports well.
Example: My ex-hockey team needed a callup. I organized a spot for my little brother(hes not actually little 6'4 250..). We did the ritual of doing my/our pregame drinking before stepping on the ice. Guess he had alittle more than he could handle - ridiculous behavior..ie; picking fights, verbal garbage, smashing the glass with his stick till it broke....the referee booted him right away. Obviously he was never allowed to play again. horribly embarrassing.
The next game a teammate made a comment to me saying, ''good thing your nothing like your brother... how did he possibly think he could play hockey drunk?''
Meanwhile, I was drunk..and we were getting dressed preparing to step on the ice.
At the time, I found this funny. This only fueled my drinking, thinking that I was on top of everything.
How wrong I was.
Pisses me off when people think that when someone is drinking they cant do anything that requires hand/eye coordination.
I was on the top line..
but now in early recovery...i don't even play.
oh well, got more important things to think about.
Example: My ex-hockey team needed a callup. I organized a spot for my little brother(hes not actually little 6'4 250..). We did the ritual of doing my/our pregame drinking before stepping on the ice. Guess he had alittle more than he could handle - ridiculous behavior..ie; picking fights, verbal garbage, smashing the glass with his stick till it broke....the referee booted him right away. Obviously he was never allowed to play again. horribly embarrassing.
The next game a teammate made a comment to me saying, ''good thing your nothing like your brother... how did he possibly think he could play hockey drunk?''
Meanwhile, I was drunk..and we were getting dressed preparing to step on the ice.
At the time, I found this funny. This only fueled my drinking, thinking that I was on top of everything.
How wrong I was.
Pisses me off when people think that when someone is drinking they cant do anything that requires hand/eye coordination.
I was on the top line..
but now in early recovery...i don't even play.
oh well, got more important things to think about.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bethlehem, PA.
Posts: 1,781
Another thing I consider a big myth is that the very mild drinker has the same problem as the hard core drinker. I often hear that a desire to quit is all that matters and if you drank a few beers a day or a half gallon of vodka it's all the same problem. How on Gods green earth could that be true?
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