DSM IV Criteria for Alcoholism - no I'm not a fool after all.
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Alabama
Posts: 28
DSM IV Criteria for Alcoholism - no I'm not a fool after all.
OK, So tonights' obsession centered around my wondering if my AGF is REALLY an alcoholic. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe it's me. Maybe I'm too needy. Maybe she's just eccentric. It all boils down to making excuses for her. I realized this nugget of truth after two hours of research on the internet. This is what finally got it thru my thick head. Hope it helps you guys.
DSM IV Criteria for alcoholism consists of a maladaptive pattern of use with three or more of the following dependence symptoms in the last 12 months.
1. tolerance - yep
2. withdrawal - she hasn't quit long enough for me to observe
3. drinking more than intended - she won't admit to this
4. unsuccessful attempts to cut down on use - yep
5. excessive time related to use - obtaining, hangover - oh yeah
6. impaired social or work activities related to alcohol - late to work every
week, leaves early, excessive call ins,
7. use despite physical or psychological consequences - she's had a stomuch
by-pass surgery and is not supposed to ever drink again.
In addition one or more of the following abuse symptoms is required.
1. role impairment - failled home or work obligations - loss of important
contract and blaming it on her assistant.
2. hazardous use - driving under the influence - yep all the time
3. legal problems related to alcohol use - no
4. social or interpersonal problems due to alcohol use - Well, I'm not with her
because of her drinking, so yes.
So thats 5/7 and 3/4 criteria met (that I'm sure about - giving her the benefit of the doubt on the rest, as if I need to). OK, I'm a scientist and I have to see emperical evidence rather than subjective. That's pretty convincing to me. It's amazing, I would rather prove myself to be a fool than be right about this. That's how nuts i've become over this girl. That's what's been going thru my head today. I'm powerless over this disease. The sooner I accept this fact fully, the sooner I can get my life back on track.
Just needed to vent.
DSM IV Criteria for alcoholism consists of a maladaptive pattern of use with three or more of the following dependence symptoms in the last 12 months.
1. tolerance - yep
2. withdrawal - she hasn't quit long enough for me to observe
3. drinking more than intended - she won't admit to this
4. unsuccessful attempts to cut down on use - yep
5. excessive time related to use - obtaining, hangover - oh yeah
6. impaired social or work activities related to alcohol - late to work every
week, leaves early, excessive call ins,
7. use despite physical or psychological consequences - she's had a stomuch
by-pass surgery and is not supposed to ever drink again.
In addition one or more of the following abuse symptoms is required.
1. role impairment - failled home or work obligations - loss of important
contract and blaming it on her assistant.
2. hazardous use - driving under the influence - yep all the time
3. legal problems related to alcohol use - no
4. social or interpersonal problems due to alcohol use - Well, I'm not with her
because of her drinking, so yes.
So thats 5/7 and 3/4 criteria met (that I'm sure about - giving her the benefit of the doubt on the rest, as if I need to). OK, I'm a scientist and I have to see emperical evidence rather than subjective. That's pretty convincing to me. It's amazing, I would rather prove myself to be a fool than be right about this. That's how nuts i've become over this girl. That's what's been going thru my head today. I'm powerless over this disease. The sooner I accept this fact fully, the sooner I can get my life back on track.
Just needed to vent.
Last edited by rookknight65; 12-12-2005 at 07:14 PM. Reason: typos
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Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Litterbox City
Posts: 5,691
rookknight - yep - been down that road when i first got into recovery myself. acceptance of our powerlessness was the key for me and took a long time. vent away - that's what this place is all about.
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 782
Hi Rook,
I definitely went through the "is he or isn't he" thing when I first started realizing that something was amiss. In all honesty, sometimes I even revert straight back to that, hoping that maybe, just maybe I have been wrong all this time. SR has been witness to that a few too many times.
Here's what I've been told over and over and over (still trying to get it to fully sink in...)
Whew! Did I do that good or what??? Maybe I am retaining this stuff! Still trying to put it to practice daily though...
I definitely went through the "is he or isn't he" thing when I first started realizing that something was amiss. In all honesty, sometimes I even revert straight back to that, hoping that maybe, just maybe I have been wrong all this time. SR has been witness to that a few too many times.
Here's what I've been told over and over and over (still trying to get it to fully sink in...)
Originally Posted by EveryoneOnSR
It does not matter whether or not she is an alcoholic. What does matter is how you feel about her drinking. Is this behavior you are willing to tolerate for the rest of your life? Even if she is not a true diagnosed alcoholic, are you happy with the way she's drinking? Is her drinking affecting your life? Then it's a problem.
Maybe I am retaining this stuff! Still trying to put it to practice daily though...
How Important Is It?
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Cyberia
Posts: 612
Yeah, me too.
I think they call it denial.
I spent a lot of time trying to convince myself that my daughter was just a "problem drinker" or a "binge drinker", because the alternative was pretty horrible.
Fast forward to today - I'm doing my best to live one day at a time, and follow my program to the best of my ability. One of the amazing promises of Al-anon is that you can gain serenity, whether the alcoholic is still drinking or not.
Blessings
Robin
I think they call it denial.
I spent a lot of time trying to convince myself that my daughter was just a "problem drinker" or a "binge drinker", because the alternative was pretty horrible.
Fast forward to today - I'm doing my best to live one day at a time, and follow my program to the best of my ability. One of the amazing promises of Al-anon is that you can gain serenity, whether the alcoholic is still drinking or not.
Blessings
Robin
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