Alcoholism

[rudeguy]

Alcoholism affects people from all different walks of life. It doesn't care if you are rich or poor, black or white, male or female.

It isn't a sign of weakness to not be able to control your drinking. Many people have tried to fight it with will power and knowledge and failed miserably. Alcoholism is a physical and mental condition that has no cure. There is a physical defect that causes alcoholics to not be able to process alcohol like a normal person. Basically once you put alcohol into your body, it triggers a reaction that makes your body crave more. The only thing you can do is to not put any alcohol into your body at all. The problem is the mental defect, an obsession if you will. An alcoholic will obsess about drinking any time he is not drinking. He will also obsess about not having enough to drink. That ties back into the physical defect.

There should be no shame in admitting your problem, yet shame is the most common emotion that alcoholics feel. They don't want to admit they have a problem and even after they do admit it, they never want to get the help they need. Imagining life without alcohol to them is like imagining life without sex of any kind. Its not something that seems possible.

If any of you do think you have a problem with alcohol, I would like to offer a couple of litmus tests. Knowing these early on can help you from hitting rock bottom.

1. Try drinking only 2 drinks. That means 2 12 ounce beers or 2 mixed drinks with one shot of alcohol. Try it a few times. An alcoholic cannot stop himself at just 2 or 3.

2. Try not drinking for a year. Yes, a whole year. If my first test hit home at all, I doubt you will be able to make it anything like a year. A couple of weeks of white knuckling it is probably all you can manage.

So what to do if you are alcoholic? Many of you know my personal experience with that. AA helped me. Some (very few) people find what they need in rehab. Others might like non-faith based programs that are offered. Anything is better than doing nothing. Just seek help.

I posted this to help clear up some of the common myths about alcoholism. What you drink or how often you drink doesn't really matter. Its how drinking affects your life that does matter. If anyone ever wants to talk about drinking or just wants someone to listen, I am here. I won't try to push my way of thinking on you, but I will help in any way I can.

Here are some very well written words on alcoholism. I hope this helps someone out there.

 

[Farang]

I'm an alcoholic probably but I think your second request is over the top. For non-alcoholics trying to test the waters that is too much to ask, that is like asking somebody to quit eating chocolate for a year as part of an experiment.

 

[theflyingpig]

The last time I drank, I went crazy and killed a bunch of big lizards. This was about 65 million years ago.

 

[rudeguy]

Originally posted by: Farang
I'm an alcoholic probably but I think your second request is over the top. For non-alcoholics trying to test the waters that is too much to ask, that is like asking somebody to quit eating chocolate for a year as part of an experiment.

There is a lady who challenges people to drink 2 drinks a day for 90 days. But only 2 drinks, no more, no less. I like that one better.

 

[Zim Hosein]

I appreciate the discussion on alcoholism that you are bringing to ATOT.

Cheers rudeguy! :soda;

 

[mundane]

Originally posted by: theflyingpig
The last time I drank, I went crazy and killed a bunch of big lizards. This was about 65 million years ago.

So I suppose you don't remember blacking out for about sixty years in Europe during the 14th century?

 

[nakedfrog]

And as an alternative to AA, some people like Smart Recovery.

 

[theflyingpig]

Originally posted by: mundane

Originally posted by: theflyingpig
The last time I drank, I went crazy and killed a bunch of big lizards. This was about 65 million years ago.

So I suppose you don't remember blacking out for about sixty years in Europe during the 14th century?

No, actually I don't.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

You say it's not a sign of weakness that you can't control your drinking. I would contend that your reliance on a "higher power", the need to consult a being that exists entirely in your crippled mind is a sign of weakness. A mental weakness that manifests itself in both your reliance on a fairy tale to get you from day to day, and your tendency to overindulge in alcohol. Flame me if you will, but this is my opinion.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: theflyingpig

Originally posted by: mundane

Originally posted by: theflyingpig
The last time I drank, I went crazy and killed a bunch of big lizards. This was about 65 million years ago.

So I suppose you don't remember blacking out for about sixty years in Europe during the 14th century?

No, actually I don't.

Dude, you're an alcoholic for sure.

 

[clamum]

I drink a decent amount but can stop at two. A whole year though? Damn.

 

[CRXican]

Originally posted by: clamum
I drink a decent amount but can stop at two. A whole year though? Damn.

I'm thinking the same thing but unfortunately for me there is a background of alcoholism on both sides of my family although neither my mother no father are included in that.

I developed bad drinking habits in college and after that it seemed I drank to get buzzed or drunk every time. Many a morning I could not recall the night before even if I didn't go too overboard.

I got tired of it and the talk about what alcoholism is (much like the original post) got me all freaked out and I haven't had a drop of alcohol since August 31st.

I thought about it for the first couple weeks but now that it's been a couple months it's really not something I miss too much. It's nice to be the designated driver that is truly sober rather than playing the "who is least drunk" game.

 

[FDF12389]

Originally posted by: clamum
I drink a decent amount but can stop at two. A whole year though? Damn.

Same.

 

[kevbot]

Hello. My name is Kevin, and i am an alcoholic. This disease is way more prevalent than most people care to admit. I'll bet that every one of us knows someone who is an alcoholic, or is one. There should be little shame for anyone caught up in this trap, but dealing with the problem is very difficult due to the fact that most alcoholics don't know how deep they are into it.

I've been lucky because I met a very good friend who is going through the same thing. With his help and support, I know I can beat this crap. I think it is insane that alcohol and tobacco are readily available to most adults, but at the same time they ruin so many lives.

Thanks to rudeguy for the post and the link.

People, please think about this stuff, and do whatever you need so you can remain in control of your life. Alcoholism ain't pretty and most people are completely fucked by the time they realize they have a problem.

To GodlessAstronomer, First of all, I have no beef with you or you opinion at all. But, if belief in a higher power gets someone into a position of taking control of their life, so what?? As long as no one tries to convert you to the dark side, let people do what they think will help. It isn't mental illness or weakness if that belief leads someone to their salvation and health, mentally and physically.

If you are ever in the Kansas City area in this country, look me up and lets have some fun in a non gay kind of way.

 

[clamum]

Originally posted by: CRXican

Originally posted by: clamum
I drink a decent amount but can stop at two. A whole year though? Damn.

I'm thinking the same thing but unfortunately for me there is a background of alcoholism on both sides of my family although neither my mother no father are included in that.

I developed bad drinking habits in college and after that it seemed I drank to get buzzed or drunk every time. Many a morning I could not recall the night before even if I didn't go too overboard.

I got tired of it and the talk about what alcoholism is (much like the original post) got me all freaked out and I haven't had a drop of alcohol since August 31st.

I thought about it for the first couple weeks but now that it's been a couple months it's really not something I miss too much. It's nice to be the designated driver that is truly sober rather than playing the "who is least drunk" game.

It runs on both sides of my family as well. I'm not as bad as I was a year ago but even thinking back then, why did I need to drink so much when I got past the first 20+ years of my life without drinking anything like that?

 

[Mo0o]

Does anyone dislike the taste of hard alcohol? Honestly I've never developed a huge taste for it. I can drink a G&T or Vodka Tonic but really I would much rather just have a beer.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Originally posted by: Mo0o
Does anyone dislike the taste of hard alcohol? Honestly I've never developed a huge taste for it. I can drink a G&T or Vodka Tonic but really I would much rather just have a beer.

I can drink bourbon with coke or ginger ale as long as it's not too strong, but generally I'm with you. I get a much greater pleasure sucking back a cold lager than hard liquor.

 

[CRXican]

Originally posted by: clamum

Originally posted by: CRXican

Originally posted by: clamum
I drink a decent amount but can stop at two. A whole year though? Damn.

I'm thinking the same thing but unfortunately for me there is a background of alcoholism on both sides of my family although neither my mother no father are included in that.

I developed bad drinking habits in college and after that it seemed I drank to get buzzed or drunk every time. Many a morning I could not recall the night before even if I didn't go too overboard.

I got tired of it and the talk about what alcoholism is (much like the original post) got me all freaked out and I haven't had a drop of alcohol since August 31st.

I thought about it for the first couple weeks but now that it's been a couple months it's really not something I miss too much. It's nice to be the designated driver that is truly sober rather than playing the "who is least drunk" game.

It runs on both sides of my family as well. I'm not as bad as I was a year ago but even thinking back then, why did I need to drink so much when I got past the first 20+ years of my life without drinking anything like that?

Tis a good question. I myself am 24. That was another scary part. I would say I drank the most in the past year than in the previous years. To think I might only be through 1/3 of my life and making a decision to give up something so early that so many other people enjoy without a second thought.

 

[moonbit]

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
You say it's not a sign of weakness that you can't control your drinking. I would contend that your reliance on a "higher power", the need to consult a being that exists entirely in your crippled mind is a sign of weakness. A mental weakness that manifests itself in both your reliance on a fairy tale to get you from day to day, and your tendency to overindulge in alcohol. Flame me if you will, but this is my opinion.

Many come to rely on a Higher Power because they accept there is nothing they can control in this life but themselves and their actions.

How is personal responsibility a weakness? Does the cause matter if the result is a human being that is acting with more responsibility in the world?

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: Mo0o
Does anyone dislike the taste of hard alcohol? Honestly I've never developed a huge taste for it. I can drink a G&T or Vodka Tonic but really I would much rather just have a beer.

Not gin or vodka, but I can easily sip whiskey (as long as it's not Canadian) with no issues.

 

[Loreena]

I have some 89% vol absinthe but am afraid to drink it straight.

 

[Xyclone]

Originally posted by: Mo0o
Does anyone dislike the taste of hard alcohol? Honestly I've never developed a huge taste for it. I can drink a G&T or Vodka Tonic but really I would much rather just have a beer.

Ever since I started smoking weed my desire to drink has almost disappeared (only drank twice during senior year of HS), and I can't stand the taste of hard alcohol anymore. I am indifferent to the taste of regular (domestic/run-of-the-mill import [Heineken/Corona] beer), but I drink it so rarely that it probably doesn't count. Now, being served freshly brewed and chilled beer from a pub in Austria that brewed it itself is a different story (/drool).

 

[sash1]

Originally posted by: Mo0o
Does anyone dislike the taste of hard alcohol? Honestly I've never developed a huge taste for it. I can drink a G&T or Vodka Tonic but really I would much rather just have a beer.

bad experiences with vodka = i can't drink straight vodka anymore, but anything else i can take shots of no problem

 

[Xyclone]

Originally posted by: Loreena
I have some 89% vol absinthe but am afraid to drink it straight.

It will burn like crazy. I had it served to me the correct way in a bar in Armenia (over the sugar cube on the spoon, lit on fire, etc.), and on its way down my body was telling me "WTF is this shit, take it out of me," burning all the way down, but other than that, it is just very strong, licorice tasting alcohol. Don't expect to get any psychoactive properties from the thujone in it, since it is not related to THC.

 

[CRXican]

This thread went south. Let's talk about what we drink in the alcoholism thread!

I have two bottles of Absinthe in my closet