Ever been addicted to alcohol?

[JohnCU]

I didn't start drinking until I was 21 in college but since then, it's been downhill. I don't consider myself an alcoholic since it doesn't interfere with my job or life, but it has added a lot of weight and stomach problems yet I can't seem to stop, since everytime I try to stop I either get bored and drink or I'm out with friends/coworkers and drinking starts anyway.

 

[49erinnc]

Originally posted by: JohnCU
I didn't start drinking until I was 21 in college but since then, it's been downhill. I don't consider myself an alcoholic since it doesn't interfere with my job or life, but it has added a lot of weight and stomach problems yet I can't seem to stop, since everytime I try to stop I either get bored and drink or I'm out with friends/coworkers and drinking starts anyway.

You don't consider yourself an alcoholic but yet you state you can't seem to stop. Sounds like you have a problem to me and ATOT definitely isn't the place to seek help for something that serious. You may be in denial about your problem and I'd suggest seeing someone about it.

 

[Safeway]

For most people, once addicted, always addicted.

Further, if you are only allowed to ask a person one question to help determine if they are an alcoholic, you should ask, "Have you ever tried to stop drinking, but failed?"

 

[JohnCU]

Originally posted by: 49erinnc

Originally posted by: JohnCU
I didn't start drinking until I was 21 in college but since then, it's been downhill. I don't consider myself an alcoholic since it doesn't interfere with my job or life, but it has added a lot of weight and stomach problems yet I can't seem to stop, since everytime I try to stop I either get bored and drink or I'm out with friends/coworkers and drinking starts anyway.

You don't consider yourself an alcoholic but yet you state you can't seem to stop. Sounds like you have a problem to me and ATOT definitely isn't the place to seek help for something that serious. You may be in denial about your problem and I'd suggest seeing someone about it.

Alcoholism is defined as alcohol interfering with your life, correct?

 

[JohnCU]

Originally posted by: Safeway
For most people, once addicted, always addicted.

Further, if you are only allowed to ask a person one question to help determine if they are an alcoholic, you should ask, "Have you ever tried to stop drinking, but failed?"

that's depressing. and the "gene' runs in my family, more depressing.

 

[MrPickins]

Originally posted by: JohnCU


Alcoholism is defined as alcohol interfering with your life, correct?

Only in the simplest of terms.

BTW, not being ably to quit is an interference in your life.

Get professional help.

 

[RollWave]

Originally posted by: JohnCU

Originally posted by: 49erinnc

Originally posted by: JohnCU
I didn't start drinking until I was 21 in college but since then, it's been downhill. I don't consider myself an alcoholic since it doesn't interfere with my job or life, but it has added a lot of weight and stomach problems yet I can't seem to stop, since everytime I try to stop I either get bored and drink or I'm out with friends/coworkers and drinking starts anyway.

You don't consider yourself an alcoholic but yet you state you can't seem to stop. Sounds like you have a problem to me and ATOT definitely isn't the place to seek help for something that serious. You may be in denial about your problem and I'd suggest seeing someone about it.

Alcoholism is defined as alcohol interfering with your life, correct?

False. There are people who become "functional" alcoholics...alcohol eventually invades all aspects of their lives and they find ways to adjust to always being drunk...

They speak slower to avoid slurring, drive slower to avoid getting pulled over, etc. etc.


SEEK HELP. Get off the sauce.

 

[Safeway]

Originally posted by: JohnCU

Originally posted by: Safeway
For most people, once addicted, always addicted.

Further, if you are only allowed to ask a person one question to help determine if they are an alcoholic, you should ask, "Have you ever tried to stop drinking, but failed?"

that's depressing. and the "gene' runs in my family, more depressing.

Then you are at high risk to develop an alcohol dependency, that is, if you haven't already. Alcohol dependency stems from an imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain. Alcohol affects this chemical production, and makes your brain feel 'normalized'. Thus, your brain craves alcohol.

 

[Safeway]

Originally posted by: MrPickins

Originally posted by: JohnCU


Alcoholism is defined as alcohol interfering with your life, correct?

Only in the simplest of terms.

BTW, not being ably to quit is an interference in your life.

Get professional help.

I disagree. Alcoholism is the abuse of alcohol. Plain and simple.

 

[JohnCU]

Originally posted by: Safeway

Originally posted by: JohnCU

Originally posted by: Safeway
For most people, once addicted, always addicted.

Further, if you are only allowed to ask a person one question to help determine if they are an alcoholic, you should ask, "Have you ever tried to stop drinking, but failed?"

that's depressing. and the "gene' runs in my family, more depressing.

Then you are at high risk to develop an alcohol dependency, that is, if you haven't already. Alcohol dependency stems from an imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain. Alcohol affects this chemical production, and makes your brain feel 'normalized'. Thus, your brain craves alcohol.

Which neurotransmitters? My research only indicates the inhibition of GABA which causes anxiety after a long binge and then withdrawing, since the body then has no alcohol nor GABA.

 

[SoulAssassin]

I used to get the shakes in college if I didn't drink for 3 or 4 days.

 

[MrPickins]

Originally posted by: Safeway

Originally posted by: MrPickins

Originally posted by: JohnCU


Alcoholism is defined as alcohol interfering with your life, correct?

Only in the simplest of terms.

BTW, not being ably to quit is an interference in your life.

Get professional help.

I disagree. Alcoholism is the abuse of alcohol. Plain and simple.

I agree with you with one minor change: Alcoholism is the chronic abuse of alcohol.

I very rarely drink, but when I do, I often carry it to the level of abuse.

 

[JohnCU]

Originally posted by: SoulAssassin
I used to get the shakes in college if I didn't drink for 3 or 4 days.

did you recover when you graduated?

 

[DainBramaged]

For me, it's not that I cannot stop, it's that there is nothing else to do around here in Rockford. If you want to hang out with friends, what do you do?

 

[JohnCU]

Originally posted by: DainBramaged
For me, it's not that I cannot stop, it's that there is nothing else to do around here in Rockford. If you want to hang out with friends, what do you do?

Seriously, everyone drinks here, even when I went to a conference for work this week, people were drunk every night.

 

[Safeway]

Originally posted by: JohnCU

Originally posted by: Safeway

Originally posted by: JohnCU

Originally posted by: Safeway
For most people, once addicted, always addicted.

Further, if you are only allowed to ask a person one question to help determine if they are an alcoholic, you should ask, "Have you ever tried to stop drinking, but failed?"

that's depressing. and the "gene' runs in my family, more depressing.

Then you are at high risk to develop an alcohol dependency, that is, if you haven't already. Alcohol dependency stems from an imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain. Alcohol affects this chemical production, and makes your brain feel 'normalized'. Thus, your brain craves alcohol.

Which neurotransmitters? My research only indicates the inhibition of GABA which causes anxiety after a long binge and then withdrawing, since the body then has no alcohol nor GABA.

My girlfriend is currently doing research on this very subject. Can't get descriptive, but I'll chat with her and send you a PM.

 

[JohnCU]

Originally posted by: Safeway

Originally posted by: JohnCU

Originally posted by: Safeway

Originally posted by: JohnCU

Originally posted by: Safeway
For most people, once addicted, always addicted.

Further, if you are only allowed to ask a person one question to help determine if they are an alcoholic, you should ask, "Have you ever tried to stop drinking, but failed?"

that's depressing. and the "gene' runs in my family, more depressing.

Then you are at high risk to develop an alcohol dependency, that is, if you haven't already. Alcohol dependency stems from an imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain. Alcohol affects this chemical production, and makes your brain feel 'normalized'. Thus, your brain craves alcohol.

Which neurotransmitters? My research only indicates the inhibition of GABA which causes anxiety after a long binge and then withdrawing, since the body then has no alcohol nor GABA.

My girlfriend is currently doing research on this very subject. Can't get descriptive, but I'll chat with her and send you a PM.

i'd appreciate it, thanks.

 

[PHiuR]

I seem to only be "addicted" to alcohol when I'm around people who drink, otherwise I don't get out of my way to drink.

We all need to be addicted to something.

 

[Rogodin2]

I have a problem with Alcohol as well. My personal litmus test for 'alcoholism' is the paddle.

IF you need brew on your paddle then you're an alc.

Alcohol is really a poisen. You should stop drinking, as should I.

Goodluck.

Rogo

 

[pyonir]

Addicted? Not yet...but it's the target.

 

[Platypus]

Yeah I believe so but definitely not anymore. I'll chat about it via PM or AIM but I'm not going to get into details here.

 

[eldorado99]

I would like to hear any advice people have on the subject as well. I have struggled with alcoholism at times, I believe I have never had it get bad enough to have any really serious effects on my life, but I believe I may not be that far off. What did you guys do to kick the habit? (those of you that had it)

 

[db]

Originally posted by: JohnCU
I can't seem to stop

-->When you can't control it, you are an alcoholic.<--

Please seek treatment.

If you have medical insurance, it usually covers treatment.

 

[SoulAssassin]

Originally posted by: JohnCU

Originally posted by: SoulAssassin
I used to get the shakes in college if I didn't drink for 3 or 4 days.

did you recover when you graduated?

To say I recovered would imply that there was something wrong. I would say that I was living a pretty normal college life. To more directly answer your question, I haven't had the shakes from not drinking in a long long time. I still drink often and when I do it usually falls under the definition of binge drinking but nowhere near the level of a college student. H3ll, my 21 year old 105lb sister could probably drink me under the table now. Then again she can put down straight shots of vodka like nobody I know.

 

[anxi80]

Originally posted by: pyonir
Addicted? Not yet...but it's the target.

im going to slightly modify a famous quote by david lee roth...

"i used to have a drinking problem... now i can afford it!"