So answer me this ATOT: which behavior is more representative of alcoholism?

[JohnCU]

Originally posted by: NSFW

Originally posted by: JohnCU


liver problems =/= DTs, i've seen several stories of people who went through the withdrawal and saw spiders and stuff

And they were very far along in their alcoholism. Tallbill was saying that being dependent like that was the only sign of alcoholism.


I guess we need to break out the old school stuff

oh ok, duh i can't read

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: skyking

Originally posted by: zinfamous

Originally posted by: Arkitech

Originally posted by: skyking
It is defined by a pattern. if you have a pattern to your drinking and departing from that pattern takes any effort, you need to think about it.
A pattern can be the binge drinking, once I start I don't stop.
It can be the two beers every night.
It can be getting buzzed every friday night. Think back and try to remember when you did not do that one, for example. If you can't really remember when, try not doing that.
If not doing it really ruins your evening, that might make you think about it.

this is problem the best answer I've seen in this thread.

alcoholism is a dependency on alcohol. you don't have to get drunk to be an alcoholic, some people need their one drink a night to function, without it they have issues. that's the sign of alcoholism. and of course getting smashed frequently throughout the month is probably a clear sign of a problem

yes, but the current thought on a healthy diet includes one beer or one glass of wine every night. It's very true, but also constitutes a pattern by your description.

How can this both be considered healthy and a disease by the medical community? Overall, I tend to agree with your statement than an inability to break a buzz pattern can be a problem, but I think this becomes person specific.

I tend to think 2 beers every night is completely fine, but not everyone is going to manage a buzz off of only two beers, so it depends on the person. Are they going for the buzz specifically, or health benefit, or light buzz + health?

It is the psychological response to breaking that pattern that I am emphasizing.
Drink as much or as often as you want, but consider your response to breaking a pattern.
Therein lies the answer to the question.

:thumbsup: Agreed & well said

 

[speg]

Neither.

A combination of the two would be. Drinking excessively, at home alone.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: TallBill
A shit load of misinformation going around in here. Alcoholism is when your body is physically dependent on alcohol, simple as that. If you have a physical reaction to not drinking, then you are addicted.

When you drink, how much you drink, why you drink, and who it's with have nothing to do with being an alcoholic. They certainly lead to other problems, but are not determining factors in being an alcoholic.

You are, quite simply, wrong. What you list is a specific form of alcoholism, but not alcoholism itself.

Alcoholism starts FAR before the body forms a physical dependency. MOST people with moderation control problems will NOT suffer DTs when they stop. Only emotional and mental withdrawls.

Alcoholism begins when your intake of alcohol negatively affects your life and you do nothing to stop that. That can happen LONG before the physical dependancy starts.

In fact, most binge drinking alcoholics will NEVER suffer DTs when they quit.

DTs are only suffered by daily drinking alcoholics.

Any addiction, including alcoholism, is the inability to moderate. A physical dependency is only a possible manifestation of that, not the definition of addiction.

 

[Kyteland]

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Also, a good friend of my wife's husband is an alcoholic and his addiction to alcohol is destroying their marriage and his life.

I've seen the signs and know enough to recognize them.

Your wife's husband != you?

JulesMaximus has a wife
JulesMaximus's wife has a good friend
JulesMaximus's wife's good friend has a husband
He is an alcoholic

Parse it as (a good friend of my wife)'s husband not a good friend of my (wife's husband)

 

[sash1]

both!

 

[Farang]

People who search for alcoholism everywhere they look remind me of hypochondriacs.

 

[BladeVenom]

Alcoholism is mostly genetic. GABRG3

 

[CRXican]

Originally posted by: skace
I don't think the people who go to parties and drink excessively are necessarily alcoholics. In a lot of scenarios these are simply people who never drink, don't have any tolerance and don't know their limit. They get smashed and just go with it. While I don't think this behavior itself defines alcoholics, I think that these people often have to come to terms with a different problem that I wouldn't consider alcoholism. They come to terms with responsibility, that everyone doesn't enjoy them piss drunk, and that they can have a good time without getting that smashed. I think alcoholics are the ones that take it to the next level, to where their life functionality relies on alcohol, calming down, relaxing, etc. The ones that require that almost constant buzz that starts them down the path of systematically ramping up how much alcohol they need to consume.

The first part of your post described me exactly. Stupid and embarrassing. Developed bad drinking habits in college and took me too long to learn better.