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Alcoholism - does it scare you?
Posted by Alcomum • 10/19/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: addiction, alcohol, recovery
Had a bit of a wake up call at my therapy session this morning...
alcomum.blogspot.com/2009/10/smelling-coffee.html
I truly had no idea I was alcoholic until 7 months ago. And looking at the progressive nature of the disease from a medical perspective today made me marvel that I didn't see it coming. But then that is the insidious nature of this thing.
Do those of you who drink ever worry about addiction?
User Comments
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No-
That's because you pass out after 2 beers... -
exactly, that's the real reason he got fired from that brewery job -
Do not!
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are you up to 3 now?
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I could drink you under the table pretty-boy
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Bring it monkey man
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you don't even know how badly I will destroy you!
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Not badly, I'm guessing. I'm pretty sure your women will make you be home by 9...
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I don't have a curfew!
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That's not what I heard.
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lol - if you can take it or leave it or reserve it for competitions (!!) I guess you have no need to worry!
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I don't drink enough to even begin to worry about it, but I'm glad you posted the question because your blog is excellent, and I think that the principles you're writing about have a lot of relevance for all of us, with or without addictions.-
Hear, hear. -
Thank you for that both of you.
They say in AA that inability to cope with life led us to drink. Setting down the alcohol is just the beginning of recovery. After that, life is still there. So recovery then becomes about acquiring the tools to cope with life. I guess everyone - addicts or not - can relate to having struggles and wanting to know how to get by.
I like knowing it isn't just me!
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No
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not particularly, daily beer review doesn't necessarily mean drunk
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I had a conversation about daily drinking with a friend of mine yesterday who has 2 glasses of wine every night then jus put the cork back in the bottle and gets on with ironing school uniforms and doing whatever else. Was a foreign language to me. Even after 7 months off booze, people talking about having one or two still doesn't make any sense. I understand that it happens. I also understand it will never happen to me!
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I like the taste sometimes but I would rather drink soda.
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BC being what it is, I am mortally scared of how alcohol might be like -
Yes, indeed.
Trouble with alcoholism is ....there is no way to identify *which drink* will trigger addiction. Some folks manage to avoid addiction, others become hooked after the first drink and still others can drink 'socially' for years until that one drink sends them over the edge to alcoholism.
One of my favorite quotes about acknowledging alcoholism and going into treatment: 'you know you've hit bottom when things get worse faster than you can lower your standards.'-
I like that. And I like your new avatar!! Haven't seen you in a while, so glad to hear from you.
I remember hearing early on in AA that if a person regularly drinks more than they intend to and/or regularly cannot guarantee their behaviour once starting drinking, they may have a problem wth alcohol. But I agree - a person won't necessary see that coming. They may just realise one day that they are there. But hopefully in an early enough stage to get help. -
Thanks for the warm welcome back! Since my teenage grandson moved in, most of my time is devoted to studying so I can help with his homework. High school has changed a great deal since I graduated in '68 ... it seems science courses have been completely rewritten, and it's all I can do to *lift* his history textbook.
When I commented on the size of the book, he said with a straight face, ' Well, Grandma ...it has been a long time since you were a kid. Your textbooks were smaller because there wasn't very much history for you to learn.'
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"Worry" isn't the verb I'd use.
I had a serious drinking problem, a couple decades back. I didn't test out as being an alcoholic - quite. But I realized that a problem existed. A concern? Yes. Worry: that implies an emotional state which didn't happen.
I knew I had a problem. And, eventually, dealt with it. I'm not a 'teetotaler' these days, but my drinking is limited strictly to the one-glass-of-wine at a wedding sort of thing.
As to the seriousness of alcohol abuse: yeah, it's a big problem. Happily, I've seen a shift in attitude toward booze - away from 'good old boy' indulgence and wacky abolitionism, toward a reasoned view that a few drinks won't kill you - unless you're driving later - but that it's not a good idea to be drunk. Certainly not on a regular basis.
But, I haven't made a serious study of the matter - that's just the impression I have.-
I think that sounds very sensible.
As I said though, having one or two isn't something I will probably ever understand. Being drunk is... But yours is definitely the message I will be raising my kids with. -
i'm an alcoholic myself..I used to drink a 12 pack a day..2 yrs ago..I went to A.A. did the twelve step thing..it was ok..not dissing on it at all..its great for some people..but I found that everytime I got out of a meeting..I wanted to drink..so i quit cold turkey for about a yr..now i just drink a glass of wine on occasion..at weddings, out to dinner..celebrations..but not a heavy drinker anymore..I guess you call it social drinking..but I was a full blown alcy..but you can change that with help of friends and support..not necessarily A.A. -
I couldn't. I tried many times, but couldn't. Having one or two drinks occasionally really is something that - even now! - makes no sense to me! I have only been able to not drink for the last 8 months because of what I have learned in AA. Well done to you for making such a huge change. I hope you stay well.
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I read - skimmed, actually - your post ( alcomum.blogspot.com/2009/10/smelling-coffee.html ). Kudos on your self-examination.
On a tangent: I don't think "skepticism" is always a bad thing. Over the decades I've learned to be skeptical about the occasionally-wild claims that everything causes cancer, or heart disease, or whatever the health craze of the year was.
On the other hand, sometimes there's real evidence that a problem exists.-
thanks for the kudos :-)
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I did but after a year of rehab and 2 years working in one, its less of a problem in my life these days!!-
Congratulations on successful sobriety! From experience, I know you had to make some serious and difficult changes to reach such a milestone. Good job.
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well done you!
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Scare me? Or Just annoy me? I find that a lot of men I meet and date have/had issues with alchohol. Would we all agree that drinking nine beers in one night qualifies as alchoholism or not?? Just wondering?-
depends, do they want one (a drink that is ) when they wake up the next morning?
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Eh....could be A LOT worse. -
That sounds more like binge drinking. Which isn't (quite) the same as alcoholism. And which is a problem.
I haven't done the math, but my guess is that even a six-foot-nine, 290-pound mass of bone and muscle would have trouble metabolizing nine beers, consumed in a night (four to six hours?).
I've known some big, hearty chaps in my day - but that does seem excessive. -
I think that depends on how old you are (or rather, how old the men you're dating are). What you describe here I recall as being fairly common weekend behavior among many men in college, and most of those I know walked away from it with little apparent trouble and became normal "social drinkers" when they moved into the adult world.
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Alcoholism is a disease in itself and drinking is only one symptom. Amounts seem to be irrelevant. It's NEEDING to drink that may to point to alcoholism. Some people are simply heavy drinkers, but they choose to be. An alcoholic can't help but drink.
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Yes, I think so, binge drinking is alcoholism.
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I was raised by two alchoholics. Because of that my risk of alcoholism is EXTREMELY high. I drink wine for the most part, though not every day. I don't often get drunk to the point of having blackouts but it does happen. According to doctors I've already spoken to I AM an alcoholic, which I don't believe at all. I think the standard for what they consider to be alcoholic is considerably low. I have never hurt myself or anyone else while drinking, nor have I ever done anything I regret. I'm also very healthy.
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"Alcoholism" seems to mean different things to different people.
Your wacky teetotaler might define "alcoholism" as having once sipped from a glass of wine, and liking it.
Princeton's WordNet defines alcoholism as "habitual intoxication; prolonged and excessive intake of alcoholic drinks leading to a breakdown in health and an addiction to alcohol such that abrupt deprivation leads to severe withdrawal symptoms" or "an intense persistent desire to drink alcoholic beverages to excess" ( wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=alcoholism )
The American Centers for Disease Control has a pretty good FAQ on alcohol use and abuse ( www.cdc.gov/alcohol/faqs.htm ) (Which includes this: "...There is no one definition of moderate drinking...." But that alcoholism is a "diagnosable disease".)
Another interesting CDC resource is a stats page on binge drinking. ( www.cdc.gov/alcohol/quickstats/binge_drinking.htm )
I have no idea what sort of doctors you've gone to.
Please allow me to share this old coot's personal experience: I was not, quite, an alcoholic by medical standards. And, I was - in my mid-twenties - quite healthy (apart from a couple of seriously defective joints).
My problem was what the CDC refers to as "alcohol abuse" - rather serious abuse.
I suspect that my behavior then may have contributed to my having diabetes now. I'd probably have more problems, but I've been blessed with a body that's been able to absorb quite a lot of neglect and abuse.
There were reasons why I was anesthetizing myself at the time - but if I'd had the experience, knowledge and (perhaps) wisdom I have now, then, I like to think I'd find another method of dealing with life. -
Alcoholics obsess about alcohol, whether drinking or not. If you don't have an obsession and you can regulate what and how much you drink that sounds positive. And it is good you know you may already have a predisposition to alcoholism - you can be on the alert then.
Any doctor I have seen has said the key point is dependency on alcohol. If you don't need it, then hopefully you are ok.
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I've never been attracted to alcohol or drugs of any kind. I cope with life by trying to enjoy it, by being grateful and peaceful.-
I'm happy for you.
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must be nice not to be obsessive! i hope I can say that some day :-p
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you never liked drinking coffee or pulling a drag off a sweet, sweet cigarette?
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Marty, Sometimes I Envy You!
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I only drink when I'm around groups of people so no, not worried at all. -
Alcoholism runs in my family; two uncles died at age of 40, my father was an alcoholic and drank most of his life. I know that I am pre-disposed and once had an experience of after consuming a lot of alcohol one night in college, I awoke the next morning craving more. That thought in my head, I want a drink, I need a drink....was like a kick in the gut, a voice not my own was speaking. I took that as a warning and am very careful. I will have a glass of wine or 1 alcohol drink, just one. I know who I am and where I come from. I choose not to become one.
I have to say that I think if you are having blackouts from alcohol...you have a problem. If you drink to numb yourself, seek other sources of working out your problems. Alcohol in excess creates jackasses for spouses/partners and eventually end up alone...it is a selfish habit. --just my two cents.-
It's really good that you have been able to have that awareness and make definite choices. It seems to be that once alcoholism takes hold, all choice is removed. It sounds kind of a cop out as I type it, but I know that I needed to drink in the last few years before I got into recovery and towards the end there were times I didn't want to drink but had to anyway.
Looking back, the whole thing was a bit of a conundrum. -
When I took Microbiology in College, my professor theorized--and I agree with him--that alcoholism goes to the core of metabolism, to the Kreb Cycle, and the "victim's" body craves the sugar from ETOH for the kreb cycle/fuel...once the kreb cycle became adjusted to use this sugar it wanted no other...therefore, the disease process began. I do know it is horrible and nearly impossible to overcome; as a young girl in my 20's I took my Dad to rehab many times after he tried to detox on his own. I wish you well.
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Thaks Victoria - sorry am only picking up your reply now! It is so good to see someone who isn't a sufferer consider the "science" of this disease. For the most part while in receovery, I have been amazed by how understanding and supportive people are. But there are times I have been equally amazed by reactions such as "just don't do it" with no real understanding of what's involved.
Thank you for your kind wishes.
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No, I've never drunk it regular enough to get hooked. And I certainly hope I never need it as a crutch.-
I hope so too
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I realized I was an alcoholic when making sure I had a next drink was a priority just as making sure I never ran out of cigarettes. I struggled with it for 30 plus years.
Severely. It was the only thing I knew that could fill a life-long void within me. Finally I realized it was NOT filling that void, only making that emptiness inside deeper. But realizing such could not make me stop. The addiction had overcome everything else. I yo-yoed in and out of AA for years - getting periods of dryness, then lying to myself that "this time" I can handle it. And could not. One drink. Then 2. Then making sure I had a six-pack. Then switching to Rum, easier to carry home, hide under my car seat, pretend it was not there - and down the Rabbit Hole again.
18 months ago I hit a true bottom - for me. I literally bounced off the lid of a coffin. Thankfully the lid was closed and I rolled off. Spent 18 days in extreme detox under 24-hour nurse supervision at the VA Hospital. Today I am not just dry, I am hopefully becoming truly sober. Realizing that only the 1st step in my AA recovery program is about alcohol. The other 11 steps ARE about living SOBER.
A day at a time. I attend 5 to 6 meetings a week. Not only need them. I want them. For whatever reason my Higher Power gave me a repreive. I had passed out in public the last time (I have no memory of this) and a good citizen called 9-11. The doctors told me later if I had passed out in my apartment - which was fairly common occurance - I would NOT have lived through that night. My body was so saturated with alcohol that it was clear I had been drinking heavily - and not eating - for at least five days. Again no memory.
But alive today. And thanks to you and all fellow alcoholics who come into AA and share your stories, helps me to accept mine.
Thank you.-
God Rivy, that's amazing. I'm SO glad you are in AA and giving it a go. And you are right - the Steps aren't about quitting booze, but give us the tools to help us get through life after we have admitted we need to quit.
I'm so pleased you got your reprieve that day. And that we both get a reprieve every day by simply doing what is suggested.
Thanks for sharing your story. It is a privilege to have met you on here. -
Thumbs Up Ralph!
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ABSOLUTELY!!! I'm pre-disposed to addictive personality...my dad committed suicide,due to chemical dependancy,my mother and ex-stepfather are both members of AA...I won't even drink in front of my mother-
maybe sometimes fear ain't a bad thing?
but knowledge can definitely be powerful. it's great that you know you have a predisposition and can do something about it.
sorry about your dad :-( -
Exactly!!! I am so careful when I drink. I only allow myself to splurgee on fridays.
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My entire family suffers from alcoholism, I have had alcohol poison twice in my life... but it does not scare me. I embrace the face that it's there, and simply adjust me behaviors to avoid falling back into it. Ever since I had the kids my drinking died down alot. Now its once every few months at someone else's home instead of once every few hours in my own -
My mothers an alcoholic and it ruined her life. She is also undependable and irresponsible, can't keep a job, etc... Some of these characteristics may have contributed to her alcoholism and some may have been caused by it. AA doesn't help unless they want to quit. -
Yea,u definately have to want to quit
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I agree - my sponsor tells me all the time that recovery isn't for those who need it, because thousands of people need it. It requires effort and so you have to want it. I didn't want to quit drinking when I first went to AA. I wanted to learn to control my drinking better. But instead I learned that I have to not take that first drink just for today. That's it. And that turned into days. Then weeks. And now months. There is no guarantee that I will never drink again. But no one is asking me to give one. I just have to not do it for today. And when that gets sticky, I get help.
So far so good. A day at a time.-
that is wonderful..i'm glad its working out for you..it does work..
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Nope..I have stopped it many times.-
I stopped many times too. It was staying stopped that I found problematic!
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Never Was An Alcoholic.
Yes, These Days I Am Scared Of An Addiction Of A Different Kind.
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I Have Craftfully Closed LIFE In A Fortified Wooden Box For Until I'M Back, Once Again! May Be!-
em, ok!
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Wait till i learn to input images in discussion.I want to share an awesome pic with you ppl
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have you ever wondered?
people put organs in alcohol to preserve it..but why doesnt it preserve the internal organs if we put alcohol in us-
how true! - presume pickling them from the outside in is ok but not from the inside out!
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Duhh silly,bc it goes thru us. It doesn't stay.
What is the pic of??-
The pic is of a guy+alcoholism+research thingy
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I really ROLM(_|_)off after seeing the pic -
Tehehe...u made a little booty how cute
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I love that wee booty! I'm gona copy that for sure.
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see - I've started!
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in africa yes, i get scared for fathers who drink coz they forget they have homes until the hangover is over -
nope...i know whats ma limit...-
That's great. I'm still hazy on when I started going over my limit. Or maybe I never had a limit and that's the point. Who knows. Sometimes I get dizzy trying to analyse it so much! All I need to focus on is that for today no alcohol must pass my lips. I need to keep it simple!
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