What constitutes alcoholism?
Posted , 31 users are following.
Hello
I'm not sure if anyone can answer this, but since I feel it may be an issue, I'm probably in the right place to ask...
I'm currently on Sertraline (100mg) for anxiety, as well as various other meds including sleeping pills (zopiclone 7.5mg), but my drinking habits are the same as they have ever been, without any reaction to my meds (been on them for about 5 months). I'm also now seeing a counsellor who is telling me that my drinking habit is "dangerous" and that if I carry on the way I'm going, I will "most likely be a fully-fledged alcoholic" by the time I'm in my fifties (I'm 32 now).
To paint the picture, I usually drink at least 5 nights out of 7; sometimes only one glass of red wine, but often (and mainly at weekends) as much as 2-3 bottles of wine along with numerous glasses of whisky or brandy to follow. I admit that I have taken occasional days off work because I've been hungover, but only because my work is flexible, so I make sure I do my contracted hours each week, regardless of how I might be feeling. If I know I absolutely have to go to work the following day, I won't mess around with booze. And if I ever do - it's my own fault if I feel bad at work.
The main thing is that I drink because I enjoy it, not because I NEED to. I rarely drink alone (although I happily can and occasionally do), but the reason I drink to the extent that I do is because of my tolerance level, which has always been very high. I'm not an aggressive, tearful, unbalanced or nasty drunk. I tend to stay the same, just a little more animated. I am never, ever sick and I never lose control.
My counsellor thinks I am in danger of becoming alcohol dependent, but to me drinking has always been my family culture. I would never dream of drinking in the morning - the thought of that is horrific (apart from on Christmas Day), but anything past midday has always been acceptable in my family (of course NOT on a work day).
Am I right to be defending myself and telling my counsellor that this is normal for me and that I am in control of it? Or am I severely in denial? I'm certainly not naïve enough to think this is good for my health (and that's something I do need to work on, since I eat very healthily), but I'm not prepared to admit that I am "verging on alcoholism".
If anyone has any comments, advice or observations, I would be very grateful indeed.
Bella
3 likes, 75 replies
hope4cure bellaseb
Posted
noun
Pathology . a person suffering from alcoholism.
a person addicted to intoxicating drinks.
al·co·hol·ic
adjective
of, pertaining to, or of the nature of alcohol.
containing or using alcohol.
caused by alcohol.
suffering from alcoholism.
preserved in alcohol.
tj41712 hope4cure
Posted
daniel64238 bellaseb
Posted
Carlalarla bellaseb
Posted
hope4cure bellaseb
Posted
Also can cause tummy issues with bad bacteria with to much sugar creates candida or hi level of yeast. This can create a imbalance of gut bacteria leading to intestional and colon disease. This causes carb and sugar cravings more with lots of sugar adding a lot of calories .
Also causes a zinc and many other mineral defencies can cause the liver to become fatty with all that sugar ....see dr Wilson theory alcohol & sugar.
NAHOMI bellaseb
Posted
So my advise take each day one by one and continue to abstain.
subgirl22 bellaseb
Posted
I don't believe you're in denial, neither am I. Your comments are refreshing and articulated in a way most addicts, such as myself, can't bring themselves to do. It's about reality. Those who subscribe to the mainstream addiction model can console themselves with concepts such as denial - you can't ever win with that. A closed loop.
I'm also doing things that aren't good for my health - in the long run - but what about coping, getting by, and, dare I mention it, fun? We're not idiots. We know the trade off. We will give up detrimental substances if and when we're forced to. Or not. Some of us have been through so much that alcohol, and/or other drugs, are the only option at the time. (I read something the other day that gave me pause for thought - it said the alcoholic fuddle is the departure of the soul. I'm not particularly spiritual nor religious, but I got it... still, I appreciate that through my alcoholic fuddle!)
Thanks for your post.
becky93838 bellaseb
Posted
subgirl22 becky93838
Posted
Question: are you an alcoholic? Only you can answer that. Me, I'd say yes at a bottle of wine most nights. I know folks who do much more, and much less...
sphrah95270 bellaseb
Posted
You are drinking far too much, but you know that. I ve just stopped drinking for two months just to see if I could do it. I did, it was fine, socialising I felt very boring but I didnt need to drink. I never once needed it for anything, I had in my flat the whole time and was around people that were drinking. I think if you can do that for a couple months you will know in your own heart.
I would tell you, to not discuss this with your counsilor much longer - she will likely obsess over it, because the medical community are obsessing about one thing only "all problems can be solved with six weeks CBT and some anti depressants" well sorry, but no.
If you like a drink, bloody well have one - but do be aware they will put everything you say on record and will treat you like a problem case - because no one is an individual these days.
Booze is over rated - I honestly have never felt better since I stopped, however what you are drinking would have probably killed me! I can only handle 2 bottles on a special occasion at the most
Best of luck
k9sjose bellaseb
Posted
I was doing a search on alcoholism, and well... it's that time of year again for many of us. But when I found your post, I found myself. Absolutely, I'm the same way. And I'm on Sertraline, plus high blood pressure meds now. I've been in shape most of my life, and being helthy seemed to keep things in balance. But now, well - I drink alone. Not with friends, as I do not get out much. But I do have a high tolerance, which means I stay awake too long, and keep drinking for an extended amount of time.
I like it - as you say you do also. I entertain myself, pretty much - watch sentimental movies at times, and just otherwise enjoy my evening. But, it's very unhealthy - and I know this. I don't eat healthy. I'm actually in a bad relationship as well, and honestly - I'm being taken advantage of all the time. So drinking is a form of escape from that as well.
Anyway, I had to write back to you. You struck a chord with me absolutely. I could have written pretty much the same comments, almost. I'm not sure what to do about it all right now. I just want a change, but I'm not doing a good job at making it happen so far.
Take care, it's Christmas Day. I hope you have had a good day, and Christmas eve.
Bye!
Kevin
richard7429 bellaseb
Posted
A simple way to see if you're alcoholic is to drink. Try to stop abruptly. If you drink more than intended, you probably are alcoholic.
"He may start off as a moderate drinker; he may or may not become a continuous hard drinker; but at some stage of his drinking career he begins to lose all control of his liquor consumption, once hestarts to drink."
I lost the power of choice in drinking alcohol. Once the first drink was ine me, I lost all control and drank more until I passed out. If I decided not to drink, I would obsess about drinking. No matter how long I decided to stay away from the booze on willpower alone I would always return to it and then I would drink more than intended. I couldn't stop on my own.
Being a morning drinker or drinking because depressed or happy, does not consitute alcoholism. I used to think I drank to "escape" I was drinking to overcome a craving and an obsession I couldn't control. The morning drinking, the "hair of the dog" the "I'm depressed, restless, happy, angry" were just external excuses.
I agree with the following summation. This was me. "The fact is that most alcoholics, for reasons yet obscure, have lost the power of choice in drink. Our so-called will power becomes practically nonexistent. We are unable, at certain times, to bring into our consciousness with sufficient force the memory of the suffering and humiliation of even a week or a month ago. We are without defense against the first drink."
"Most of us have been unwilling to admit we were real alcoholics. No person likes to think he is bodily and mentally different from his fellows. Therefore, it is not surprising that our drinking careers have been characterized by countless vain attempts to prove we could drink like other people. The idea that somehow, someday he will control and enjoy his drinking is the great obsession of every abnormal drinker. The persistence of this illusion is astonishing. Many pursue it into the gates of insanity or death."
"We learned that we had to fully concede to our innermost selves that we were alcoholics. This is the first step in recovery. The delusion that we are like other people, or presently may be, has to be smashed."
"We alcoholics are men and women who have lost the ability to control our drinking. We know that no real alcoholic ever recovers control. All of us felt at times that we were regaining control, but such intervals - usually brief - were inevitably followed by still less control, which led in time to pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization."
"We are convinced to a man that alcoholics of our type are in the grip of a progressive illness. Over any considerable period we get worse, never better."
Drinking alcohol was the solution. I had no control over the amount I drank and would always return to drinking alcohol.
I went to A.A. and I am not drinking today which is a miracle as I used to drink every hour of every day. My drinking started "socially" though I was never a social drinker. Never that one pint, or one glass.
I had to be honest. It took a long time. Years of fantasy living and drinking.
If you think that you are alcoholic and can honestly (I had to get painfully honest. My "adventures" in drinking were evidence enough, yet I still couldn't be honest. I finally drank again and the experience and results of my last drink which turned into a non-stop 10-day bender with only three momeries is something I never want to repeat. I was beaten. Alcohol was more powerful than me and I had finally lost and surrendered) then have a read of this:
http://www.aa.org/pages/en_US/alcoholics-anonymous
I wish you well.
Kind regards
Richard
andy9000 bellaseb
Posted
hope4cure is trying to shame you in all of those messages, it is a person that has been harmed by an alcoholic in the past and is taking out their anger on you.
Not only is that frame of mind harmful but they also have no clue about what they are talking about.
How can a fisherman feel like a fish? They cant.
I am now one month sober as of today, I fell off the wagon for 3 months after almost 2 years off.
If you are not ready to stop yet, don't. I found I am only ready when I am heading towards rock bottom. For me it is the physical dependance that is the problem, I start drinking early in the morning when I wake up, but worse is that once I start, I do not stop until I am back asleep again.
My advice when you are ready, is to try librium. Go see your doctor and get him to prescribe you a weeks worth.
The night before you go to the Doctor. Go out and paint the town red, get it out of your system, then fire into it full on.
Librium is amazing, it removes all of the side effects of withdrawl, I filled my fridge with tomato juce, drank 2 litres a day. Within 2 days, you will start to feel human again. Also Thiamine.
Good luck.
Hzuiel andy9000
Posted
A doctor doesn't have to suffer from an addiction or other disease is still qualified to treat it. Similarly lay people do not have to be addicts in order to offer sound advice, or refer people to sources of good advice. I would take the advice for instance, of someone who has helped 1 or more friends or family members to get sober, over a current addict who is still in various phases of denial, rationalizing, justifying, etc. I would take the advice of a counselor who works with addicts on a daily basis, but has never been an addict, also over another addict's advice.
Then two horrible pieces of advice you are giving:
1) Stop when you are ready; you really think an addict should be deciding when they are ready to quit? You even admit you often can't quit until you are on your way to, or already at rock bottom. That is not proof that other addicts should also wait until they're almost at rock bottom to try and quit.
2) "Get it out of your system." I've maybe never heard as irresponsible of advice given ever in my life and it shows a fundamental lack of understanding what addiction is. You cannot "get addiction out of your system" in that way, or by partaking in the source of the addiction. Over indulging in whatever the source of that addiction is does nothing, and if anything it makes it worse.
As far as the medication librium goes, that is not a treatment for addiction, all it does is help alleviate physical withdrawl symptoms, if you even have any. Even if there was a pill you could just pop to stop drinking, as soon as your rx ran out, you would go right back to drinking if the cause of the drinking problem has not been dealt with.
mark23973 bellaseb
Posted