Alchoholism (Full Version)

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siamsa24 -> Alchoholism (8/27/2011 4:56:36 PM)

Husband and I are having a "serious discussion" and we are looking for "outside folks" to weigh in [:D]

This discussion is not personal and it's not serious (which is why I put it here and not in another category), it's just one of those things we started debating when we were sitting around one evening and it got a hot little deliberation going on (we agree on most things, but we both love to debate so we will often, either intentionally or unintentionally try to find things to have a little bit of an altercation about, it's fun for us).

In your opinion, at what point is alcohol consumption a problem?

He believes it's when it interferes with your life (missing work, being drunk at noon every day, etc) but you can drink daily.

I believe it's when you must drink daily, for whatever reason, even just to wind down.  If you have to drink 7 days a week, then it's a problem, even if it doesn't effect your daily life.



Now, we both are pretty regular drinkers and we both enjoy good beer with various meals, pairing it to the food as some people pair wine, but we rarely, if ever, drink more then a few beers in a single day (if we consume more then one each, which we don't generally do), although we consume it several times a week.  In other words, we both drink about the same [:)]



DarkSteven -> RE: Alchoholism (8/27/2011 5:03:11 PM)

I believe that it's when it interferes with your life but you continue.  In other words, you're aware it's hurting your life and you cannot stop.



LinnaeaBorealis -> RE: Alchoholism (8/27/2011 5:08:16 PM)

Pretty much what Steven said. If alcohol causes problems in your life & you choose to continue to drink anyway, that's when it is a problem. In other words, if the alcohol consumption causes one to get a DUI & one continues to drink; if it causes problems with family & friends & one continues to drink anyway. Whenever the alcohol comes first.

When I worked in the alcoholism treatment field, we used to joke that the MD's definition of an alcoholic was someone who drank more than the MD did. So you just go find a Dr who drinks more than you & you're fine.



Iamsemisweet -> RE: Alchoholism (8/27/2011 5:12:14 PM)

I believe it is when you can't go for a day or two without a drink, even if you tell yourself you are going to



TheHeretic -> RE: Alchoholism (8/27/2011 5:13:30 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: siamsa24

In your opinion, at what point is alcohol consumption a problem?

He believes it's when it interferes with your life (missing work, being drunk at noon every day, etc) but you can drink daily.

I believe it's when you must drink daily, for whatever reason, even just to wind down.  If you have to drink 7 days a week, then it's a problem, even if it doesn't effect your daily life.



I wouldn't go with either of those.  To my way of thinking, it is when the booze (or other additive, for that matter) becomes a priority in your life.  There is a saying I have heard; man takes a drink, drink takes a drink, drink takes a man.  Whether once a month or year, or every damn day, the level of control is the defining characteristic, at least in my opinion.



angelikaJ -> RE: Alchoholism (8/27/2011 5:26:35 PM)

I think that many people self-medicate mental illnesses and emotional disturbance with alcohol. Many alcoholics have dual diagnosis issues and neither is treated successfully until both issues are addressed.

My suspicion is that the person who needs that drink to wind down will eventually find themselves in other difficulties with alcohol.

I think it is a better option to find a professional and look into the personal issues that are creating that dependency rather than reaching for the quick fix of a drink.

"First you take a drink, then the drink takes a drink, then the drink takes you." 
F. Scott Fitzgerald (which I first saw referenced in Heinlein's Job: A Comedy of Justice.)



Endivius -> RE: Alchoholism (8/27/2011 5:29:52 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: TheHeretic

quote:

ORIGINAL: siamsa24

In your opinion, at what point is alcohol consumption a problem?

He believes it's when it interferes with your life (missing work, being drunk at noon every day, etc) but you can drink daily.

I believe it's when you must drink daily, for whatever reason, even just to wind down.  If you have to drink 7 days a week, then it's a problem, even if it doesn't effect your daily life.



I wouldn't go with either of those.  To my way of thinking, it is when the booze (or other additive, for that matter) becomes a priority in your life.  There is a saying I have heard; man takes a drink, drink takes a drink, drink takes a man.  Whether once a month or year, or every damn day, the level of control is the defining characteristic, at least in my opinion.



Both of my parents are alchoholics. The answer to this riddle is the moment you start drinking to excess. People who are alcholics have a void, habitual, emotional, or psychological, that they fill with alchohol. How much is excess? For some a beer a day is rather paltry and small, for others it's a sign of alcholism. The truth is, it is a matter for a family to decide, as they know the person best, and are the most likely to spot it; although, not allways obviously.



pahunkboy -> RE: Alchoholism (8/27/2011 5:30:01 PM)

This is one measure that I use.

The sweat of an alcoholic is different.    When that is noticed- then the dude has a problem.



risktaker9 -> RE: Alchoholism (8/27/2011 5:32:46 PM)

I'd consider an alcoholic to be when alcohol interferes with your life, not necessarily the frequency. BUT...show me someone who drinks every day and doesn't pay a price in some way. Frequency does create opportunity for issues. Technically I'd say it's when you have problems because of it, but it's hard to separate the two - they go hand in hand.



tj444 -> RE: Alchoholism (8/27/2011 5:45:54 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: siamsa24
In your opinion, at what point is alcohol consumption a problem?

one answer is when your partner/spouse thinks its a problem..

My ex drank, claimed he could quit any time he wanted to. His father was an acoholic but he claimed he wasnt. He drank on the weekends only, not during the week when he was working, so but Friday after work he would have already bought his case of beer or bottle of scotch on the way home. I stayed away from him when he drank, he would become beligerent.. Sometimes he had a glass he was working on early in the morning. To me, he was a bing drinker, sure he could stay away during the week but made up for it on the weekend, every weekend.. He said he didnt have a problem..

That was not what i signed up for.. that was one of the reasons i finally decided to leave him..

But by both of your definitions, alcohol for him wasnt a problem.. I disagree.. but then, i had to live with it for longer than i cared to.. Imo, the simple fact that his father was an alcoholic also made him one due to that genetic predisposition thing. Jmo..



LaTigresse -> RE: Alchoholism (8/27/2011 6:30:20 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: TheHeretic

quote:

ORIGINAL: siamsa24

In your opinion, at what point is alcohol consumption a problem?

He believes it's when it interferes with your life (missing work, being drunk at noon every day, etc) but you can drink daily.

I believe it's when you must drink daily, for whatever reason, even just to wind down.  If you have to drink 7 days a week, then it's a problem, even if it doesn't effect your daily life.



I wouldn't go with either of those.  To my way of thinking, it is when the booze (or other additive, for that matter) becomes a priority in your life.  There is a saying I have heard; man takes a drink, drink takes a drink, drink takes a man.  Whether once a month or year, or every damn day, the level of control is the defining characteristic, at least in my opinion.


In thinking about each of the alcoholics in my life I have to agree with this.

Any time the drink controls, becomes a priority, it is a problem to me. If a person says they need a drink, and are serious, it is controlling them.

I am watching, from afar, alcohol destroy another person I love. In just one year, the change in my wonderful, sensitive, loving, brother.....it is agonizing to see.



Termyn8or -> RE: Alchoholism (8/27/2011 10:33:26 PM)

"The sweat of an alcoholic is different.    When that is noticed- then the dude has a problem. "

Garlic is much worse.

T^T



JanahX -> RE: Alchoholism (8/27/2011 10:47:23 PM)

When this becomes your normal vision ... you might have a problem.

[image]local://upfiles/1059980/302370E117804DDA92A72DB2EFA87215.jpg[/image]



LinnaeaBorealis -> RE: Alchoholism (8/27/2011 11:00:18 PM)

To my way of thinking, it doesn't matter what you drink, when you drink or how much you drink. When it causes problems in your life, you've got a problem. Simple.

I'm an alcoholic with 35 years of sobriety. I drank for 13 years. During that time, my tolerance level went up & down. There were times when all it took was 2 drinks & I was happy. Then there were times when it took a fifth of scotch & a bottle of wine. Didn't matter how much I was drinking, it was still causing problems in my life; only difference was my tolerance level.



Termyn8or -> RE: Alchoholism (8/27/2011 11:19:21 PM)

JUMPTHROUGH

It's when YOU see it as a problem. More aptly it is when you see it as a problem and cannot or will not solve it.

Fuck all this rest of this, that is the answer.

T^T



Focus50 -> RE: Alchoholism (8/28/2011 5:22:18 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: siamsa24

Husband and I are having a "serious discussion" and we are looking for "outside folks" to weigh in [:D]

This discussion is not personal and it's not serious (which is why I put it here and not in another category), it's just one of those things we started debating when we were sitting around one evening and it got a hot little deliberation going on (we agree on most things, but we both love to debate so we will often, either intentionally or unintentionally try to find things to have a little bit of an altercation about, it's fun for us).

In your opinion, at what point is alcohol consumption a problem?

He believes it's when it interferes with your life (missing work, being drunk at noon every day, etc) but you can drink daily.

I believe it's when you must drink daily, for whatever reason, even just to wind down.  If you have to drink 7 days a week, then it's a problem, even if it doesn't effect your daily life.



Now, we both are pretty regular drinkers and we both enjoy good beer with various meals, pairing it to the food as some people pair wine, but we rarely, if ever, drink more then a few beers in a single day (if we consume more then one each, which we don't generally do), although we consume it several times a week.  In other words, we both drink about the same [:)]


As always it's an individual thing....

Yes, if it intereferes with your everyday life, you have a problem.

If you habitually drink alone, you have a problem.

If you're hiding supplies, you have a problem.

If you lie about how much you drink, you have a problem.

If it affects your health (almost ALL heavy drinkers are in denial here), you have a problem.

If you're a loud/obnoxious/abusive/violent drunk, you have a problem.

If you're none of the above but always seem to have a drink in your hand, you're working on having a problem.

And btw, all of the above problems are a matter of degree.

Focus.



LadyPact -> RE: Alchoholism (8/28/2011 5:40:41 AM)

For Me, I would have to say when it impacts your life negatively.  This impact can be either great or small, but it is absolutely noticeable.  If not by the person doing the drinking, it is by that person's family, close friends, or co-workers.

Some areas where I agree or disagree with some statements on the thread.

I don't agree with the "drink a day" theory.  Wasn't it just not too long ago that we were all being told that one glass of red wine a day was good for the heart?  It just seems to Me that a glass of wine or a beer at dinner is a bit anal on the idea of alcoholism.

I don't agree with the "do you drink alone" theory.  That might have been true back in the day before we were all educated about the dangers of drinking and driving.  I know a lot of folks who would rather tip a few back at home rather than go to the bar and be in the position of having to find a way back home. 

I do agree with the "self medication" issue.  If it is a coping mechanism, that's a problem.



Charnegui -> RE: Alchoholism (8/28/2011 5:41:28 AM)

I grew up with an alcoholistic mother and I lived for over 8 years with an alcoholic.

Won't tell here, but will answer some q's in private.
If anyone is interested, that is......



GreedyTop -> RE: Alchoholism (8/28/2011 5:52:24 AM)

not surprisingly, I agree with LadyP.

I drink alone.. that "drinking and driving" thing. Not to mention, my 'happy hour' is after 7am (I try to be in bed most days by 1-2pm). Since everyone else I know is on a daytime work schedule, I havent really got anyone to drink WITH...LOL



Focus50 -> RE: Alchoholism (8/28/2011 6:26:33 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: LadyPact

I don't agree with the "do you drink alone" theory.  That might have been true back in the day before we were all educated about the dangers of drinking and driving.  I know a lot of folks who would rather tip a few back at home rather than go to the bar and be in the position of having to find a way back home. 


Unlike sitting home alone, going to a bar can be a matter of socialising. But yeah, just as it can be a matter of drinking "alone" in public.

I've always felt alcohol is more a matter of social culture - that if you look at it objectively, the average alcoholic drink tastes awful in its own right, esp the so-called hard liquor. But beer, too, and I like a beer in general.

So I tend to think that if you're *habitually* drinking alone, you're just not doing it because you enjoy the actual taste of the beverage.

Focus.



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