what qualifies as an alcoholic?

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Tue Oct 30, 2001 10:29 pm

@Nael: Apart from the diagnosis criteria, there are also some known factors that increase the risk of developing dependancy or abuse. Such risk factors are for instance certain drinking patterns, genetic vulnerability and other problems like anxiety problems and social phobia.

Nippy · Post by **Nippy** » Wed Oct 31, 2001 1:20 am

An easyt to check if someone is in deep is to look at their complexion and hands, they will often be very red and their hands lose some control (they shake and it's difficult to hold things).

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Wed Oct 31, 2001 1:42 am

In the later stages, the skin yellows. This is a sign of liver disease.

Nippy · Post by **Nippy** » Wed Oct 31, 2001 2:40 am

Originally posted by Yshania:
In the later stages, the skin yellows. This is a sign of liver disease.

I had forgotten to mention that.

Gruntboy · Post by **Gruntboy** » Wed Oct 31, 2001 6:33 am

IMHO, an alcoholic is someone who:

a) Allows the need for a drink to dictate their actions.

b) Allows the consumption of alcohol to affect their work and home lives.

Garcia · Post by **Garcia** » Wed Oct 31, 2001 7:04 am

it is kind a´ hard to define but I would say that as long as you are in controle of your alco. consumption and it doesn't cause you and others any harm you should stay clear of being an alcoholic. Teens dont fit under this rule they are testing and showing off (like thoses that aren't teens

) but they drink more, at least here.

[ 10-31-2001: Message edited by: Garcia ]

THE JAKER · Post by **THE JAKER** » Wed Oct 31, 2001 11:38 am

I'll just put a few thoughts in here:

(I was thinking of starting a thread about alcoholism)

I think I have been bordering on alcoholism the last few years. I started drinking very regularly (every day give or take) about five or six years ago. I think i have an addictive personality because through my life I've had various "addictions" at one time or another - to candy, to coca-cola, to cigarrettes and also to other things that one smokes, to coffee, to alcohol, to different foods etc. I don't think I've let it effect my work that much, I certainly have let it effect school though, getting high for instance instead of going to class or studying, then doing poorly in a class. It has also effected my social life in varying degrees (i'm still trying to figure that all out).

I have never been a really big abuser, sort of staying within the acceptable limits of my social group - but then my social group has been students, musicians and hipsters, so basically as long as you don't shoot up it's acceptable.

I always thought I better clean up my act at some point, and I had often put the age of 30 as a marker for when i thought might be a good time, so here I am at 30 trying to get control of these things. I think I always used my different habits to escape reality, and I believe that at a certain point in your life you shouldn't have to escape anymore, you should be in control enough to make things good and not WANT to escape anymore.

So anyway, I stopped smoking cigarrettes, I haven't smoked "anything" in a year + now, and I haven't even had a drink for two weeks. Drinking coffee right now, though.

I don't know where I'm going with this, if anyone has read it all, thanks for your time. I guess I think that you have to be honest with yourself if you really look hard, you'll know if you are "dependent" on a substance or habit in an unhealthy way.

"You're nothing but a drunk - anyone can be a drunk!"
"Not anyone ---- it takes --- stamina -"
(from the movie Barfly)

Vivien · Post by **Vivien** » Wed Oct 31, 2001 11:51 am

Jaker: *hug* No judgement from here. I read and felt like I could be in your shoes someday (hmm..except for the fact that you're a boy and probably have bigger feet)

I understood your mention of being addicted to soda's, some food, and in a sense alcohol...
I am addicted to Diet Coke, though I'm trying to cut down as I feel 'aspartame ' is not safe.

It hasn't affected your social group it sounds? Mine sound different than yours in all honesty. Very rare drinkers, very responsible, very 'worky'.

I think I 'just want to have fun', as I didn't in college, not at all..no missing classes for me...

And, now, at 25, that I've decided to live a little, everyone around me is DONE. The man I'm dating is 32, and just not interested in club hopping or anything like that...

So, am I an alcoholic? No. But, I could be, I have the mentality for it. My grandfather and several Uncles were alcoholics. I'm not drinking EVERY night, but I think I could...

Well, this long ramble is to say thank you for sharing.

I wish you the best, and you're not alone with thoughts /worries about this type of thing.

THE JAKER · Post by **THE JAKER** » Wed Oct 31, 2001 12:11 pm

Thanks.

I think if anything in my peer group if you don't "par-tay" to a certain degree you aren't really accepted. I think as far as relationships go you have to find some common ground so that you can both enjoy the same things - I've unfortunately been in relationships where I think that alcohol or other things was pretty much keeping the relationship together. That's obviously not healthy.

@Viv - It sounds like you maybe need to find some "club" girlfriends to go out with. If your boyfriend is mature he should be able to deal with you going out and having some fun. Hmmmm - 25 year old girl, 32 year old guy - makes me feel like not such an old dude after all

double thanks

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Wed Oct 31, 2001 12:15 pm

A lot of people have tendencies towards overindulgence for one reason or another.

Where that indulgence is not only legal, but freely available and even sociable, it is easy for a person to become trapped without realising. I know a few pub landlords who have had drink problems to one degree or another - a risk of the trade. Also business people who socialise with clients - have a lunchtime drink with colleagues etc.

It is a spiral, and does not always start with intent, but when it ends in excuses then there is a problem.

Vivien · Post by **Vivien** » Wed Oct 31, 2001 12:23 pm

Originally posted by THE JAKER:

@Viv - It sounds like you maybe need to find some "club" girlfriends to go out with. If your boyfriend is mature he should be able to deal with you going out and having some fun. Hmmmm - 25 year old girl, 32 year old guy - makes me feel like not such an old dude after all double thanks

Rofl

Glad I could help, if not in the way I had intended

Yes, his friends keep giving him the 'way to go' salute when they think I'm not looking...

I do have two girlfriends that are not married, or non-drinkers (tha'ts about half of my friends right there), or just plain boring, and we plan on going out more

I think the boyfriend doesn't get jealous about that kind of thing, as it's me and girls, and therefore okay? I think it's some sort of guy thing. *shrug*

Yshania: You have a point, it's when a person makes excuses you say? For drinking, or hiding it you mean?

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Wed Oct 31, 2001 12:33 pm

@Viv - for drinking. If they are hiding it, they are half acknowledging they have a problem

Vivien · Post by **Vivien** » Wed Oct 31, 2001 12:40 pm

Originally posted by Yshania:
@Viv - for drinking. If they are hiding it, they are half acknowledging they have a problem

What if they hide it because their roomate might drink it all? Is there still a problem there?

THE JAKER · Post by **THE JAKER** » Wed Oct 31, 2001 12:52 pm

Originally posted by Vivien:
 I think the boyfriend doesn't get jealous about that kind of thing, as it's me and girls, and therefore okay? I think it's some sort of guy thing. *shrug*

I think it varies from guy to guy so I would check out your model and see what the instructions say, but my experience is that a guy is usually happy to not "have to go" out clubbing, as long as the girl comes home at the end of the night (assuming you live together), also probably not a good idea to tell too many stories. I think it's a fine line - if the guy feels like he's not welcome, he'll probably feel left out.

I personally always have liked having a woman who's had a few drinks show up at my place late at night in a cute outfit, but that's just me, I think i've always been attracted to girls that drink and that's probably been part of my problem.

(maybe revealing a little too much today - hope you can all respect me in the morning)

THE JAKER · Post by **THE JAKER** » Wed Oct 31, 2001 12:54 pm

Originally posted by Vivien:
What if they hide it because their roomate might drink it all? Is there still a problem there?

very funny....I always replace it!!!

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Wed Oct 31, 2001 12:57 pm

@Viv - LMAO!! well if they have to hide it from a room mate I call that problematic

or time to move out

Vivien · Post by **Vivien** » Wed Oct 31, 2001 1:04 pm

Originally posted by Yshania:
@Viv - LMAO!! well if they have to hide it from a room mate I call that problematic or time to move out

So you're saying they'll move out if I keep drinking their stuff?

(j/k)

Jaker,
Lol

I will look at the instruction manual more closely. He told me he liked my so called 'slow dance' with one of my girlfriends, so I think he's good coming or staying home. (I still say it was him seeing things, and that so called 'party' was really boring so we had to spice it up by dancing!)

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Wed Oct 31, 2001 1:17 pm

@Viv - well I would

*takes pen and marks bottle whilst sharing a thread with Viv*

Vivien · Post by **Vivien** » Wed Oct 31, 2001 2:14 pm

Originally posted by Yshania:
@Viv - well I would *takes pen and marks bottle whilst sharing a thread with Viv*

*deftly taps a small hole in the bottom of the bottle while distracting Ysh. Fills bottle back up with juice while sipping her newly stolen drink.*

[ 10-31-2001: Message edited by: Vivien ]

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Wed Oct 31, 2001 2:54 pm

*Takes a swig from the bottle* hmmm...blackcurrant wine?