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Message
re: Alcoholism: Why it sucks.
Posted on 5/7/14 at 10:28 am to Sevendust912
Posted on 5/7/14 at 10:28 am to Sevendust912
Cause: Alcohol comsumption
Effect: Alcohol comsumption is ruining said life
Solution: Quit consuming alcohol
Effect: Alcohol comsumption is ruining said life
Solution: Quit consuming alcohol
3
Posted on 5/7/14 at 10:37 am to FT
Alcoholism is always a touchy subject on this board.
I haven't had to drink in 8 years. I'm a member of AA. It works great for me and hundreds of people I know. There is no perfect solution for an alcoholic but my solution is abstinence.
Could I ever safely drink in moderation after some sort of treatment or lifestyle change? I don't see that ever happening. It's not how I'm wired and never was. I don't understand how a person drinks without consuming as much as possible, just as most people don't understand why a drunk doesn't just stop. And honestly, I'm terrified to live the life I once lived. That risk far exceeds any "reward" for drinking again. So I'll keep doing as I do, going to my meetings and helping others as they ask for it.
To those that are sober, keep it up.
To those that struggling, I hope the pain outweighs the pleasure soon and you find peace, by whatever means necessary.
To those that have no dog in this fight, your opinion does not matter or change anything.
I haven't had to drink in 8 years. I'm a member of AA. It works great for me and hundreds of people I know. There is no perfect solution for an alcoholic but my solution is abstinence.
Could I ever safely drink in moderation after some sort of treatment or lifestyle change? I don't see that ever happening. It's not how I'm wired and never was. I don't understand how a person drinks without consuming as much as possible, just as most people don't understand why a drunk doesn't just stop. And honestly, I'm terrified to live the life I once lived. That risk far exceeds any "reward" for drinking again. So I'll keep doing as I do, going to my meetings and helping others as they ask for it.
To those that are sober, keep it up.
To those that struggling, I hope the pain outweighs the pleasure soon and you find peace, by whatever means necessary.
To those that have no dog in this fight, your opinion does not matter or change anything.
Posted on 5/7/14 at 10:39 am to wasteland
I like your last statement
Posted on 5/7/14 at 10:40 am to SabiDojo
quote:
Finding your own "God" through AA is what is wrong with it, imo.
Why?
Why does it matter who or what he prays to as long as it keeps him on a healthy, non-destructive path?
Posted on 5/7/14 at 10:42 am to dnm3305
quote:
To an outsider the behavior of an addict is completely irrational. Alcohol or drugs is obviously destroying their life yet they continue to engage in this activity. Even when the substance abuse is pulling the individual towards an early grave, or causing problems for loved ones, they persist with it. Those who have never been dependent on an addictive substance will see this behavior as highly irrational. They do not have the addict’s ability to rationalize the irrational in order to explain away their own self destruction. This individual is not willfully doing something to cause harm to themselves or other people. As far as they are concerned what they are doing is right. This is why directly challenging the substance abuse will often be ineffective because it just puts the addict on the defensive.
quote:
Those who have become addicted to alcohol or drugs will be able to justify this behavior in their own mind. When their life begins to fall apart as a result of their substance abuse they will have plenty of excuses for what is happening. Instead of seeing their addictive behavior as the cause of the problem they are more likely to see this as the one thing that is helping them to cope with things. Denial and cognitive dissonance give the addict the ability to explain away their behavior. It is this unique way of thinking that can keep people trapped in addiction for many years and some will never get beyond these justifications.
Logic of an addict
Posted on 5/7/14 at 10:44 am to dnm3305
This thread hits home.. i've got a little over a year sober from alcohol and almost 8 sober from painkillers...My grandfather was an alcoholic, i did not know until i went through it myself. What makes a person turn into the convenience store and grab a bottle of liquor on the way home? Justification... "got all my work done, i can relax tonight"..."I need to mow the grass, i usually have a few beers while i mow... i'll just grab a bottle of liquor so i don't have to pee as often"... It's kind of like seeing the hottest chick you can imagine and she wants to hop in bed with you... and every part of you says, damn this is going to be nice... Try telling yourself no to that... that's how the addicts mind works... it gets slowly rewired and when a normal person just says "nah, i'll go ride the bike tonight or workout" the addict's mind says "Let's turn on the pit and have a few" always making excuses... and I never knew what would set me off, could be anything.. something would just click in my mind and i'd instantly have a battle in my mind "do i stop and grab some liquor or not" knowing deep down once those thoughts came into my mind the battle had already been lost and before i knew it i'd be stopping in and getting a drink somewhere. I would justify it for almost any occasion... It's a fight that never stops and the best defense is avoid it at all costs... and the bonus... damn, does it feel good deep down when someone says "hey man, do you want a beer?" and i say "nah man, i'm good". Being addicted to painkillers was physically worse withdrawal wise, but alcohol is much harder recovery wise because it is everywhere... everywhere you go alcohol is within walking distance. Sadly, you don't know you're an addict until it's too late... I however would not change what i went through. I learned a lot about myself, and learned to value simple things in life.
The physical dependence... when i was withdrawing from painkillers, i would go into work and literally sit at my desk and do absolutely nothing... it was hell, my mind was so jacked up like a schizophrenic that i couldn't focus on anything but the pain. sweating, nausea, feeling like you have to use the bathroom every 5 minutes, restless leg syndrome, extreme insomnia, migraines,no appetite at all, felt like i was actually going crazy, chills, 69.9 degrees was too cold and 70 was too hot, caffeine would make it worse, taking 5 advil was like trying to kill a rhino with a spitball.
The physical dependence... when i was withdrawing from painkillers, i would go into work and literally sit at my desk and do absolutely nothing... it was hell, my mind was so jacked up like a schizophrenic that i couldn't focus on anything but the pain. sweating, nausea, feeling like you have to use the bathroom every 5 minutes, restless leg syndrome, extreme insomnia, migraines,no appetite at all, felt like i was actually going crazy, chills, 69.9 degrees was too cold and 70 was too hot, caffeine would make it worse, taking 5 advil was like trying to kill a rhino with a spitball.
Posted on 5/7/14 at 10:49 am to boosiebadazz
If you are a spiritual or religious person, you believe in a Higher Powerv or God because you believe in something that exists beyond yourself. It doesn't exist for you as a tool or a means, and it doesn't exist just because you want to defeat an addiction.
If you are religious/spiritual before AA, it makes more sense. But, there are non religious and non spiritual people fighting alcoholism. To say to those people that you first have to believe is a slap in the face to those who are truly spiritual/religious. Their intentions are hollow, and it doesn't really help them.
That's why I asked the OP if he believed in God before AA.
If you are religious/spiritual before AA, it makes more sense. But, there are non religious and non spiritual people fighting alcoholism. To say to those people that you first have to believe is a slap in the face to those who are truly spiritual/religious. Their intentions are hollow, and it doesn't really help them.
That's why I asked the OP if he believed in God before AA.
Posted on 5/7/14 at 10:50 am to kuhlman187
1 day at a time for 30 yrs. Keep doin whay u doin
Posted on 5/7/14 at 10:54 am to FT
i flirt with a drinking problem. I keep my drinking in check, but its real easy for it to spiral out of control.
While I can sometimes have "1 beer" mainly if I am driving, if I am at home I can't have one whiskey, 3 is the starting bid and likely its closer to 7.
While I can sometimes have "1 beer" mainly if I am driving, if I am at home I can't have one whiskey, 3 is the starting bid and likely its closer to 7.
Posted on 5/7/14 at 10:57 am to Sevendust912
quote:
Are you an addict? What is your experience with dependency to argue otherwise?
I'm not going to give a resume on why my personal experience makes me some kind of expert on the subject like people love to do on here. But facts are fact. There is physical withdrawal from alcohol but not addiction.
Posted on 5/7/14 at 10:58 am to dnm3305
quote:
Cause: Alcohol comsumption
Effect: Alcohol comsumption is ruining said life
Solution: Quit consuming alcohol
I wish it was this simple
Posted on 5/7/14 at 11:00 am to LucasP
quote:Just REALLY bad cravings
There is physical withdrawal from alcohol but not addiction.
Posted on 5/7/14 at 11:15 am to LucasP
quote:
here is physical withdrawal from alcohol but not addiction.
So you're saying that alcoholics aren't addicted to alcohol, but rather just use the alcohol to alleviate the physical pain of not having it?
*Honest question
Posted on 5/7/14 at 11:18 am to SabiDojo
quote:I couldn't possibly disagree with you anymore. 100% disagree. If anything, that was the game changer for me.
Finding your own "God" through AA is what is wrong with it, imo.
Posted on 5/7/14 at 11:21 am to RealityTiger
quote:
I couldn't possibly disagree with you anymore.
So now you agree with him?
Posted on 5/7/14 at 11:23 am to SabiDojo
I disagree. I don't judge the purity or veracity of someone's beliefs.
If they believe this pen on my desk is the one true God and they only recently started believing it because they were sucking dick for heroin and had gotten to their lowest point, it doesn't matter to me.
If worshipping this pen gets dicks out of their mouth and put them on a healthy, nondestructive path, then so be it.
Different strokes for different folks. Who am I to judge the circumstances surrounding who or what you believe in, as long as it is bringing you comfort and leading you to live a healthy life?
If they believe this pen on my desk is the one true God and they only recently started believing it because they were sucking dick for heroin and had gotten to their lowest point, it doesn't matter to me.
If worshipping this pen gets dicks out of their mouth and put them on a healthy, nondestructive path, then so be it.
Different strokes for different folks. Who am I to judge the circumstances surrounding who or what you believe in, as long as it is bringing you comfort and leading you to live a healthy life?
This post was edited on 5/7/14 at 11:25 am
Posted on 5/7/14 at 11:24 am to LucasP
quote:
It's not a mind game, it is a physical dependency. When you are addicted to a drug, you cannot function properly without that drug.
quote:
No....just no to all of this.
Based on what>???????
Posted on 5/7/14 at 11:25 am to LucasP
quote:It's not about being an expert. It's about having experience.
I'm not going to give a resume on why my personal experience makes me some kind of expert on the subject
For a non-alcoholic to teach about alcoholism would be like me trying to teach a woman what it's like to be pregnant. Sure, I could go on what I've been told or what I've read. But nothing quite like having 100% firsthand experience.
I'm tried and true alkie, but nowhere near being an "expert" on it. I just know what it's like to be one, and can offer somebody what really has worked for me - opinion left out of it.
Posted on 5/7/14 at 11:26 am to LucasP
quote:
I'm not going to give a resume on why my personal experience makes me some kind of expert on the subject like people love to do on here. But facts are fact. There is physical withdrawal from alcohol but not addiction.
Huh?
Posted on 5/7/14 at 11:26 am to boosiebadazz
Well, you and I have different views on religion/spirituality. Your view is common. Relativism is strong in our society today.
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