What constitutes an alcoholic?

[motion]

Originally Posted by rcooled

I think that it's only been fairly recently that drinking like this has been recognized as a problem. Before that, it was just what people did.

Hence the much lower life expectancy back then. Check out the average life expectancy for men in Russia these days.

[Craig T]

Originally Posted by motion

Hence the much lower life expectancy back then. Check out the average life expectancy for men in Russia these days.

...That and the fact that in the US we have better diagnostic tools, better antibiotics, targeted immune therapies, specific characterizations and treatments of cancer, statin drugs for cholesterol, cardiac stints, better insulin and artificial pancreas, etc, etc, etc....most of which is inaccessible to the general population of Russia.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by livi

Not to hijack, but on the same general theme:

Since I can remember I have had a glass of wine or two for dinner. Every day. Three months ago I ran out and was too lazy to get to the store and since then I have not had a drop. I donīt miss it. I donīt even Think about it. Come to Think of it, I have not gone this long without alcohol since I finished high school.

What bugs me is that I would have thought I should experience a wide Array of positive effects. Sleep, energy, etc etc. But nothing. No difference what so ever.

I am thinking of starting up the drinking again. At least it tastes and feels good.

disappointed..

Great thread, but I liked Markus' post. I tend to average about 2 beers or mixed drinks per night over the last few years. This is congruent with a significant rise in workload and stress associated with a job change. On a normal night it helps me relax and leave the stress of the workday behind. Sometimes it's zero, sometimes it's three, sometimes it's a corporate boozefest and I'm trying to relive my college glory days. But having read some of the "I feel so great" threads and articles about those who quit drinking, I'm always disappointed that after I go through a dry spell for whatever reason, I don't feel a damn bit better! Apparently Benjamin Franklin really didn't say, "beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy", but it's hard for me to argue with the sentiment.

In all seriousness I've seen people who seriously struggle with alcoholism and other addictions, and let it destroy their life and the lives of their family. It's very difficult to watch and definitely varies for each individual person. I would definitely say that if you have to ask the question, it should give definite pause. If you still aren't sure, ask the opinion of others that you trust. Bob, your input on this BBS is valuable and I hope that you are able to honestly reflect and determine if there is a problem, and if so I hope you can find the strength to deal with it.

[2porscheguy]

Bob, you are to be commended for your candor on this rather timely topic especially in light of the fast approaching holidays....ah, screw the politically correct thing....I meant to say that CHRISTMAS, yes CHRISTMAS and all it's festivities is just around the corner which means we'll all probably be "partying it up" just a little....right?

I guess I'm like a lot of you guys...I LIKE my wine and Rum! Typically on weekdays I'll have ONE glass of red wine (sometimes 1.5 ) just in time to catch the 11 O'clock news. It calms me down...I sleep well!

The weekends i.e Friday, Saturday, and Sunday I typically have two glasses of wine and two Rums (with soda water and ice) per night. I don't ever wake up over-hung and have never puked, blacked out, etc. I don't THINK I have a problem?....BUT I've got to admit that I do look forward to 11pm AND the weekends....

Bob thanks for this great timely thread and all the best to you and your family in dealing with your situation.....You're on the right track!

[gsxrken]

Such a devilish thing. Some folks first drink at 15 years old and they were off to the races / blackouts, DUIs etc. Never a doubt in their mind or anyone else's, and it was always just when will they stop. My friend's father used to pull his car into the driveway every day after work and put away a six-pack before he went into the house. Said he needed to relax after a hard day.

Others can't wait for the 3-5 beers almost every night... but not every night, and only after work, and are quite proud of the fact that they have no DUIs. Theoretically alcohol is not ruining their, but it is dimming it. Think of the empty calories, the money (it all adds up), the wasted time in front of the TV. It's much harder for this group to come to your conclusion. I congratulate you on putting this out there. May not be an overnight thing but it's on your radar now.

[David]

Originally Posted by gsxrken

Others can't wait for the 3-5 beers almost every night... but not every night, and only after work, and are quite proud of the fact that they have no DUIs. Theoretically alcohol is not ruining their, but it is dimming it. Think of the empty calories, the money (it all adds up), the wasted time in front of the TV. It's much harder for this group to come to your conclusion. I congratulate you on putting this out there. May not be an overnight thing but it's on your radar now.

I've thought about this thread a lot today and this last comment is me. At 49, I'm past due for addressing this. Well, 3-5 beers was 1 beer tonight. We'll see.

[red-beard]

I was married to one. Everything revolved around drinking.

[Por_sha911]

Never ask a heavy drinker if you drink too much. Its like asking the tobacco industry if smoking is bad for your health. Your odds of getting an objective answer is not too good.

[Bill Douglas]

It's nearly Christmas so I'm practicing for the big day. I'm having a few glasses, well the bottle, of bubbly, and have chicken on the BBQ to eat bachelor style with ciabatta bread and tomatoes.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

It's nearly Christmas so I'm practicing for the big day. I'm having a few glasses, well the bottle, of bubbly, and have chicken on the BBQ to eat bachelor style with ciabatta bread and tomatoes.

That's great but wtf does it have to do w the subject at hand?

The guy is asking a serious question, has a problem w alcohol that could kill him and you're joking around about having some drinks? Kind of stupid, sorry.

[quicksix]

Bob,
I enjoy your posts a lot,and having a moment of clarity is awesome.
So
what are you gonna do?
My longest period of sobriety was 12 years
13 years ago
If AA doesn't work for you, may I suggest a book called The Naked Mind, written by a gal in recovery, it addresses the" why".
For me it was a conflict, between my conscious self, my reasoning self, and my subconscious mind, which controls my emotions. Knowing what I was doing was wrong, poisoning myself with what amounted to gasoline, hurting my family spiritually, tearing a hole in the fabric of our lives and unable to stop. Hate yourself a little? After I read that book I came to understand that my subconscious mind was not aligned with my conscious mind.
A battle
who is in charge?
You are. find peace my friend.

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by speeder

Kind of stupid, sorry.

Not stupid. A light hearted spin on the subject. Maybe even showing what drinking in an orderly manner is all about.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

Not stupid. A light hearted spin on the subject. Maybe even showing what drinking in an orderly manner is all about.

Well, if that's what you were doing, it was even stupider than I thought. Showing an alcoholic "what drinking in an orderly manner is all about"?

Yeah, that's what you did there. Idiot.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by 2porscheguy

The weekends i.e Friday, Saturday, and Sunday I typically have two glasses of wine and two Rums (with soda water and ice) per night. I don't ever wake up over-hung and have never puked, blacked out, etc. I don't THINK I have a problem?....BUT I've got to admit that I do look forward to 11pm AND the weekends....

Research has shown that men who have no more than 4 drinks per day AND no more than 14 per week are at low risk for problems. Everyone is different - different tolerance levels and different drinking patterns, but statistically you are on the edge of putting yourself at risk.

[Gogar]

Denis, if you want the thread to be helpful like you say then perhaps you could refrain from being the self-appointed morality moderator for it.

[greglepore]

Craig-my behavior is much like yours, a cocktail or two before or with dinner pretty much every night. I don't drink to get trashed, and have quit without adverse affects, but always go back.

But the question occurs to me, why so defensive bro?

[KFC911]

Bob...how ya doing man? I keep checking back in on this thread waiting for you to respond....

....and Speeder's lectures

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by red-beard

I was married to one. Everything revolved around drinking.

One of my best friends is too....
Alcohol was the center of her universe....was being the operative word

Although she didn't bottom out in the gutter, it took a month long stay in rehab and she will do some jail time....she had no control over her demons...for decades

She seems to be doing great now....so there is help and hope 'cause she was a mess...
WAS....

[Crowbob]

Alcohol is an extremely powerful anti-anxiety agent. In addition, a little (some say 'moderate') alcohol intake is actually good for the liver which is a profoundly resilient organ. However, whatever ETOH does not get metabolized is devastating to brain function.

In addition, usually, the first cognitive effect is that the higher functions go first, like judgement. So risk-taking goes up. Hence the 'Hold my beer, watch this...' phenomenon. Impaired judgement + no fear + slowed reaction time = not the best results.

[RKDinOKC]

A man in his 80's told me one time...

If you drink alcohol before you are 40, you are harming your health.
If you DON"T drink alcohol after you turn 40, you are harming your health.
Said when you get older it helps your digestion and all sorts of things.

He drank one glass of liquor every day. That was it.
He did not drink at all socially, his wife did and passed early from it.
He lived to be 96.

My Dad's father did the same thing only it was moonshine. Had the jug on his bedside table.
Did a swig first thing when his feet hit the floor, and another the last thing before he tucked under the covers.
Remember when I was like 3 went for a drive with my Dad and Grandpa.
Stopped and put a mason jar in a stump with money in it.
Came back by later and picked up the jar full off Grandad's stump water.
He also lived into his 90's.

Mom's father did not drink at all and didn't make it to 80.
Mom's uncle did the same one glass of whiskey thing and lived to within a month of making it to 100 as did his other brother. They had a 4th brother that was an exercise and health food nut. He was the first to pass, he didn't even make it to his 60s.