Alcoholism

Are you big Tam that used to drive our bus ?

 

Aye too right... You don't realise how loud you are when smashed..

 

Are you big Tam that used to drive our bus ?

 

How long did you drink 3 cans a night for?

 

A year or so.

 

I think you're kidding yourself if you think you didn't have some form of dependency on alcohol for that year, mental or physical. But fair play for being able to stop for 2 months straight.

 

Pretty much the same story with my mates. I would say I binge drink but I only drink once a week. I am a man down with a hangover so it's very rare that I drink more than one day a week.

In saying that, according to doctors most of us would be alcoholics. The recommended unit intake is like 3 units a day, which most of us could easily drink the weekly intake in one night.

 

Not really, I just enjoy it. Drinking a coffee every morning doesn't make you addicted to coffee.

 

Not with everyone but it can.

 

Exactly so just because some people might need to drink everynight doesn't mean every one who enjoys a drink at night is addicted.

 

Suppose

I just think people look at addiction differently. If somebody can drink every night and continue to function without alcohol with no worrying symptoms then I don't see a problem.

 

The first sentence on wikipedia says: "Alcoholism, also known as alcohol use disorder (AUD) and alcohol dependence syndrome, is a broad term for any drinking of alcohol that results in problems."

I would argue that abuse from binge drinking causes much more harm and problems than having a few everynight.

 

You're correct but addiction is a spectrum, rather than a black and white thing. Even someone who drinks a coffee every day, does so for a reason, they depend on the caffeine boost on some level. Same with alcohol, the person has some for of dependency on the feeling alcohol gives them, otherwise they wouldn't want it or enjoy it.

On another note, I hope I'm not coming across as getting on a high horse about alcohol. I don't drink much but I still enjoy a drink. I know the amount other people choose to drink is none of my * business, I'm just curious as to what point people would determine someone to be an alcoholic.

 

It's a discussion there's no need to feel as if you're on a high horse haha.

The way I see my drinking is apart from it i'm an otherwise healthy person. I don't eat *, smoke or do drugs (often) and I exercise everday so to me having a couple of cans at the end of the day is just another way to relax like watching the tele or playing fifa etc. if it had to become a problem ever I would stop it, I just like the taste of alcohol I guess. As I said earlier I have drink sitting under my bed and have no urge to drink it as I know it would be far too much for just a night in myself.

 

Anybody who suffers with any of the alcoholic related symptoms can be considered an alcoholic.

I can see what you're saying, but in my case, I stopped for 2 months without problem, and nothing in my life really changed.

 

Anyone still up for a bevvy? Just left the mrs, got a bottle a vodka

 

I have experience of nursing guys like that in the past. They came in to hosp lovely pleasant and gentlemanly guys and within 48hrs the DT'*
Many would leave hugely embarrassed not having known one or two drinks every night was ever going to amount to a problem and others had lied about their intake in the first place. Part of the reason we ask people about their alcohol intake is not to catch them out or lecture them but rather we need to know if they're going to become a problem and if they're going to need some medicinal help to get them through enforced abstinence.

I once had this huge man try to walk out of the ward stark naked and that seemed to be the only odd thing about him as he was holding a perfectly rationale conversation with us into why we couldn't stop him from leaving. He was quoting his rights, law etc :smiley-laughing002: and anyone listening to him would have been fearful of the outcome. He told the doc if he came anywhere near him with that needle he would see him in court! It took at least 6 of us to stop him getting out the door and we only managed by telling him we would phone his family to pick him up. There was a lot more to this mans story but as I say I cared for many like him and at times they were frightening.

I was told that when you become dependent on even one drink every night to settle you down you're an alcoholic. I suppose the key word here is dependency. My hubby hasn't touched beer in a couple of months and he's lost over 2st and well on the way to a 3rd. He's just your average few bottles of beer a couple of times a week while watching footie/rugby/golf or whatever. He has the occasional glass or two of malt whisky but he has to have a notion for it so I don't think it would become a nightly thing.

I very rarely take a drink as I just don't like the taste of it and I can empathize with those who say they feel ostracized if they don't drink as I also grew up in that culture. Now I'm the family bore and don't get invited to their parties or nights out which I'm grateful for as try staying sober and listening to someone become a drunken prat right in front of your eyes I'm more selective of my social occasions and company now as it's better to feel comfortable in your own skin and drink within your own limits without feeling pressured.

 

i am a alcoholic ,on the 28th of this month i will be 15 years sober ,,if any one needs help ,i suggested AA it certainty help me return to my true self ,,it wasnend easy getting to were i am today ,but it most certainty was worth it ,,I am forever grateful for all that i have today ,and its not material stuff ,i have the love of my family and most of all i am a father to my two sons ,,SLAN

 

Congratulations mate

I would imagine reading over this thread you can see quiet a few who are heading there but appear to be far from admitting it