Alcoholism Support Group
Alcoholism is the continued consumption of alcoholic beverages, even when it is negatively affecting your health, work, relationships and life. If you think alcohol is causing you to lose control, it's time to seek help. Our group is a safe place to vent, check in, get back up if you fall, and reach sobriety.
I am into day 5 of my second quest to stop drinking alcohol after 45 years of nearly constant daily drinking at a moderate to heavy level. So far I have immersed myself into a variety of alcohol related information, including this wonderful discussion group. The book I am reading now (Empowering Your Sober Self) has provided the the advice I have found most useful thus far. While I don't agree with every aspect of the LifeRing approach, I do feel like the approach fits me better than the AA program. This does not mean to say I have not found value in my attending AA meetings, but the value has been in the association and insight I have gained from hearing (first hand) the alcohol related experiences of others. I am convinced at this point that I need to be the designer and leader of my own personal program for stopping the ingestion of alcohol with the intent of feeling "better".
One thing that I have decided upon is that I will no longer label myself as an alcoholic. There are simply too many negative connotations associated with this label and I am concerned that accepting this label causes me (and others) to consider myself as somehow abnormal and diseased. The fact is, I now believe I am a quite normal and reasonably healthy individual who simply got into the habit of using alcohol for the purpose of "feeling better" on a long term basis. This habit has lasted nearly 45 years and has become solidly ingrained into my routine, both on a physical and mental basis.
It is looking more and more like the answer for me lies in simply recognizing the fact that the ingestion of alcohol in any amount is harmful to anyone's physical and mental well being and therefore I must eliminate it from my diet. Keeping it simple is good for me.
One thing that I have decided upon is that I will no longer label myself as an alcoholic. There are simply too many negative connotations associated with this label and I am concerned that accepting this label causes me (and others) to consider myself as somehow abnormal and diseased. The fact is, I now believe I am a quite normal and reasonably healthy individual who simply got into the habit of using alcohol for the purpose of "feeling better" on a long term basis. This habit has lasted nearly 45 years and has become solidly ingrained into my routine, both on a physical and mental basis.
It is looking more and more like the answer for me lies in simply recognizing the fact that the ingestion of alcohol in any amount is harmful to anyone's physical and mental well being and therefore I must eliminate it from my diet. Keeping it simple is good for me.
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Dick Van Dyke’s path to sobriety was a turning point in his life and career. Here’s what happened:How He Got SoberStruggles and Realization: Van Dyke began drinking as a teenager, largely to cope with shyness and social anxiety. Alcohol made him feel more comfortable in social settings, but over time, his drinking spiraled out of control. By his mid-40s, he recognized that he had an addictive...
When I did this, I was not trying to justify drinking again or deny my problem. I was framing my problem in the way that made sense to me so i could stop drinking and stay stopped.
/just sayin'
It really doesn't matter what you use to describe your situation with alcohol. Just knowing that your life is unmanageable using alcohol is enough.
There's an old one liner with a lot of truth to it: "An alcoholics life becomes unmanageable when he can no longer lower his standards fast enough to keep up with current events."
Identify, dont Compare.
I don't have a problem admitting I became addicted to alcohol use, but I do have a problem taking on a label that is ambiguous and carries what I believe to be degrading connotations. Yes, I have put a lot of energy into researching and understanding the subject of alcohol use lately, but it is not an attempt to "justify why I am not an alcoholic". I am not at all into denial of my problem with alcohol addiction. I just don't think that I want to join some club called "alcoholics" unless I clearly understand what the requirements are and I am convinced that I meet those requirements. At this point, I believe taking on the label "alcoholic" does more damage than good.
The current terminology is substance use disorder. There is a spectrum involved with this disorder, from those where alcohol (in this discussion) is beginning to cause life problems to those that are experiencing severe interference in functioning in life from alcohol use. There are markers or "symptoms" that help health care professionals and individuals determine where they are in the process of the disorder.
It really is not necessary to use the somewhat more conventional and perhaps controversial term alcoholic, just assessment of where one stands on the spectrum of substance use disorder and do any number of things to halt the progression and damage.
I get the impression that you are presenting a case that any amount of alcohol is damaging and has no positive health effects. While that may or may not be true the risks posed by alcohol use in general far out weigh any possible health benefits. Further, one can get the possible health benefits of small amounts of alcohol other ways through proper diet and exercise.
I congratulate you on deciding to take your life back from destructive drinking. All my best on finding the path(s) that help the best, and don't be a stranger...
Yes, I am currently of the opinion that all alcohol ingestion is harmful. Perhaps I am leaning towards this perspective because it helps me to justify and adhere to an approach of complete abstinence based on common sense and not wanting to do harm to my body.
I like the label "substance use disorder" or even "substance use abuser" better than alcoholism and alcoholic as it clearly does not segregate the alcohol abuser from other substance abusers. We are all very much the same in my mind.
Thanks again for your thoughtful comments and as you can see from my multiple postings so far, I will not be a "stranger" to this discussion.
A handful of people close to me know I am an alcoholic. Most of them seem to think there is strength in admitting my problem. My mother however, is very judgemental and now blames everything negative I do on my addiction and categorizes me allll the time. Wish I never told her.
Sorry about your Mom using your admission to being addicted as a blame for everything negative in your life. Even people who never drink have negative issues in their lives. Even your Mother I suspect.