alcohol-what do you believe?

[sandyg2244]

I am interested in what people think about alcohol addiction.Do you go by the 'alcohol addiction is a disease' theory as endorsed by AA or do you think it's just a way to deal with your problems and block everything out etc?I'm just curious, as i know not everyone beleives the same thing.

[pastafreak]

It may start as a recreational need...to relax,to be sociable,to help 'deal with ...problems' as you say.......it will become an addiction when it is believed that the body and the mind cannot and will not function without alchohol(or any other substance) .......a cycle is established whereby to feel 'normal',then alchohol must be consumed, ...and the time between feeling ok and feeling needy becomes shorter. That is when the body and mind are addicted. Some studies have shown a genetic predisposition...so some may be destined to become alchoholics.

[sandyg2244]

the genetic thing has never been proven, nor has the disease concept of alcoholism, but thanks for your answer.the genertic thing is a common misconception because of the media etc.I'd love to know other people's views on this.

[DONNAKEBABUK]

Hiya Sandy. I have just given up alcohol because it was a demon to me. It was costing me so much more than a night out/in lets say. I am a binge drinker - usually starting on a Thursday night (dont work Fridays) and drink around 80 units over the course of the weekend.

Went to Alcohol Counselling (not AA - its private 1-2-1) and they advised me that it was more a psychological rather than physical need.

I couldnt just go to the offy and buy ONE bottle of Rose wine but I would have 3 for a tenner !

For the FIRST 2 weekends on trot in 20 years, I have been sober, less lethargic, able to perform better at work, house duties and do more things with my daughter (who would always be in bed, at a friends etc when I had a drink) I would never have drank in front of her.

The Alcohol counselling pointed out that there are two types of alcohol dependency, one psychological and one physical. Mine being the former to alleviate stresses etc.

I dont think alcohol addiction is theory endorsed by the AA, I truly beleive that it is learned behaviour that is easy to unlearn if you have the determination but you have to REALLY WANT to do it.

Katie. x

[daffy654]

Its an addiction not a disease. It only becomes a disease when the body has become so used to the alcohol that to withdraw it suddenly and completely causes the body (organs) to fail. I don't agree that people are genetically predisposed to be addicted to any substance.I would be happy to be proved wrong on that point though if anyone can provide conclusive evidence.

[formergpWTF]

i am 21 and hav ad my fair share of drug related probs in the past and now alcohol is all i got left. i only really feel happy afte a drink and i limit this to the wkend. i dont c it as a problem. jus my way of life. seems to def run in my family

[DONNAKEBABUK]

I agree whole heartedly with you daffy. Wow, well said.

Take care and night night.

Sweet Dreams.

Katie. x

[sandyg2244]

thanks for your answers, and great to hear from someone who's been through it and realised it's a psychological thing , and can be controlled with the right coping tools.Personally I beleive alcohol or any addiction is just a subsitute for hiding deep-down personal problems, when it gets to the problem drinking stage.Yes, most people who drink regularly for certain reasons have a psychological dependence, some people drink so much they have a PHYSICAL dependence, which just means they are drinking 24/7 and their body cant cope with the withdrawal symptoms..Its not cut and dried.But I was just wondering how people viewed this as I know AA are very strong in their views, and their views aren't shared by everyone.

[sandyg2244]

daffy, the 'disease' concept of drinking comes from AA and problem drinkers get referred to them.They say being addicted to alcohol is a disease like diabetes and you cant control it.basically it goes against all medical eveidence but the strict regime helps some people abstain from alcohol altogether.personally I beleive that we can make our own decisions through time and dont have to give ourselves to 'a higher power'!

[daffy654]

We all have ultimate control over our own actions and trying to lay the blame at the door of "disease " is just passing the buck. I was a smoker for more years than I care to think about.I have a genetic form of emphysema which I made worse by smoking.I could have stopped sooner but I didn't and I have nobody to blame but myself for the state of my health now.
If alcoholics took control of their lives and actions they could stop drinking but most are so emotionally dependent they can't do that.I appreciate that it must be hard but with willpower it could be achieved.

[sandyg2244]

tony, you hit the nail on the head-'crisis drinking'.alcohol is a coping mechanism for a lot of people, its destressing etc, ts in our culture, and yes many people go back to normal drinking when the crisis has passed.If you go to AA, one drink sets you on the road to eternal hell.You're a drunk, you're weak, and you can NEVER have another drink.Pity the poor people who reach our hospitals with alcohol problems for whatever reason, AA is mainly what they are recommended, despite evidence to say that other treatment programs might be more useful.lack of money you see.Thats why AA think everyone advocates them.its not that I dont, if it helps people get over their problem, thats good enough for me.But it doesnt work for everyone and I dont agree with their philosophy either

[sandyg2244]

daffy, you're so right-the control lies with us, and some people need reminded of that-not that we're weak and DONT need to hand ourselves over to a 'higher power'! we may have issues but ultimately, we do have control.Some of us need to work through our problems or compulsions that lead us to drink(over and above what is normal socially), but with the right help lots of people can do it.(there's evidence there, by the way).

[jake-the-peg]

As I recall there was an interesting experiment with rats.

A group were given dilute ethanol instead of water. After a period of time water was given in a seperate bottle as an option. Most rats stopped going to the ethanol but some did keep going back to it.

Both groups of rats were mated with each other and the experiment was repeated.

The offspring of the rats that went back to the ethanol had offspring who were significantly more likely to go back to the ethanol given the option.

This does not "prove" that alcoholism is genetic but we find more and more things were there is a genetic predisposition to something like alcoholism and that seems to me the probable situation.

From a personal perspective I've now been dry for 7 years. I had an aklcohol problem and managed to kick it after a few false starts.

And there is a history of drinkers in my family. Whether my children have the same tendancy remains to be seen. They've been brought up in a house where alcohol is a rarity to the point of an oddity - but I wouldn't be surprised to see it raising its ugly head

[jake-the-peg]

BTW well done Katie - take it from me it can be done!

Sandy, don't fall into the trap of thinking all alcoholics are scumbags in the gutter "on the road to eternal hell".

Many of us hold down good jobs and function surprisingly normally.

However I gave up when I realised that I couldn't remember the last day when I'd not had a drink - it had been at least 5 years possibly 10.

In a week I'd probably get through a litre of spirits 4-5 bottle of wine and some beers. That was a normal week. You should have seen Christmas!

You can build a remarkable tolerance. That would probably put me in hospital now.