I have often mentioned on here what the difference between an alcohol addiction and a person who has an alcohol problem was.
A person with a alcohol problem is basically drinking because they want to.
A person with an Alcohol Addiction, is now drinking because they have to.
I've recently found this little snippet which I think rings true for most people who have/had and addiction problem.
Don't suffer in silence, help is out there.
Richard,
Thanks for the post on tackling such a difficult subject. Unfortunately it seems to raise more answers to a straightforward question, but that demonstrates the complexity of the human condition. For myself, I like the term alcohol dependent. Whilst it doesn’t cover everyone, for me personally, I know when I reached that point.
Mark.
Thanks Mark, I totally agree you. It is a very complex subject and we are all different. One cap certainly doesn't fit all. I've been banging on about this for some years now with the trials I'm presently involved with. But it's hard for some people to appreciate the complexity of the alcohol-mind set.
The simple question is how to break the cycle of dependency, there in lies the complexity of finding the underlying causes and coming up with an answer? Clearly one size does not fit all.
My hubby was exactly the same as in he could cope with saying ( eventually) he was alcohol dependant or had an alcohol problem but couldn't say he was an alcoholic. That painted a completely different picture in his mind. Nothing would have got him to group councelling, he would have needed at least 4 cans of cider to be able to walk into a room full of strangers and say " My name is Andy and l'm an alcoholic." Do they still do this? I think it's pretty grusome to be honest. L x
I remember being told I was a functioning alcoholic. I didn't mind that for some reason. I think that covers everything.
Thank you for sharing this
Thank you for sharing this, it's so hard for people to reach out for help or even knowing where to get it without fear of condemnation. Raising awareness is certainly the way forward. For some having to face the reason they ever drank in the first place, such as child abuse, neglect and harm, far too many don't make it to the other side not because of alcohol but sadly suicide, Truly heartbreaking xx
When they went to detox my husband they found he was not dependent on drink. So you could say he was drinking because he wanted to but that does not then look at the underlying factors that drove him to drink 4 plus bottles of wine a day . So physically not dependent but mentally he was.
If I new the answer to your question I might have been able to save my dear brothers life.
I think most start drinking due to some sort of truama in their life, others just like the taste. My friend became addicted at a very young age by sampling his fathers home brew kept in the garage. He was another who lost his life to drink.
As you rightly say it is a very complex problem but my heart goes out to those that are addicted I have seen the damage it does first hand.
How do you determine where the line is between alcohol addiction and alcohol dependence? My partner proved he can go a week without alcohol without physical withdrawal symptoms but I came to the conclusion he only did it because he'd convinced himself if he did at the end of the week he could have a drink. He slowly got back to where he started from - drinking daily in excess of 12 cans a day unless he feels too ill to drink in which case he spends the day asleep. It's wrecking his body physically but he can't/doesn't want to see it. He may not be physically addicted but he is mentally.
Hi all - firstly thank you Richard-Allen for posting the above quote. I can see a really interesting discussion taking place re: terminology. For clarification, the terms used by the NHS are harmful drinking (drinking more than 14 units a week) and hazardous drinking (drinking more than 35 units a week for women and 50 units a week for men). Alcohol Use Disorder is used for those who are dependent or who are drinking at hazardous levels.Terminology is certainly a topic which always brings up interesting and varying opinions.
Best wishes
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