4 Things You Might Not Know About Alcoholics
You must know something about alcoholics and alcoholism, or you wouldn’t be reading this. Maybe you want to gather more information to fill in the blanks.
We’ll get to the four things you might not know in a bit, but right now, I’m curious to know your reason for reading this:
Does someone in your life have a drinking problem?
Are you sober and think you know all there is to know about alcoholism, but want to see if there is something you’ve missed?
Or, is your drinking bothering you?
Whatever your thirst for being here, I hope this information quenches in a good way. It’s Alcohol Awareness Month, after all.
That’s right. April is the designated month to teach people about alcoholism, with the idea to educate and break the stigma around those with a drinking problem.
Now, about those four things…
ALCOHOLICS DRINK BECAUSE…
Alcoholics drink for all kinds of reasons, but, as Dr. Silkworth states in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous:
“Men and women drink essentially because they like the effect produced by alcohol.” It’s as simple as that.
The problem is, the effect that felt so great in the early days of drinking doesn’t hold up long-term. The alcoholic drinks more—and more—to chase that elusive reward in spite of awful consequences.
Think of the alcoholic who gets a DUI after a car accident and blames the condition of the road for the “mishap.” Then, after getting out of jail, says, “The police were jerks, too, and the coffee at the courthouse was horrible.”
CRAVINGS
The effect alcohol has on the mind and body of an alcoholic is allergy-like. This allergy-like reaction manifests as craving—the feeling of, “I need it NOW!”
You’ve either experienced this, or you haven’t. If you have, you know nothing else matters—nothing else—except putting the drink in your body—immediately if not sooner.
The idea of having a drink can jump-start the obsession in the mind, which then turns into craving. Then comes taking a drink.
And once alcohol is imbibed, it’s almost impossible for the alcoholic person to stop drinking.
If you are unfamiliar with craving, think of having a massive poison oak break-out all over your body and wanting to scratch the ITCH. Cravings are worse, and the alcoholic must scratch that itch at all costs.
Bottom Line? The mind and body of an alcoholic are different from people who don’t have a problem with alcohol. Craving doesn’t happen with “normal” people.
PERIODICS
Ever heard the term “periodic” with respect to alcohol?
This means the person may not be a daily drinker, or even a frequent heavy drinker, but drinks occasionally. These occasions may be every year, every six months, any time in Vegas, only at funerals, etc. You get the gist.
The problem for some periodics, though, is the periods between drinks get shorter and shorter.
One periodic I know said:
“Drinking once every six months turned into every two months, which then became every other weekend. Then I was drinking every weekend. Soon, weekends started on Wednesday and lasted through Sunday night.”
With this person, the aftershocks of losing her job, marriage and self-worth woke her up to her drinking problem.
Other periodics, though, continue drinking on said regular intervals. The negative consequences just compound in intensity as these mishaps pile up, over time. A resulting backwash of shame and despair sometimes shakes these people up to sober up, or not.
Moral of the story?
Although the periodic is interesting, how often someone drinks does not determine whether or not someone is an alcoholic.
ONE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ALCOHOLICS AND NON-ALCOHOLICS
If you think you have a problem with alcohol, chances are you do.
If you feel deflated hearing this, I’m sorry. But, people who don’t have a problem don’t wonder if they have a problem. It never occurs to them. Or, if it does, it is in light passing.
There are a host of other differences between alcoholics and “normies" (i.e., those people who can drink normally, so named by members of Alcoholics Anonymous). Too much to get into here, but I’m happy to answer any question you may have on differences. (Feel free to email me).
The only take-away here?
If you think you have a problem, you probably do.
Last Call
So, whether you are wondering about a friend, or are in recovery, or are a little unnerved that you’ve discovered you have a problem with alcohol, I hope this short read has helped you:
Have a better understanding of your friend’s plight.
Be grateful you are sober and out of denial.
Realize you have a problem, and know that it’s okay, because there is a lot of help available to you.
Whatever your circumstance, you are not alone. If you are suffering from your own alcoholism, or someone else’s, reach out for help now.
For anyone with a problem with alcohol, contact your local Alcoholics Anonymous office.
Also, if you want to see how alcohol is affecting your life, google the Johns Hopkins 20 questions.
For family and friends of alcoholics, contact Al-Anon Family Groups in your area.