[Psyclox]

What is the definition of an alcoholic? please I need to know cause all my friends tell me that an alcholic is a person who wants to quite, and that I am a drunk instead so which am I?

[Raynaadi]

From pg 31 of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous:

"Despite all we can say, many who are real alcoholics are not going to believe they are in that class. By every form of self-deception and experimentation, they will try to prove themselves exceptions to the rule, therefore nonalcoholic. If anyone who is showing inability to control his drinking can do the right-about-face and drink like a gentleman, our hats are off to him. Heaven knows, we have tried hard enough and long enough to drink like other people!

Here are some of the methods we have tried: Drinking beer only, limiting the number of drinks, never drinking alone, never drinking in the morning, drinking only at home, never having it in the house, never drinking during business hours, drinking only at parties, switching from scotch to brandy, drinking only natural wines, agreeing to resign if ever drunk on the job, taking a trip, not taking a trip, swearing off forever (with and without a solemn oath), taking more physical exersise, reading inspirational books, going to health farms and sanitariums, accepting voluntary commitement to asylums - we could increase the list ad infinitum.

We do not like to pronounce anyone as alcoholic, but you can quickly diagnose yourself. Step over to the nearest barroom and try some controlled drinking. Try to drink and stop abruptly. Try it more than once. It will not take long for you to decide, if you are honest with yourself about it. It may be worth a bad case of jitters if you get a full knowledge of your condition."

This reading always helps remind me that yes, I'm an alcohlic. Whether I want to quit or not doesn't define the fact that I'm an alcoholic. I'm either a recovering alcoholic or an active drunk, but either way, I'm an an "alcoholic". It's up to you to decide for yourself if you are or aren't, and then it's up to you to decide what to do about it.

Hope that helps.

Rayna

[mlyn]

Is not how much or how often we drink but what happens when we do drink is the tell tail sign.