In the state of UT I'm a sinful cretin that should be tarred, feathered, hanged, drawn, and quartered.
But no, I'm not an Alcoholic.
If you look at the DSM-IV (The go-to diagnosis book for psychological illness used by shrinks everywhere) it will tell you that alcoholism is a disease caused by the effects of alcohol
abuse, that the abuser cannot fix due to their
dependence.
Abuse is defined below:
A maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by one (or more) of the following, occurring within a 12-month period:
1. recurrent substance use resulting in a failure to fulfill major role obligations at work, school, home (e.g., repeated absences or poor work performance related to substance use; substance-related absences, suspensions, or expulsions from school; neglect of children or household)
2. recurrent substance use in situations in which it is physically hazardous (e.g., driving an automobile or operating a machine when impaired by substance use)
recurrent substance-related legal problems (e.g., arrests for substance-related disorderly conduct)
3. continued substance use despite having persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems caused or exacerbated by the effects of the substance (e.g., arguments with spouse about consequences of intoxication, physical fights)
The symptoms have never met the criteria for Substance Dependence for this class of substances.
Dependence is further defined as:
A maladaptive pattern of substance use, leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by three (or more) of the following, occurring at any time in the same 12-month period:
1. tolerance, as defined by either of the following:
a need for markedly increased amounts of the substance to achieve intoxication or desired effect
markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of substance
2. withdrawal, as manifested by either of the following:
the characteristic withdrawal syndrome for the substance
the same (or a closely related) substance is taken to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms
3. the substance is often taken in larger amounts or over a longer period than was intended
4. there is a persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control substance use
5. a great deal of time is spent in activities to obtain the substance, use the substance, or recover from its effects
6. important social, occupational or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of substance use
7. the substance use is continued despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem that is likely to have been caused or exacerbated by the substance (e.g., continued drinking despite recognition that an ulcer was made worse by alcohol consumption)
uhhh...so don't let #5 throw you off. You need way more than just one of these to be classified as dependent on alcohol. Otherwise, we'd all be screwed.
At any rate, if you're reading through those and answering a lot of "yes, that sounds like me" to those then you should probably seek professional help. Or if you're really concerned or family members have conveyed concern, then seek professional help. My mom's a psychologist that specializes in addictions, so I grew up with this stuff all through my rebellious adolescence. There's been times in my life when I've had problems with substances, but fortunately I knew enough to get help when needed.
At this point, no, I'm not an alcoholic, and there's a lot of red flags that would flip up if I started getting close.
Drink up, me harties, yo ho.
I am literaly Joe Six-Pak, and sometimes 7 or 8 Pak. I rarely find myself laying down holding on to the grass to keep from falling off the face of the Earth.
