How Do I Know if I’m Really an Alcoholic?
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- Опубліковано 25 сер 2024
- How Do I Know if I’m Really an Alcoholic?
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I didn't get in trouble every time I drank, but every time I got in trouble, I'd been drinking.
Totally get it! Soo true!
HAHA. Me
Me too. Smh.
Same-same.
BIG facts. As the kids say 😂
It took me me about a year of “trying to cut back” before I realized that unfortunately that’s just not possible for me. I was an all or nothing kind of gal and alcoholism runs really hard in my family. So I had to just stop. It’s been 8 years. I’m super glad I did it. It’s not always easy and sobriety is more like a roller coaster than an incline, IMO. But I’m grateful I did it and am still hanging in there ✌🏻
Good job.
wow thats amazing!!! :)
That's extremely hard. Did you go cold turkey?
8 years for me too. Congrats!
I have been sober from alcohol for 1 year. It is one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life.
Congratulations, what great work on your part!
I do not even know you yet I am proud of you.
With rare exception, if you have to ask you are an alcoholic.
Many will think they are the rare exception.
Bro said he “drinks to get drunk” 5-7 nights a week, and that all his friends and family drink just as much, and every time they all get together they drink. I’d love to hear the argument that he’s _not_ an alcoholic
I have a friend who told his doctor he was concerned about his drinking. The doctor told him if he was worried, he probably wasn't an alcoholic. I guess somebody has to graduate in the bottom of his med school class.
It's a disease. Some people do just drink to pass the time and because they are surrounded by people who are also drinking. He said he's taken breaks in the past, like during the pandemic, and he felt great. Good chance that was because he wasn't out with his friends and family being a social drinker 5 nights a week. Like everything, drinking can become a habit. I think this guy has a problem, but it will easily be solved by making adjustments to his lifestyle and setting boundaries.
Ur smart he does for thirty forty years there aint nothing left. Thats was crazy how he said it so nonchalant. @@TonyCox1351
You may say you dont "skip things" but you actually do. You are skipping they gym (for example) every morning you dont get up and jump out of bed because you are not on top of your game, etc. Just because you are doing what is required (work, etc) doesnt mean you are living your best life. Alcohol doesnt allow you to live your best life. It steals from you slowly and then faster and faster until you wake up one day and realize life is passing you by.
What makes alcoholism harder is living in a society that normalises heavy/ regular drinking. I needed to hear this episode as this has been my personal journey this year
Recovering alcoholic here, with over 19 years of sobriety. Thank you, John, for immediately calling this out at 01:39. I wish someone did that with me way back when. I hope this young man finds sobriety (not moderation, but complete abstinence).
Good on ya
A quote I once heard- if you’re asking the question…at the very least alcohol is not serving you well.
Exactly, I realized it wasn’t helping so I just quit. It would always ruin the next day. Whatever I was getting from drinking on the weekend is way outweighed by no longer having 2 day long hang overs.
After a month I just came to the conclusion that I don’t need it and it’s a productivity, time, and money sink.
❤...and how about health and sanity?
Him and his brother in law are going to have to replace the drinking with something else. A whole new lifestyle. I know several alcoholics that replaced drinking with weight lifting since it’s a great stress reliever, and you can see the progress you’re making week by week. I hope they can get this through this!!
That’s not a solution to the problem. If it were, Delony would have told the caller, “just replace your drinking w/ XYZ.” What you’re describing is typical addict behavior. They stop using and throw themselves into some sort of “hobby.” But oftentimes they end up relapsing b/c their new “hobby” is just another mask over the root issue.
Yeah, underlying issues will still be present, but replacing a bad habit with a good habit (or a less bad habit) is a known effective method of changing habits and routines. Relapses happen all the time, even when people address the fear or anxiety that drives them to drink.
Sustainability Theory Absolutely. An addict will lose everyone and everything in the pursuit of a better life, so it’s important that they fill those voids with better people and habits once they start burning off the dead wood.
@@brookemoore8369 Like they say in AA, "People, Places, and Things".
Stella Rocquie it’s rough….. I know a lot of alcohol can’t deal with so many losses at once.
As a drug and alcohol clinician so many people and even professionals do NOT get this right. This is why I watch you, you were SPOT ON!!! Thank you
It's really simple: If you're calling into a show asking if you're an alcoholic then you're an alcoholic. People who don't have a drinking problem never wonder if they have a drinking problem. I'll be 2 years sober in September and I'm absolutely thriving. I love it.
I’ve been sober for 17 years. I attend 12 step meetings (AA and Celebrate Recovery). I need Gods help and the support of other people. I no longer think about drinking. My family drinks a lot, and the thought doesn’t cross my mind because my cup is full today ( thank you God). Get plugged in with a group of recovering people: it will change your life.
CONGRATULATIONS! Keep up the GREAT work! It works if you work it!
I don't like AA, but if I were surrounded by a family that I was close to who drank, I'd probably have to go to AA to stay sober, lol.
I love that affirmation: I am someone who takes care of their body. Repeating that over and over shifts the identity for the better. I love this episode Dr. Delony.
Blaming the surrounding events and people is a huge red flag.
We are a product of our genetics and our environment
Are you saying the alcoholic blames others for why they don’t feel happy ? My thought is happy people rarely blame others . Happy people take personal responsibility for their issues.
I wouldn't wish alcoholism on my worst enemy.
amen.
“I don’t know if I’m an alcoholic…”
“Yes”
My sister quit deinking cold turkey. I am SO proud of her. Then about 6 years later she quit smoking!!! True respect for her!!!
Quitting cold turkey can be deadly for a heavy drinker, they need medical help. I'm so glad she stopped!
That's a huge accomplishment 👏
This guy is gonna make it!!! All the best for him
I spent a lot of years struggling with the what ifs and future tripping about not drinking ever again. But I hit personal bottom and had a spiritual experience, realizing it was no way to live, and committed to making a change. Today at 3.5 years sober, I could not have imagined just how much richer my life could be. My kids have a sober mother and I have choices today. I rely on God, the guidance of my sponsor, and follow the suggested 12 steps. There is a solution my friend.
CONGRATULATIONS! YOU ARE A SUCCESS! It works if you work it! I wish you health and sobriety for ALL the years to come, ONE DAY AT A TIME!
❤Congratulations!!
Remember you're no longer high so your moral standards of living are high!
Sober sanity and sane sobriety! Get a sponsor who is living a very clean and moral life. Protect your kids. Read the 12 and 12. Again. ❤
This episode really spoke to me I am in the depths of similar situation to this guy, I moved out to the country and now I don't have any friends to hang with so this is what it led to. Appreciate your videos you brought up some good points definitely going to try my hardest to not drink Dr. John you were a big influence in my life.
It's been 4 years of sobriety and I still want beer.
Try Pellegrino with a lime or some other sparkling water! That always hit the spot with me and quenched my beer want
I’ve been sober 4 years too and I still get cravings
I always wondered, can you have 0.0 non-alcoholic beer? I think nowadays these taste almost as good but I know a view sober alcoholics and The never drink alcfree beer or Cocktails. Why not? I love beer/wine and Cocktails but quit everything 3 months before we started trying for baby no 1. Not missing it but will have alcfree beer and cocktails recently. Why is that no for ex alcoholics? Asking out of pure curiosity
@@mrsflowerpower I've had some non-alcoholic IPA. It tastes pretty good. It's 0.5% alcohol. I've always just had one and don't feel anything. Can't say it's satisfying like real beer but I enjoy one on occassion.
It’s been over two years & I feel like drinking almost every day
Everyone should listen to this call. Such an excellent call that will help save millions of lives - billions of future lives when you think of the children who are not born yet.
As a person who has never had addiction issues, this is really making sense to me, helping me to understand why it is so difficult for people to quit addictive habits. It isn't just a matter of stopping drinking, but changing the way you see yourself and how you fit in (for want of a better term).
It’s super difficult because it isn’t as simple as just giving up a substance in and of itself but drastically adjusting your life as a whole if you want to have a real chance. If you drink regularly most all of the people you spend time around drink and so it almost requires that you stop hanging around those people. And it’s also extremely common that people dog on you for deciding to quit because alcohol is a substance that people are often judged more for choosing not to consume it because it’s such s societal norm. And so it becomes such an immense challenge because of how much change it calls for in addition to simply choosing not to consume alcohol anymore because if you want to keep hanging around the people you’re always drinking with it basically requires that they change up the things that they do to accomodate you or you likely have to go without spending time with them and that’s just so hard. It’s even harder if you’ve lived like him where he’s drinking too much but has successfully functioned as an alcoholic where he doesn’t see the issue because it hasn’t resulted in the consequences that would make it easy to know you need to stop like losing a job or something.
I drank because that’s what the people around me did…. And since I felt uncomfortable socially I had to have the alcohol and eventually loved how it made me feel. It was just another way hide. I’m so happy I stopped that lifestyle.
From personal conviction, I have never touched any alcohol in my 60+ years. I've had a full, joyful, meaningful life with significant tragedies, mundane everydays and profound highs. There's been a lot of attempted shaming from others. People don't like it if you don't drink. I am a silent abstainer, but I've been called out publicly. It will have some tough moments, but it can be done.
❤Good for you! There by the grace of God!
Worst day sober is better than best day drunk and deluded
I was drinking every day until I had a medical issue and had to stop drinking for 8 months. After I did that I realized it was basically a habit I developed.
❤A deadly habit. Eight months was the loud wake up call. How many "2nd chances" have you had?
I was a 5:00 wine hour, and one with dinner. But it was EVERY night.
At age 16, I drank beer for the first time and I very clearly remember thinking two things. First, “My God, where have you been all my life?” Second, “I am going to drink every opportunity I get because I want to feel this way for the rest of my life.” I was in love instantly. It wasn’t until I was sober over ten years that I learned my mother, an alcoholic, drank heavily when she was pregnant with me. Fortunately, I was born without fetal alcohol syndrome or any birth defects, etc. But, I had developed what I call the allergy to alcohol. This piece of information was an huge ah-ha! moment for me when everything made sense to me finally. After my first beers that night at age 16, I drank for another 20 years. Yes, I had a lot of fun many times, but I was a blackout drinker and life was terrifying everyday. I lived in fear of what I had done but couldn’t remember and in fear of what would inevitably happen again. I created a lot of wreckage along the way and I lost a lot. I could have killed myself, others, ended my career, lost everything I had worked for a thousand times while in a blackout, but I was very very lucky. I’m now 18 years sober because there is nothing, absolutely nothing, that will be made better by taking a drink. Good, bad or otherwise, a drink is never the answer. God bless those struggling.❤
So true!! Congrats on your journey
“Think generationally, not by the hour” a great quote that came from this conversation. I think that one will apply well to everyone’s daily lives.
When my husband and I went into marriage counseling, the counselor asked my husband to quit drinking for three months. My husband was angry, but agreed to do it. It was a miserable three months (he had trouble sleeping, and was pretty angry the whole time. I told the counselor, except for a trip out of town when he drank (but denied it), I guess he wasn’t an alcoholic. The counselor asked what he did when the three months were up. I said he showed up to our daughter’s band concert reeking of alcohol because he had started drinking the minute his three months were up. The counselor told me what he did when his time up was the test. Six years after I divorced him he was dead from chronic alcoholism at the age of 48.
I'm an AA attending alcoholic. I loved most of what you said John, you're spot on. The only thing I take exception to is in the beginning. When in doubt, sit it out. Prioritize your sobriety before ANYTHING, you're not going to be able to have the same life initially and that's ok. Reivent yourself and don't go to things that you fear will make you drink, that's ok too, it won't be forever.
Amazing conversation! Family cycles have deep roots: they can be ripped out! 🙏🏻
Because the TRUTH is finally brought into the light !! 👍
And sometimes SHOULD be ripped out!
He will be so much happier if he stops surrounding himself with alcoholics. And quitting drinking, of course.
With the help of a support group, and a twelve step program.
Bud light ad before this one, classy
Algorithm- so close, but so far away
Never been an alcoholic but I have kicked a meth habit. Almost 4 years clean now. (I personally wouldn't call what I had an addiction... when I decided it was time to quit, I just did. Several months of thinking, "meth doesn't make me feel good anymore" was very helpful in giving me the willpower to put that pipe down and not pick it up anymore.)
That’s fantastic! Congrats. I always hope that for people- because meth is hell when it has you.
If you have to ask if you’re an alcoholic, you are probably an alcoholic. Simple as that. As a non-alcoholic, I have never asked myself this question.
You’re just in denial. You always drink too much when we hang iut
If I suggested that you stay completly from all alcohol for 6 months, how would you feel inside?
@@user-ct1kh2if8j easy, I’ve done it. I don’t have a problem with alcohol and don’t need it to function or “have a good time”. I have no feelings about abstaining.
Hahhaha bingo @user-ct1kh2if8j
@rockmanlover. Recovering alcoholic here. You are so correct, sir! I asked myself that question a number of times! Been clean and sober for over twenty years now. It is the best life!
Kyle seems like a fantastic person with the correct mindset. Good luck to him
Quitted drinking more than 2 years ago! Now i’m 35 years old…
I was more a weekend warrior but could see it go te wrong way that why i wanted to stop drinking…
So much more time and money on my hands now! Even work a second job (as a busdriver) in te the side! So productive now! Never going back!!!
Greetings from the Netherlands!
Best decision ever was putting alcohol down for a full year and learning to live and grow without the cost financially or health issues.
This is Gold,
Believe in self💪🏼
Its YOU vs YOU🥊
When the people around you are bothered by the drunk side of you, you hurt their feelings, or they express to you that it makes them think less of you, I think it's a problem. My partner quit drinking when I did which has helped me feel supported in not doing it.
Thanks for sharing Kyle and Thank you John
How much? … cannot answer question. Yep!
My goodness, thanks brother! I know.
In this day and age , having this problem and feeling alone with it, is crazy, but it's Real
Allen Carr book "The easy way to quit drinking" is very good
I doubt anyone may read this but I really resonate with the caller, but what happens if those around you who drink all the time are family and you end up drinking just to get through the family dinner (maybe 3-5 drinks at a time)? Not my family but my in laws so I can’t really tell them they grate the heck out of me because my husband is pretty close with them. He is a stop at 2 drinks person and I just don’t have that self-control once I open the drinking tab.
I read this and from my own personal experience, you have to just not go. Get into a community of recovery.
I realize my drinking was habit ...so I kept drinking but switched to non alcoholic beer and found out it was the same except no hangover
A friend of mine switched to canned seltzer water
That's really interesting
I've got a feeling he will do it, he will quit. I would actually tell a white lie to family and say you are on a medication that doesnt allow you to drink ...let them get used to it. Then you wont experience that kick back from them that could push you back into it.
People are so focused on the social implications of drinking too much but totally ignore the long term health implications. Drinking multiple drinks per day 5-7 days a week is terrible for you. The level of damage you’re causing to your internal organs and the additional cancer risks are profound. I’ve seen family members die of liver failure and alcohol induced dementia. It’s an absolutely awful way to go out.
If your reading this today, You ARE worth it. Alcohol ruins any goal you have. You have to remove things to get better things. ❤
I stopped visiting our friends with my husband, because they all drank too much, from mid-morning to past midnight. I left the home, filed for divorce and he's now my ex-husband☮️🙏✨
That label feels like a lifelong sentence to a lot of people and causes them to delay getting help.
Exactly
On the flip side though if you can’t admit you have a problem you’re not going to get help or quit the behavior. Literally the first and biggest step to sobriety is taking a hard look in the mirror and admitting to yourself you have a problem. You may get help right away… you may sit with the fact that you have a problem for a while. For me it took about a year of knowing I had a problem to actually admit it to someone else and to do something about it.
What caller was very self-aware
Read the Doctors Opinion in the Big Book of AA and if it sounds like you, you need to find a local AA meeting get a sponsor that focuses on the steps and literature. This is how I finally got sober after 3 trips to rehab. Good luck to all those who still suffer.
Three is the charm! Congratulations on your hard earned sobriety!
I love that he brought up Dr. Anna Lembke. Her research is fascinating and eye opening.
Killed this one Dr D
What Delony did not bring up was the physical damage to getting off of alcohol cold turkey in some cases. One of my favorite actors - Nelsan Ellis of True Blood died that way. He needs to talk with his doctor. He might be much more alcoholic than he is letting on.
Great comment and information. People probably don't realize that stopping cold turkey could cause seizures and/or death. Back in the old days of "12-stepping" someone, they used to bring alcohol along for the ride to the rehab, just to keep the alcoholic stable and conscious until he was dropped off at the hospital.
I think that's how amy winehouse died
I drink every day and really need to stop
You can do it-make a commitment to drink one beer/cup less at a time. Replace it with water and keep yourself occupied with something that you enjoy-reading, exercise, meditate, podcasts and audible.
You are worth it
I thought I could never stop , only time I wasn't drinking was when I was sleeping and I barely did that ....I'm 21 yrs sober , best thing I ever done ......You can do it .
Thank you John for clarifying and making things clear for this gentleman and others alike. Much appreciated, and i highly agree with every word. It's sad that people have no self control with there own life wheather it be what they eat or drink. They have no control of what they consume and no care how the bidy reacts and responds to it. Then they over indulge bcz again no self control, careless about if it will effect them long term or the ones around them they love, they dont care about there health & mostly people who over indulge majority of the time are miserable, sad, lonely or trying to cope with a life experience or dramatic changethey do not agree with so they consume alchol or junk food to cope to drown the pain, sorrow, and agony or what is reality and truth. Instead of standing up and taking consideration of life and loved ones around, and being in control and strong minded and focused on their mental and physical health, they let weakness consume and give in each and every time regardless and that is sad to see and for those who have to live it. There are people who will have zero dollars to their name just to spend the last $100, $50, 20, $10, $5, even beg for change just to get a 16 or 40oz. of alcohol it is sad to see & endure as a loved one, I've lost relatives to liver sclerosis and kydney failure and lung cancer from chain smoking , and on dialysis all bcz they did not care enough to love themselves as much as family did trying to keep them alive and they lost life young before 50 and right after late 30s. While their children were still growing, graduatung becoming adults they didn't get to see their grandchildren be born and show them life. Instead they drowned their life numbed their so called pain for their own greed and no self love or self control. Now family like myself get to live and learn along with share to the world that there is a better way of life and that is to live the one life you got with those you love to the fullest and not indulge in toxicity bcz of misery. Love' Light' Many Blessings 🙏💞🙏💋🙏
Respecfully, you are wrong. It isn't about "self control" alcoholism is a disease. If you think someone is begging for change because they want to drink you need a wakeup call.
@@jeanettel4840 sorry Honey everything falls down to Self Control & Self Worth..... Ask a professional. If one has neither they are toxic and will take anyone down with them. Too much to explain, but it is in reality facts. That's why people don't just do obsured things daily bcz they have self control & self worth.
& of course alcoholism is a disease.... But so is gingivitis for the person who consumes too much sweets and does not care enough to take care of their gums and teeth...etc..etc. just as diabetes is a disease for the person who consumes unhealthy junk and doesn't cleanse, same to an alchy who over indulges and never cares to consider the harm being done to the only body they have. So yes as I stated above it all falls down to Self control, in any circumstance.
@@janemonroe7547 what you're saying makes zero sense. Alcohol abuse disorder is diagnosed by professionals. Your "facts" are gobbledegook. Don't know what point you're trying to make here but it's failing, miserably.
Let me know where you got your addiction counseling degree and we'll talk. I'm an alcoholic, this isn't conjecture.
He might start looking for the people at the BBQ who aren't drinking. There are people around him who don't abuse alcohol.
Compare and contrast with the people at the BBQ who are always drinking as well. Listen to what comes out of their mouths too. You will likely find the worst coming out of the drinkers' mouths.
Put your health first, everything else will fall in line.❤
Last year, I quit for 9 months or more. I let myself start back by just trying a drink of bourbon. Now I am right back to my old habits. I have to face I am very suseptible to addiction, and stop. Day 1 starts today.
I wondered at the start if he was the child of an alcoholic and could possibly be a paraalcoholic. I hope he takes the advice and gets to a counselor
I think it's ironic that as more and more light is shining on alcoholism, at the exact same time companies are marketing THC as "medicinal" and narcan is being handed out like candy.
Oh my gosh! Yes!
Oh yes. I think it's because a drunk person shows, whereas a stoned person doesn't -not right away anyways. The classic defense: "have you ever seen someone be violent after smoking a joint?" But marihuana is NOT innocuous, and I hate that they market it as so.
@@purpurina5663yes being lethargic or paranoid is dangerous too esp while driving
I feel like the DSM is written for insurance companies
all medical stuff has become that way- Doctors have been forced to change how they treat patients or if they can at all until certain points way past when they would have treated in the 1900’s .
People will mock you if you say anything against alcohol.
alot of dumb people do this ; they are so toxically hooked on the demon of alcohol
You have the ability to stop. Show up to the bbq. Don’t address it. Someone brings you a drink just don’t take it. If they put it in front of you, leave it there. At some point, they’ll stop. Until then, it’s none of their business why you aren’t drinking. It will be fine. Don’t overthink this.
I have always found it weird that among adults, if someone offers you alcohol and you politely decline, that people have all kinds of reactions: begging you to drink, feeling offended by your decision, ridiculing you etc.
But if a smoker e.g. asks if you want a cigarette and you politely decline, even if you are a smoker, that's the end of that part of the conversation. 🤯
Delaney is changing lives!! 👏
This is so real and deep! Know a part of this. Good luck!
What happens when you stop drinking is suddenly all the friends you have left don't or rarely drink. I didn't even notice it happening. 😂
Young daily partiers eventually turn into old drunks.
One minute you're thirty and having a good time, at least you think you are, then the next thing you know you're fifty and drinking a twelve pack every day. if you do make it to sixty, it gets worse still.
💯
“I don’t know if I’m an alcoholic 🤔 “
“How often do you drink?”
“Just daily”
😂
I wasn't sure if alcohol was a problem so I gave it up for a year. There were a few times I missed it and there were lots of up and downs but I managed to complete the year. So my problem is I overdo things and sometimes that was alcohol, but it was not alcohol itself. I think one of the good qualities of a friend is accepting when someone says they are not drinking and to include them socially. Your fun should never be dependent on someone else's drinking.
1164 days sober! Hard for the first 6 months. Really hard cuz the spouse still drinks.
To quote Winston Churchill, You should get more out of alcohol than it gets out of you.
Alcoholism is progressive. And no one can "do it on their own". A Very few may be able to stop drinking 'on their own', but they don't recover from the behaviors and thoughts that made them alcoholic. They don't grow, and just become negative sober people still with an alcoholic mindset. Investing in an AA group and working the steps will reveal a new perspective. It takes work to change the behaviors and thoughts that created the problem.
And insidious.
I don't buy it. Alcoholics can also choose sobriety and replace it with healthier habits or mentalities on their own, if they so choose to fight and work for a better way. If AA works for you, cool, but I don't agree with these categorical judgments on people who once upon a time drank too much.
"They don't grow, and just become negative sober people still with an alcoholic mindset." It's called being a dry drunk.
His issue is that he isn’t taking accountability. He is in denial that he is the problem. He blames everyone but himself. “I have to drink because I go to the family bbq. I have to drink because I don’t want my brother in law to drink alone”. The first person you have to convince is yourself.
The fact he was asked several times how much he was drinking a day, and gave no specific answer is a sign of denial. If he says he has a couple, you can assume it's way more.
Yeah that is a real concern. The aspect where he pawns off his drinking to various people and events is a concern because it doesn’t take accountability for his role in his drinking and are excuses he holds onto as reasons he’s ok to drink because not drinking means he can’t go to family events and has to leave his brother in law alone. On top of that it’s an issue from the very beginning that he has to be told that he’s an alcoholic and has an issue. That says he either knows that he’s drinking too much but is denying it being an issue so needs to be told it is or that he doesn’t really think it’s an issue. But if you don’t see it as a problem on your own then you won’t feel the need to battle through the challenges that come with getting sober because you really have to embrace the fact that you have to change to do that. I think he has some good intention but he doesn’t have that conviction that tells you that he’s ready ti be done. Hope I’m wrong.
Yeah dude, you're an alcoholic. If you can't choose to have soda or coffee instead of alcohol, as easily and with as little afterthought or anxiety, as you could choose to have a pepperoni pizza instead of the combo pizza, you're an alcoholic. The amount and the frequency one drinks can be problematic, but really isn't the core of the issue.
Yeah he has an issue but it’s not something you CANT control. That’s a big lie we’ve been told by the aa community
@@Anangelfromabove Yep there’s parts of recovery that I think the mainstream groups miss or get wrong. But that’s the thing, it’s individual recovery. Take what works for you. You are wrong about one thing, some people can’t control it.
@@Anangelfromabove They NEVER claim that you CAN control it. In fact, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO ADMIT THAT YOU ARE POWERLESS OVER IT. I'll bet you went to three meetings, decided that it wasn't for you, or you're NOT one of THEM, rejected the whole idea, went home, AND RELAPSED. Because YOU'RE the VICTIM, right?
@@staleydu1 If they COULD CONTROL it, they WOULDN'T BE ALCOHOLICS!
@@stellarocquie7957 No I actually haven’t relapsed for 4 years by accepting that I have control over my actions. That is exactly the problem is that we aren’t powerless over addiction. A friend of mine actually gave me a book called the freedom model and it talks about how addiction isn’t a disease and how the recovery society makes money off relapse and it’s just a whole mess that I could share with you but it would take so long haha! But yeah, I don’t think I’m a victim at all. 😊 I think the recovery society does a lot of good but the approach is wrong. I hope you find your truth just like I have. 😌
Misery needs company...I'm a child of alcoholic parents... I never drunk in my life...
AA just wasn't for me, though I support the program and all those who benefit from it. I drank because I felt 'bored' and when at meetings I was VERY bored.
Celebrate recovery is the best program.
21 yrs clean and sober
Such a self aware guy… how impressive!
I once had someone tell me that a person is not an alcoholic because they only drink beer.👀 Wine, beer, etc. is alcohol and if you drink excessively you’re an alcoholic!
Took me a while to stop. Change your environment and try to find something to keep you busy good luck brother
Alcohol Free beer is getting a lot better
I never understood the point of NA beers. It's like having nicotine free cigs.
I live alone and never drink at my house. I can’t imagine thinking I need to do a few things around the house so I’ll have a drink. That’s the opposite of get things done. But I will smoke pot to get things done lol soooo
If you have to ask the question
I live in a county club golf course, 55 and older, in south nj...that has a bar and restaurant...and i have a shore home 2 blocks from the beach with bars ext ect...im 62...and will never stop drinking im in my last quarter of life and i have fun ,...i have plenty of money and i work out everyday, do i wake up not feeling the best sometimes, absolutely,
I never want to drink so much that I can’t drink anymore. I feel like one beer three times a week is good for me. But I get that some people can’t drink that little
Kyle is awesome. He has amazing insight despite his struggles!
One thing I've found, and admittedly this is only my experience and it's more related to diet and healthy eating, is that I do have to get to a place where I can be around people indulging in things I'm skipping for my health without succumbing or blaming them. Like if my husband is having cake -- and I LOVE cake! -- I still have to be okay with serving him cake, watching him eat cake, and just not eating the cake myself. If I'm out with friends and they order cheese fries and beer -- I just have to be able to enjoy their company and have a good time without having cheese fries and beer myself. It's not fair for me to demand everyone else around me eat and drink the way I've decided I'm going to, but I also DON'T want to give up those relationships or that time with people. And I'm sure it is very very different with alcohol...but at the same time, if he could get to a place where he can go to a boozy family barbecue or hang out with his brother-in-law who's drinking -- and just NOT drink himself but still have fun and enjoy their company, I think that would be a really good place to get to. Ultimately, he's empowered to make his own decisions, and just because everyone around him is drinking, doesn't mean he has to drink too. And it probably doesn't even need to be a big thing if he doesn't make it a big thing. In my experience at least, most people don't really care what other people are eating and drinking as long as they're not being judgey about it or getting on some high horse. A lot of times simply saying, "no thanks," or "not tonight," or, "I'm full," or "I'm not in the mood," etc without going into any other detail is more than enough for people to drop it.
Recently I was at a bar with friends who were drinking before we went to a theater. And as things were winding down, one of them asked me, "Are you going to have another one before we leave?" And I laughed and held up my glass, "You mean another water?" No one had even NOTICED I wasn't drinking.
I'm thankful for Dr. John but take issue with one part of his advice here, the part about how to talk to his family for support (not including sober dad).
The example of talking to the brother in law (BIL): "we drink too much... I invite you to come along with me"
Kyle is calling in because he's not happy about HIS drinking. Dr. John doesn't know how the BIL feels about this drinking. The BIL may feel that the positives of his drinking outweigh the negatives, or worry about his drinking but not be ready to quit, or anything in between.
Asking Kyle to push his goals/problems on to the BIL will likely lead to resentment.
What I think would be a better way to handle this conversation:
"Hey BIL, i love hanging out with you but we're always drinking and I'm really worried about my alcohol intake. I'm not judging you at all, this is my problem, but it's too tempting to hang around with you while you're drinking while I'm trying to dry out. I still wanna hang out though and would love it if you'd come and do this (insert non drinking related interest e.g., sport) with me next week."
If the BIL IS worried about his drinking, Kyle's example will likely be far more motivating than telling the BIL that he drinks too much.
"There's nothing to do while bowling except to drink" lmao worst thing to say hahah
I just pretend to drink around people (pour only orange juice, pour only club soda, pour only whatever and good to go)
If you have to exercise control over your drinking…….you have already lost control. That is your answer.
Alcohol is great. Many just can't keep it in balance.
nothing great about it ; it's convinced you of that ; it's a sneaky bastard
@@ohdwightit’s great when you have a good relationship with alcohol, have self control and don’t use it all time. Using once in a while for fun is ok, it’s when you start using it more frequently that it’s starts to be an issue. Not encouraging you to drink but don’t be afraid to live a little once in a while, life’s too short to live in fear of things like this.
@@TrulyYourz8893 everyone I know that drinks does it daily ; bad news ; it's the rare person who doesn't let it become habitual.
@@ohdwight nah there’s all of people who don’t use it frequently like myself and a lot of people that I know. Yes alcohol can be bad if abused but with good self control it is enjoyable. I have a cousin who’s an alcoholic who uses alcohol everyday because he had bad mental health issues and a grandpa who passed away a few years ago that was also an alcoholic and yet my dad never turned out the same. How much you use alcohol is always under your control the alcohol doesn’t control you. Don’t be living with this kind of fear for the rest of your life because you got to live to the fullest.
You know you're an alcoholic when it takes priority over your wife and marriage and you drink from sun up to sun down seven days a week. That was me. I'm now 8 years sober and life is great.
I'm just seeing this, but it was two years ago. I hope this guy was successful.
What if your love one drinks by himself and has been doing it for over 35 years 😢 He has lost his marriage and job as a result of this addiction. We don’t know what else to do. We ran out of options😢
Usually, if you have to ask, you are... At least in my experience.