Morgan Baumann's Blog: I Am An Alcoholic

Problem drinkers have various histories and a vast range of experiences. The range of their experiences, however, does not make them any less of an alcoholic. It simply divides them right into various types of problem drinkers.

Problem drinkers make use of stereotypes to validate their increased alcohol consumption practices. They tend to defend themselves and refuse to believe that they could be an alcoholic. If the stereotypes concerning problem drinkers were unmasked and very well recognized, these reasons would not be tougher to point out.

Alcoholics defend their alcohol consumption practices simply by rejection.

An individual’s act of rejection will certainly lock in any kind of similarities from other known drinkers and even a small proof that he or she could not be an alcoholic will definitely be denied. Individuals that are undiagnosed and untreated are quick in making use of these stereotypes to cover themselves from the possibility of being seen as an alcoholic, which most of the time include these excuses:

I’m not homeless or neglected.
I do not consume alcohol from a brownish paper bag.
I do not consume on a daily basis.
I do not pass out.
I do not consume booze, just beer or wine.
I have actually never ever been captured drunk-driving.
I really did not grow up in a violent environment.

In all sincerity, not all problem drinkers are the same.

Some problem drinkers could never ever display any of these characteristics. As an alcoholic in the past, I have actually never been homeless. Neither have I been detained for alcohol consumption nor drunk-driving.

“High-Bottom” is a subjective term used to describe problem drinkers who did not experience considerable losses in their battle against dependency.

While there are people who call some of them as “Rock-Bottom,” in a lot of cases, specifically with high-bottom problem drinkers, they utilize their belongings or successes as the reason that they are not alcoholics. They may claim that “I’m not an alcoholic because…”

…I have my own house or I constantly pay lease promptly.
…I have an excellent job or business.
…I have friends and family that enjoy me.
…I go to church or synagogue or etc. routinely.
…I am a trusted individual.
…I come from a reputable family.
…I have control over my life.

You do not have to be falling apart at the joints to be an alcoholic.

High-bottom problem drinkers are individuals that preserve a great criterion of living, while still consuming alcohol increasingly. It is simply that a lot of individuals do not recognize their alcoholism until it causes problems and their lives fall apart to pieces.

The exact reason why people become dependent is still unidentified. This often leads to the question, “Is it inherent or a social problem?”

Always remember that despite how excellent an individual you are, or how flawlessly polished your life could be, you could still be an alcoholic. If you are unsure about your alcohol consumption’s state, talk to experts and have yourself diagnosed once and for all.