I agree. Basically, I think there are way too many shades of grey in terms of drinking habits for one label to apply - and especially when that label doesn't help anyone.
Some people are quick to label anyone who has a drinking problem an "alcoholic", implying they will have this problem forever, they have no control over it etc. And that's not always true or helpful.
I had a drinking problem for years, but don't consider myself an alcoholic. The only times I feel that label would have applied to me was when I was physically addicted to alcohol. But I don't buy into the lifelong struggle, aa mentality.
So yeah, I agree from experience and I think blanket labels can sometimes be disempowering.
Also, I didn't mention this on the post, but is it still a drinking problem if it only negatively impacts some of your life? For example, you drink with a particular group of friends and everythings fine and fun but with another group like other friends and family things always go wrong. Do you have a drinking problem? or no because it depends on who you're with and where?
That sounds like it has more to do with the group of people, to be honest.
In that example, if you weren't drinking, would things still go wrong with that other group?
Cos I think it depends. If problems are arising as a direct result of someone's drinking, then maybe they have a drinking problem. And if someone can't stop drinking even if they want to, then it's a problem. Those are the two main criteria, in my mind.
But in that example, I can't say either way. I'd want to know more about the person's habits, like do they drink alone? How often/how much do they drink? That kind of thing.
For me, it was a problem because drinking was coming at the expense of everything else (relationships, jobs, family, money etc). For me, a LOT of things were obviously impacted. But if only *some* aspects of life were affected, it would be harder to draw the line.
I would be asking questions like, how often do you do things you regret because of alcohol? Would you be able to stop? Are you able to socialise and function without alcohol?
Is there anything else that makes you suspect that person might have a drinking problem? (Not sure if that was just a hypothetical)
And also, people are complicated. Like, usually people already have problems, so they drink because of that, then drinking can become a problem. So sometimes, it's not just that there's a 'drinking problem', it's more like the drinking is a symptom, it's just self-medication to mask other problems.
So..eh, I dunno. Not a very definitive answer, I'm sorry.
Is there a difference between a drinking problem and being an alcoholic?
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I agree. Basically, I think there are way too many shades of grey in terms of drinking habits for one label to apply - and especially when that label doesn't help anyone.
Some people are quick to label anyone who has a drinking problem an "alcoholic", implying they will have this problem forever, they have no control over it etc. And that's not always true or helpful.
I had a drinking problem for years, but don't consider myself an alcoholic. The only times I feel that label would have applied to me was when I was physically addicted to alcohol. But I don't buy into the lifelong struggle, aa mentality.
So yeah, I agree from experience and I think blanket labels can sometimes be disempowering.
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Anonymous Post Author
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Why do you think you had a drinking problem?
Also, I didn't mention this on the post, but is it still a drinking problem if it only negatively impacts some of your life? For example, you drink with a particular group of friends and everythings fine and fun but with another group like other friends and family things always go wrong. Do you have a drinking problem? or no because it depends on who you're with and where?
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barstool
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That sounds like it has more to do with the group of people, to be honest.
In that example, if you weren't drinking, would things still go wrong with that other group?
Cos I think it depends. If problems are arising as a direct result of someone's drinking, then maybe they have a drinking problem. And if someone can't stop drinking even if they want to, then it's a problem. Those are the two main criteria, in my mind.
But in that example, I can't say either way. I'd want to know more about the person's habits, like do they drink alone? How often/how much do they drink? That kind of thing.
For me, it was a problem because drinking was coming at the expense of everything else (relationships, jobs, family, money etc). For me, a LOT of things were obviously impacted. But if only *some* aspects of life were affected, it would be harder to draw the line.
I would be asking questions like, how often do you do things you regret because of alcohol? Would you be able to stop? Are you able to socialise and function without alcohol?
Is there anything else that makes you suspect that person might have a drinking problem? (Not sure if that was just a hypothetical)
And also, people are complicated. Like, usually people already have problems, so they drink because of that, then drinking can become a problem. So sometimes, it's not just that there's a 'drinking problem', it's more like the drinking is a symptom, it's just self-medication to mask other problems.
So..eh, I dunno. Not a very definitive answer, I'm sorry.