Were you a heavy drinker before you became an alcoholic.

[Cassia]

Were you a heavy drinker before you became an alcoholic.

Coal,
Honestly, I have no idea. I don't think I ever had one, its just some nights I coped better than others with it. Sometimes I just wouldn't enjoy it...I was a picky drinker. I don't necessarily consider myself an alcoholic. But I definitely have issue. I never went on benders so I guess I did have a sort of off switch. Passing out...

[Want to Stop]

Were you a heavy drinker before you became an alcoholic.

I had an alcoholic father and three cousins, one of which drank herself into a nursing home at the age of 50.
I began socially drinking at the age of about 18. I always drank to get a "good buzz." Truthfully, I could only obtain enough for a good buzz considering my age.
Then when I hit 21, I drank to get drunk. It was only on the weekends, but it was consistent. I drank every weekend until I was 30. That is when it became throughout the week. Then it progressed to daily.
In the most recent months, I have drinking until I black out. Clearly, my alcoholism is progressive.

[Miss Behaving]

Were you a heavy drinker before you became an alcoholic.

CF - these are interesting questions that you pose! I am firmly in the "genetic disposition" camp, and think that alcoholism can be triggered suddenly as well as over a period of time. I say this having looked at the patterns in my own family and sharing your interest in all things scientific!!

Of my siblings (and there are lots of us ) only one does not have what I describe as the "irish gene" (that is where both sides of my family originate from). One of my sisters doesn't drink at all, but that is because of her experience that is similar to yours of having had a sudden onset of addiction. When I think about my own history, I cant pinpoint a single "event", but I do know that I went from drinking very rarely (mainly because I was always broke!!) to drinking a bottle of wine a night in the space of a couple of months.

I am particularly interested in two of my nieces .... their father (my brother) had a life long problem with AL that developed in his 20s; their mother is Chinese. (China has a very low rate of alcoholism). One had a problem from a very young age (and dealt with it), the other enjoys the odd glass of wine, but otherwise is indifferent. I believe that it has been important for our family to talk about this stuff openly (although not everyone is comfortable about that!!) in order to make sure that our next generation is better equipped to battle the demons.

[akgirl]

Were you a heavy drinker before you became an alcoholic.

coalfire;1085944 wrote: I must and I repeat must go home and continue drinking from my supply at home..

Then your friend didn't drink as much as you....only to start with.

I keep thinking about the term Alcoholic. I guess it has different meanings to all of us and only we know deep down if we are. I justified it for years but knew deep down that what I was doing was wrong.

Great thread btw :l

[coalfire]

Were you a heavy drinker before you became an alcoholic.

Miss Behaving;1086042 wrote: . One of my sisters doesn't drink at all, but that is because of her experience that is similar to yours of having had a sudden onset of addiction. .

sudden onset of addiction. I love that term,love it.Give your sister a hug and tell her I get her:H

Ladybirdheart..you sound a bit similar. Thanks so so so much for all your replies.This stuff fascinates me.

Yes I think families should talk too but they wont..or mine wont.

Anyone else?

[lil.michelle]

Were you a heavy drinker before you became an alcoholic.

I never used drink until I started working with my mum and then every night we'd have a glass of wine and then that went to two and I was fine. THEN an old friend of mine got in contact with me. We were childhood friends and we left each other as my mum told me too as he used to be nasty to me and play sick mind games. Anyway he came back and I was over the moon. However, it quickly turned sour as he started mentally abusing me. I couldn't leave as he threatened suicide leaving a note it was my fault. This went on for 5 years. He started self harming saying it was my fault, the scars were a constant reminder if me. The drinking got heavier and heavier to try and numb this out and I felt I couldn't escape. I then feel pregnant with my first baby. I remember him telling me that he wished the baby was his and I had to stay with him on the phone for hours while he said he had a knife to his throat... Another time he had it to his stomach. Somehow I managed easily to stay 100% sober through the pregnancy and gave birth to a perfect baby girl. The abuse continued. I was too afraid to tell my husband and post natal depression kicked in. I was up to a bottle every few nights but still in some kind if control. My hubby was then told he had cancer when grace was 3 months and I lost control. I couldn't handle it. I then found mwo and although I struggled I found hope. I still drunk tho and almost lost my hubby and daughter. The abuse was still going on.hubby was thankfully cleared on the cancer and I fell preggies with number 2. I honestly couldn't take the abusive anymore so when he theatened to kill himself again I said fine. I can't keep it together anymore. I'm calling the police and your mum. Well that didn't go down well and I found out Hebrew bluffing the whole time. Holding on to that I ended the friendship. I also learnt a lot about addiction while preggies with the second and again was 100% sober. After the birth which was early due to me falling 6 1/2 foot from the loft, breaking my back, abruting part of my placenta ect ect depression kicked in, the friend tried to come back into my life, stupidly I believed he'd changed... Drinking became bad again. I was desperate to get help, hold on to my babies and hubby. I went to a hypnotist who specialised in al addiction and depression and well he told me first to get rid of the friend once and for all... Down and he pretty much saved me.

Well sorry for all that but that's my story! Al grew with stress.

[Bruunhilde]

Were you a heavy drinker before you became an alcoholic.

Hi Coal,

I have a gene, I'm sure of it, both sides of my family are riddled with alkies. My first experiences with alcohol include:

-when I was a little girl, maybe 9, I went into the livingroom one Sunday morning after my parent's had a rare cocktail party, and I drank the dregs of all the gin and tonics because the juniper in the gin smelled so good. !!!!
-when I was a few years older, helping my mom make dinner in the evenings, I'd have some sips, and snuck more, of her Coors Lite. We'd run out of the beer and have to open a new one I was having so much.
-one Christmas eve, I was hanging stockings and my parents were having wine and wrapping gifts. I had my period and I had horrible cramps, and mom said I could either take two aspirin or dad could make me an eggnog and put a splash of whiskey in it. I was FLYING in half an hour, never had felt this wonderful in my life.

Each time I drank, it made me feel so much happier, excited, animated, etc. It definitely gave me a high from the first sips of beer in the kitchen.

[coalfire]

Were you a heavy drinker before you became an alcoholic.

Thanks Brunn and michelle. This is so interesting.The different ages/the slow descent/the sudden onsets/. We talk about the daily drinkers and the binge drinkers but I think it is good to know this stuff too.It would be very good for newbies as well to find themselves here. Anyone else?

[mollyka]

Were you a heavy drinker before you became an alcoholic.

MMmm, very interesting.
I drank from my mid-teens, was always conscious I could drink more than other girls and lots of the lads, but no problems. Stayed like that more or less into my 40's. My drinking increased dramatically about 5 years ago, round the time I started 'sneaking' drinks. I drank twice as much when sneaking. Always a large vodka instead of an ordinary one - if I was going to the bother of going to my 'secret' cupboard I reckoned I might as well make it worth while.

Major escalation round the time my mum got sick and subsequently died - fell out with my family (funnily enough none of them would describe themselves at all as problem drinkers but the rows genuinely seemed to stem from their drinking rather than mine, I was always a very passive pleasant drunk). 2007 -2009 I lost control of it. Don't think I'm answering your questions tho Coal, don't know the answers really

[mollyka]

Were you a heavy drinker before you became an alcoholic.

Oh and yes, I'd much rather have none than three.

[coalfire]

Were you a heavy drinker before you became an alcoholic.

No you are answering it. Thank you.

[cymru]

Were you a heavy drinker before you became an alcoholic.

I started drinking heavily in my mid teens. I have always considered myself a binge drinker. Never an all dater(though by the end the binges could last days) but once I started I couldn't stop. I was brought up in s restaurant and had no problem in sneaking bottles of wine to my room.
It's all I've ever really known. Through my teens, 20's and 30's up to now(35) there have been times of sobriety, some lengthy, but once I start I can't stop till I black out and I can't get it quick enough.
My mother had alcohol problems as did her father. I am in the belief that there is an addictive gene that is past to diff generations.

[coalfire]

Were you a heavy drinker before you became an alcoholic.

You have made me think Cymru.I started drinking in my mid 20's and you in your teens but I was brought up in an AF strict presbyterian house and you in a restaurant. The rest of your pattern ie the binge drinking,the stretches of sobriety,the broken off switch/blackouts is the same although my binges last one night. Then I lose the desire until the next time.Yours seems to be genetic too. Thanks.

[nicelife]

Were you a heavy drinker before you became an alcoholic.

I guess I drank more as time went on, and I believe that is because it took me to 'get me there' in terms of that buzz. For years I drank everyday but not the same amount each day. Way too much of course. Two bottles of wine while I peeled vegetables for dinner, then I'd keep drinking until I either fell down or put myself to bed. Not pretty let me say. My poor kids.... Anyway, research has shown that people who become alcoholic have a genetic deficiency particularly pertaining to chromosome 15. I describe it as my 'off switch' (and I've seen that terminology used here during this thread). I just don't have an off switch. I NEVER ever get to a point where my brain says 'honey, don't be doin' another drop or you'll fall off your branch!!'. For me, once I take that first sip it's only downhill from there. I was 6 years AF until just very recently and I'm trying my guts out to get a whole week AF under my belt. I almost managed last week but this week is a cert!!! My partner said to me last night, just buy one bottle and I'll watch you. Guess what my brain immediately did? Decided I might be able to manage that concept just as long as I had a box of wine stashed in the wardrobe so I could continue to drink from that stash all the while being seen to only drink that one bottle I promised him..... So, as pathetic as I am and as demanding and soul destroying this addiction I have is, ultimately I have to decide what I want more. This life I found when I went AF 6 years ago or this never ending rollercoaster I was on before I found MWO. My mother's side of the family were mostly full blown alcoholics. My mother drank way too much on and off during her life. My father drinks to excess for periods then goes AF but I believe he is an alcoholic. I have three children, two don't bother much with booze but one has just hit 6 weeks AF but was drinking heaving previously and has done for quite a few years. Poor darling!! BTW I took Campral successfully and I'm doing that again this time. You know what? All I want is to be a normie.....but that just isn't an option. Wherever I go, there I am!!!

[mollyka]

Were you a heavy drinker before you became an alcoholic.

Coalfire, you make an interesting point there. I'm aware through 2 different 'relapses' in the last year an a half, that my 'need' is to drink into oblivion alright, but that's it - next day - nothing, no problem getting back on the wagon, no mad cravings - nothing. In a way that is my weakness, I sometimes think 'so what if I get wasted tonight/Sat night/tomorrow, whatever, I'll just have a blow out and stop.' I reckon that's prob verry dangerous thinking, maybe I wouldn't be able to stop - it is an ongoing temptation tho. Just another 'difference' I s'pose between alkies