Thread: Addictions are nothing

^ Sorry to hear that, but it sounds positive that you have access to effective counseling.

Keep well.

How about this generation that are addicted to games or social media?

They can't do anything without competing for like/apporoval, many are socially inept, many have neck problems from looking downwards a lot, many sit in rooms locked away playing in front of a screen

Dependency upon electronic gadgetry.

Deep obsessive conditioning?
Intuitive addiction?

Mindless sociopathy.

Originally Posted by UrbanMan

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

There's a big difference between over-using and addiction.

More please.

What I mean is I've seen people that some would call alcoholics, whereas in fact they're just pissheads who just happen to binge when they're out and don't even drink at home.

Then I've seen that desperate alcoholic who has taken the hospital car, after weeks of transfusions and treatment to try and save his liver, straight to the bar before ordering a beer and a large neat vodka.

He was positively skeletal.

He lasted a few months longer before he died.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

What I mean is I've seen people that some would call alcoholics, whereas in fact they're just pissheads who just happen to binge when they're out and don't even drink at home.

You don't have to drink at home to be an alcoholic.

Sounds like you are describing a problem drinker to me. What exactly does 'pisshead' mean?

I don't drink at the house at all. I suppose I qualify as one of the described "Pissheads" Harry is referring to. Once I've finished my daily studies i'm often on the lash.
Strangely, when I did completely stop, I didn't miss the habit of drinking as I was bored silly of doing it. I just restarted to a lack of structure in my life.
Time to make better future plans I think.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

He was positively skeletal.

I am a big fat bastard and have a drink almost every evening. I hardly ever drink outside the house these days and the next time I will have a drink in a bar will be when I am in Thailand. I have to go to a bar because I would go crazy if I had to go shopping with the missus and daughter.

Alcohol is good for the body if taken in moderation and if I do not really enjoy the taste of a drink, I leave it alone. I have no patience with those who drink to get drunk. I am looking forward to Chang, Leo , Singha, iced coffee, lemon tea and will probably even have a swig of that disgusting red stuff they seem to enjoy.

Originally Posted by redhaze

Just depends on how you look at it. Causing someone weak is a bit harsh, people have all sorts of weaknesses and drugs are just one of them.

It is a choice to keep using though? Yes. Is it within a person's control to stop using? Yes, absolutely

I don't think you are being objective.

Does it seem to you that it is within a person's control to stop using?

Yes, absolutely.

Is it in their control? Not always.

Originally Posted by Slick

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

What I mean is I've seen people that some would call alcoholics, whereas in fact they're just pissheads who just happen to binge when they're out and don't even drink at home.

You don't have to drink at home to be an alcoholic.

Nor are you necessarily an alcoholic if you drink at home or anywhere else.
Alcoholic is a very vague term and doesn't specifically refer to addiction.

That's my point.

If someone goes on the piss at the end of the week, gets drunk and has a lay in, are they an addict, or even an alcoholic? No.

If someone spends every waking hour consuming alcohol because they cannot do without it, are they an alcoholic or an addict?

Probably both by any definition.

Nothing worst than a reformed pedantist and know-it-all wannabe...


Addictive.

My neighbour in Cornwall once crawled out of his front door asking me to get him an ambulance as he was gasping for a drink but his liver was giving him pain. He was shaking like hell. (he has cirrocis of the liver, has about a year to live)

Called the medics who arrived quickly, they knocked on my door asking if I had any wine or beer, anything alcoholic. They wanted to stop him shaking so badly while they got him up.

Anyway he goes in for 5 days on a librium drip (to stop him dying from sudden withdrawl) and has several seizures. 6 days later he's home again on the piss with his pals mixing vodka and milk (so his empty stomach doesn't erupt)

Don't know what became of him as I returned to London. I'd bet he's still on the piss.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Originally Posted by Slick

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

What I mean is I've seen people that some would call alcoholics, whereas in fact they're just pissheads who just happen to binge when they're out and don't even drink at home.

You don't have to drink at home to be an alcoholic.

Nor are you necessarily an alcoholic if you drink at home or anywhere else.
Alcoholic is a very vague term and doesn't specifically refer to addiction.

That's my point.

If someone goes on the piss at the end of the week, gets drunk and has a lay in, are they an addict, or even an alcoholic? No.

If someone spends every waking hour consuming alcohol because they cannot do without it, are they an alcoholic or an addict?

Probably both by any definition.

I think there is a large difference in what Americans view as "normal" drinking VS the English or UK peeps.

To me, and to most people I know, it isn't normal to drink every day or most every day.

I know a few guys that drink 2-3-4 large Leo's a day or most every day and consider this to be normal. IMHO it isn't.

End of the day I don't think its normal to get stupid drunk every weekend. Having a bender or being a pisshead isn't normal. Blackouts aren't normal.

People go out and get drunk. Party. Whatever... I do it. I think its when it hurts your health, finances, relationships, etc... Regardless of physical dependence, that would be someone who probably shouldn't drink.

Someone could have 5-6-7 cans of beer a day, have no negative effects, until 10 years down the line.

Originally Posted by DJ Pat

How about this generation that are addicted to games or social media?

I know a woman who's thing is to chew gum. As in she chews gum several hours a day, every single day, and its been going on since she was in her teens.

She has major jaw issues. She experiences pain, and has had X-rays done, which show that one side of her jaw has literally worn away.

And she still chews.

Shows that even the most innocent thing, can be harmful if the quantity and frequency are excessive.

Originally Posted by Slick

I think its when it hurts your health, finances, relationships, etc...

For me, that is the definition of a serious problem that needs to be addressed and acted on, regardless of whether it's full-blown addiction, an "aholic" of some sort or not - that's irrelevant.

What is relevant is that it's (whatever it may be) affecting your life (and others) in a negative way.

Originally Posted by blue

Breaking an addiction is just a matter of forcing yourself to break the habit,
using aids if necessary.
It worked for me.

Infecting yourself with AIDS to break a habit is pretty extreme. Respect! Is that why you're so anti-gay? Didn't it occur to you that you could just infect yourself with infected blood instead of having to hang around public toilets in Leeds looking vulnerable?

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Alcoholic is a very vague term and doesn't specifically refer to addiction.

It's not called Alcoholism any more, by the way. These days it's "Alcohol Use Disorder"!

Originally Posted by Slick

Originally Posted by Passing Through

I was but now I'm not (therefore I'm strong).

Anyone that "was" would probably not be saying that stuff. Normally.

Agreed.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

I don't think you are being objective.

Does it seem to you that it is within a person's control to stop using?

Yes, absolutely.

Is it in their control? Not always.

I don't think you are being objective.

Does it seem to you that it is not always in the control? Yes, absolutely

Is picking up a bottle a choice? Objectively, yes it is.

See how that goes?

This is not a judgement by the way. I don't judge people who are addicts.

I do believe in empowerment though. And part of that is accepting responsibility for choices that you make.

If you drink all the time and get DTs when you stop you're an alcoholic.
If you drink all the time and don't get DTs when you stop you're a drunk.
If you don't drink all the time you're neither.

Absolute addiction and conditioning.

I'd bet he's still on the piss.

Well, from the sound of his condition, he's more likely to be stone dead by now.

double post

Maybe worth looking at the "What are you drinking today" thread and seeing who's posting in it every morning.