Thank you for this clear and insightful article Paul. We can fool ourselves for years because we don’t fit our perception of an Alcoholic. Meanwhile, we gradually increase our dependence and damage to our bodies. Your answer to Are you an alcoholic? nails it I think.
Wow, tremendously illuminating. I've been clumsily navigating an extended hard conversation with one of my closest friends. This helps me see how my use of the "A" word has been so damaging to our connection since I introduced it. Thank you, Paul.
Great article Paul. In all the years I believed I was an alcoholic and somehow different from 'normal' people who could drink 'normally', I was too full of shame and despair to be able to quit. Once I learned that it made complete sense that I'd become addicted to a highly addictive substance, and that the broken thing was the cultural belief that there are 'normal' drinkers or 'alcoholics', I was able to find hope and self-compassion. 20 months later, I had my last drink and broke free from my addiction and any desire to drink.
I heard the term “gray area drinking.” When I first encountered it, I thought it was going to be people justifying their drinking. It wasn’t. It was people saying “rock bottom is when you stop digging.” They knew they needed to stop altogether even if they didn’t want to use a term like alcoholic. Is this the term? Not sure, but I’m not opposed.
You hit the nail right on the head! Such a good piece. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for this clear and insightful article Paul. We can fool ourselves for years because we don’t fit our perception of an Alcoholic. Meanwhile, we gradually increase our dependence and damage to our bodies. Your answer to Are you an alcoholic? nails it I think.
Wow, tremendously illuminating. I've been clumsily navigating an extended hard conversation with one of my closest friends. This helps me see how my use of the "A" word has been so damaging to our connection since I introduced it. Thank you, Paul.
Great article Paul. In all the years I believed I was an alcoholic and somehow different from 'normal' people who could drink 'normally', I was too full of shame and despair to be able to quit. Once I learned that it made complete sense that I'd become addicted to a highly addictive substance, and that the broken thing was the cultural belief that there are 'normal' drinkers or 'alcoholics', I was able to find hope and self-compassion. 20 months later, I had my last drink and broke free from my addiction and any desire to drink.
So glad you’re writing about this and leading these conversations, Paul. Thank you.
I heard the term “gray area drinking.” When I first encountered it, I thought it was going to be people justifying their drinking. It wasn’t. It was people saying “rock bottom is when you stop digging.” They knew they needed to stop altogether even if they didn’t want to use a term like alcoholic. Is this the term? Not sure, but I’m not opposed.
Very grateful this was the first thing I read this morning. I find myself in here for sure, and appreciate this thoughtful piece, Paul.