The abstinence thread

There are many undiagnosed alcoholics. Simply telling them to try to drink less tends not to work.

There are many little quizzes online such as the following

• Do you ever drink to escape from your problems or worries?
  
• Do you drink because you are shy or need a boost in morale?
  
• Do you drink on your own at all?
  
• Do you often have five, six or more units at one time?
  
• Do you ever feel embarrassed or annoyed with yourself after drinking?
  
• Have you ever had a blackout or forgotten what you have done as a result of drinking?
  
• Have you missed going to work because of heavy drinking the night before?
  
• Is drinking upsetting people at home – your family or people you live with?
  
• Have you got a bit of a name for yourself as a drinker?
  
• Does drinking make you thoughtless and careless?
  
• Do you hide your drinking, or lie about the amount you drink?
  
• Has drinking caused problems at work?
  
• Do you habitually crave a drink at the same time each day?
  
• Do you wake up and want a drink the next morning?
  
• Has a medic ever treated you for drinking or drink related problems such as violence or drunken accidents?
  
• Have you ever been to A&E because of drinking – either for accidents or alcoholic poisoning or illness?
  
• In the last year have your friends, family or doctor been worried about your drinking or told you to cut down?
  
  

For the person who is struggling to reduce their intake it is likely that they would answer yes to 3 or 4 of these questions.

At that point it is time to consider ones drinking seriously. The thing is those of us who struggle with alcohol, drugs, food, obsessive nature, over exercise etc tend to have a deeper flaw. We can replace one activity with another, one drink or drug with another, use a combination of activities, substances etc, but none of these address the fundamental problems.

Its not that alcoholics have to avoid bars, clubs restaurants, that is not the issue. What is more important is not picking up the first drink as it just opens the floodgate.