Explain functioning alcoholic

@Grateful4you Define a true alcoholic.

[@KiwiBird While I was in the medical field I'm not alcohol clinician nor profess expertise. As it is now, the "cause" of alcoholism remains a mixed brew of social/cultural mythology i.e dysfunctional families (which is likely the LEAST of all causes) Bi-polar, depression, and other psych. disorders sometimes found but often not even indicated. Or even a mixed bag of some of the forementioned.

The Big Book of Alcoholics loosely defines it as, "An obssession of the body and mind"

While genetics is still a popular idea in medicine, I'm not sure an "alcoholic" gene has yet been identified.

One rather odd, (but to me somewhat reasonable idea)

Someone once told me they believe alcoholics actually have an extreme allergy to booze, that once they have started it actually set's up some idiosyncratic chemical imbalance that makes for the "Obsession of body and mind" In other words the body/mind starts to CRAVE the very thing it's allergic to. e.g. sometimes physically manifesting as a rash, flushed face, etc.

A drug addict can wait a slight interval of moments for the next fix, we alcoholics will obssess non-stop. Unable to eat, our whole dinner experience is fidgeting until the next drink arrives.

Ironically, many of us actually dispise the actual taste of booze and mixed drinks are usually just for "show". (We would rather a bottle of 151 Bacardi between our legs)

Do I miss drinking? Hell no, I have it in my house for guest, but would be loathe to touch it. Haven't had an urge in over 20 years.


Define Alcoholism?, I think defining God would be easier.

@Grateful4you I don't think you can define Alcoholism or what you call a "true alcoholic" either. BTW to be PC it is called “alcohol use disorder” now. What BS. I have a copy of the Big Book and I used to attend regular AA meetings. I still think there can be High-Functioning Alcoholics as well as those that spiril downwards and end up on the streets and homeless. It takes all sorts.

[i]Sarah Allen Benton, licensed mental health counselor and author of "Understanding the High-Functioning Alcoholic."[/i]

@KiwiBird I did manage an approx. 30 year "Functional" life, invested wisely, built a gorgeous 3 level Geodesic home in the Black Hills, real estate in a few states, and did a gorgeous remodel on a Palm Springs home.

I'm a type "A" personality, so when my spiral started downward I took the fast track and lost it all inside of 2 years.

I'm only sorry I lost the geodesic house which I suspended on cement pilings over a river, I miss the woodland creatures. The house was similar to the famous Wrights "Falling Water" so between the scent and pine, at night, it felt like a stream passing by my bed.

Otherwise, I don't miss the money. In fact, it''s actually MORE fun being careless and buying one or two (pricier) shirts a year rather than a wardrobe full.

@Grateful4you Two years that is a very rapid descent to lose all that. Everyones story is different and so is our journey to sobriety.

@KiwiBird I can't even lose money on a small scale. LOL

@KiwiBird BTW: AA hates me. I broke all the rules. Hung out with mostly women. Got in a relationship within 3 weeks. Had a woman sponsor. Went to the "slippery places" like bars because I love dancing. Had no "Higher Power" (other than myself)..and yes,, I read the chapter to the agnostic.

After a few years of sobriety kept beer in the house for friends with NO temptation.

@Grateful4you I think AA is very cult like, and all the drinking war stories made one want to drink. As I said everyones journey is there own.