[quote]TheKraken wrote:
At one point I was pretty living the Mad Men Don Draper lifestyle, the hard working, hard drinking professional. I have some fond memories, and I never ran into trouble professionally, I was a 3-7/night gin martini professional. Certain things in your life will cue a behavioral habit like drinking. As I smartened up, and began to notice them I got control. There was an in-between period when I knew what was driving me but I wouldn’t resist it, and sometimes I have a “stop-gap” night and cut loose, but I started practicing some simple rules.
My main one was “no more than 3 drinks per night, no excuses,” then I started limiting the nights out, etc., and I started to build some healthier habits around drinking. These days I still enjoy a martini once a week or so, but I rarely go out (bought a house, growing-up) and I am brewing mead at home. I’ll never be a teetotaler, but I am also much healthier and being hungover is no longer my baseline.
Based on your description, and the fact that you feel the need to ask, I’d say it is time to take a break. Dry out, notice the world again. One other important thing, NEVER DRINK BECUASE YOU ARE SAD, MAD, OR UPSET. Drink to celebrate, not to mourn. [/quote]
[quote]angry chicken wrote:
I personally don’t get why people get addicted to alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, etc… In my day, I’ve done just about everything under the sun. I’ve never had a craving for any of it. I can go years without drinking (and have) without missing it. I have done an eight ball of coke three weekends in a row and not touched if for years… Same with tobacco - I can smoke a pack a day for a weekend and then put it down for six months or six years… It’s just about making a decision about what you want to do. These days, I don’t drink, smoke or do any drugs and I’m feeling pretty good, so I’m likely to keep it that way.[/quote]
it’s brain dysfunction. Lack of brain development to reach normal levels of satisfaction so the high gets you to “normal” instead of getting you high.
Considering the hideously evil things you’ve done and suggested to do in your life you’ve actually gone full tilt over the edge into sociopath territory which is why, despite the lack of emotional development you don’t respond to drugs in an addictive way. You respond to the pain of humans in that way instead.
Based on your description, and the fact that you feel the need to ask, I’d say it is time to take a break. Dry out, notice the world again. One other important thing, NEVER DRINK BECUASE YOU ARE SAD, MAD, OR UPSET. Drink to celebrate, not to mourn. [/quote]
If you have young kids, it’s also acceptable to drink on family game night. There’s really no other way to get thru a game of Monopoly with a 4 year old, a 7 year old and a 13 year old.
[quote]angry chicken wrote:
I personally don’t get why people get addicted to alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, etc… In my day, I’ve done just about everything under the sun. I’ve never had a craving for any of it. I can go years without drinking (and have) without missing it. I have done an eight ball of coke three weekends in a row and not touched if for years… Same with tobacco - I can smoke a pack a day for a weekend and then put it down for six months or six years… It’s just about making a decision about what you want to do. These days, I don’t drink, smoke or do any drugs and I’m feeling pretty good, so I’m likely to keep it that way.[/quote]
Considering the hideously evil things you’ve done and suggested to do in your life you’ve actually gone full tilt over the edge into sociopath territory which is why, despite the lack of emotional development you don’t respond to drugs in an addictive way. You respond to the pain of humans in that way instead.[/quote]
I realize that while I am very high functioning and have not suffered much in the way of negative consequences, there are a few red flags. Is it worth seeking treatment for (even if only to give the girlfriend some piece of mind)? What would you do if you were in my shoes?[/quote]
Yes, I would be seeking treatment IF I couldn’t force myself to stop on my own. I’ve never personally had a problem with alcohol, but a number of men in my family have; it cost two of them their lives. It is destructive if left unabated. Your level of functioning becomes largely irrelevant when compared with the social and emotional problems that will accompany bona fide alcoholism if left untreated.
[quote]angry chicken wrote:
I personally don’t get why people get addicted to alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, etc… In my day, I’ve done just about everything under the sun. I’ve never had a craving for any of it. I can go years without drinking (and have) without missing it. I have done an eight ball of coke three weekends in a row and not touched if for years… Same with tobacco - I can smoke a pack a day for a weekend and then put it down for six months or six years… It’s just about making a decision about what you want to do. These days, I don’t drink, smoke or do any drugs and I’m feeling pretty good, so I’m likely to keep it that way.[/quote]
it’s brain dysfunction. Lack of brain development to reach normal levels of satisfaction so the high gets you to “normal” instead of getting you high.
Considering the hideously evil things you’ve done and suggested to do in your life you’ve actually gone full tilt over the edge into sociopath territory which is why, despite the lack of emotional development you don’t respond to drugs in an addictive way. You respond to the pain of humans in that way instead.[/quote]
Are you suggesting sociopaths are inherently non-addictive personality types? And would you really use non addiction as an diagnostic tool? REALLY?
[quote]angry chicken wrote:
I personally don’t get why people get addicted to alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, etc… In my day, I’ve done just about everything under the sun. I’ve never had a craving for any of it. I can go years without drinking (and have) without missing it. I have done an eight ball of coke three weekends in a row and not touched if for years… Same with tobacco - I can smoke a pack a day for a weekend and then put it down for six months or six years… It’s just about making a decision about what you want to do. These days, I don’t drink, smoke or do any drugs and I’m feeling pretty good, so I’m likely to keep it that way.[/quote]
it’s brain dysfunction. Lack of brain development to reach normal levels of satisfaction so the high gets you to “normal” instead of getting you high.
Considering the hideously evil things you’ve done and suggested to do in your life you’ve actually gone full tilt over the edge into sociopath territory which is why, despite the lack of emotional development you don’t respond to drugs in an addictive way. You respond to the pain of humans in that way instead.[/quote]
LOL
Good one! My friends always told me I put the ‘fun’ in dysfunctional!
[quote]angry chicken wrote:
I personally don’t get why people get addicted to alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, etc… In my day, I’ve done just about everything under the sun. I’ve never had a craving for any of it. I can go years without drinking (and have) without missing it. I have done an eight ball of coke three weekends in a row and not touched if for years… Same with tobacco - I can smoke a pack a day for a weekend and then put it down for six months or six years… It’s just about making a decision about what you want to do. These days, I don’t drink, smoke or do any drugs and I’m feeling pretty good, so I’m likely to keep it that way.[/quote]
it’s brain dysfunction. Lack of brain development to reach normal levels of satisfaction so the high gets you to “normal” instead of getting you high.
Considering the hideously evil things you’ve done and suggested to do in your life you’ve actually gone full tilt over the edge into sociopath territory which is why, despite the lack of emotional development you don’t respond to drugs in an addictive way. You respond to the pain of humans in that way instead.[/quote]
Are you suggesting sociopaths are inherently non-addictive personality types? And would you really use non addiction as an diagnostic tool? REALLY?
You’re probably right about AC though. j/k[/quote]
[quote]angry chicken wrote:
I personally don’t get why people get addicted to alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, etc… [/quote]
it’s brain dysfunction… you’ve actually gone full tilt over the edge into sociopath territory which is why, despite the lack of emotional development you don’t respond to drugs in an addictive way. [/quote]
Are you suggesting sociopaths are inherently non-addictive personality types?
[/quote]
Actually, the vast majority of people with antisocial personality disorder abuse drugs and/or alcohol. And, while most addicts are not full blown sociopaths, the majority of addicts fall somewhere on the ASPD spectrum.
[quote]angry chicken wrote:
I personally don’t get why people get addicted to alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, etc… [/quote]
it’s brain dysfunction… you’ve actually gone full tilt over the edge into sociopath territory which is why, despite the lack of emotional development you don’t respond to drugs in an addictive way. [/quote]
Are you suggesting sociopaths are inherently non-addictive personality types?
[/quote]
Actually, the vast majority of people with antisocial personality disorder abuse drugs and/or alcohol. And, while most addicts are not full blown sociopaths, the majority of addicts fall somewhere on the ASPD spectrum.
– Mrs. J[/quote]
Sorry Mrs. J, what we have learned on these boards is, you may have received your MD degree after long, long years of education and hard work. You may be the top in your field with a obviously high level of intelligence and critical thinking skills.
But you aint got shit on wiki and Web MD.
All you need to know:
Foam rolling cures all
Squats and milk are all you need to get better
If you have mental problems all you have to do is eat more salt and wish your bad thoughts away. But if you are going bald then you need meds
[quote]angry chicken wrote:
I personally don’t get why people get addicted to alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, etc… [/quote]
it’s brain dysfunction… you’ve actually gone full tilt over the edge into sociopath territory which is why, despite the lack of emotional development you don’t respond to drugs in an addictive way. [/quote]
Are you suggesting sociopaths are inherently non-addictive personality types?
[/quote]
Actually, the vast majority of people with antisocial personality disorder abuse drugs and/or alcohol. And, while most addicts are not full blown sociopaths, the majority of addicts fall somewhere on the ASPD spectrum.
– Mrs. J[/quote]
Thanks Doc, this is along the line of what I would expect.
I’m with this poster. Well said sir! If you cut back now and get it under control, then you can still drink. If not, you are going to have to give it up entirely in the future when you hit bottom and that is a depressing thought. You just have to decide who is in control - you or the drink. Given your professional achievements, I would imagine it will piss you off to have to admit that the drink is stronger than you. You can do this - be in charge and take control. For YOU and not her. If you do it for her, that is not ideal because she will fail you and then you have any excuse to drink to much.
[quote]TheKraken wrote:
At one point I was pretty living the Mad Men Don Draper lifestyle, the hard working, hard drinking professional. I have some fond memories, and I never ran into trouble professionally, I was a 3-7/night gin martini professional. Certain things in your life will cue a behavioral habit like drinking. As I smartened up, and began to notice them I got control. There was an in-between period when I knew what was driving me but I wouldn’t resist it, and sometimes I have a “stop-gap” night and cut loose, but I started practicing some simple rules.
My main one was “no more than 3 drinks per night, no excuses,” then I started limiting the nights out, etc., and I started to build some healthier habits around drinking. These days I still enjoy a martini once a week or so, but I rarely go out (bought a house, growing-up) and I am brewing mead at home. I’ll never be a teetotaler, but I am also much healthier and being hungover is no longer my baseline.
Based on your description, and the fact that you feel the need to ask, I’d say it is time to take a break. Dry out, notice the world again. One other important thing, NEVER DRINK BECUASE YOU ARE SAD, MAD, OR UPSET. Drink to celebrate, not to mourn. [/quote]
[quote]Apoklyps wrote:
She’s also surprisingly intelligent and also spends a lot of money on me (I’m broke as hell).
[…]
-I’ve never had financial problems because of alcohol.
[/quote]
I have financial difficulties because I’m a single dad in med school (which is pretty demanding in and of itself) who’s trying to continue gymming consistently, so I neither have the time nor consistency of schedule (they can change your schedule at the drop of a hat and you have to accommodate it) to have a job on the side. I’m basically living off of loans, so I’m pretty frugal about a lot of my expenditures.
Some good advice. I especially appreciated what csulli, AC, and TheKraken had to say. It’s always wise to seek out the opinion of a third party at times. We’re planning on setting up an appointment for counseling next week.
[quote]Captain721 wrote:
Good for you and hoping for the best! Let us know how it goes.[/quote]
Thanks! As smart as a lot of the guys on this site are, there’s often a lot of dick swinging contests. I see enough of that shit when I work as a doorman. It’s really refreshing to see someone on here with such a positive, encouraging attitude. That’s what lifting should be about.
My friends always told me I put the ‘fun’ in dysfunctional!
