Alcoholism is a primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal. If you suffer from this terrible disease, this is the online support group for you!

Characteristics of Alcoholism

Alcoholism is characterized by continuous or periodic: impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and distortions in thinking, most notably denial.

The Very First Drink

I have heard in Alcoholics Anonymous that some people, no matter how old they are, take that first drink and feel "normal, or immediately develop the craving". That is scary. Those people are hooked at their first drink. If I was one of those people, I would have kept drinking steadily at age twelve and would have headed straight for disaster.

Statistics state that the younger you start drinking THE GREATER THE CHANCE OF BECOMING AN ALCOHOLIC. Combine the genetic factor and the young teenager has no idea what lies ahead and the first drink could be ultimately their fate.

Alcoholism can arise from all of these seemingly innocent reasons for drinking alcohol:

• Nothing better to do
• To kill the pain
• Inability to stop once started
• To calm the nerves
• Overcome shyness
• To numb feelings or escape
• Because everyone else is doing it
• Because it tastes good
• It is a habit
• It goes good with dinner
• I like makes us feel good

Excuses, Excuses

With the exception of a couple of the above mentioned, most of these excuses are just substitutes for coping, for dealing with reality and physical symptoms of discomfort and pain. The truth about alcoholism is it is a progressive disease, meaning, the longer you drink, the worse it may get. You may think you don't have a problem now, but ten years down the road you may realize that suddenly you are out of control with your drinking.

Disastrous Effects

Alcohol does nothing but ruin lives, kill, cause unemployment, unwanted pregnancies, STDs, fights, divorces, infidelity, crime, financial devastation, homelessness, and many more terrible circumstances. Why? Impaired judgment for one. I know because I have experienced a lot of the horrors of alcoholism, I have heard stories of the horrors of alcoholism, and I have educated myself on alcoholism. If you do not believe me just walk into any AA or Al-Anon meeting.

So, do you think you have a drinking problem? Click here to find out.

IF YOU ARE AT RISK OF LOSING A JOB OR A HOME OR A LOVED ONE I SUGGEST YOU TAKE THE TEST TO SEE IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM. IF YOU DO, GET HELP IMMEDIATELY.

Tristine

"God Grant Me the Serenity to Accept the Things I Cannot Change, The Courage to Change The Things I Can, and The Wisdom to Know the Difference"