| The definition of Alcoholism as published by the Journal | | | | obsession of the mind. According to AA's definition, |
| of the American Medical Association: "Alcoholism is a | | | | during my period of abstinence I was dealing with the |
| primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and | | | | physical allergy part by not drinking, yet was not |
| environmental factors influencing its development and | | | | receiving treatment for the mental obsession and |
| manifestations..." | | | | emotional aspects of the disease. |
| The definition goes on to state that the disease of | | | | OK, back to the summer of 03'. One day the thought |
| alcoholism is "often progressive and fatal." As a | | | | entered my mind, "maybe I'm not an alcoholic after all. I |
| recovering alcoholic, I can attest that this is true. | | | | mean it's been over six years... surely I can handle it |
| So what does progressive mean? Simply, and what it | | | | now." So one night I had a glass of Merlot with a Filet |
| means to me as an alcoholic, is that once I have the | | | | Mignon. It is amazing I still remember what kind of wine |
| disease, it always gets worse, never better. Here is an | | | | it was, true evidence that I have the mind of an |
| example: | | | | alcoholic. So what happened? Did the sky fall and the |
| On March 16 of 1997 I decided to quit drinking alcohol. | | | | sun not come up the next day? Of course not. I went |
| Due to the amount I was drinking at the time, around 2 | | | | for several weeks before I had another sip of alcohol. |
| liters of vodka a day, I was admitted to a hospital and | | | | This time it was a few beers out with some old |
| went through a severe detoxification process and | | | | friends. Nothing bad happened that time either. A few |
| extreme withdraw. It is important to note that alcohol | | | | nights later, we went camping and I decided to get an |
| withdraw can be severe and even life threatening. | | | | extra bottle of Schnapps for my girlfriend and me. I |
| Therefore, if you or someone you know has been | | | | drank most of it. I wanted to feel that buzz I had been |
| drinking large amounts of alcohol for an extended | | | | missing for so many years. Long story short, within a |
| period, make sure he/she seeks appropriate medical | | | | few months I was drinking as much as I had been |
| attention if they decide to stop. | | | | back in 1997. |
| Skip ahead to the summer of 2003. By this time, I had | | | | From that point forward, it was a constant struggle to |
| not drunk a single drop of alcohol since 1997. I must | | | | string together any periods of sobriety. I still did not |
| point out that although I was not drinking, I do not | | | | want to admit I was truly an alcoholic (denial). I |
| consider myself as being in recovery during that period. | | | | continued to try to control my drinking. On March 12 of |
| I was simply abstaining. I thought about alcohol almost | | | | 2006, God willing, I hit my last bottom and entered an |
| everyday and avoided most social engagements that | | | | alcoholism treatment center for the third time in as |
| included alcohol. I was what they call in recovery as a | | | | many years. Since then I have been treating the |
| "dry drunk." Meaning, I still had all the symptoms of an | | | | mental and emotional aspects of the disease along |
| alcoholic but was not drinking. I often joke now and | | | | with the physical allergy. I work them on a daily basis |
| say, "I was so dry during that time I was a fire hazard!" | | | | by attending AA meetings regularly and working a |
| According to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), alcoholism | | | | vigorous 12-step program. |
| is a two-fold disease, a physical allergy plus an | | | | |