Become an alcoholic in denial?

another anti Carol thread

...........when they enter the Big Brother house!

Indeed: it's not gonna be the first today either

In response to the OP's question: Alcoholics know when they are alcoholics, it's when that moment comes when you realise you can't go into work in the morning without having a drink first. You don't have to binge drink to be an alcoholic.

when they have alcohol for breakfast

When they start peeing the bed and put it down to being young and 'having fun'.

A drunk's a drunk no matter what age.

I know you mean Carol, but Charlotte isn't far behind.

Yes, true, but it doesn't make them an alcoholic.

When they drink all the rose wine, take the bottle of red from the table where others are drinking it, pour it into a mug, have a swig, pour the rest back into the glass of the person who objected to you taking the wine, go to the diary room, stagger back down, look for your wine and then accuse someone of stealing it?

Sadly some alcoholics stay in denial their whole lifetime. My aunt has drunk a large bottle of whiskey every day for over 15 years. She now has nerve damage in her feet and hands. She is in a wheelchair and has a carer. The doctors have told her its all due to the alcohol. She maintains they are wrong and don't know what they are talking about. And 'of course I'm not alcoholic, I can give up anytime I wanted'.

It makes me sad and angry but ultimately helpless.

Certainly not.

Its a serious question.

For me its when someone is unable to exist w/out alcohol be it a single daily or near daily glass or a bottle, that drink culture / lifestyle has been heavily sold by the media.

So increasingly we have the normality of the lifestyle that being inebriated is wholly acceptable. Its that celebrated lifestyle that some have made a career.

Why? There seem to be a number of possible candidates.

I don't actually think that is true. Alcoholics who have managed to kick the habit often say that they went for years convincing themselve that they were just party people who loved having a good time. Not all alcoholics drink in the morning at all. Some binge drink and some don't. I would say that Carol is showing some warning signs and that she knows the fact very well. One of the warning signs is that someone can never relax if they are in a group with limited alcohol because they can't get out of their minds that they might not get enough.

That is sad.

Beyond the personal casualties there is also an immense cost to society and that measurable cost to the NHS and businesses.

Most alcoholics are in denial.

Carol certainly has a drink problem. She hides the alcohol to ensure she has enough to get psst on. She drinks to get psst not just to socialise. She goes to bed as soon as the alcohol dries up, or if only give a small amount of alcohol & there isn't enough to get drunk on. She begrudges others their fair share of the alcohol.

Yes, but someone who isn't an alcoholic wouldn't reach for a drink before breakfast, alcoholics do.
Alcoholism is a disease, binge drinking isn't: it is huge self-indulgence which may lead to alcoholism, but may not. I do agree there are warning signs which if the person themselves doesn't pick up on then others should make them aware, or at least try.

Possibly. But i dont think thats the defining criteria.

The cost of alcoholism estimated at £6 billion

Yes, I think that's very well put. And as I said, Carol knows it. I thought she sounded quite subdued when she said she would advise someone to give up drinking before they came into the BB house.

I think that's pretty late stage for most. I'm probably a bit of an alcoholic myself so I recognise the signs. I never keep alcohol in the house. If I buy alcohol, I buy an amount to last one evening, because that is how long it will last. If I am somewhere with unlimited alcohol I don't drink at all because I wouldn't necessarily be able to stop. I don't think there is a sharp dividing line between 'alcoholic' and 'not alcoholic'; it is more a matter of straying into the danger zone and deciding how to manage it.

I did edit my post, making it longer but whilst on I will come clean, I am an alcoholic, not former not reformed but an alcoholic who thankfully hasn't had a drink for 14 years. I never binge drunk whilst most of my friends around me did but I was the only one who went on to not being able to start the day without a drink. We all view from different sides I guess?


One day at a time ....

It's funny cause the OP didn't mention Carol's name, but you assumed (correctly, obviously ) that it was about Carol

Just an observation not a criticism!

True, and good work. I must admit that I have occasionally looked at this CBB through the eyes of someone who has never drunk - a practising Muslim perhaps - and thought it really would confirm them in any adverse beliefs they had.

Well done...great inspiring post.

Would be nice to think these people in there who cannot function or enjoy themselves without a drink, watch it back and realise what they look like and what they've become.

Doubt it as they obviously don't care, otherwise why subject yourself to that exposure, but one can hope.

Personally I've found this series very sad to watch, it's shocking how many people seem to need a alcoholic crutch to validate themselves and their personalities.

Pretty accurate description of addiction - applies to cigarettes, drugs, food, betting and internet/mobile access alike.

When the socially-retarded, forever-alone, teetotal basement-dwellers say so!

I fully agree re the dividing line.

I don't think you can ever define 'alcoholism' as the same for everyone ....there really isn't a 'typical' although it's common to think alcoholics drink at breakfas, don't wash etc.etc.

Some people can drink a lot on a regular basis and it's not a problem, some drink only a bit regularly but can't live without it. Some just ennoy a drink to be sociable some have to drink to get blotto.

Personally I think when it starts dominating your thoughts about .....will we be able to get a drink there, is it considered too early to drink, should I take a bottle in case there's not enough there then that is when it' s becoming a problem.

Sometimes it is easier if you don't have money difficulties and can always afford it or you are not in a job that is too demanding. What causes problems for one person wont be a problem for another as their life is somehow 'easier' to accomadate it.

Different for everyone - what it boils down to is the individual deciding whether or not to take control of the situation. No one else can do that.

You haven't read any of the thread, have you? Which makes your post look pretty inappropriate.