Alcoholic Allergy
When I first quit drinking, I simply told people I was allergic to alcohol. I made this story up to protect me from others finding out the real reason why I quit. “No, I can’t. I’m allergic to alcohol,” was what I said when they offered me a drink. I was not actually that far [...]
Withdrawal
When I quit drinking, I didn’t have withdrawal symptoms. Or if I did, I slept right through them. After all, I was two days unconscious from the time of my last drink. So by the time I awoke, I was feeling pretty OK. Had I been conscious, things might not have been so peachy. Most [...]
Serenity
My love for “Seinfeld” never ends. There must have been a recovering alcoholic on the writing staff of that show, for references to AA are peppered throughout the seasons. In one episode, Frank Costanza, George’s father, repeatedly shouts, “Serenity now!” when he is agitated or annoyed. Told by his doctor to do this every time [...]
Alcohol Songs
Any time you write a list of the “Best” of anything, you are bound to leave out a lot. During my drinking days, I always gravitated toward artists that sang about my favorite pastime, drinking. Here are a few of my favorites: 1. “Tanque Ray” – by Nick Lowe. Tanqueray is a type of gin. [...]
Types of Addiction
Many alcoholics find that once they begin recovery, they are hiding other underlying addictions. This shouldn’t be a surprise as all addictions are very similar and caused by the same conditions. Addiction is often defined as an obsessive or compulsive need to perform an act, resulting in loss of control, despite negative feedback. We all [...]
The Culture of Alcoholism
While doing a little research for this piece, I came across a website that featured the 10 Best Gifts for Alcoholics. Not the 10 Best Gifts for Recovering Alcoholics, but for real, active alcoholics. It was horrifying. Nearly all of the gifts were focused on hiding the alcoholic behavior. A fake beer belly, strapped to [...]
The Language of AA
If there is anything that will turn a person off of AA or any other 12-Step Program, it is the inside lingo, the slang that is used within the programs. Sit down and have a cup of coffee with me while I interpret some of what you will hear at a meeting. The “Big Book [...]
Ten Myths About Alcoholics
There are many reasons I never sought treatment for my excessive drinking. But basically, it comes down to one thing: I never saw myself as an alcoholic. I didn’t fit the profile or my image of what an alcoholic looks like. Below are ten common myths about alcoholics that helped me justify my continual drinking: [...]
Drug Abuse as a Disability
Because alcoholism and drug abuse are often seen to be genetic, a movement is taking place to classify these illnesses as official disabilities. This may seem like an innocuous idea, but the ramifications are extensive. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) currently recognizes alcoholism as a disability. As such, employers may not refuse to hire [...]
Alcoholism and Drug Abuse in the Workplace
As a manager, I am responsible for hiring and firing dozens of employees every year. I interview dozens more. In our state, it is legal to require drug and alcohol testing prior to hiring and at any time after hiring, providing there is reasonable suspicion that a person is either using or intoxicated on the [...]