Are You An Alcoholic? (ritual, quiz)

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Maize

I found this questionnaire on several different sites. It was made up by Dr. Robert V. Seliger at John Hopkins University Hospital.

20 Questions

I'm not asking for anyone to post their results, unless you just want to. Anyone who feels like they may have a problem with alcohol should take to their doctor.

I'm not sure how accurate the test is, but I must admit the results took me by surprise.

It's an interesting quiz, but not sure how accurate it is.

I was an functioning alcoholic for a while. My definition of a functioning alcoholic is one that drinks quite often, but still functions in society without much problems. My thing was that when I came home from work every day, the first thing I did was get a beer and/or a glass of wine. Sometimes I didn't even think about it. It was just second nature to pick up a glass of wine and start drinking. Maybe I didn't drink to the point of getting drunk all the time, but sometimes I did. One night it would be a glass of wine, the next night it would be a bottle or two of wine. It all depended on how much I wanted to drink that day. Fortunately, I broke that cycle. It wasn't that difficult for me, but I'm sure it is for many.

As for the quiz.

The quiz never even asked how often you drink. Under this standard, if you drink once a year, alone, and don't get good sleep from it, then there's a good chance you're an alcoholic.

Two of the questions are pretty much the same, and if you answer yes to both, then there are chances that you are an alcoholic:
19. Do you drink to build up your self-confidence?
3. Do you drink because you are shy with other people?

Although, I should state, there are some very good questions in the quiz that make you second guess if you're and alcoholic or not. My understanding is that most functioning alcoholics (like I was) wont admit there is a problem since drinking alcohol hasn't caused any significant issues in there life.

Just my 2 cents.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Toad

I guess robtex, is that it's a habit for me to get beer on friday, I enjoy having my beer, i enjoy the taste, the buzz, etc.
I don't think about it through the week, well sometimes

I guess maybe I'm a normal beer drinker, whatever definition of normal is.

You bring up another good question that should have been asked in the quiz. How often do you think about alcohol during the week? This is not meant to be answered, just something that should have been asked in the quiz.

[jonny]

I'm not an alcoholic. I've never even tasted alcohol...unless you count the fake beer that I drank (see next post).

[jonny]

Originally Posted by Toad

I guess robtex, is that it's a habit for me to get beer on friday, I enjoy having my beer, i enjoy the taste, the buzz, etc.
I don't think about it through the week, well sometimes

I guess maybe I'm a normal beer drinker, whatever definition of normal is.

I'm sorry, but anyone who enjoys the taste of beer has got a "special" sense of taste. I tried "near-beer" in Germany and it was the most disgusting thing I'd ever tasted in my life. I'd sooner drink urine.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by jonny

I'm not an alcoholic. I've never even tasted alcohol.

That's good, and if you don't have a desire for it, then there is no reason to start.

It reminded me of a true story (kind of upsetting) of when I was about 17 to 18. My friend had never drank alcohol, but I kept pressuring him. Little did I realize that alcoholism ran in his family. Anyway, he finally agree to drink, and then ultimately fell into alcoholism. He became worse than me especially since he went more towards hard liquor. I wish I had never done that. He is a lot better now, and we're still friends, but I felt sorry for doing that. I know I was just a teenager, but I knew better even at that time. Moral of the story (and please forgive me for sounding generic), don't pressure other's to drink if they don't want to.

[Halcyon]

I am definitely an alcoholic according to this quiz.

These are the questions i answered yes too.

3. Do you drink because you are shy with other people?
19. Do you drink to build up your self-confidence?

Like Todd said, these are the same question - i'd re-word it to say that i am more relaxed/less shy around people after i've had a drink.

10. Do you crave a drink at a definite time of day?

Yes, when i get home from work. Doesn't necessarily mean i'll have a drink, but one beer does help you to unwind after the stress of work and public transport.

16. Do you drink alone?

This is linked to the question above, if i fancy a beer after work to unwind, and no-one else is around - i'll still have that beer.

So, in summery i have the odd drink to relax after work, and drink when i'm out with friends. I don't however get properly drunk anymore (like i did at university ) i'd say that i get merry - i almost never get hangovers.

If this makes me an alcoholic, then i can live with being an alcoholic.

[angellous_evangellous]

I think that quantity and what you drink also should be considered.

Craving a beer after work I think is normal. Craving a couple of shots of hard liquor every day is different.

I have a half a glass of red wine just about every night with dinner or after dinner. I substitute for beer as often as the wife allows. Life is good.

[jonny]

Originally Posted by Todd

That's good, and if you don't have a desire for it, then there is no reason to start.

It reminded me of a true story (kind of upsetting) of when I was about 17 to 18. My friend had never drank alcohol, but I kept pressuring him. Little did I realize that alcoholism ran in his family. Anyway, he finally agree to drink, and then ultimately fell into alcoholism. He became worse than me especially since he went more towards hard liquor. I wish I had never done that. He is a lot better now, and we're still friends, but I felt sorry for doing that. I know I was just a teenager, but I knew better even at that time. Moral of the story (and please forgive me for sounding generic), don't pressure other's to drink if they don't want to.

I have a friend who the same thing happened to her sister. One drink of alcohol and she was an alcoholic. They didn't find out until later that it ran in her family. Sad stuff...

[Toad]

Originally Posted by jonny

I'm not an alcoholic. I've never even tasted alcohol...unless you count the fake beer that I drank (see next post).

See, I don't understand how somw folks are not curious about things like that?