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Want To Know More About Alcoholism? Ask An Alcoholic

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Do you have some questions you have always wanted to know about alcoholism but were too scared to ask? Here are the most common questions people ask me when I tell them I don’t drink because of alcoholism. 

So you can’t ever have a beer?

Yup, that’s correct. I can’t even have one. But don’t worry, I don’t actually want one, so I am OK with that.

Why can’t you have just one?

I can’t have just one because I have an allergy to alcohol. It’s not just a mental thing. My body physically processes alcohol differently than yours does, so when I put alcohol in my system, I trigger my allergy, which triggers my obsessive cravings. This is why I can’t drink even after long periods of abstinence.

Could you drink one day?

I know it seems confusing. Trust me, I was confused too. But nope, I can’t even have one, ever.

What about non-alcoholic beer. Can you have that?

Why? For the taste? A true alcoholic knows that even tempting the beast with a drink that is oddly familiar to the real thing (btw, O’Douls still has some alcohol in it so it may trigger the allergy) is probably not the best idea. I am pretty sure crack addicts like the taste and smell of crack, but can’t casually find a crack substitute to feel like any other casual crack smoker. Even saying that out loud sounds ridiculous. The real question is, if you suffer from alcoholism, why bother drinking non-alcoholic beer? What are you trying to accomplish? For me, I’d rather just stick to not drinking it at all.

Maybe you were just young. I bet you could have one now that you’re more mature.

Oh, yeah, I tried that. Turns out that alcoholism at any age can sneak up on you. It doesn’t matter how old or mature I am, I can’t cure the allergy or mental obsession that comes with drinking alcohol. Period.

Are you uncomfortable around people who drink?

I don’t mind that others drink. But I don’t go out of my way to hang out at binge drinking, drug infested parties either. Going to an engagement where I have purpose to be there, I am OK with.

Do you have to fight the craving every day?

Lol, I get this question a lot. I do not fight any cravings or mental obsession as it relates to boozing. It’s not my first, middle, or last thought in the day. The problem essentially has been removed because of my recovery. It’s pretty simple stuff. I am neutral to it all.

Do you wish you could be like normal drinkers?

What is that anyway? I mean no offense, but I don’t know what a normal drinker is. If you mean for like the taste or for just a buzz, not really, I liked getting smashed. I just didn’t like that it controlled me and my entire life.

Anyway, I like being sober, so I don’t think about wanting to be a normal drinker. This life is normal to me. I love me and who I am today. No need to change that unless I am growing towards being an even better sober me.

Well, there you have it, raw truth from a real alcoholic. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. I have no problem sharing my experience to better help you understand what alcoholism is and what it is not.

Written By: Recovery Gal

Didn’t cover a question that you have? Please feel free to ask in the comment section below and I will be sure to answer it!

Learn more about the disease of alcoholism here.




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