Ask HN: High functioning alcoholism – anyone? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: High functioning alcoholism – anyone?

#131

Post by romanovcode » Mon, Nov 27, 2017, 10:53 AM UTC

I used to be in similar situation: 1-2 liters of beer 5-7 days a week. Drank mostly because of boredom just like you - didn't had any problems or stuff that I want to "forget" or "run away from".

Then I stopped drinking and started going to gym and ate healthy just to try something new. I looked and felt much, much better already after first week.

After seeing what I looked like in the mirror after 2 months compared to when I was drinking it was all the motivation I needed. Now I drink only on social events.

My suggestion is: Just try it, I guarantee you will feel and look much better even after first week.

Re: Ask HN: High functioning alcoholism – anyone?

#132

Post by DanBC » Mon, Nov 27, 2017, 12:01 PM UTC

makemoniesonlin wrote: post #109

DanBC wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've said, several times in this thread, that there's a difference between dependent drinking and harmful drinking. OP is clearly drinking at levels that are harmful, even if OP isn't dependent. OP is drinking well over the recommended 14 units per week, and OP thinks it's causing harm. It is a mistake to think that only dependent drinking is harmful. Harm is caused even if the person isn't dependent on drinking.

The guidelines are arbitrary and not based on anything scientific. Stop mentioning them like if he cuts down to 14 units, he's not harming himself, but if he only cuts down to, say, 17 units, he still harming himself.

You keep saying they're arbitrary. Please provide a link to the research used to set the limit. This would show that you've at least read it before dismissing it.

And if he cut down to 17 I wouldn't be mentioning the recommended limits. I keep mentioning them because other people keep saying OP's not drinking that much. OP's drinking more than double the recommended limits but more importantly OP has noticed harm is being caused.

Re: Ask HN: High functioning alcoholism – anyone?

#133

Post by DanBC » Mon, Nov 27, 2017, 12:29 PM UTC

makemoniesonlin wrote: post #107

lomnakkus wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hang on, I recall reading somewhere that the national guidelines for "acceptable" alcohol consumption are mostly made up and arbitrary? Or have they suddenly found a more scientific basis for them within the last few years? Don't they vary widely for nations with similar demographics? I should say that I obviously agree that drinking alcohol is probably never the solution to any problems and may cause further (health…

Yes, the guidelines for safe amount of units per week are basically arbitrary and not based on anything scientific, and vary a lot by country. [1] For example, where I am from, Canada, the Canada Low Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines state that men should limit their intake to 15 drinks per week, where a drink is defined as 12 oz of 5% beer, 5 oz of 12% wine, or 1.5 oz of 40% spirit. OP would hardly be exceeding the g…

OP is drinking well over the Canadian guidelines.

The canadian guidelines are about 240 ml of pure alcohol per week.

At 3 bottles of 12% wine Op is drinking about 270 ml of alcohol.

At 4 bottles of 14% wine op is drinking about 410 ml of alcohol.

Note Canada has higher than expected rates of alcohol related harm:http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/global_alcoh...

Re: Ask HN: High functioning alcoholism – anyone?

#134

Post by ionised » Mon, Nov 27, 2017, 2:43 PM UTC

It sounds more like your are mildly alcohol-dependent rather than alcoholic. Alcoholism is when your drinking negatively affects your life and those around you.

Dependency can manifest as a result of self-medication of things like depression or anxiety with alcohol, because it makes you feel good temporarily. The problem is alcohol is also a depressant and makes you feel worse afterwards, making you want to drink again.

I'm saying this because you sound a lot like me (minus the kids, and I was drinking nearly a bottle of vodka four or five nights a week). and I realised I stopped drinking to have fun and socialise and started doing it alone and heavily to self-medicate my depression and anxiety.

I've taken steps to really cut down lately and have started to explore other ways to address the problems I've had recently.

In your case though it sounds like you are self-aware enough to know maybe you are drinking too frequently (though the volume doesn't seem so bad in my opinion) and have stopped drinking for periods before.

I'd honestly say you have a mild alcohol-dependency, not alcoholism.

Alcoholics tend to not be able to stop themselves drinking, will refuse to admit they have a problem, will fail to live up to their responsibilities and even go so far as to hide their drinking from friends and family very well.

This doesn't sound like you.

Re: Ask HN: High functioning alcoholism – anyone?

#135

Post by tabletiptop » Mon, Nov 27, 2017, 9:10 PM UTC

supahfly_remix wrote: post #97

voodooranger wrote: post #88

I was a high functioning alcoholic, drinking a six pack of beer per weeknight (programming by day for a successful company). On weekends, I would keep an eye on the clock and wouldn’t start drinking until noon. Looking back, I realize that I could hardly function without it. I was hiding scotch in the closet and taking occasional swigs in secret just to “get by”. One day, I went to a new doctor for one thing and ende…

Isn't alcohol a depressant? Was drinking worsening or alleviating the problem?

Depressants don't necessarily make you depressed. The term depressant just means that they depress the nervous system, as opposed to stimulating it like coffee or cocaine. There's a link between depression and drug use because many drugs, depressants and stimulants alike, provide a short-term release of neurotransmitters such as Dopamine and GABA, which makes you feel happy and relaxed.

Re: Ask HN: High functioning alcoholism – anyone?

#136

Post by westonplatter0 » Tue, Nov 28, 2017, 5:41 AM UTC

Sounds like it might be helpful to have the guidance of licensed therapist/doctor to see more of your inner motives / desires as you find yourself drinking & working alone.

I personally thought therapy/counseling was unfruitful until I spent a year working through a handful of issues. After 2 sessions I realized I would benefit from making the investment. The part that changed the most for me was an increased quality of relationship with friends and family.

Therapy is worth trying and deciding it's nothing you need.

Re: Ask HN: High functioning alcoholism – anyone?

#137

Post by softawre » Tue, Nov 28, 2017, 5:21 PM UTC

dazc wrote: post #115

jpambrun wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you need a 'trick' you are at least a bit dependent.. I don't think people realize how easy it is to become dependent.

I think you're dependent if you can't live without something? Not having alcohol in the house isn't much of a barrier to overcome for someone with a real drink problem.

a heroin addict will "live" without heroin

Re: Ask HN: High functioning alcoholism – anyone?

#138

Post by d--b » Tue, Nov 28, 2017, 7:43 PM UTC

Forget the job story, if you don't feel so bad in the morning, it means you can handle your drinking just fine.

You should mostly care about 2 things:

1. Your health: with your intake, you're hitting your liver pretty hard. So that's not too good. You're also likely overweight, which also is not great. Think about your kids...

2. Can you go without alcohol for a bit? Don't drop alcohol for life, just do some intermittent periods where you don't drink for 2 weeks. If you feel like you have a true physical addiction to it, you should see a doctor.

Re: Ask HN: High functioning alcoholism – anyone?

#139

Post by dplgk » Wed, Nov 29, 2017, 9:30 PM UTC

beizhia wrote: post #86

I used to drink a lot, but I eventually came to realize that I wasnt drinking for the alcohol, I was just drinking because I wanted something to drink. I remember back in high school I'd drink soda all the time, and lots of it, which I think was for the same reasons. I started drinking LaCroix, and its to the point where I'm going through a 12 pack every couple days. I had to start buying the generic brands to save m…

Note that the acid in seltzer will mess up your teeth.