why do some men always get drunk?

Milly · Post by **Milly** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 12:21 am

That didn't happen in my family - Neither myself or my sister are drinkers... we'd both seen enough of the damage alcohol does to families not to go there.... we've never taken drugs, 'cept those prescribed for illness of course, but we've never turned to anything to help us deal with life stuff... I guess living with things like that either cripples you or makes you stronger.... for us, it gave us strength....

About partners enabling drunks - Yes, I agree.... my mother put up with alcoholism for years.... she did her best to protect us children, but he was too strong for her.... till as I posted the worst came and she said 'no-more!' and meant it!.....

My dad from day that turned his life around and became the best husband and father anyone could wish to know!..... He realised his real crutch was his family.... he never needed the drink!

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 4:22 am

What else is there to do in Canada ?

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 6:31 am

Nomad;1006510 wrote: What else is there to do in Canada ?

hey, we have our Canadian Beavers eh?:wah:

take off eh?

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 6:34 am

Alcoholic parents are not to be blamed for their kids who end up being drunks.......they can say no.

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 7:56 am

Ever heard of fetal alcohol syndrome?

Patsy Warnick · Post by **Patsy Warnick** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 9:30 pm

Scouse

Were your Parents able to work thru this and remain married?

That's great to hear about your Dad.

Patsy

Milly · Post by **Milly** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 11:28 pm

Patsy Warnick;1007647 wrote: Scouse

Were your Parents able to work thru this and remain married?

That's great to hear about your Dad.

Patsy

Thankyou Patsy :-4 I'm very proud of my father, he took responsibilty for what he did and made the changes to ensure nothing like that ever happened again...... he's been dry for 25 years now

And yes......mum and dad celebrate their 42nd wedding anniversary next month :-4

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Sat Oct 04, 2008 7:54 pm

RedGlitter;1006747 wrote: Ever heard of fetal alcohol syndrome?

disgusting when a pregnant woman drinks during pregancy.................she knows better!

Guinevere · Post by **Guinevere** » Fri May 20, 2011 1:46 pm

I have a very close Russian friend who I think the world of and I would do anything for him but.....during the Winter, he suffers with SAD badly and then he drinks beer about 10 bottles and gets drunk. Life in Russian is hard and tough as I have experienced it myself as I haven't long come back from there from visiting for 3 weeks, so although he's 28 years old, he lives with his parents and they don't like to see him come home drunk all the time. He drinks a lot during the Winter but he has an addiction I think that he can't stop. He said it's his problem and I sometimes wish I could help him, even just talking to him to see why he keeps drinking. Don't get me wrong, he's a great guy, he's a wonderful English teacher at one of the Universities in St. Petersburg, but his parents, his younger brother and his girlfriend and I wish we knew why he drinks so much. During the Spring time, he doesn't drink every day of the week cause he'd be out of his job and that wouldn't be good but the sunlight is there and we think he's bored. He got drunk today, he got drunk last Friday but then again, today he blamed me that I left him on his own to be alone and he knew, when he was sober that I didn't want to leave him at all because we had got use to each other and we had each other's company and to talk in english which was better than talking and seeing each other on Skype, I felt very bad about this but I knew though he didn't feel like this when he was sober because we enjoy seeing each other or talking to each other every day. He swore at me today also and kept telling me it was my fault that I left him and of course he started to drink and but I had no choice because it was my last day of my trip and my heart was breaking enough as it is and it still feels that way.

I came back nearly 3 weeks ago.

So what do I do? Should I ignore what he said about me leaving him on his own as if I did it on purpose when I didn't and knowing that he didn't mean what he said or should I confront him about it. Feel free to ask any questions and hope what I said, was understandable.

Post by **LarsMac** » Fri May 20, 2011 5:25 pm

Alcoholics, like any other type of addict will find all sorts of ways to put the blame for their problems on others, especially loved ones and friends.

They cannot truly be helped until they have found that they cannot continue with their addiction, and take steps to overcome it.

You can allow yourself to be dragged down into their quagmire, or to can stand at the edge, waiting to help them out when they are ready.

Don't take on their burden, you can't carry it for them.

Post by **spot** » Fri May 20, 2011 7:48 pm

The thread title always puzzled me. The majority of alcoholics I've met have been women by a long way. I doubt whether it's much of an ingrained tendency thing, I think it's very much a lifestyle environmental thing. It most certainly isn't a gender thing though.

Larsmac's right, the more concern you invest the more power their behaviour brings them, whether it's deliberate manipulation on their part or not. I've had no trouble being friends with alcoholics but I'd never try to influence their drinking or judge their life choice. If an individual's worth knowing then that's surely the deciding factor.

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Fri May 20, 2011 8:32 pm

spot;1359896 wrote: The thread title always puzzled me. The majority of alcoholics I've met have been women by a long way. I doubt whether it's much of an ingrained tendency thing, I think it's very much a lifestyle environmental thing. It most certainly isn't a gender thing though.

the majority are men who abuse alcohol, not women.

it's an addiction the same as smoking etc.

Post by **spot** » Fri May 20, 2011 9:25 pm

Odie;1359898 wrote: it's an addiction the same as smoking etc.I doubt that. Alcoholism - not that I have first-hand experience - appears to be a bodily rather than a mental grip if you consider Delerium Tremens. That has nothing to do with a state of mind, that's recovery from poisoning. Smoking - and I do speak from personal experience - has (for some people at least) no addictive aspect whatever.

Ahso! · Post by **Ahso!** » Sat May 21, 2011 4:30 am

Odie;1359898 wrote: the majority are men who abuse alcohol, not women.

it's an addiction the same as smoking etc.You may be correct about the gender aspect of your SWAG, but I maintain, as a person well acquainted with alcohol consumption and its affects, that it's use is done for reasons of; 1) social comfort, and; 2) pushing limits, similar to those who engage in extreme sports.

Also, as a person who smoked from the age of 13 into my twenties, I believe that to be more of a tic than anything else.

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Sat May 21, 2011 11:26 am

Ahso!;1359919 wrote: You may be correct about the gender aspect of your SWAG, but I maintain, as a person well acquainted with alcohol consumption and its affects, that it's use is done for reasons of; 1) social comfort, and; 2) pushing limits, similar to those who engage in extreme sports.

Also, as a person who smoked from the age of 13 into my twenties, I believe that to be more of a tic than anything else.

if someone is not at ease with social gatherings without getting drunk, why go?

everyone hates to see a drunk..and some end up getting kicked out.

Post by **LarsMac** » Sat May 21, 2011 3:36 pm

Odie;1359943 wrote: if someone is not at ease with social gatherings without getting drunk, why go?

everyone hates to see a drunk..and some end up getting kicked out.

the issue with your friend is that he starts with "just a drink to calm the nerves" but then he needs to take the edge off, and then it boils down to , the glass is empty.

Some folks simply can't stop once they start, and and they should have never started.

However, until THEY realize it is a problem, they will continue to drink.

end of story.

If you want to influence their behavior, stop drinking when you are around them. When they are the only ones drinking they will see the difference.

I never drink around people for whom I know drinking is problem.

Don't support their habit.

And I can assure you that the phenomenon is NOT limited to males.

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Sat May 21, 2011 4:01 pm

LarsMac;1359946 wrote: the issue with your friend is that he starts with "just a drink to calm the nerves" but then he needs to take the edge off, and then it boils down to , the glass is empty.

Some folks simply can't stop once they start, and and they should have never started.

However, until THEY realize it is a problem, they will continue to drink.

end of story.

If you want to influence their behavior, stop drinking when you are around them. When they are the only ones drinking they will see the difference.

I never drink around people for whom I know drinking is problem.

Don't support their habit.

And I can assure you that the phenomenon is NOT limited to males.

he starts every weekend with just one........luckily I haven`t seen him in quite some time.

-I don`t drink.

I never said there were no women alcoholics, there`s tons and they look worse than the men do.

Guinevere · Post by **Guinevere** » Sat May 21, 2011 4:22 pm

LarsMac;1359946 wrote: the issue with your friend is that he starts with "just a drink to calm the nerves" but then he needs to take the edge off, and then it boils down to , the glass is empty.

Some folks simply can't stop once they start, and and they should have never started.

However, until THEY realize it is a problem, they will continue to drink.

end of story.

If you want to influence their behavior, stop drinking when you are around them. When they are the only ones drinking they will see the difference.

I never drink around people for whom I know drinking is problem.

Don't support their habit.

And I can assure you that the phenomenon is NOT limited to males.

I use to drink alcohol and it's not a necessary thing for me to do. I have never ever got drunk in all my life that I have lived and I don't even drink when I was with my friend Artur in Russia. He was the only one who was drinking. Also aswell, I can't drink alcohol anyway because I am on Coumadin, blood thinning tablets due to blood clot in my left lung.

Artur started with two bottles of light beer but continued drinking, he said he was relaxing as we sat on benches in the park.

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Sat May 21, 2011 9:25 pm

spot;1359896 wrote: The majority of alcoholics I've met have been women by a long way. I doubt whether it's much of an ingrained tendency thing, I think it's very much a lifestyle environmental thing. It most certainly isn't a gender thing though.

Alcoholism is very much not a lifestyle nor environmental thing.

Post by **spot** » Sat May 21, 2011 9:32 pm

Nomad;1359968 wrote: Alcoholism is very much not a lifestyle nor environmental thing.

Oh come on, of course it is. It's a question of availability, to start with. Monks and nuns aren't alcoholics, their lifestyle provides no source of alcohol to abuse. The rate of alcoholism in a population is directly proportional to the average time it takes to earn enough disposable cash to buy a bottle - if the relative price of a bottle goes down, alcoholism rates go up. That's one example each from the lifestyle and the environmental thing.

Ahso! · Post by **Ahso!** » Sun May 22, 2011 5:52 am

Odie;1359943 wrote: if someone is not at ease with social gatherings without getting drunk, why go?

everyone hates to see a drunk..and some end up getting kicked out.They go for several reasons, Odie. I hope you seriously don't need someone to list why people wind up in social situations.

Ahso! · Post by **Ahso!** » Sun May 22, 2011 5:55 am

spot;1359970 wrote: Oh come on, of course it is. It's a question of availability, to start with. Monks and nuns aren't alcoholics, their lifestyle provides has no source of alcohol to abuse. The rate of alcoholism in a population is directly proportional to the average time it takes to earn enough disposable cash to buy a bottle - if the relative price of a bottle goes down, alcoholism rates go up. That's one example each from the lifestyle and the environmental thing.This is also true, IMO. The stuff is poison and should be outlawed. Perhaps sometime in the future.

But then, is what monks and nuns do any better?

gmc · Post by **gmc** » Sun May 22, 2011 5:55 am

spot;1359970 wrote: Oh come on, of course it is. It's a question of availability, to start with. Monks and nuns aren't alcoholics, their lifestyle provides has no source of alcohol to abuse. The rate of alcoholism in a population is directly proportional to the average time it takes to earn enough disposable cash to buy a bottle - if the relative price of a bottle goes down, alcoholism rates go up. That's one example each from the lifestyle and the environmental thing.

Actually russia, the scandanavian countries have amongst the highest alcohol prices in europe and have amongst the biggest problems with drunkenness. It's also historically been associated with poverty and industrial cities, in the past drinking yourself to oblivion was a means of escape. Northern climes and viking/celt heritage. The romans made comment on the amount of drink consumed by the celts and germanic tribes. In the UK there is a massive problem with public drunkenness but in countries like france where alcohol is a lot cheaper they don't. It's partly cultural, partly heritage - both custom and race - and anyone who claims to really know probably doesn't.

I'm not a heavy drinker, never have been but you used to be nade to feel like a social outcast if you refused to get drunk, to a lot it's how they think they enjoy themselves but they are not necessarily alcoholocs. Most people grow out of getting drunk all the time. Monks and nuns don't have sex either and you forget the part played by the monasteries in developing the brewing industry throughout europe possibly as a means of bringing parishioners closer to god. Go drink a bottle of buckfast wine if you don't believe me, many an imbiber has been known to call out to god the next day while holding their head.

Ahso! · Post by **Ahso!** » Sun May 22, 2011 6:09 am

gmc;1359982 wrote: Actually russia, the scandanavian countries have amongst the highest alcohol prices in europe and have amongst the biggest problems with drunkenness. It's also historically been associated with poverty and industrial cities, in the past drinking yourself to oblivion was a means of escape. Northern climes and viking/celt heritage. The romans made comment on the amount of drink consumed by the celts and germanic tribes. In the UK there is a massive problem with public drunkenness but in countries like france where alcohol is a lot cheaper they don't. It's partly cultural, partly heritage - both custom and race - and anyone who claims to really know probably doesn't.

I'm not a heavy drinker, never have been but you used to be nade to feel like a social outcast if you refused to get drunk, to a lot it's how they think they enjoy themselves but they are not necessarily alcoholocs. Most people grow out of getting drunk all the time. Monks and nuns don't have sex either and you forget the part played by the monasteries in developing the brewing industry throughout europe possibly as a means of bringing parishioners closer to god. Go drink a bottle of buckfast wine if you don't believe me, many an imbiber has been known to call out to god the next day while holding their head.It comes down to what one considers "disposable income". This is why many prefer labeling indulgence of alcohol as a disease or addiction, they say it skews ones sense of priority. I think that's putting the cart before the horse, though: one's sense of priority had to be outside what is considered conducive of preferred behavior to begin the indulgence.

Many people grow out of alcohol overindulgence after college or what have you, however, many don't.

Post by **LarsMac** » Sun May 22, 2011 9:36 am

Ahso!;1359986 wrote: It comes down to what one considers "disposable income". This is why many prefer labeling indulgence of alcohol as a disease or addiction, they say it skews ones sense of priority. I think that's putting the cart before the horse, though: one's sense of priority had to be outside what is considered conducive of preferred behavior to begin the indulgence.

Many people grow out of alcohol overindulgence after college or what have you, however, many don't.

Indulgence is a far cry from addiction.

Many do get over the indulgence stage when real life comes knocking, but some never get the call, and wallow in indulgence far past what would normally be considered maturity.

This is probably the case with Odie's friend. He just never realized you don't have to drink yourself stupid to be socially entertaining.

And there are plenty of folks out there who confuse the financial priorities.

My step-son doesn't get the notion that if he stopped spending $100 a week on ciggies, he could afford to keep his car running.

I had a neighbor who would cash his pay-check at the liquor store, bring it all home in bottles, and then complain because he couldn't feed his family.

I used to work at a rehab center, and I can tell you that there is not much difference between the junkie and the drunk when they have been consumed by the drug of choice.

If all you see is "indulgence" you must not get out much.

Post by **LarsMac** » Sun May 22, 2011 9:41 am

gmc;1359982 wrote: Actually russia, the scandanavian countries have amongst the highest alcohol prices in europe and have amongst the biggest problems with drunkenness. It's also historically been associated with poverty and industrial cities, in the past drinking yourself to oblivion was a means of escape. Northern climes and viking/celt heritage. The romans made comment on the amount of drink consumed by the celts and germanic tribes. In the UK there is a massive problem with public drunkenness but in countries like france where alcohol is a lot cheaper they don't. It's partly cultural, partly heritage - both custom and race - and anyone who claims to really know probably doesn't.

I'm not a heavy drinker, never have been but you used to be nade to feel like a social outcast if you refused to get drunk, to a lot it's how they think they enjoy themselves but they are not necessarily alcoholocs. Most people grow out of getting drunk all the time. Monks and nuns don't have sex either and you forget the part played by the monasteries in developing the brewing industry throughout europe possibly as a means of bringing parishioners closer to god. Go drink a bottle of buckfast wine if you don't believe me, many an imbiber has been known to call out to god the next day while holding their head.

The monasteries and such got into the "business" when folks realized that drinking alcoholic beverages was much safer than drinking the water.

Of course they only made the discovery of WHY it was safer in the later 19th century.

The process of brewing, or winemaking, or distilling included boiling the water, which destroyed water-born bugs.

Ahso! · Post by **Ahso!** » Sun May 22, 2011 11:58 am

LarsMac;1360009 wrote: Indulgence is a far cry from addiction.

Many do get over the indulgence stage when real life comes knocking, but some never get the call, and wallow in indulgence far past what would normally be considered maturity.

This is probably the case with Odie's friend. He just never realized you don't have to drink yourself stupid to be socially entertaining.

And there are plenty of folks out there who confuse the financial priorities.

My step-son doesn't get the notion that if he stopped spending $100 a week on ciggies, he could afford to keep his car running.

I had a neighbor who would cash his pay-check at the liquor store, bring it all home in bottles, and then complain because he couldn't feed his family.

I used to work at a rehab center, and I can tell you that there is not much difference between the junkie and the drunk when they have been consumed by the drug of choice.

If all you see is "indulgence" you must not get out much.In the end we probably agree.

My point is that addiction has been an essential part of the makeup of any animal species, so addictions itself is not the problem that needs addressing, rather the availability of destructive and poisonous substances such as alcohol is.

BTW, I recently discovered Smithwick's, anyone else familiar with this beer?

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Sun May 22, 2011 1:35 pm

Ahso!;1359981 wrote: This is also true, IMO. The stuff is poison and should be outlawed. Perhaps sometime in the future.

But then, is what monks and nuns do any better?

Remember what happened the last time it was outlawed?

Education is the key, rather than prohibition.

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Sun May 22, 2011 3:48 pm

spot;1359970 wrote: Oh come on, of course it is. It's a question of availability, to start with. Monks and nuns aren't alcoholics, their lifestyle provides has no source of alcohol to abuse. The rate of alcoholism in a population is directly proportional to the average time it takes to earn enough disposable cash to buy a bottle - if the relative price of a bottle goes down, alcoholism rates go up. That's one example each from the lifestyle and the environmental thing.

Are they immune from cancer too? Cool! Youre out of your league here spock.

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Sun May 22, 2011 6:11 pm

Ahso!;1359980 wrote: They go for several reasons, Odie. I hope you seriously don't need someone to list why people wind up in social situations.

It's time we don't quote each other anymore Ahso.......thank you

Post by **LarsMac** » Sun May 22, 2011 6:47 pm

Ahso!;1360024 wrote: In the end we probably agree.

My point is that addiction has been an essential part of the makeup of any animal species, so addictions itself is not the problem that needs addressing, rather the availability of destructive and poisonous substances such as alcohol is.

Given the ready availability of alcohol products, and other addictive substances, the problem of addiction needs to be dealt with at the individual level.

Ahso!;1360024 wrote: BTW, I recently discovered Smithwick's, anyone else familiar with this beer?

Yeah, it's a decent Red Ale. I prefer Lagers, and Wheats, myself, but I'll not say "no" to a Smithwick's.

Patsy Warnick · Post by **Patsy Warnick** » Sun May 22, 2011 9:45 pm

A alcoholic at a social gathering doesn't stop drinking - they become the loudest - everything becomes funny etc.

Odie - if you have a friend who needs to drink at sunrise - they need to get rid of the shakes & they will continue that day to a level "THEY" think they're in control - a alcoholic is really the insecure one.

it's very sad - but they need a HUG just as much as others - perhaps more - show compassion.

Patsy

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Mon May 23, 2011 11:40 am

Patsy Warnick;1360061 wrote: A alcoholic at a social gathering doesn't stop drinking - they become the loudest - everything becomes funny etc.

Odie - if you have a friend who needs to drink at sunrise - they need to get rid of the shakes & they will continue that day to a level "THEY" think they're in control - a alcoholic is really the insecure one.

it's very sad - but they need a HUG just as much as others - perhaps more - show compassion.

Patsy

I haven't seen him in quite some time, but he is still drinking as I talk to someone about how he, his wife and kids are doing.

he doesn't think he has a problem.

thanks Patsy!

YZGI · Post by **YZGI** » Mon May 23, 2011 11:51 am

Odie;1360117 wrote: I haven't seen him in quite some time, but he is still drinking as I talk to someone about how he, his wife and kids are doing.

he doesn't think he has a problem.

thanks Patsy!

Everyone has addictions of some sort.

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Mon May 23, 2011 3:20 pm

YZGI;1360119 wrote: Everyone has addictions of some sort.

they do, some just don't admit it.

Post by **LarsMac** » Mon May 23, 2011 4:26 pm

So, what's your addiction?

flopstock · Post by **flopstock** » Mon May 23, 2011 6:23 pm

LarsMac;1360154 wrote: So, what's your addiction?

i think food. but it changes every few years.

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Mon May 23, 2011 8:42 pm

LarsMac;1360154 wrote: So, what's your addiction?

smoking and chocolate.

what are yours?

Post by **LarsMac** » Mon May 23, 2011 9:36 pm

Odie;1360162 wrote: smoking and chocolate.

what are yours?

Coffee, and Chocolate.

I get really wound up if I don't get my fix.

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Mon May 23, 2011 10:07 pm

LarsMac;1360167 wrote: Coffee, and Chocolate.

I get really wound up if I don't get my fix.

remind me to send you both;)

Ahso! · Post by **Ahso!** » Mon May 23, 2011 11:47 pm

LarsMac;1360154 wrote: So, what's your addiction?

flopstock;1360156 wrote: i think food. but it changes every few years.Odie;1360162 wrote: smoking and chocolate.what are yours?
LarsMac;1360167 wrote: Coffee, and Chocolate.

I get really wound up if I don't get my fix.

All the above appear to be cravings or obsessions rather than addictions. My addictions don't last long once I'm aware of them. I do, however, also crave and obsess to varying degrees.

I can see, for example, a person who is capable of negotiating daily life remaining dependent on, say, a parent to do that for him or her (or the parent wanting the other to remain dependent on them) qualifying as an addiction, and even that may be a close call, but I don't see that criteria met in any of the above.

The body craves food.

With what we are beginning to understand about obsessive behavior and the fact that it's actually a common (and useful) adaptation, the defining and labeling of addictive behavior is becoming more narrow and strict, as it should.

From my dictionary;Addiction Ad*dic"tion, n. [Cf. L. addictio an adjudging.]

The state of being addicted; devotion; inclination. "His

addiction was to courses vain." --Shak.

[1913 Webster]Obsession Ob*ses"sion, n. [L. obsessio: cf. F. obsession.]3. An excessive preoccupation of the thoughts or feelings;

the persistent haunting or domination of the mind by a

particular desire, idea, or image.

[PJC]Craving Crav"ing (-?ng), n.

Vehement or urgent desire; longing for; beseeching.

[1913 Webster]We can say a person becomes "devoted" to chocolate, and therefore "addicted" because of cravings, and that could be correct; but then, one would need to address the cravings in order to eliminate the 'devotion' (addiction). Cravings are the source and devotion is the reaction. This is the main reason programs such as AA and diet plans have such high rates of constant long term failure. Though, it's still true that no person can force or convince another person to make a lifestyle change that would reduce cravings. It's a personal decision.

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Tue May 24, 2011 3:32 am

Ahso, did I not just tell you to stop quoting me?

I obeyed your rule, please, again, obey mine.

It is an addiction as it's a lasting thing.

Cravings are most certainly different, everyone has them, but they come and go.

Post by **LarsMac** » Tue May 24, 2011 2:30 pm

Well, I can see Chocolate being more of a crave than a habit. Sure. I can go a whole week, sometimes without actually having Chocolate. Then one day, I am at the convenience store for some reason, and I see those big bars of Hershey's Dark Chocolate, and next thing I know, I have eaten a pound or two of the stuff.

Coffee, on the other hand, is a definite addiction. If I don't have my coffee by noon, I get all wound up and crabby, and my head hurts, and I cannot sit still or concentrate until I have a cup.

That is an addiction, I believe.

Ahso! · Post by **Ahso!** » Tue May 24, 2011 4:30 pm

Every organ in the body is adaptable. If you introduce a substance into the body it will attempt to adapt to it, and as far as the body knows, since you're feeding it to yourself, it's important. When we do this consistently, the body may believe it vital to your survival and therefore give you signs such as headaches, nausea, pain and even cause psychological reactions such as irritability to drive you to seek the substance out when the substance (in this case caffeine) is not ingested on time. Those are all cravings. This is why Spot's post addressing availability is exactly right.

If you go long enough without the substance, the body will once again attempt to adapt. Many times the shock or trauma associated with these abrupt and sudden changes may cause other organs in the body harm, such as a heart attach or severe emotional distress manifesting as depression or even suicide.

When we adopt an evolutionary perspective much of how we've defined and approached many issues change.

Post by **LarsMac** » Tue May 24, 2011 9:26 pm

Ahso!;1360233 wrote: Every organ in the body is adaptable. If you introduce a substance into the body it will attempt to adapt to it, and as far as the body knows, since you're feeding it to yourself, it's important. When we do this consistently, the body may believe it vital to your survival and therefore give you signs such as headaches, nausea, pain and even cause psychological reactions such as irritability to drive you to seek the substance out when the substance (in this case caffeine) is not ingested on time. Those are all cravings. This is why Spot's post addressing availability is exactly right.

If you go long enough without the substance, the body will once again attempt to adapt. Many times the shock or trauma associated with these abrupt and sudden changes may cause other organs in the body harm, such as a heart attach or severe emotional distress manifesting as depression or even suicide.

When we adopt an evolutionary perspective much of how we've defined and approached many issues change.

You are on the nailhead, here.

From what you are saying, here, Craving - addiction, Same-same.

Actually cravings tend to be more transient, while addiction often develops into a permanent state.

As the body adjusts to the substance - popular items these days are Oxy-Contin, and Meth - the feeling that it is needed becomes palpable.

You have no idea what some of these things can do the the physical and psychological self.

I may at times crave chocolate, but I am addicted to Caffeine. My body simply fails to function properly until I reach a certain level of caffeine in my system.

Certainly, I could, should I find it desirable, break my addiction to the stuff. (I did with nicotine, and with heroin. The nicotine was actually harder, probably because of the availability issue.)

But I am content with the condition, for now, and Coffee is relatively cheap, still.

My dad was quite content with his alcoholism, too, for a long time. he didn't drink until after dinner, but damn you if you got between him and his bottle once the dishes were off the table.

Oddly enough, he quit, cold turkey after surgery killed his sense of taste. When he could no longer taste the bourbon, he lost interest and never suffered for it.

So, maybe it was just a craving.

What do I know?