EP 194: Reader Question - How do you define alcohol and alcoholism?

This Naked Mind Podcast

Annie Grace

Mental Health, Education, Self-improvement, Health & Fitness

4.7 • 2.7K Ratings

🗓️ 20 July 2019

⏱️ 20 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This topic….’what makes someone an alcoholic’….is a hot spot for many. One person may label themselves an ‘alcoholic’ while another might be completely offended by this term, despite having no control over their own drinking. So when is it okay to use this the word ‘alcoholic’? And is there such a thing as a disease called alcoholism? Annie Grace dives into the murky water, perhaps giving you a new perspective on these labels.

Are you ready for a deep dive into truly lasting change? If so, you might consider my Intensive Program. It’s a 9-week, self-led program that you can do in the complete comfort of your own home. It will truly transform your relationship with alcohol. If you want to learn more about this, go to thisnakedmind.com/intensive. And, as always - rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast, as it truly helps the message reach somebody who might need to hear it today.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	This is Annie Grace and you're listening to this naked mind podcast where without
0:15.2	judgment, pain or rules, we explore the role of alcohol in our lives and culture.
0:29.2	Hi friends, this is Annie Grace, author of this naked mind and I'm answering readers questions.
0:34.0	I'd if you come in this week's I thank you. If you want to ask me a question just message us
0:38.9	on this page or send me an email at helloatthesnakedmind.com and I will be happy to answer whatever
0:46.3	questions I can. So today's question is from back she says, how do you define alcoholism and
0:52.1	addiction? Is it an illness? Because I feel if you have a drink problem people automatically think
0:58.4	and assume that you're an alcoholic. My family says this at least but for me in my mind I actually
1:03.2	call it more of an addiction and a craving. Perhaps you could do a video and talk about this.
1:08.7	So you sort of hit the down the head. I mean the definition for alcoholism and alcoholic
1:15.3	is varied. You ask different people you will get different answers and most people say things like
1:21.8	you actually have to decide for yourself if you have a problem and actually medical and scientific
1:27.3	and diagnostic experts prefer the term alcohol use disorder. So instead of that being a black and
1:33.5	white definition it's a continuum of kind of use and abuse which includes measurement of specific
1:42.1	symptoms including drinking despite problems health problems relational problems work problems
1:49.6	tolerance how severe is cravings how can you overcome the cravings or not and physical
1:55.8	dependence. And so on this continuum you're actually you come up with a specific sort of where
2:00.9	you are with alcohol addiction and there's interestingly really good neuroscience to support
2:08.3	this idea of not necessarily labeling yourself. I have a lot of readers and some of them write me
2:16.0	and some people who read my book have been sober for a number of years haven't touched alcohol
2:20.9	and I've actually gotten letters from people saying that you know while I recognize that I was
2:25.6	fully dependent and had a pretty severe problem with alcohol and was definitely addicted
	...

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