I had a friend that drank way too much from the time I met him in college. He had a lot going for him. Family had a big ranch, tons of money, and they were good parents from what I could tell. He just never let up. He would start around lunch every day. I lost touch, but another friend called one day and told me had died. He basically drowned in his own blood from internal hemorrhaging. He was like 45. Sad that it can get hold of person like that.

John Belushi said that the liver is like a muscle, if you want it to be strong, you gotta WORK it.





of course, he's dead

This.
You quit doing everything and then get run over by a truck!

Nobody cares

I think I’ll have a Dos Equis. Right now…

Currently going through this with 67 year old FIL. He was a dang good machinist when I started dating his daughter in 1999 (still together, now married) who wouldn't drink during the week so his hands wouldn't shake, but he'd be black out drunk Friday and Saturday nights. Then he got laid off in the early 2000's and starting drinking during the week (progressed from 6-8 Budweiser an evening to seven or eight 40oz malt liquors a day, what ever was on sale). He got fired from a dream job (Lake test for Tige Boats) because he was a drunk. FIL and MIL inherited a house in Clearwater Florida and last we talked to them a few weeks ago, in the last couple months he's had two strokes, livers shot and is bedridden, spitting up and crapping blood. Oldest daughter takes care of him wipes his butt the whole shebang. He refuses to go to the hospital and says he will die in his bed. He's a selfish bastard and my wife refuses to talk to him. We will go to the funeral to simply help out her mom. I used to party until the sun come up 10-15 years ago, foolishly driven home and not remembered it numerous times, but haven't had probably 6 beers in the last year. He becomes a mean drunk and I've had to intercept a few of his punches and knock him down a couple times. He'd come over and drink every last beer in the fridge even when we weren't home. Watching his addiction slowly kill him from the inside out made me not want to drink anymore. I have absolutely 0 use for alcohol anymore. I do not have any sympathy for alcoholics, but their families I feel for the most.

This

Very few make it through life "perfect" Usually only "perfect" in own their minds

most of us struggle with Deamons of one sort or another

Main causes are traumas early in life which you never even realize when they happen

people address (medicate) these traumas differently.

Oh, yes, you can also just end up being a dick who no one wants to be around. No booze, nicotine, meds, food. What causes them to be "dicks"?

Trauma, somewhere, sometime in their lives.

This is why there are SO MANY Doctors who treat all types of Mental Illness.

Wise words, Buzz. I've only found one thing that truly helps to deal with life's battles and scars.....lots of prayer.

I do like the sentiment, but I couldn't care less if someone chooses to be pig headed because something happened to them earlier. That still makes them pig headed. I will say, it does not matter how you got where you are. What matters is where you choose to go from there.

Yeah everyone has a story. Some let it bring them down some persevere. I will say in a younger me I had much more disdain for drug addicts, drunks, and run of the mill bums. But I realized that it was not me that kept me from becoming those things. Believe me my “dad” is one and so is his brother. But it was the good Lord and my momma.


Also the folks that get offended by the conversation are strange. Nobody is beating up on anyone for having a whiskey drink for Pete sake. You do you.

"What matters is where you choose to go from there."

Yes

realize you're F'ed up and get help

or let it kill you

I've known some drunks who went to early graves, but the saddest was an acquaintance who passed a few years ago. Young guy in his late 30s, new baby, a stunningly beautiful wife, and as friendly as could be. Unfortunately, he had some demons he could not shake. A couple of trips to rehab, and wife took kid and left after several scary incidents with driving and overall parenting. Said all he had to do was clean up and she would come back. Instead, he died in his sleep all alone. Tragic.

I have another buddy and we were very close. He too had demons and many trips to rehab. After losing touch for many years, I reached out to him when another friend passed to let him know...we had a great conversation and he was honest in saying that he had to let all of his old friends go because anytime he was around people from his past, it somehow triggered his urges. I told him I understood, and wished him the best, and that I was always here if he needed anything. I hope he remains well.

There are those that can drink a bit, and those that can't stop. I'm sure there are reasons for each, and feel blessed that to this point, I am one who can drink a bit, but can stop at one or two. Back in the day is was drink to get drunk, but old age and hangovers have changed things...

One reason I don't drink. My uncle (who taught me to hunt and fish) was an alcoholic and I decided that would never be me.

Just found out that my neighbor in college passed away back in July. He legit struggled with alcohol for a long time, and last time I talked with him a couple years ago he wasn’t doing well.

Addiction sucks no matter how you’re affected by it. RIP Jim.

I could write a book on people that I've known that started out great and threw it all away for drugs and drink. They had the world on a string and couldn't stand success.

I grew up knowing people that came up in hard conditions and succumbed to addiction, some did lose their life.

And I know others that went through all of it, found faith in God, and turned it all around. Something about being flat on your back and having to look up.

If that's where life finds you someday, remember to look up.

Nothing at all wrong with alcohol for those that can do it responsibly, but there is something wrong with me drinking it... as I can't or won't do it responsibly. I'm almost at 9 months without any, and happy.

If you're concerned about your drinking just don't drink for one week, you'll know if there's a problem.

Seems to be three types of addiction with alcohol. Social, Mental and Physical. Problem is most don't see the first two as a problem but you will go through the first two to get to door number 3. That's not a door I want to see anybody open. Sometimes we have to stop and take an honest look at ourselves.

My father was a WWII Navy veteran saw action in the Pacific. He was an alcoholic his entire life. Went over a cliff with me at age 5, hit telephone pole, didn't use seatbelts back, then age 6. Fell asleep at the wheel age 8, hit barriers almost went over a bridge, Drank and smoked heavily my entire life, a case of beer was nothing to him per evening. Went to work every Day for 60 years, retired at 85. Would come to visit 4-5 weeks, drank 1- 5 liter bottle of cheap wine per day. (Carlo Rossi) he left after 5 weeks found 35 empty 5 liter bottles hidden in my hay loft. He stopped smoking and drinking around 87 and died at 92. Never spent a Day in the hospital in his life ( was born in his house) until the Day he died, went in the hospital for one Day. Said good bye to all of us. Died that night in his sleep. He was angry his whole life, always mad at the world, mad at others success, mad at my mom and all of us kids always. Just an overall angry Guy. I can hardly drink, even with friends, turns my stomach to think of all the pain he caused everyone around him for all those years.