Warning: This article contains discussion of alcoholism which some readers may find distressing.
A man who managed to overcome his alcohol dependence has told how he believes that those who like a tipple fall into one of three camps.
Corey Warren 'turned his pain into purpose' after finally knocking his drinking on the head after several stints in rehab, so he now helps others who are in the same boat.
He launched a non-profit organisation which helps those struggling with substance abuse, runs multiple businesses and is a doting husband, while also being a proud father to his two kids.
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He's previously offered his insights on how you can tell if you've got a drinking problem, the signs that led to him realising it himself and how this issue impacts you financially.
In Corey's eyes, it's not as cut and dry as some presume.
As well as being a shining example of how people battling an addiction to booze can turn their lives around, the Michigan-born dad has a unique perspective on how complex this situation can be.
In another informative clip uploaded to his YouTube channel (@icoreywarren) last Friday (27 February), Corey has explained why he thinks that 'most people who drink alcohol' fit into one of three categories.
The recovering alcoholic and host of The Sober Boyz podcast shared a short video which detailed his thoughts on the main scenarios that those who enjoy a drink typically find themselves in.
'Everybody knows about it drinker'
Corey kicked off by discussing who he dubbed the 'everybody knows about it drinker', which is exactly what it says on the tin.
"This guy here knows he's got a problem, his family knows he's got a problem," he said, before adding, "But the good news is, because he knows that, he's most likely to ask for help."
'I'm not that bad drinker'
Next up was the 'I'm not that bad drinker', which he seemed to suggest was more problematic.
According to Corey, this person probably only has some booze on the weekends or special occasions - but every time they do, they drink in excess.
The sobriety advocate explained that those in this category 'drink too much' rather than taking it easy and have likely 'gotten in trouble a couple of times' as a result of it.
"The issue here is that it's never become painful enough for him to want to change," Corey added.
'Everything looks fine drinker'
Lastly, the podcaster discussed the 'most dangerous of them all' - which is the bleak description he offered of the 'everything looks fine drinker'.
Explaining why this sets alarm bells ringing for him, Corey said that on the surface, 'everything looks good'.
"This guy pays his bills, takes care of his responsibilities... but the problem here is that, because he'll never see it as a problem, he'll probably never change," he said.
"And he'll never know his life at full potential."
What are the signs of alcohol dependency?
According to Drink Aware, alcohol dependence doesn't always mean that someone is drinking extreme levels of alcohol, and anyone who regularly drinks could be considered dependent.
HSE lists a few symptoms as being:
- Drinking has become an important, or the most important, thing in life
- Finding it hard to control how much, or when, you drink
- Finding it hard to stop drinking when you want to
- Craving alcohol or having withdrawal symptoms, and drinking to avoid these symptoms
While not an official diagnosis, a high-functioning alcoholic is a colloquial term for someone who is dependent on alcohol, but is still relatively functional in their daily life.
The Priory Group says that some people who have alcohol use disorder often struggle to acknowledge their reliance on drink, and may try to rationalise their drinking by pointing to how they are still able to manage their lives, such as work, bills, and maintaining personal relationships.
Once acceptance of their condition has been reached, they can consider available treatments, whether that is therapy or residential inpatient care.
Please drink responsibly. If you want to discuss any issues relating to alcohol in confidence, contact Drinkline on 0300 123 1110, 9am–8pm weekdays and 11am–4pm weekends for advice and support.
Topics: Food And Drink, Health, YouTube, Lifestyle, Alcohol
Olivia Burke