The Hammer Abuser by Ross Chandler

Having spent 20+ years as an Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor, I have written some light (Hopefully humourous) articles about the thinking of abusers. Following is one of my favorites:
The Hammer Abuser

In all outward appearances, Fred would be described as a typical hometown guy with about the same life challenges as the rest of us; he works full-time, has a family, fishes, hunts, and goes to church. However, Fred occasionally is a hammer user but not in the usual way. Fred has favorite ball peen hammer with excellent grip, weight, and balance that he finds excellent for rapping a blow just above the right ear. He maintains it wakes him up, improves his concentration, and soothes his nerves. He has also found that his work goes better if he takes a hammer break now and then.

Fred apparently enjoys his hammer, and for a few years he only suffered a minor abrasion on the side of his head. Family and friends provide casual warnings, but most acknowledge that seen to have it under control. His mother states that she is glad he uses a hammer and not an ice pick. However, after five years his controlled, occasional use is becoming more compulsive. Fred now claims that a solid rap can give a pain free feeling, warm him up, or even help him sleep at night. He is also showing a discolored lump over his right ear that appears to be getting larger. Lately, Fred is also saying that the old ball peen hammer is not delivering the desired effects like it used to.

Fred is now starting to try different hammers such as heavy claw hammers, rock hammers, and even a mini sledge. He has also shifted his normal rap over the right ear to the front of his forehead. He claims he can now rap with both hands and get a better effect.
Seven years later, Fred’s answer to stress, anxiety, boredom, disappointment, worry, insomnia, fatigue, job, and marital problems is “Thump, thump, thump, thump.” He has had five trips to the hospital for concussions and two trips for skull fractures. Fred has also noticed lately that his hands shake in the morning; however, this can quickly be stopped with a couple of solid raps. He is also having blackouts and cannot remember some of his conscious activity. Every time he agrees with his doctor, family, and friends that he should quit or at least cut down on the hammer use. In desperation, his mother has suggested switching to an ice pick. Eventually, he no loner works and will thump anytime with anyone or alone. If a hammer is not available, he will use a crowbar, large crescent wrench, bowling pin, or even a small anvil. His last five-day stay at the hospital was the result of using two hammers at the same time.

In desperation, his family gets a court directed detention order to place him in a Hammer Rehabilitation Program. After being a model patient for 30 days, he is caught stealing a jackhammer on his way home from the program.

I agree that the above story is far out; however, if we substitute the compulsion to drink alcohol for the use of a hammer, similar behavioral patterns can occur. Most practicing alcohol abusers cannot offer logical reasons for why they drink as much as they do. Practiced long enough, it becomes “Alcoholism”. One of the first steps in the recovery process for alcohol abuse or alcoholism is learning the compulsion to drink is overwhelming real, very strong, and irrational.