The Hole

By Ross Chandler

Living or being around an alcohol abuser can be very frustrating at times. Unfortunately, what appears to be a very simple answer to problems related to alcohol (i.e.: “QUIT DRINKING’) is very difficult to implement because of the defense mechanisms (irrational reasons) to continue to drink regardless of the consequences. To help understand the irrational reasoning side of alcohol use, let us imagine a typical hometown guy called Joe. He has a good job, hunts, fishes, and goes to church (occasionally). However, Joe has a 20’ wide (12’ deep) hole in his front yard.

One night as he comes home after stopping off at his favorite bar, he falls in the hole and breaks his right arm. The next day he sits on his front porch with his arm in a cast and decides to put up a street light near the edge of the hole so he can see better at night.

Four nights later he comes home during a thunderstorm (the light over the hole is out), slides off in the hole and breaks the other arm. The next day he sits on his front porch with both arms in cast and decides to have someone put a sidewalk with a six-inch curb around the hole.

Two weeks later the designated driver drives him home and he trips over the curb, falls in the hole and breaks his right leg. The next day he sits on his front porch with two arms and one leg in casts and decides to call a fence company and find out how much a fence around the hole would cost.

Of course this story could go on ad-infinitum, and any 6-year old kid would suggest, “Fill up the hole!” However, Joe is in denial that the hole is the problem. He sincerely (& irrationally) believes he is someone who can handle a front yard hole regardless of the evidence to the contrary. This is similar to the way an alcohol abuser develops a convenient list of justification about their drinking. After all, he or she has only had a run of bad luck (for 12+ years).

Most alcohol abusers will become alcoholic if they live long enough. The over-simplified difference between the abuser and the alcoholic is the alcoholic loses the choice to not drink alcohol; whereas the alcohol abuser still has some choice in when, where, what, and with whom they drink (or not to drink on that occasion). However, when the consequences of drinking become sever for either the alcohol abuser or the alcoholic, life can become a booze form of Russian roulette.

Your local alcohol abuse treatment agency is the Kiamichi Council on Alcoholism and Other Drug Abuse, 580-286-3301.