A Rat In A Cage

1. Have you ever felt you should Cut down on your drinking?
2. Have people Annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?
3. Have you ever felt bad or Guilty about your drinking?
4. Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or get rid of a hangover (Eye-opener)?

This is the C.A.G.E. questionnaire.  This is one of the screens my colleagues in adult medicine use to check for problem drinkers.  If you answer yes to 2 or more of these questions, it's very likely that you have a drinking problem, that you are addicted.  Now insert your own addiction. Do you have one?

1. Have you ever felt you should Cut down on your ________?
2. Have people Annoyed you by criticizing your ________?
3. Have you ever felt bad or Guilty about your ________?
4. Have you ever had a ______  to steady your nerves or get over something stressful (Eye-opener)?

I do.  It's not something that is as destructive as a drug addiction, but it's detrimental to my life.  It's an addiction that I can get caught up in for hours upon hours.  When I'm at my worst I let homework go overdue, blogs don't get written, bills get paid late, my wife is neglected, and life, in general, passes me by.  I think those who know me, know what my little problem is and that I struggle with it. The reason I'm able to write this blog tonight is because I had my wife lock up this little habit and hide the key...I'm not strong enough to totally get rid of it...like most addicts I have an excuse to keep it around...and I'm worse for knowing it's an excuse.  Maybe you'll see a few more blogs on here now that I've temporarily "fixed" my little problem.  You might even get to see first hand my withdrawal...it's funny that I actually have them, but apparently I do, according to my wife.  I once got totally rid of this habit for months on end and she said I was so dull and "mope-y" that she bought me another...to which I am presently hung up on.  Am I really like the alcoholic that isn't as "fun" when he/she is sober?  It's just video games...why the hell am I so pathetically attached to them...I know it's pretty lame...I'm working on it (why, when I say that, do I feel like the hundred thousand smokers that I've heard say "I'm trying to quit"). 

Newbie Doc