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I've found this thread interesting. In a way, i think many of us feel different or isolated in some respect, whether we are a part of multiple minorities or not.
Myself, i am adopted and Jewish, but cannot claim any other specific minority affiliations. Yet i can see that both of these *differences* have made me approach things in my life differently than if i was not.
I do have a question for those of you who have suffered from alcoholism.
I do drink. I do not think that i am an alcoholic, but i do have wine with dinner fairly regularly and one of my favorite Sunday afternoon activities is to visit a winery (preferably one we haven't been to) and take their tour. Often we take a picnic lunch and enjoy a bottle of wine from the newly discovered winery. Many of the local wineries around here also have fabulous music and art festivals. We probably do this 4 or 5 times a year.
My question stems from information i discovered upon reunion with my b-mother. It seems that both of her parents died from alcohol related disease and she abused alcohol for many years as well. She still drinks, but not in excess anymore, as far as i can tell. I do worry however. Do i have a genetic disposition for alcoholism? Or did my upbringing in a family that does drink, but doesn't abuse alcohol, overcome that and prevent me from developing a dependency?
I will admit to getting *drunk* a few times in my life, but i can honestly say that it felt horrible. I did not like the feeling of not being in control of myself and got sick to my stomach the few times i drank too much. This was mostly in college, but did happen once since - when absinthe became legal again and we just had to try it. The remainder of that bottle is still on top of our fridge and will likely stay there forever as a reminder of what not to do.
Thank you in advance for any insight into this.
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