I know this is probably a common topic. For me, I’m not sure if it’s a “trope” or just totally misinformed writing, but it’s how many authors approach alcoholism. Some examples are Girl on the Train and The House Across the Lake, among HUNDREDS. If anyone else here has struggled with alcoholism, you know it’s not just "i woke up after downing an entire bottle of whiskey but was able to shower, down a cup of coffee, and solve a murder. "
Rather than ramble about my own pet peeves, I’ll comment on yours because it gets me too.
I quit drinking a little more than 2 years ago but yeah. For a solid decade I was totally useless to everyone, for anything.
Not even talking about my bizarre, extreme mood swings. I mean, between binges I was too fucking nauseated and weak to do anything but hang on by my fingernails until my next drink. I routinely felt so extremely sick in the morning- until the early evening, really, and sometimes for days if I couldn’t get any booze- that just getting out of bed to gulp water out of the bathroom faucet was a serious challenge. I would have to psych myself up for it and then recover from it, gasping on my back in bed, heart pounding… at my worst I weighed about 105 lbs (skeletal, for my height) and most of my hair had fallen out (it has since grown back, with minoxidil)… And all that’s without going into how I completely lost my mind.
So yes. I also have difficulty suspending my disbelief for the cool, grizzled alcoholic characters who drink like I did but the worst effect they feel is being misunderstood.
Exactly! And when it’s a woman MC, they’re of course still presented as extremely attractive, thin, etc. Don’t get me wrong, I know alcoholism looks different on everyone but… my bleary eyes, bloated face, and greasy hair didn’t make me very glamorous😂 Also, MASSIVE congratulations on 2+ years, I’m so happy to hear that. Insane accomplishment, I’m rooting for you!!
Congratulations on your sobriety!
Some people are functional alcoholics though. It is a thing. Obviously, you had very severe alcoholism.
Thanks for explaining this. I never had trouble believing the trope in the books because my stepdad WAS a functional alcoholic. He was a fireman and would start drinking as soon as he got up and never seemed to suffer any consequences for it, just the rest of us around him did.
I’d like to take this opportunity to point out how much I hate the “reformed alcoholic has one drink and 5 minutes later they’re necking vodka from the bottle and partying with hookers” trope as well. Like relapses can take weeks or months to fully kick in
Reminds me of a post I read on reddit years ago
My routine was a little different in the details, but yeah that tracks
I’m not an alcholic and this is kind of what drinking feels like for me. I can’t sleep, I shake, the next day sucks, I lounge around like a vegetable. I don’t start drinking again though.
Except I would only take 6 or so tylenol over several hours. No need to fuck your kidneys up even more.
I don’t know if video games count, but the detective in Disco Elysium is a fresh take as the story starts with him being dead from drinking for 2 days in the middle of the murder mystery, hated by everyone in town and having an underling with a decent lifestyle sent to cover up for his massive mistakes. You play as him and you still solve the case, but honestly, you keep finding out all the ways you messed up your own investigation when you were drunk and drinking in-game will mostly make you fuck up even more. I loved the game and I thought that was written by someone who does know a real life alcoholic
I actually recently got that game and I haven’t played very far but yeah, I’d agree with that