THE PERSONALITY OF THE ALCOHOLIC
This is a commonly accepted list of personality traits found in the alcoholic. He has certain characteristics or symptoms that occur in normal people, but in him these are exaggerated and uncontrolled. These are the things that render him incapable of being at peace. They compel him to seek relief. They lie beneath the surface of his exterior, and when in operation, drive him to drink in spite of all that he may know that drinking will produce in the way of self-destruction and harm.
LOW FRUSTRATION TOLERANCE
seems to be about the most constant trait. This is the inability to endure for a length of time any uncomfortable circumstance or feeling. The alcoholic is impatient.
ANXIETY
This state which seems to exist in all people, exists in an exaggerated way in the alcoholic. He is subject to nameless dreads and fears. The anxiety drives him to "fight or flight." Sometimes this is called free-floating anxiety. Usually the alcoholic is not even certain about that for which he should be anxious.
GRANDIOSITY
This can be described as "the organization of the universe around the perpendicular pronoun." Grandiosity is worn as a protective armor to hide feelings of low self-esteem. In reality, although the alcoholic nourishes an inflated image of himself, his deep conviction is one of self-worthlessness. He quivers inside his bold and shiny suit of armor. He feels inadequate, but can't dare show it.
PERFECTIONISM
Sets impossible goals with inevitable failures and resultant guilt. The alcoholic is an idealist. This idealism, perhaps, is one of the reasons for his success after recovery has been initiated in his life. He is an exceptionally fine worker once the illness has been arrested and after his perfectionism has been reduced to reasonable proportions.
WISHFUL THINKING
We alcoholics are masters at this. Wishful thinking is the science of arranging to do what we want to do, then making it appear reasonable. This keeps our technique of rationalization operating smoothly. Half truths, or none at all permeate this trait.
ISOLATION
and deep insecurity deprive us of the real generosity need to make close and enduring friendships. We are loners.
SENSITIVITY
This exaggerates all the unpleasant interpersonal relationships we experience. We have all been through the occasional shun, not necessarily meant by the other people, and have dwelt upon this event until it becomes a downright resentment.
IMPULSIVENESS
"I want what I want when I want it." This is probably related in some way to a low frustration tolerance that we all seem to have. In some ways the alcoholic takes a certain pride in this impulsiveness as though it were a valuable asset. The alcoholic can't seem to enjoy a job or task, he is preoccupied only with completing it. Much of what he does he does with an intensity that leaves him emotionally exhausted. Long, tedious tasks are not for him; his specialty is a burst of effort which last until the fun is gone, or his interest wanes. He is known as a "great three inning man."
DEFIANCE
is a characteristic, probably the result of unbearable conflict and anxiety, that makes itself evident when he rejects society as a whole, both when drinking and not drinking. This is associated with a feeling that he does not fit, exactly, into society.
DEPENDENCE
on other persons exists in some form in all alcoholics.
These personality traits, then, all contribute to the mental make-up of the alcoholic. These same mental traits also contribute to make the alcoholic drink. Since these are the things about the alcoholic that make it such that he is unable to resist, or refrain from the first drink, it stands to reason that his sobriety must depend upon doing something about these characteristics.
from the Chicago Area Intergroup