hey ... my friend doesn't like alcohol . i dont know if its a phobia, but he doesnt like being around it. it makes him really uncomfortable. he avoids social situations with alcohol,and if he HAS to go, he makes sure he's as far away as possible from any alcohol.

he feels prety bad about it ... id just like to know if there are other people out there who feel the same or similar ? maybe some tips ? i mean. it even has a name. so there must be others right ? ^_^

cheers,

-- appel

I don't like alcohol. I wouldn't say I'm repulsed by it, but I'm definitely uncomfortable. For me, that's because people do things whilst drunk that they wouldn't do whilst sober; they can become unpredictable.

That, and I because think all varieties of alcohol (that I've encountered yet) have a foul odor.

As Barrucadu mentioned he doesn't like being around people who have been drinking, maybe that's your friends problem? Some people really dislike being around people who are intoxicated for whatever reason. So, of course it'd make sense to avoid social situations that include drinking.

There's also other things he might be dealing with. I'm not sure how long you've known him for, but maybe he's had a problem with alcohol in the past and has to distance himself now. Maybe he just doesn't want anything to do with alcohol and people when they're drinking.

A fear of alcohol isn't impossible though.

^post stealer smad
*posts anyway*

I don't mind alcohol as much as I mind people under the influence of it. I really can't stand drunk people. sconfused
Is there any specific reason that makes you think your friend has an actual phobia of alcohol? Or is it just that he seems to avoid it? Because I really don't think it has to mean it's a phobia.
I don't have a phobia of alcohol but I've always avoided drunk people, and up till a couple of years ago I hadn't even had a zip of alcohol.

I'd say it's a good thing that your friend stays away from that stuff. Surely it's problematic because we're pretty much expected to drink during social occasions, and even if you don't drink yourself people around you surely will. But...I wouldn't say he's the one who should change :roll:
Have you tried talking to him about it? Ask him why he doesn't like it, how it makes him feel to be around people who are drunk/alcohol. If he actually gets anxious it could be a phobia but if he just dislikes alcohol and how it affects people then good for him sconfused

i think i can help,

i have an irrational fear of alcohol also, it is called methyphobia. i would stay away from any social setting where i knew people would be drinking, and when i was around it i ususally ended up having anxitey attacks. my dad is an alcoholic and my ex-fiance drank quite a bit and cared very little about trying to help me, he always told me i was being childish and i just had to deal with it. i went into therapy for it and it has imoroved quite a bit. i still get a little uncomfortable, i think i always will be, but now i can enjoy being around my friends when they are having a drink. im not a doctor by any means, but i hope this helps your friend. and remind him that he's not the only one who feels that way, i always felt stupid cuz i didnt think anyone else felt the way that i did. but he isnt alone.

Hello Laurajean and thank you for the information

I can understand why you would have grave issues with alcohol, given your personal experiences.

One of the great things about our community is that you tend to feel alone, like you are the only person that suffers from sich and suc phobia. But once involved in here, you realise that the phobia is far more common than you imagined and that you arent the only person......

Thanks for dropping by and please, feel free to come back and chat some more

I'm very glad that i have found this forum, i wish i would have found it a little sooner, but better late than never

I want people to know that there is hope of overcoming this fear, it's not something that you have to live with forever. I remember feeling completly lost and hopeless. I wouldn't wish that feeling on anyone, and i want to help as many people as i can to overcome this so they can live a fulfilling life.

I also want everyone to know that it IS real, its not something we make up or something we can control. You have to re-train your brain to think a different way, and it's almost impossible when someone is over your shoulder saying that what you're feeling is dumb. It's not dumb, and you CAN overcome it.

welcome to the forum laurajean