Alcoholism plays out in different ways in different people. There appear to be lots of different types or flavours of alcoholism.
However, there are a couple of features that are common to everyone, and these are the ones that count.
1. When I drink, I drink way too much. Is it because I'm dumb? No. Mad? No. Sad? No. I'm not dumb or mad, and it happened when I was happy, too.
2. When I stop, I start again. Is it because I'm dumb? No. Mad? No. Sad? No. I'm not dumb or mad, and it happened when I was happy, too.
So why?
Because I'm alcoholic. Brain wired wrong. I need a Higher Power: the override mechanism.