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I apologize if this question has been asked before, but I don’t know where else to go to find out. I have been drinking on and off since I was 17, and I stopped for around two years between the ages of 19 and 21… However, once I did turn 21 late last year and alcohol became readily available to me, my drinking started back up with a vengeance. I know most "normal" people probably don’t question whether or not they are alcoholic and all, but I’m unsure whether I should seek treatment by going to AA or something… I started drinking around .5 liter of vodka per week when I turned 21 (not a huge amount), but in the last three weeks I’ve been drinking on average 1.75 liters of vodka every two days and have spent literally hundreds of dollars at the liquor store… I feel completely out of control sometimes, but I never drink in the morning and haven’t experienced any severe hangovers or other physical symptoms so I am reluctant to believe I have a problem sometimes… But right now I feel pretty desperate and would really appreciate any input. Thanks in advance to anyone who has experience/can relate to this in some way. -Sim
Thanks so much for the input everyone, especially to "common sense in exile." This was actually a bit of a wake up call for me, I had absolutely no idea I was drinking the equivalent of 25 beers per day… I guess spirits make it seem like less (or maybe I just trick myself). I do think I have a problem now, it’s just really hard to cut through the denial… But as far as getting help out there in the "real world," I really hope I can do it without all the shame I feel some nights. Thanks all of you, your responses mean the world to me. -Sim
do not drink at least for two days…
Thanks for not being in denial, like many in this section. You are an alcoholic, and that’s okay. You’re miles ahead of those who would say no.
Functional alcoholics are the vast majority. Most don’t wake-up and drink or have the shakes. Most will get out of bed, go to work, then get stoned at the end of the day. Sleep and Repeat.
Your reluctance is because you function normally. The disease is still there, waiting.
Just to quantify what habit you have, you’re drinking the equivalent of 25 beers a night.
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You are just like me, but guess what? your not a alcoholic, you just abuse it a lot. however if you and well me don’t cut down can sooner or later become physically addicted which well obviously then makes you a alcoholic.
I go through 1 litre of alcohol a week, and im 17.
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I think you’re probably a lightweight compared to some people, but yeah, I do think you need help. I’m the same age as you and I don’t drink nearly that much. I think once you get into treatment you’ll be able to control your drinking habits better or maybe you’ll just decide to abstain from alcohol altogether. And, in regards to the other thing, I think you just have a high tolerance for alcohol because you have been drinking it for so many years.
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hey. im in the same place. i’ ve been drinking heavily for the last 6 months, after having post partum depression. and now i believe i have a problem with alcohol. its a v ery big sign of having a problem fi you drink alone, drink alot like most days of the week, drink very heavily, black out and dont’ remember things often. and you crave the alcohol very strongly very often, like you can’t go more than a day or two without craving it so bad you feel like you need it so badly or you’ll just die. i know what it feels like. believe. im trying right now to cut back and get help. ill probably need to get into some time of detox, or rehab program to help me. if you ever feel like you can’t control it hon, then you need help. good luck to you., i know how you feel. its hard. good luck. be strong.
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Simple way to tell if you are an alcoholic
Are you drinking because you like being drunk or the taste of what you are drinking OR are you drinking because you NEED to drink
The first of these, with what you say you are drinking, indicate you have a severe drink problem (which can be worse than alcoholism – more on this later)
Only the second technically classifies you as an alcoholic as alcoholism is the NEED for alcohol to function
The reason I say that what you are drinking may be worse than alcoholism is that some alcoholics can satisfy their NEED for alcohol with one or two drinks, you on the otherhand seem to be drinking around 2 weeks worth of alcohol (based on suggested safe limits) EVERY NIGHT
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Um…YES you are indeed an alcoholic.. but there is hope!! You have enough presence of mind to question whether you are one or not. I personally drank ALOT when I was younger, before I turned of legal age. At 19 I was hospitalized with pancreatitus, VERY PAINFUL and a direct result of my daily case of beer and a bottle. Be careful, and think about this! For your sake, you should think about cutting down somehow. I know it is so beyond tough, especially when there is a liquor store on every corner. Its not like smack where you gotta have a hook up. Bet yes you do have a problem. And one more thing…your drinking Vodka, the #1 choice of alcoholics everywhere. Mainly because it does not give off much of an odor and depending on what you buy, it is cheap. From experience… STOP!
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If you drink alone then you are an alcoholic.
If you feel that you -need- alcohol to function then you are an alcoholic.
If you hide that you are drinking then you are an alcoholic.
If you cannot stop yourself from drinking then you are an alcoholic.
Any one of those things makes you an alcoholic, you don’t need to have more than one or all of them.
I think the most telling is the second one. If you feel that you -need- alcohol, then you definitely are an alcoholic no matter how much you drink.
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do not drink at least for two days…
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Well, I certainly relate to what you’re saying. I used to be an alcoholic (abstinent a long time now, tho, so I no longer use the "A" label) and your drinking sounds a lot like mine was.
I was in AA for many years and, based on my experience in the program, do not feel that I can in good conscience recommend it to others. I found AA to be full of self-righteous, social outcasts who have no idea how to function outside the tiny, insular world of life-long "recovery". It’s almost like a cult–heck, they even tell you that you will die drunk if you leave!
Anyway, most people who give up drinking do so on their own (yep…that’s true!) but if you feel you could benefit from some social support, there are several other groups besides AA. My own favorite is SMART Recovery but there is also SOS and LifeRing.
http://www.smartrecovery.org/
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