I think I've a drink problem....

LegacyUser

so i'm wondering, am i an alcoholic?

i always considerd an alcoholic someone who drinks pretty much every day, hides bottles round the house, has a drink first thing in the morning.....

i don't drink every day, wouldn't touch the stuff first thing in the morning, and don't go hiding bottles round the house..... but i do binge drink pretty much every weekend, rarely during the week, as it's just not worth the hang over.

i'm getting a bit worried about it.... i got really mashed last night, and tbh, alot of the night's a blur.... i know i blew a load of cash gambling........ which i only do when twisted.

the booze definitly changes my personality... and i guess when i'm really drunk i'd be a bit of an asshole.... i've lost friends, gf's, and now, i'm really just sick of it... well sick of binging.

see, i can have to odd pint, and leave it at that, but if i go over a certain mark... that's it... blackouts ville... and i've kinda accepted this long as, it's such a normal part of irish life...

i dunno, is it possible to just cut down.... or do you have to just give up completly?

Victor

alco? wrote: »

i'm getting a bit worried about it.... i got really mashed last night, and tbh, alot of the night's a blur.... i know i blew a load of cash gambling........ which i only do when twisted.

If drinking is causing you problems, then I think that means you have an alcohol problem.

Talk to your casino and get them to either ban you (especially when drinking) or set you a limit.

Talk to your GP or the likes of Alcoholics Anonymous about getting more information on cutting down, sensible drinking or stopping altogether.

www.alcoholicsanonymous.ie

MagicMarker

alco? wrote: »

so i'm wondering, am i an alcoholic?

i always considerd an alcoholic someone who drinks pretty much every day, hides bottles round the house, has a drink first thing in the morning.....

i don't drink every day, wouldn't touch the stuff first thing in the morning, and don't go hiding bottles round the house..... but i do binge drink pretty much every weekend, rarely during the week, as it's just not worth the hang over.

i'm getting a bit worried about it.... i got really mashed last night, and tbh, alot of the night's a blur.... i know i blew a load of cash gambling........ which i only do when twisted.

the booze definitly changes my personality... and i guess when i'm really drunk i'd be a bit of an asshole.... i've lost friends, gf's, and now, i'm really just sick of it... well sick of binging.

see, i can have to odd pint, and leave it at that, but if i go over a certain mark... that's it... blackouts ville... and i've kinda accepted this long as, it's such a normal part of irish life...

i dunno, is it possible to just cut down.... or do you have to just give up completly?

Sadly this would probably be the norm to ALOT of people.

Fair play to you for having the cop to realise you may be drinking too much. I think you're at a stage where you could quite comfortably get over this little mishap. But it may mean sacrificing a lot of your social life. You just need to come up with other things to do. There's no harm in having a drink, but you need to know what your limits are. It's all about will power.

Good luck with it.

Dizzyblonde

Well done for recognising the problem and facing it. If I were you I'd seek help to stop drinking altogether, that way if you're having any problems or are feeling down in the future you won't use alcohol as a crutch. You'd also have a support system in place to help you.
I've seen what drink can do to a family when it affects a person's behaviour and it isn't pretty.
Good luck.

AARRRGH

I gave up alcohol and caffeine a while ago. Best decision I ever made. The amount of positives from giving up - more money, better health, better sleep, better in work, smoother relationships, better motivation, more time, etc. - you probably know yourself.

If you've reached the stage where you're worrying about your drink and it's causing you problems, then you've a drink problem. I guess I was in a similar situation. I just got sick of it and decided to make the most out of my life. I now have a very full life - good job, part-time business, masters degree at night, lovely girlfriend - and I have to say I don't think this would be possible if I was drinking like I used to.

Giving up is only difficult for about two weeks. Your body adjusts after that, and you really begin to enjoy the getting up early on the weekends.

If you keep drinking, the reality is you'll do more damage and want to make another forum post like this in 12 months. I know how difficult moderation is, so it's best just to give it up altogeher...

EDIT: I should probably mention a negative too. Sitting at home on Friday night when everyone is in the pub However I use this time to get work done, which is a lot more beneficial than boozing... Also, when you're sober walking around town and you see all the drunk idiots (and they really are total idiots) it makes the no drinking all the more satisfying

cudman

You didnt mention your age or relationship status.
Been honest with you, you have just described what I was like around 7-8 years ago. Then I met a good woman (7years this week) and nights in with her were an incentive not to go out. I also found after I went past 25yrs that I could drink far less and as a result gradually started drinking less.
Its "in" these days as everyone is becoming americanised to have drink problems but I wouldnt be packing you off to rehab just yet. Try turning your mates attention to things other than neer, even going bowling would use up 2 hours drinking time.
Take up sports and use it as an excuse to go home early on the saturday night.
Part of the thing that helped me is I have trouble sleeping and have a couple of cans most nights. Now my body associates beer with sleep so whenever I go past 5 or 6 pints I want to go home cos im wrecked tired:)

Ishindar

u want to label yourself to relinquish resonsability? you sound bored and lack direction and substance to your life. if your a nasty drunk know your limits. try filling your life with positive things.

karen3212

Hi Op, if you find moderation so difficult, then I think it's a good idea if you ensure you have other places to go or find a way of going out to the pub with your friends without needing to drink. Though I have heard people tell me that as long as they are not in a round they find it a lot easier to do moderation as they just slow down their drinking a lot more. I really think that perhaps you could have a chat with your GP, they would be able to recommend something or someone who might be able to help you too. Also blacking out and not remembering is not good as you know already, make sure you mention that too to the GP. Take care and I hope you manage to get help to help yourself.:)

LegacyUser

alco? wrote: »

so i'm wondering, am i an alcoholic?

the booze definitly changes my personality... and i guess when i'm really drunk i'd be a bit of an asshole.... i've lost friends, gf's, and now, i'm really just sick of it... well sick of binging.

see, i can have to odd pint, and leave it at that, but if i go over a certain mark... that's it... blackouts ville... and i've kinda accepted this long as, it's such a normal part of irish life...

i dunno, is it possible to just cut down.... or do you have to just give up completly?

Hey mate,

Fair play to you for wise-ing up.

I am guessing you are in your early 20ies. Went through something very similiar myself after I left college but was worse than you. In retrospect I think my drinking was due to insecurity and lack of confidence. In my position I HAD to give it up completely.

Weekends were a drunken blur of beer, premership and horse racing. Was contineously late for work, used arrive in late, hungover 2-3 day a week. One particular night I went to the pub straight after work, got wasted, blackout, next morning work up at some house miles away from work. Didnt make it in. Next morning my boss took me out for breakfast, told me flat out I was an asshole, pissing my live away and had enough reasons to legally fire me unless I copped in.

That was about 6 years ago and to be honest a serious wake up call.

I quit drinking completely. First month was terrible, really tough. Had bad nightmares, the shakes, sweating. Moved out of the party house I was living in at the time, moved in with a 45 year old. Was straight up with him, he gave away all the booze he had in the house. Didnt touch a drop for over 2 years. Got promoted twice in work over those 2 years. Took up endurance sports, lost weight. Ran a marathon, learned to swim, did an Ironman ... stuff I never thought I could do.

Now am 30 years old. Earn 175k a year. Nice girlfriend. Great lifestyle. Do drink but very little. Example did not drink once from last Dec - July of this year. Tonight went for a beer after work but left the lads after 1 (actually only drank half of it) and went home.

Best move I ever met was give up the gargle for those 2 year. Drawing on my experience, if you dont think you can control it and it is affecting your work or relationships - quit.

You will NOT regret giving it up.

LegacyUser

thanks for all the feedback guys.

i did go to an aa meeting.... was good to hear peoples stories, and chat to them.

i found one or 2 of em a little preachy, telling me i was definitly an alcoholic, while otheres were a bit less forward and just offerd advice, and told me to keep an open mind.

everyone, who spoke anyway, had experiences alot worse than me, their drinking almost destroying there lives..... i guess, if i continue on this path... that's where i'll end up.

they gave me some litrature... there's 12 questions, and if you answer 4 or more, you're more than likely an alcoholic.. i answered 5.. and i'd imagine there'd be alot of people that would..

http://www.alcoholicsanonymous.ie/opencontent/default.asp?id=14&itemId=14&Section=About%20Us

here it says if you answer just one.....

anyway, i'm man enough to know that boozing to that level is harmful, i'm in my late 20's.

i guess, seeing as it's such a hugh part of irish social life, it's strange to imagine life with out a drink.

i know i have will power, i gave up cigarettes easy enough.

for now, i'll see how moderation goes