Need help

LegacyUser

I think I have a drink problem and I want to sort it out basically I abuse myself with beer and sometimes wine at the weekends and the thing is alot of this drinking is dome on my own im not sure if im an alcoholic yet as I can stay off it at the week days but when the weekend comes i really go to town, I dont want to go to a AA meeting yet but maybe a councellor .Im in cork city area.I feel if I just had someone to report to every week or 2 That would be enough

evry1sm8

Hi. I dont really know much about drink problems, but maybe start taking a record every time you drink and (if you can remember) note how much you actually drank, and if you can, what it was that made you want to drink that much. Then when you go to someone professional for help, you will be able to give them a fair idea of your problem and perhaps where its steming from...

ciotog

evry1sm8's advice is pretty good. Get an idea of where things are versus where you think they are (could be a relief or it could cause you a bit of panic). Don't get too stressed about it whatever the outcome, if you have the sense to question how healthy it is then you'll sort things out in the long run. I wouldn't recommend going it alone as an objective point of view is always a good idea. My suggestion would be to have a word with your GP - they are very helpful and will allay the uncertainty.

biko

You can have a look a online testing tools like http://www.alcoholscreening.org/ Mind, it's not the same as speaking to a real person with loads of experience in treating these issues.

How Strange

biko wrote: »

You can have a look a online testing tools like http://www.alcoholscreening.org/ Mind, it's not the same as speaking to a real person with loads of experience in treating these issues.

Hmm, I did that test out of curiosity and I'd be dubious about it's accuracy.
The questions and range of answers are too vague to really give a clear indication.

OP, if you have to ask if you have a drink problem and if you are at the point of asking people on an internet forum about it and if you are asking yourself if you have a drink problem then I would say yes you do have a problem.

You need to recognise the triggers for this drinking at the weekend. Is it loneliness or feelings of depression?

You are at an important junction at the moment. You can turn this around and return to being a person who can enjoy a drink or two if you take action now.

You may not be an alcoholic but you are on your way to becoming one.

I would recommend going to see a counsellor as you may not be able to sort this problem out on your own.

I hope you can turn this around. I've got a family member who is an alcoholic but would've started drinking in a way similar to you and it is an awful tragedy to see someone get so far into a drinking problem that they just can't get out of it now.

LegacyUser

Noticed that you didn't ask a question, just a string of statements. So, what's your question? You already know that your drinking has become a problem for you and I don't think that it matters if you label that alcoholism or whatever. It sounds like you already know what you need to do for yourself and just need encouragement. So here it is. Go for it. Best of luck and wishing lots of strength with the motivation to hang in there.

Victor

A good start might be your GP - they will know local people who can help you.

Need help wrote: »

the thing is alot of this drinking is dome on my own im not sure if im an alcoholic yet as I can stay off it at the week days but when the weekend comes i really go to town

Many irish people are a specific class of alcholics - binge alcoholics.

While in France 14 drinks per week might be considered OK if spread 2 a day over the week, we try to fit them all into one or two days. Neither the Liver, brain nor heart can handle that.