Alcoholic?

LegacyUser

Hi,

I'm a nineteen year old male student and generally pretty happy....I've always been a bit too fond of drinking at every opportunity. When sober I'm still a nice laid-back outgoing guy and I'm not too depressed about anything.
However, while in Italy last week, I got arrested for being drunk and disorderly and some public dameage was caused. This resulted in two nights in a hellish cell and alot of time to think. When giving my statement, the asked me how much I had actually drank. I told them and the next question was "Are you an alcoholic?".

This made me think. Ithought back to how often I drank. I never did it as a release- I just always loved the taste and feeling of filling my belly with beer. Its not the first time something like this has happened.

As I am writing this, it has benn about 9 days since I last drank-I usually never went 3 days without a drink before. And I'm GAGGING for a pint. I have an exam later today and all I can think about is drinking. Because of the hefty fine imposed on me, I cant really afford to waste a penny, but it really is affecting my concentration.

So I suppose my question is- do I sound like a potential or actual alcoholic, or is this common. My family does have a history of it.

Cheers in advance....

Beruthiel

Alky? wrote: »

do I sound like a potential or actual alcoholic

You have answered your own question here:

And I'm GAGGING for a pint

but it really is affecting my concentration.

If you are drinking so much that it's getting you in trouble with the law, then you defo do have to take a step back and look at your behaviour.
The fact that you cannot concentrate due to dying for a drink is a sign you have a problem.

Caoimhín

Not too easy to answer, but if drinking is causing problems such as arrests, ill health, money problems etc. Then it IS a problem.
I have learned this the long and hard way.

azezil

I went through similar in college, like yourself I wasn't depressed or anything of the sort, I just loved to go out drinking, it was only when my exams rolled around and I stopped drinking that I started to feel the thirst, I found that want to drink a bit disturbing, so I cut back considerably.

Dragan

Getting arressted for being drunk and doing what you did doesn't make you an alcho....it makes you an asshole with booze in you.

Learn you limits, or if you really feel you can't do without a pint then maybe have a chat with someone about it.

cltt97

There's never any smoke without fire. You need to do something about this ASAP. You're young enough and you've time enough to change the course of things. You have to cut back drastically and see if are able to drink in moderation. Some are young and stupid and grow out of it and others end up destroying their own life and that of others. Make sure you fall into category 1.

LuckyLloyd

Beruthiel wrote: »

If you are drinking so much that it's getting you in trouble with the law, then you defo do have to take a step back and look at your behaviour.
The fact that you cannot concentrate due to dying for a drink is a sign you have a problem.

Hold on (I'm NOT trying to troll here) but weren't many of us borderline alchoholics when we were in college?

I remember that I was out on the lash on a couple of nights before final exams (:o) and after every exam I ever did that wasn't a two a day it was straight to the pub for a post match settler or three. Three years on and I go weeks without a decent session.

My point? The OP should just slap himself on the wrist and get on with his exam - then enjoy a couple of pints after if he feels like it. If that was the first time ever that he caused public damage or disorder while drinking then it is probably nothing to worry about. For most people, an experience like that is enough to shake the neccesary amount of sense into their subconcious that will stop them repeating the incident - drunk or sober.

But don't let one incident ruin the rest of your time in college ffs. You were a silly boy, realise that - but don't feel guilty about getting the beers in.

Good luck.

Andy-Pandy

I have two trains of thought on this.

1: Most collage age Irish would come across as alcoholics to Italians

2: If you start asking yourself do yuo drink to much, then you know your drinking to much and need to cut down.

Overheal

If you've lost the confidence in yourself enough that you have to ask if you've become addicted, then its time to take a break.