Have I a problem?

LegacyUser

Ok I'd really like some opinions.

I think I may have a drinking problem.

Im in my mid twenties married & very happy generally apart from this one niggling thing. This hit me very recently after a night out when I was so hungover I was really sick. Havent had a bad one like that in quite a while. Nothing particularly bad happened , probably made en eegit of myself talking sh**e in front of friends & sending a few annoying text messages. But definately nothing worse than usual.

I dont know why it affected me so bad this time but I felt absolutely dreadful for pretty much a week afterwards. When I drink like that I generally black out towards the end & cant remember parts of the night. I think this is what worries me most. Im a totally different person when drunk & am afraid of what I might do.

I started to think back & pretty much everything bad thats ever happened to me in my life has been drink related. Ive gotten myself into some pretty awful situations including being raped when I was a teenager. This would not have happened had I not been drunk & aware of my surroundings.

In more recent years I would get drunk & fight with my then boyfriend (now husband) & it really put a strain on my relationship. I am terrified I will get hammered & wake up with someone (has happened in the past but not for years)

My main problem seems to be not knowing when to stop. I just dont want the party to end & cant tell the one thats one too many. Ive made a complete fool of myself so many times. Alcoholism is definately in my family & I have some dreadful memories of my childhood bacause of alcoholism in my family. More than anything I dont want my children to go through what I went through.

Ive done some online "am I an alcoholic?" quizzes & they all say yes.

But I think maybe I culd just try to control my drinking. I have tried to give up in the past but theres always some social occasions/ events & I really dont want to be left out. I have done the going to the pub & not drinking thing but its been painful! I have some events coming up that I am looking forward to but dreading at the same time. Half of me wants to stop but a very big part of me doesnt but just wants to learn to control it.

I can also go out & have a few drinks & be perfectly fine but I just never know if its gonna be an ok night or one of them nights.

Honest opinions? Do you think I have a problem or what would you do?

starchild

honest opinion yes you have a problem, im the exact same as you and for years i thought i was fine just a bit of an idiot when drunk

its a question of control, you may not be as bad as some alcoholics are ie wanting a drink every day but when you cant control your behaviour on a night out then yes you have a problem

it was only after numerous bad nights and feeling terrible the next day that i finally cut it out, i tried just having a few ,it worked many nights but not all.

the strange part of it is you will prob find many of your friends / family will try to still make you have a few, i still get the "sure just have a couple"

give it up and i guarantee you will feel a lot better in yourself

Jack Sheehan

Only you can really answer that. The fact that you think you have a problem suggests that you do.

LegacyUser

Wow - I could have written that post myself. Sometimes I can be alright when drinking but loads of times I go way over the top missing work, drugs etc and when pissed I am a complete tit.
Id love to just settle down and socialise properly like a normal person. I am too afraid to give upin case n one will accept me if not drinking there's always some putting pressure on to go drinking

LegacyUser

Your behaviour would tend to indicate that you have.

Blackouts and not being able to stop are classic signs. They are not normal.

You also could have depression that you are self medicating with alcohol which has led to an addiction.You should discuss both with your GP.

Whichever -it doesnt matter which came first.

I suggest you contact AA but you should also get in touch with your GP to discuss depression as they often can go hand in hand.

Best of luck OP - stopping drinking like any addiction is not easy.