Binge drinking problem

LegacyUser

Long time poster - going unreg for this one. I think I have a problem relationship with alcohol and I'm not sure how to fix it. I usually only drink at the weekends, but don't seem to be able to just have a sociable drink - every night escalates into a serious binge no matter who I'm with. I basically drink as much as I can get my hands on and always seem to find a way to achieve that. I usually don't black out, get sick, or get in trouble when I'm drunk and most of the time am having a great time. But the next day I'll be in bits, good for doing nothing and will have spent a fortune. I'll swear off booze on a Sunday evening but come the following Friday I'll be back in the pub or down the off license.

Can't help but think if I had a bit more going on in my life I wouldn't be as prone to drinking, but feel stuck in a rut at the moment.

At this stage I'm fed up with the cycle and feel at my age (in my 30's) I'm probably doing my health damage and it's stopping me getting in a relationship because any time I meet new people in a social setting I'm usually pissed. I'm also paranoid about the damage I've done to my reputation over the years because of it and find "the fear" getting worse and worse as time goes on and it now lingers for days.

I'm mainly typing this out just to put it down in writing and hopefully give myself a kick in the ass, but if anyone has any advice on how to stop binge drinking it would be gratefully accepted. I'd love just to be able to have 2 drinks and go home but that seems impossible. I won't lie, the thoughts of not drinking at all is pretty scary - and that has me a bit worried. Am I an alcoholic?

jimmyRotator

If alcohol is affecting your life negatively, and you want to stop but cant, or have tried to stop but couldnt, then yes you have a problem with alcohol. Basically alcoholism boils down to this: drinking while not wanting to drink, whether thats serial binge drinking or all-day drinking. It can only really be a self-diagnosis though, dont think anyone else can tell you that you're alcoholic.

The rooms of AA are full of people with a pattern of serial binge drinking similar to yours, myself included.

You could check out the Non Drinkers Forum here for tips on quitting and lifestyle changes. If I was you though I'd be looking to quit for good, as you're unable to drink moderately, and this sh1t gets progressively worse over the years, never better.

Best of luck.

Saipanne

If a religious slant ain't your thing, the group called Lifering might be for you.

Sirsok

Currently off the beer for the past 4 weekends, and my story I basically the same as the above except my drinking lead to blackouts, drugs, fights etc....

I must say I find myself bored even though trying to keep occupied, even now my whole football team are out beering after our game today and my mother has a grand opening of her shop, and I couldn't venture down to them because I couldn't handle not being able to drink with them.

I thought I wanted to give up beer forever as I am dependent on it, but what I really want is to be able to drink responsibly, to me that would show more self control then just avoiding the whole beer scene all together.