I'm an Alcoholic

Guill · 23-05-2012 7:09pm #1

Are you?

The otherday I said in casual conversation that I was an alcoholic, i can't remeber how we got there but all my friends looked at me as if I had just pulled a needle out of my arm. It was not an announcement just a sentance that came out.

To clarify:

I don't consider it a weekend if I don't have a drink.
I binge drink weekly.
I will drink anything if stuck. (although I do enjoy beers of the world).
I will have a bottle or two of an evening during the week.
I'm one of those people who doesn't feel comfortable at an event without a bottle in my hand, and a few aqlready in the system.
When the sun comes out I immediatly think BBQ! (So we can a have a few beers-and craic).

Out of the 6 people that were there that day I know 4 of them are the exact same as me, not worse for drink but certainly not better. No-one even made an attempt to agree with me or even say "Me too".

My drinking does not affect my family we have a very loving caring and fun home, my wife bearly drinks btw.
It does not affect my work, I never miss a minute.
It does not affect my social life, I have a very large circle of close friends.

One day It just dawned on me that by definition I am an alcoholic. Not completely dependant but an alcoholic all the same.

I DO NOT FEEL ANY SHAME IN THIS.

No one should.
To me it should be no more difficult to say this than to say you are addicted to ciggarettes, coffee, chocolate etc. But for some reason people begin to look at you differently for such an admition. When I smoked and told people I was hooked there could be open discussion between friends and family about it.

I've added a poll, If you look deep down and really think to yourself, are you in the same boat as me? If anything I hope that this thread will make people aware of something they may not have considered before. thanks.

Phoenix Park · 23-05-2012 7:11pm

Then get out there and have a drink, its roasting out!

admiralofthefleet · 23-05-2012 7:12pm

i didnt know i drank til i went home sober one night

Pushtrak · 23-05-2012 7:12pm

There'll be a lot of naggin in this thread. Vodka gonna do?

livinsane · 23-05-2012 7:15pm

Alcoholics do not admit they are alcoholics.

Plus if it doesn't affect your family, work or social life, you're not an alcoholic.

That's a good thing.

later12 · 23-05-2012 7:15pm

You don't necessarily sound like an alcoholic OP. By 'two bottles of wine of an evening', do you mean every evening or the odd evening?

If by 'drink anything' you mean more Bavaria and Dutch Gold than Chanel no. 5, then I'd be similarly dubious.

Craving a beer and barbecue, or getting sloshed sometimes doesn't actually have to mean that you have a serious and ongoing dependence on alcohol.

Princess Peach · 23-05-2012 7:15pm

No, I'm not.

I used to be, was just like you, probably worse. And eventually it did start to affect my life and my health, and I did start to feel shame. I had a reputation in my town as "the girl who is always drunk." I'd meet people I never met before and they had already heard of me, said "Oh you're always going out!" People didn't take me serious, thought my life revolved around me drinking. I didn't want to be known as that anymore. Plus it really wasn't doing me any good.

So I changed it, learned my limits. I'd drink maybe once or twice a week usually now, but I'm rarely a messy drunk. Haven't blacked out in maybe a year, which used to be a twice weekly event for me, and I thought it was normal!

I try not to judge anyone else, I just know it was a bad time for me and I thought it was ok for far too long.

Paddysboys · 23-05-2012 7:17pm

Pity you didn't put this up earlier as now I'm to drunk to reply and a curry chip how long will you be say it to my face , sleep now

Guill · 23-05-2012 7:18pm

livinsane wrote: »

Alcoholics do not admit they are alcoholics.

Plus if it doesn't affect your family, work or social life, you're not an alcoholic.

That's a good thing.

Wrong.

grindle · 23-05-2012 7:19pm

I'm not an alcoholic, but I qualify by American standards, or by the AA check-list.
Can go months without it, choose not to, because I don't let it destroy me.
Drinking to be merry, or to elucidate, is very different to alcohol-as-medication.

Pushtrak · 23-05-2012 7:20pm

You know alcohol is effecting your life when you are constantly absinthe from work.

Canis Lupus · 23-05-2012 7:21pm

livinsane wrote: »

Alcoholics do not admit they are alcoholics.

Plus if it doesn't affect your family, work or social life, you're not an alcoholic.

That's a good thing.

You can still be an alcoholic and not affect anyone, think it's phrased as a 'coping' alcoholic.

Alcohol can be a bit of a slippery slope and even if you don't affect anyone it's good to keep an eye on your habits. I really don't think it's great to drink every night.

Guill · 23-05-2012 7:21pm

Why would anyone think that an addiction has to affect family, friends and work before it can be called an addiction?

Alchololism is being addicted to alcohol
It's can affects can be as above but not limited to.

Guill · 23-05-2012 7:22pm

CageWager wrote: »

An addiction is defined as "The continued use of a mood altering substance or behaviour despite adverse consequences"

Habitual drinking is commonplace in this country- from your description above I don't think you would necessarily be classified an alcoholic. Would you suffer serious withdrawals if you had to go 24-48 hours without drink?

I'm sure my waist line, liver, kidneys and god knows what else might disagree.
Maybe not after 48 hours but never more than a week. Although, I rarely go more than 4 days without a couple.

Smidge · 23-05-2012 7:22pm

Princess Peach wrote: »

So I changed it, learned my limits. I'd drink maybe once or twice a week usually now, but I'm rarely a messy drunk. Haven't blacked out in maybe a year, which used to be a twice weekly event for me, and I thought it was normal!

Just out of curiosity, how much were you drinking to black out and what exactly is a blackout in you experience??

Sunnyisland · 23-05-2012 7:25pm

I am, Even though I am over three years alcohol free. Personally for me when I drank I never stopped at 1 or 2 or 3, and gradually over the years the drink was controlling me instead of me controlling the drink, Its a terrible addiction and nothing to be laughed at.

crustyjuggler · 23-05-2012 7:26pm

Sure we're all a pack of jakeys . The Irish will always drink heavily .

dpqt · 23-05-2012 7:26pm

grindle wrote: »

or by the AA check-list.

You're not an alcoholic, you have a disease

Princess Peach · 23-05-2012 7:27pm

mishkalucy wrote: »

Just out of curiosity, how much were you drinking to black out and what exactly is a blackout in you experience??

Honestly, I wasn't counting drinks. I usually would have had a bottle of wine, or a good amount of vodka and maybe a few shots before I hit the club. And drink more there.

Blackout is I would wake up with no idea of how I got home, or what the hell had happened the night before. I'd have friends telling me things that went on and had no recollection of any of it.

I still drink a good bit on a Saturday night now, but I somehow know the point to stop myself. Can't really explain how I got here!

livinsane · 23-05-2012 7:28pm

Guill wrote: »

Wrong.

If you have a happy life and the people around you are happy, then I wouldn't class your lifestyle as being a disorder.

To be fair, alcoholism is a horrible thing to have to live with. It makes the person themselves, and the people around them, miserable. It goes deeper than just the drink itself. You've got the cover ups, lies, hiding drink, going without food and other necessities just to drink and all that other nasty stuff.

If you felt that your drinking was hurting your family, friends or professional life, would you cut down?

Guill · 23-05-2012 7:31pm

livinsane wrote: »

If you have a happy life and the people around you are happy, then I wouldn't class your lifestyle as being a disorder.

To be fair, alcoholism is a horrible thing to have to live with. It makes the person themselves, and the people around them, miserable. It goes deeper than just the drink itself. You've got the cover ups, lies, hiding drink, going without food and other necessities just to drink and all that other nasty stuff.

If you felt that your drinking was hurting your family, friends or professional life, would you cut down?

I'd hope so.

Pushtrak · 23-05-2012 7:31pm

http://www.medicinenet.com/alcohol_abuse_and_alcoholism/article.htm

Alcohol abuse is a disease that is characterized by the sufferer having a pattern of drinking excessively despite the negative effects of alcohol on the individual's work, medical, legal, educational, and/or social life.

Some signs of a drinking problem include drinking alone, to escape problems, or for the sole purpose of getting drunk; hiding alcohol in odd places; getting irritated when you are unable to obtain alcohol to drink; and having problems because of your drinking.

Alcohol abuse is a disease. It is characterized by a maladaptive pattern of drinking alcohol that results in negative work, medical, legal, educational, and/or social effects on a person's life. The individual who abuses this substance tends to continue to use it despite such consequences.

What is alcoholism?

Alcoholism, also called alcohol dependence or alcohol addiction, is a destructive pattern of alcohol use that includes tolerance to or withdrawal from the substance, using more alcohol or using it for longer than planned, and trouble reducing its use. Other potential symptoms include spending an inordinate amount of time getting, using, or recovering from the use of alcohol, compromised functioning, and/or continuing to use alcohol despite an awareness of the detrimental effects it is having on one's life. Alcoholism is appropriately considered a disease rather than a weakness of character or chosen pattern of bad behavior. It is the third most common mental illness, affecting more than 14 million people in the United States. Other facts and statistics about alcohol dependence include its pattern of afflicting about 4% of women and 10% of men. It costs more than $165 billion per year in lower productivity, early death, and costs for treatment.

What differentiates alcohol abuse from alcoholism?

While both alcohol abuse and alcoholism involve engaging in maladaptive behaviors in the use of alcohol, abuse of this substance does not include the person having withdrawal symptoms or needing more and more amounts to achieve intoxication unless the person has developed alcoholism.

What are risk factors for alcoholism?

Risk factors for developing a drinking problem include depression, anxiety, or another mood problem in the individual, as well as having parents with alcoholism. Low self-esteem and feeling out of place are other risk factors for developing alcohol dependence. In women, antisocial behaviors and impulsivity are associated with the development of alcohol dependence. Both men and women are more likely to develop alcoholism if they have a childhood history of being physically or sexually abused. Children and teens who have their first drink of alcohol between 11 and 14 years of age are more at risk for developing a drinking problem than those who do so when either younger or older.

http://www.medicinenet.com/alcohol_abuse_and_alcoholism/page3.htm

Guill · 23-05-2012 7:40pm

Pushtrak wrote: »

Alcohol abuse is a disease that is characterized by the sufferer having a pattern of drinking excessively despite the negative effects of alcohol on the individual's work, medical, legal, educational, and/or social life.

As i already said my health cannot be the better for my drinking.

Some signs of a drinking problem include drinking alone, to escape problems, or for the sole purpose of getting drunk; hiding alcohol in odd places; getting irritated when you are unable to obtain alcohol to drink; and having problems because of your drinking.

Yep, I deffo drink alone, a few bottles at night or whatever.

I am trying to have an open discussion around alcoholism, people seem to have focused on the technicalies of the word. Is this out of defence of their habits or what?

I never claimed to be at the extreme end of the scale but I KNOW i am definitely on it. I pride myself in my objective thinking, I don't need people to convince me otherwise thanks.

Smidge · 23-05-2012 7:42pm

Princess Peach wrote: »

Honestly, I wasn't counting drinks. I usually would have had a bottle of wine, or a good amount of vodka and maybe a few shots before I hit the club. And drink more there.

Blackout is I would wake up with no idea of how I got home, or what the hell had happened the night before. I'd have friends telling me things that went on and had no recollection of any of it.

I still drink a good bit on a Saturday night now, but I somehow know the point to stop myself. Can't really explain how I got here!

I was always curious when people spoke about blackouts(I've never had one). Is it the same thing as having one two many and they forgetting certain things about the night but remembering when spoken about?

kelle · 23-05-2012 7:43pm

I haven't drank alcohol in over 6 years.

The reason being that I felt I was descending towards alcoholism. I was very fond of wine, it was too easy to pour out a glass after the housework was done - maybe every third day. Then it became every second day.
Then every day.
Then 2 glasses.
I could see a horrible pattern emerging, so I decided it was sink or swim.

So I just stopped there and then. It was difficult for a few weeks, so I started drinking coffee instead. I don't touch the stuff, I don't miss it anymore. Even when going out, I enjoy myself and love being able to hop in the car and drive saving myself (and my fellow nightclubbers

) a fortune in taxi fares!

However, I'm now a bloody coffaholic :mad:

Scioch · 23-05-2012 7:45pm

I dont drink regularly but when I do drink I drink quite a bit. But that would be probably about 4-5 times a year at parties or whatnot..

vetinari · 23-05-2012 7:45pm

As someone who's had a few of them. Blackouts are literally that. For me, I'd get partial blackouts if I drank too much. I'd remember everything up to say 11 O Clock and then nothing whatsoever after that. I wouldn't know how I got home, whether I did anything, who I was talking to etc.

Guill · 23-05-2012 7:46pm

mishkalucy wrote: »

I was always curious when people spoke about blackouts(I've never had one). Is it the same thing as having one two many and they forgetting certain things about the night but remembering when spoken about?

My last black out happened like this:

While away for a party we went to the pub, had a nice few drinks. I have a vague recollection of going to a nightclub. Bam, I'm in bed with a massive hangover.

At breakfast the next morning people are chatting about all the dancing I did, the shots I bought, the craic we had. I have no idea.

bootybouncer · 23-05-2012 7:49pm

Cool to have an addiction now is it not :rolleyes:............................ dude sounds like max payne, get a grip lad, another self centered bit of drivel

Smidge · 23-05-2012 7:49pm

http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/healthpromotion/alcohol/

In fairness, according to the above, more that 6 standard drinks(3 pints)in one sitting is considered "binge drinking".
I know a lot of people who for them that would be a "starter".
I'm not condoning alcohol abuse etc but does anyone else here think that 3 pints is a binge session?

Princess Peach · 23-05-2012 7:50pm

Sometimes I'd get flashbacks throughout the few days that followed of what went on, sometimes I'd never remember.

Was on a pub crawl once and I said the next morning, "That was some sham, we never went to the second pub." And my friends informed me we were there for over an hour and backed it up with photos of me and a large group of Asian people having a laugh.

Another time I was really mad that the band we went to see had never played, till I was informed they played a full set and I was up the front singing into the mic and everything.

I always just laughed it off really!

Smidge · 23-05-2012 7:57pm

@ Peach
And you really didn't remember anything at all about the singing etc????
I didn't realise it was like that.
Here was me thinking it was having "gaps" in the nights revelries!
Which in fairness has happened to me when younger ie someone would say "Did you see suchabody last night?" and you didn't remember that. Quite obviously, not the same thing as a blackout

My name is URL · 23-05-2012 8:02pm

I love how some people think that you're not an alco unless it's negatively affecting your life. It's like saying that cancer doesn't kill you unless you've been told you have it.

23-05-2012 8:08pm

I do love alcohol. I do get drunk regularly. I do think "oh this is beer garden weather" when the sun comes out. I [generally] don't drink during the week. I don't drink in January. I can go out to a pub and not drink (wouldn't go to a club).

No. I am absolutely not an alcoholic.

Micky Dolenz · 23-05-2012 8:09pm

I love a drink now.

cesc77 · 23-05-2012 8:09pm

bootybouncer wrote: »

Cool to have an addiction now is it not :rolleyes:............................ dude sounds like max payne, get a grip lad, another self centered bit of drivel

Jesus lad,youre either very young,thoughtless or just plain cruel.

Grow up and I know this is AH but sometimes serious issues are discussed here,which can save lives or cause people to realise where they may be making mistakes within their lives.

flutterflye · 23-05-2012 8:10pm

Despite extensively reading up on this topic, and talking to loads of various professionals and experts in the country, I still have trouble distinguishing between alcohol abuse and alcoholism.

My dad is an alcoholic - that is for sure.

But my little sister (who is 18) - I just can't figure it out.
She should really be dead and gang raped 100 times over at this stage, yet she keeps getting really lucky.
She is actually breaking my heart.
I have had to distance myself from her a great deal because I just can't deal with her.

hairyprincess · 23-05-2012 8:11pm

Guill wrote: »

My last black out happened like this:

While away for a party we went to the pub, had a nice few drinks. I have a vague recollection of going to a nightclub. Bam, I'm in bed with a massive hangover.

At breakfast the next morning people are chatting about all the dancing I did, the shots I bought, the craic we had. I have no idea.

Doesn't that scare you? Something you chose to put into your body is doing that to you, taking control of you. If you (and by 'you' I mean anyone) didn't drink alcohol and that happened you would be racing for the nearest doctor to find out what the hell was wrong.
I once had my drink spiked, and I completely blacked out. Scariest experience of my life thinking I could have been with anyone or said or done anything and I knew nothing. I couldn't willingly do that to myself

CommanderC · 23-05-2012 8:13pm

No-one even made an attempt to agree with me or even say "Me too".

So what if no one else admitted to it ?

As an alcoholic you should seek help for yourself- not other people.

Jim_Kiy · 23-05-2012 8:15pm

Similar to OP but I can weeks without a drink (2 max) .
I dont feel a craving for alcohol regardless of how much I drink so therefore Im not an alcoholic.Simple enough.
Ciggies-now theres addiction

To Alcohol · 23-05-2012 8:15pm

I like an oul drink myself

Guill · 23-05-2012 8:15pm

CommanderC wrote: »

Guill wrote: »

So what if no one else admitted to it ?

As an alcoholic you should seek help for yourself- not other people.

No one attempted to agree that maybe I was right about me.

EGAR · 23-05-2012 8:37pm

I don't drink.

TeddyTedson · 23-05-2012 8:37pm

I think lots of people were thinking BBQ and booze today.

But yea, hard to define someone as an alcoholic.

What pisses me off is getting the sweats and the irregular heart beat trying to sleep after a weekend.

Last Saturday I had a fair few drinks, but didn't blackout (first time in ages) and even left early. Woke up the day after at 11 and felt quite fresh.
That's how to do it

Didn't feel like death in work on Monday either or get any depressed emotions.
Progress:D

But you only know yourself. If you start getting things like inflamed liver, miss work and start pissing people off with your drinking, it's probably a bad sign.

I'd personally like to be able to control my consumption while drinking but find it very hard to do so. The week before last I spent half my wages for the week on nights out:eek:

The key for me is starting earlier I think so I'm not just trying to get locked after starting. Start late afternoon, get some food and take it nice and slow. A lot better than rushing to the off license at 21:50 and knocking back 8 cans before heading out.

Not a really big fan of Guinness but it's great in the fact it sort of fills you and you don't tend to knock them back as quick, well that's what I find any way. I'd say in a night club I take 5 gulps of a pint of Heiniken when I'm fairly far gone. Then I start getting vodka redbulls or Whiskeys and that kind of finishes me off. Although I tend not to be seen to be drunk but the next day I'll have only remembered about 30 mins after getting to a club....

...Bah I'm rambling!

Guill · 23-05-2012 8:42pm

Like you I spend alot on drink, every month I say to myself that I am going to save. (saving for me means buying beer and having a few around to drink cheaper). But I usually just end up driniking as much money as I would have in the pub.

Eve_Dublin · 23-05-2012 8:43pm

I sometimes ask myself this question. I'd have a 33ml can of beer most weekday nights alone (I live alone) and I'd go out one weekend night a week and have maybe 5 bottles of beer. I sometimes stop on my way somewhere for a beer (small beers they have here....smaller than a glass of beer) to sit and read a book. I don't think I've ever gone to a bar without having a beer and same goes for any kind of party. I drink for Dutch Courage sometimes. I drink sometimes if I'm stressed or worried. I don't get baloobas though. Never puke or never have to be carried home or any of that madness. Don't have blackouts.

I suppose the fact that I'd have an alcoholic drink everyday would worry me. Have decided to nip that in the bud recently but I crave it. I don't know if I am tbh.

Ruralyoke · 23-05-2012 8:52pm

According to official medical blah blah I definitely have a problem - but fúck em eh?

I probably drink about 24 cans a week. Maybe 2 nights of 6-8 and another 2 or 3 nights of 3-4.

I know myself it's too much really but...hey.

It doesn't interfere with my life and that's probably the real test.

My name is URL · 23-05-2012 9:07pm

TeddyTedson wrote: »

What pisses me off is getting the sweats and the irregular heart beat trying to sleep after a weekend.

...Bah I'm rambling!

On the off chance that you're not bull****ting, that really isn't something that should be left ignored, and I wouldn't go on the tear again until after I had it seen to, if I were you.

Sunnyisland · 23-05-2012 9:15pm

Anybody wondering if they have or are a problem/abusive drinker should give themselves a 30 day abstinence trial, No excuses buts or ifs

See can you & how you feel after that

Boscoirl · 23-05-2012 9:19pm

I love a pint in the pub, and a few will nearly always turn into a session, and a few years ago would have turned in to a lock in, resulting in 12-18 hours straight drinking,

but on the other hand, I never drink at home, have no interest in it, the girlfriend might open a bottle of wine, i might have a small glass with dinner, but I would always give it to her to finish, at house parties, I would nurse a bottle of beer for almost 2 hours, waiting for people to want to go to town. up to recently there was still bottle of beer bought for christmas in the house, but they were donated to a house party, brought 14 with me drank 2.

Nowadays I might only go out one night every 2 weeks, if even that(mainly due to not having a job and being lazy) If socialising in Ireland didn't revolve around the pub, I might go even less.

Logical Fallacy · 23-05-2012 9:19pm

livinsane wrote: »

Alcoholics do not admit they are alcoholics.

Plus if it doesn't affect your family, work or social life, you're not an alcoholic.

That's a good thing.

lol

Horse****.

I'm an Alcoholic

Well are you? 552 votes

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