how do I know if i am an alcoholic?

[Guest]

A family member told me they think I am an alcoholic.
How do I know?I have never been arested for DUI or disorderly conduct.But I drink every day. I like to drink. I feel like I am missing something if I dont drink. I can go without it if I dont have the money but I like alcohol.

 

[jass1960]

I feel like I am missing something if I dont drink.

Get help..you are an alcoholic!!

 

[Simply Me]

Here is a test you can take, to help determine if you have a problem with it or not. But, if others are bringing it to your attention, chances are if you're not, you may be getting close.

I wish you well. Remember, just as their are repercussions to smoking, there as just as many to drinking too much. The liver will be destroyed eventually. As well as many other problems,..anticoagulapathy being one of the worst. We just lost a patient, not due to his initial injuries, but due to the fact that his body was unable to clot because of his Cirrhosis of the liver.



Good luck to you.


Running back in to give you the link to the test. Coffee withdrawals are the worst..

http://www.recovery-man.com/trouble.htm

 

[Guest]

Re: Re: how do I know if i am an alcoholic?

Get help..you are an alcoholic!!

this was so helpful

simply me? Thanks for the link

here are the results
Do you have a drug or alcohol problem?


What is addiction?
Alcoholism and other Addictions are primary, progressive, and fatal illnesses which respond to medical treatment. If left untreated, addictions result in insanity and premature death. Addiction has also been described as a pathological relationship to a substance, person, behavior or process. The idea that addicts are weak willed or morally corrupt has long ago been debunked. That attitude keeps people from seeking treatment and fosters shame and fear around their illness. Addicts and the people who love them are often the last to accept the disease concept - this relates to shame, and the need to prove that they are in control.
"Shaming" addicts for their use and using behavior is counter productive, creates barriers to recovery, and greatly complicates the recovery process once begun. Addicts feel enormous shame as it is - adding to this shame is not only cruel, but may spur greater use. Addicts medicate shame, fear, anger and pain. Increasing the burden of shame can lead to overdose and / or suicide.
Signs and Symptoms of Addiction.
Alcohol is a drug! For the purpose of this page the terms "drink" and "use"or "addiction" and "alcoholism" are interchangeable.
When you drink or use drugs, does it take more or less to get you drunk or high than it used to? yes
Do you ever drink or use more than you intended to? yes
Do you make sure you have a supply of drugs or always keep a bottle on handyes
Do you have blackouts or brownouts - forget what you have done or said, or "lose time" after drinking or using? yes
Do you ever drink or use drugs in the morning to reduce anxiety or cope with a hangover? no
Do you ever find yourself wishing for a drink or drug to calm down or steady yourself? no
Do you ever drink when taking prescription medications which advise against drinking alcohol? no
Have you ever gone to work or school drunk or high? no
Do you have a history of relationships with addicts or alcoholics? no
Do you find yourself using alcohol, drugs or sex to reduce anxiety or help you sleep? to sleep yes
When prescribed medication, do you take more than prescribed? no.)
Have friends, family or loved ones ever commented on or expressed concern about your use? yes
Do you conceal your use from family, friends, therapists or loved ones, or "edit" stories involving your drinking or using? yes
Do you ever drink or use alone? yes
Do you do or say things you later regret when drinking or using? yes
Have you ever had a DUI, driven drunk, or had a drug or alcohol related accident or injury? Have you slept in your car, or away from home because you were too drunk to drive? Are you relieved when someone else drives so you are free to drink or use? no
Have you ever stopped or cut back on drinking or using because you felt it was causing problems in your life? no
Is your life increasingly chaotic and turbulent ? sometimes
Do you switch from one substance to another, or change drinks in an effort to regain control? no


I think I drink too much. But I dont know if I am an alcoholic. I dont drink in the day and cope if i cant drink at night. But I want to drink when I can.

 

[Guest]

dd

 

[VanB]

This is an interesting question and a regular topic of discussion amongst my friends all of whom drink more than they should.

If you feel you can't get through the day and especially if you find yourself unable to function properly until you've had a drink then you are probably an alcoholic and need help.

If you don't have a need to drink but when you do drink you tend to drink more than you should then you are probably suffering from alcoholism and may become an alcoholic if you don't moderate your drinking patterns.

Being an alcoholic and suffering from aloholism are not the same thing.

 

[Simply Me]

You're welcome. I hope you use the internet to gain more information on Alcoholism. I'm sure there are people here on the board that are certified to help you, and would be glad to talk with you. Above all, listen to those around you, they see what you may not be able to see right now.


Again, good luck.

 

[Weird Harold]

this was so helpful
...
I think I drink too much. But I dont know if I am an alcoholic. I dont drink in the day and cope if i cant drink at night. But I want to drink when I can.

Jass was a bit blunt, but that was my first thought when I saw the comment, "I feel like I am missing something if I dont drink."

The need to have my regular rum&coke at the same time every day and the irritablility when I couldn't was one of the first clues that I had a drinking problem.

It took me another twelve years to really admit I had a drinking problem and do something positive to correct it, but that "I feel like I am missing something if I dont drink," is a classic indicator of a drinking problem.

My drinking problm progressed through binge drinking, blackouts, and several other stages before I woke up one morning with a hangover and cried, "never again!", and really meant it.

A facetious answer to "am I an alcoholic?", is "No, you haven't started going to the meetings. You're just a lush."

I'm a "Reformed Lush" because I didn't need to go to AA meetings to kick the addiction. I started my reformation by asking the same kinds of questions you're asking and (eventually) being honest with myself when I answered them.

If others are concerned enough about your drinking to start trying to intervene, then you're very probably a lush/alcoholic/problem drinker. Those are all names for the same addiction and the solution is the same -- Quit Drinking!

 

[freescorfr]

I'm an alcoholic, unreg. and it took me a mammoth effort to get sober - and stay sober.
Your results seem to suggest your well on your way - but no need to panic.
What I understand is that the mechanism which tells us to slow down or stop - like most of the population - breaks, usually with overuse - and once its broken it's irreparable and future drinking is a total misery.

The only solution I've found is to decide not to touch the nectar again - ever. That took a long time. As unthinkable as time travel at first.

http://www.literotica.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=1235844#post1235844

The compensations, however, are too many to list but life is as never before, rich rewarding and full, full of possibilities. I love alcoholics {sober or getting there}: they are great, full of humour and wisdom, sometimes sad but for all of us life can only get better.

As for sex - well as a drinker I had to love the bottle more than anyone, even my kids.

Good luck.

And they say ex-alkies are lucid, coherent writers. I'm still waiting for that bit.

 

[bored1]

A family member told me they think I am an alcoholic.
How do I know?I have never been arested for DUI or disorderly conduct.But I drink every day. I like to drink. I feel like I am missing something if I dont drink. I can go without it if I dont have the money but I like alcohol.

I used to work in a business where alcohol was readily accessible,Everynight before going home I would have one drink there usually in a 24oz styro cup<Mostly Scotch no water>Then drink the same ammount on my way home.It got to the point where it became a habit,Even if I didnt want it I would fix one for the drive home.Went on for several years and I was fortunate that I didnt kill someone.It was my youngest child that asked me one day why I drank alcohol. I felt lower than than whale crap,Anyway I figured I had a problem,and stopped drinking for a long time.Now I only have a cocktail or 2 when Im in a restaurant or in other social settings,To this day my youngest remembers what he asked me years ago,it still makes me cringe.

 

[Guest]

Go ask a professional for an alcohol assessment. Every county has a program that does these, or a private counselor.

 

[fgarvb1]

Look up AA in the phone book, maybe even on the web.

go to ten meetings in the next ten days or month. then ask yourself the same question.


the pass phrase is "Bill sent me"

 

[Tim1]

well ol chum

if you question yourself about if you are or not, chances are that you are. If you have the willpower to ask for help now you won't have to be dragged kicking and screaming later by someone who loves you....Good luck. My dad was an alcoholic and until he died at 79 he never admitted it. It was what kept he and I strangers all of my life.

I hated him for it and he died before he would acept my help.

 

[HotXBunz]

Unregistered, I am happy you are exploring this. There are a lot of myths about alcoholism. Reading and being honest is the best way to answer your question. Then you must be committed to taking action.

My dad was an alcoholic and also in denial until I sketched out what I presented to be an arbituary senario. In reality I had constructed a time line of his drinking history. I asked the question, is the person depicted here and alcoholic and he said absolutly. I then presented him with the timeline again as his.

His premise was "I never missed a day of work and always provided for my family" thus, I don't have a problem. He didn't see the need to keep three jobs and the fact he was going to work with a BAC (blood alcohol content) of .05 or better as a factor.

The good news is he did finally sober up but he really had a problem admitting he had a problem. That admission is half the battle won.

Good luck with your search. I hope you find a place for drinking in your life that will allow you to answer "no" to all of those questions you posted earlier.

 

[wkdclwn]

Another thing to look at would be a history of alcoholism in the family. An uncle or aunt or even a parent. That seems to be a trait that is passed on like many others. Personally I was surprised at the yes answers i gave to that survey posted by simply me. Since it said two or more you may have a problem. I like to have my Jim Beam Black and coke every week, but i dont have a set time or anything. However alcohol is like anything else in life. You can fall into rhythm and get hooked before you know it. Good luck with it all. If you feel you need to talk about it feel free to im me. Internet anonymity helps alot of people talk about things. Take care. Later.

 

[EvilBrat74]

When you don't like to go with out having alcohol it is a sighn that you are getting addicted.

When you can't go a day without craveing alcohol you are an alcoholic.

There is medicine for this if you are interested in stopping.
It's all a mental thing though.You can stop on your own.

 

[HomerPindar]

The clinical definition of addiction is as follows:

Continued activity in the face of negitive results.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV, 1994) outlines the criteria for substance dependence as the presence of three or more of the following symptoms occuring at any time in the same 12 month period:

1. Tolerance, as defined by either of the following:
a. a need for markedly increased amounts of the substance to achieve intoxication or
b. markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of substance.
2. Withdraw, as manifested by either of the following
a. the characteristic withdrawal syndrome for the substance
b. the same, or closely related, substance is taken to relieve or avoid withdraw symptoms
3. The substance is often taken in larger amounts, or over a longer period of time.
4. There is a persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control substance abuse
5. A great deal of time is spent in activities necessary to obtain the substance or recover from its effects.
6. Important social, occupational or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of substance use.
7. The substance use is continued despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem that is likely to have been caused by the substance.

- Drugs in Society: Causes, Concepts and Control. 3rd ed. ***** & Potter, Anderson Publishing Co. Cincinnati, 1998 pages 63-4.

HomerPindar

 

[nasty]

I think the question is, how many, and, how often do you drink? I have a beer almost daily, but, don't consider that a sign of anything. Except, that, I like the taste of beer.

 

[Weird Harold]

I think the question is, how many, and, how often do you drink? I have a beer almost daily, but, don't consider that a sign of anything. Except, that, I like the taste of beer.

I think this is the most common misconception about alcoholism -- that you can't be an alcoholic unless you're constantly falling down drunk.

What determines if one beer a day is a problem or not, is how you feel when you don't have that one beer a day. If you shrug an make a note to restock the fridge later, then you probably don't havre a problem. On the other hand, if you immediately drop everything to go buy more beer, then you've probably got a drinking problem.

It's a subtle difference at that stage of alcoholism between "enjoying a daily beer" and "needing a daily beer." It's the needing a beer that makes the difference.

 

[freescorfr]

HotVBunz and Tim1, with your alcoholic dads, know well how long alcoholism can be denied.

It took me years - 20 maybe - to admit it and I was really scared. One of my greatest fears was that I wouldn't be able to get into those really exciting, discovery moments with another person which has always depended on a good Chablis, a bottle of Glenfiddich or even a few Buds.

Lots of fears, hiding the desire to live. What I didn't count was the number of possible friendships I didn'y have or didn't keep up.

 

[sch00lteacher]

Re: well ol chum

if you question yourself about if you are or not, chances are that you are. <snip>

That is what I was going to say.

Also your statement that others have picked up on, I feel like I am missing something if I dont drink. That pretty much gives it away also.

Remember it really isn't your fault if you are an alcoholic, your genetic make up controls that. And once you discover you are, you will be for the rest of your life. You do not get rid of something like this, you only control it.

Your actions while under the influence are your fault.

Seek anwsers. They are out there.

 

[freescorfr]

The responses to this thread are overwhelmingly supportive and accurate. I did a lot of lurking in my days being pissed.

Only 10% of the population, roughly, whatever your ethnicity, are alcoholic, and only half of those develop it seriously.
But 5% of members is what?

It's a killer and expensive. But its possible to get well and be well in your head, in your body and in your relationships - like you might not ever have been in your life.

 

[sport]

If you are asking that ? you have a problem and you know it, If not, you would not be asking!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[freescorfr]

I'm 2 years off the booze today and feeling fucking pleased with myself.