Am I really an Alcoholic ?
Alcohol Free Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: UK
Posts: 482
Am I really an Alcoholic ?
Am I really an Alcoholic or am I over reacting?
Have I drank too much and really just need to cut down or stop for a bit?
I have been sober for so many days, I can stop again at any time?
Why has this happened to me, its not fair?
I will just have an odd drink every once in a while, that will make me normal again ?
My Alcoholic Voice knows me better than anybody and in the past on many occasions, it has got the better of me and convince me to break my sobriety and start drinking again.
I have been looking at different ways that people ignore their own AV and part of it comes down to willpower and keeping busy.
Personally, the minute my AV starts to nag, I go to sleep, usually when I wake up, its gone.
I found the mental side of addiction, so much more painful than the physical side of addiction.
I have also found that evenings seem to be the worst for me.
Have I drank too much and really just need to cut down or stop for a bit?
I have been sober for so many days, I can stop again at any time?
Why has this happened to me, its not fair?
I will just have an odd drink every once in a while, that will make me normal again ?
My Alcoholic Voice knows me better than anybody and in the past on many occasions, it has got the better of me and convince me to break my sobriety and start drinking again.
I have been looking at different ways that people ignore their own AV and part of it comes down to willpower and keeping busy.
Personally, the minute my AV starts to nag, I go to sleep, usually when I wake up, its gone.
I found the mental side of addiction, so much more painful than the physical side of addiction.
I have also found that evenings seem to be the worst for me.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 31,179
I can't answer your question, only you can. Though alcohol was not my "thing", I did abuse it at one time.
As an addict in recovery, I ask myself a few questions. Do I want to be numb? Do I not care what happens as a consequence? Is it worth it?
I've abused alcohol, then opiates, then became a total crackhead. When life seems to be falling in around me (as it has the past few months), I ask myself - is getting numb worth it? Is it going to HELP anything or is it just prolonging what I need to feel? Do I really want to come back here and say "I messed up" when I'm coming up on 6 years in recovery?
Only you can answer the question of whether you're an alcoholic. My feeling is...if you do things you otherwise wouldn't do, if you lose control after whatever drink, if you feel remorse after drinking? You just might have a problem. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt in a rainbow of colors.
Hugs and prayers,
Amy
As an addict in recovery, I ask myself a few questions. Do I want to be numb? Do I not care what happens as a consequence? Is it worth it?
I've abused alcohol, then opiates, then became a total crackhead. When life seems to be falling in around me (as it has the past few months), I ask myself - is getting numb worth it? Is it going to HELP anything or is it just prolonging what I need to feel? Do I really want to come back here and say "I messed up" when I'm coming up on 6 years in recovery?
Only you can answer the question of whether you're an alcoholic. My feeling is...if you do things you otherwise wouldn't do, if you lose control after whatever drink, if you feel remorse after drinking? You just might have a problem. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt in a rainbow of colors.
Hugs and prayers,
Amy
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,416
great post autan 
Posting here regularly, and reading my story over and over again in others stories here
really helped settle that 'do I have a problem' question for me.
Yes I do have a problem, and yes it was killing me.
When I looked at all the misery my drinking had caused me (and others) over the years, the idea of drinking again was either the idea of a fool, or an addict.
D
Posting here regularly, and reading my story over and over again in others stories here
really helped settle that 'do I have a problem' question for me.
Yes I do have a problem, and yes it was killing me.
When I looked at all the misery my drinking had caused me (and others) over the years, the idea of drinking again was either the idea of a fool, or an addict.
D
Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Gatineau, QC, CA
Posts: 5,100
Impurfect has it bang on. Only you can say.
As for the AV, instead of running away from it by going to sleep, I would face it head on. Things like urge surfing will give you the upper hand. Facing the voice will empower you.
As for the AV, instead of running away from it by going to sleep, I would face it head on. Things like urge surfing will give you the upper hand. Facing the voice will empower you.
Alcohol Free Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: UK
Posts: 482
I do not think it is healthy for anyone to drink alone at home every night. To drink until they cannot function properly the following day. To regret the action of drinking.
The truth is, I abuse alcohol to the point where it causes me to be ill and despite common sense telling myself this is normal. I know it is not normal.
I have been sober for 2 months and I have been well supported. Its not easy is it?
The truth is, I abuse alcohol to the point where it causes me to be ill and despite common sense telling myself this is normal. I know it is not normal.
I have been sober for 2 months and I have been well supported. Its not easy is it?
Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 133
Autan - Exactly! I never knew I had an AV... for me it was just me being 'honest' with myself. Now I look and realize it is my AV fooling me and I have hope that I'm now going to be stronger than that inner voice. Thanks for the post Autan...
Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: North East, US
Posts: 2,310
Originally Posted by autan 
I have been looking at different ways that people ignore their own AV and part of it comes down to willpower and.
Be well
quat
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: terra (mostly)firma
Posts: 4,823
The individual is the only person who can/should answer the OP question.
My answer was that I was definitely addicted to alcohol. I told myself that I wanted to stop and yet I found myself drinking again. Finding out about AVRT and applying it to my mindset helped me tremendously. I decided to quit for good, took future drinking off the table as an option. I don't ignore my AV, I confront it. Any positive thought of drinking is recognized and dismissed , it's no longer an option, "didn't you get the memo?!"
My answer was that I was definitely addicted to alcohol. I told myself that I wanted to stop and yet I found myself drinking again. Finding out about AVRT and applying it to my mindset helped me tremendously. I decided to quit for good, took future drinking off the table as an option. I don't ignore my AV, I confront it. Any positive thought of drinking is recognized and dismissed , it's no longer an option, "didn't you get the memo?!"
EndGame
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 4,677
Originally Posted by autan
I do not think it is healthy for anyone to drink alone at home every night. To drink until they cannot function properly the following day. To regret the action of drinking.
The truth is, I abuse alcohol to the point where it causes me to be ill and despite common sense telling myself this is normal. I know it is not normal.
I have been sober for 2 months and I have been well supported. Its not easy is it?
The truth is, I abuse alcohol to the point where it causes me to be ill and despite common sense telling myself this is normal. I know it is not normal.
I have been sober for 2 months and I have been well supported. Its not easy is it?
Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Ireland
Posts: 25,826
Yeah the evenings are worst, but I know that's because that was the time to have a drink in my hand, I never drank at work, only after work, so my brain has been hardwired after many years to go to the fridge or the liquor store coming from work or upon arriving home.
It's definitely not easy to change that pattern around, but it can be done with a bit of forward planning, support and accountability!
It's definitely not easy to change that pattern around, but it can be done with a bit of forward planning, support and accountability!
Hears The Voice
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Unshackled
Posts: 7,901
I determined a while back that alcohol was going to bring more pain into my life than I wanted to bear. I knew I should quit. I wanted to quit. Then I had a helluva time actually quitting.
Disease? Alcoholic? Addiction? Character flaw? Tuna-stuffed twinkie?
No matter what I choose to call it I still have to do the same things.
Go ask a person without an alcohol problem what that little voice in their head is telling them about their next drink. The blank, puzzled look on their face is all the proof you need that you're not like them.
Keep doing what you're doing. Two months is AWESOME!
Disease? Alcoholic? Addiction? Character flaw? Tuna-stuffed twinkie?
No matter what I choose to call it I still have to do the same things.
Go ask a person without an alcohol problem what that little voice in their head is telling them about their next drink. The blank, puzzled look on their face is all the proof you need that you're not like them.
Keep doing what you're doing. Two months is AWESOME!
Guest
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Nottingham (UK)
Posts: 2,690
Originally Posted by autan
Am I really an Alcoholic or am I over reacting?
Have I drank too much and really just need to cut down or stop for a bit?
I have been sober for so many days, I can stop again at any time?
Why has this happened to me, its not fair?
I will just have an odd drink every once in a while, that will make me normal again ?
My Alcoholic Voice knows me better than anybody and in the past on many occasions, it has got the better of me and convince me to break my sobriety and start drinking again.
I have been looking at different ways that people ignore their own AV and part of it comes down to willpower and keeping busy.
Personally, the minute my AV starts to nag, I go to sleep, usually when I wake up, its gone.
I found the mental side of addiction, so much more painful than the physical side of addiction.
I have also found that evenings seem to be the worst for me.
Have I drank too much and really just need to cut down or stop for a bit?
I have been sober for so many days, I can stop again at any time?
Why has this happened to me, its not fair?
I will just have an odd drink every once in a while, that will make me normal again ?
My Alcoholic Voice knows me better than anybody and in the past on many occasions, it has got the better of me and convince me to break my sobriety and start drinking again.
I have been looking at different ways that people ignore their own AV and part of it comes down to willpower and keeping busy.
Personally, the minute my AV starts to nag, I go to sleep, usually when I wake up, its gone.
I found the mental side of addiction, so much more painful than the physical side of addiction.
I have also found that evenings seem to be the worst for me.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: C.C. Ma.
Posts: 3,697
Hi. When I first arrived at AA that question bothered me also. I was asked if I could guarantee the results if I drank and when was the last time I had only one drink. I found out that I can not drink in safety no matter what it's called. I needed to grow up and shed the irresponsible lifestyle. Thinking so much about drinking is not "normal."
When I finally was able to keep the plug in the jug life/me started to get better.
BE WELL
When I finally was able to keep the plug in the jug life/me started to get better.
BE WELL
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