Notices

Is this Alcoholism

Old 03-05-2014, 07:59 AM
  # 1 (permalink)  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 15
Is this Alcoholism

I lied to myself all last week. I said that I wouldn't have a drink at the weekend, in fact the thought of a drink would have made me sick, but I did, and I hate this feeling.

I feel so bad after drinking, anxious, intrusive thoughts, blackouts, chronic insomnia, crippling depression, and Irritable bowel syndrome, but that's the least of my worries.

Why can't I stop? I just want my life back, to be panic free, to laugh, to sleep. I don't feel addicted. I drink less that ppl I go out drinking with.

What does this sound like? Am I dependent on alcohol, or an alcoholic? Why cant I say enough is enough?
Harpoon is offline  
Old 03-05-2014, 08:02 AM
  # 2 (permalink)  
Member
 
FreeOwl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 8,637
sounds pretty much like what I experienced for a long, long time.

Some days I am soundly in the camp that it is TOTALLY alcoholism.

Some days.... I just don't know whether 'alcoholism' or some other term... but I do firmly know this;

Whatever it is, whatever the label, it is not a cycle that serves me, nor my loved ones, nor the world around me.

That's why I choose the path of sobriety and why I go to AA and why I'm working the steps and coming here and striving to live the best life I can free of booze because it's VERY clear that is a better path for me.

FreeOwl is offline  
Old 03-05-2014, 08:08 AM
  # 3 (permalink)  
voices ca**y
 
silentrun's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: St. Paul Minnesota
Posts: 4,350
I used that label on myself to signal what I was up against. I experience a lot of what is going on with you. It's not that you can't get off the cycle. You just haven't found what works for you.
silentrun is offline  
Old 03-05-2014, 08:09 AM
  # 4 (permalink)  
Canine Welfare Advocate
 
doggonecarl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Norfolk, VA
Posts: 10,961
Originally Posted by Harpoon View Post
What does this sound like? Am I dependent on alcohol, or an alcoholic? Why cant I say enough is enough?
I kept looking at my drinking to find a definition of what kind of drinker I was. When I tried to quit I learned what kind of drinker I was...the addicted kind.

I wouldn't get lost in the definition. Alcohol is a problem or you wouldn't be quitting. You want to quit and you can't. That's a problem too.

Physical dependance can be addressed with detox. Staying quit takes recovery. Recovery from alcoholism is addressed in the AA Big Book, available online. Why don't you read it and see what rings true for you?
doggonecarl is offline  
Old 03-05-2014, 12:13 PM
  # 5 (permalink)  
Member
 
PurpleKnight's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Ireland
Posts: 25,826
If alcohol is causing you this much misery it's time to change things for a happier life.

If that means being Sober then that's the answer!!
PurpleKnight is offline  
Old 03-05-2014, 12:19 PM
  # 6 (permalink)  
Member
 
Raider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: North salt lake
Posts: 3,325
No one can diagnose you as "alcoholic". But by your post, it seems to be bringing you a certain degree of misery. You may want to give sobriety a go. It's not easy but bunches of people have done it.
Raider is offline  
Old 03-05-2014, 12:29 PM
  # 7 (permalink)  
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Charlotte
Posts: 50
I am still wondering what to call myself, too. What I do know about myself is that I have tons of regrets over my behavior while drinking. I have had the need to drink every night for several years. But, now I have stopped for 29 days and so maybe I start to think I'm not an "alcoholic", because that sounds too permanent.

Doesn't matter what you decide to call yourself. You are on this forum because there is something about your drinking that is concerning to you. Don't call yourself anything while you figure out how long you can do without it. Maybe that will be forever and it won't matter what label you chose or didn't choose.
FindTheAnswer is offline  
Old 03-05-2014, 12:33 PM
  # 8 (permalink)  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 15
I've wanted to stop for years, and seen as it's lent I will have a go and see if I can do the 40-days!
I know I would be happier w/out alcohol, I'll just have to learn to say no.
Harpoon is offline  
Old 03-05-2014, 12:40 PM
  # 9 (permalink)  
Guest
 
ReadyAtLast's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 7,097
I don't use any label.I just know my life,for me, is better without alcohol in it.
ReadyAtLast is offline  
Old 03-05-2014, 12:41 PM
  # 10 (permalink)  
Guest
 
ReadyAtLast's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 7,097
Originally Posted by Harpoon View Post
I'll just have to learn to say no.
It's much easier to avoid drinking situations early on then you don't hvae people offering you beer and you don't have to keep saying no
ReadyAtLast is offline  
Old 03-05-2014, 01:07 PM
  # 11 (permalink)  
Administrator
 
Anna's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Dancing in the Light
Posts: 61,325
The label is really not so important.

Are you ready to stop drinking for good? If so, you are in the right place.
Anna is online now  
Old 03-05-2014, 01:10 PM
  # 12 (permalink)  
bona fido dog-lover
 
least's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SF Bay area, CA
Posts: 99,671
I hope the support here can help you stop drinking for good.
least is online now  
Old 03-05-2014, 01:24 PM
  # 13 (permalink)  
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: C.C. Ma.
Posts: 3,697
Originally Posted by Harpoon View Post
I lied to myself .
I feel so bad after drinking, anxious, intrusive thoughts, blackouts, chronic insomnia, crippling depression, and Irritable bowel syndrome, but that's the least of my worries.

Why can't I stop? I just want my life back, to be panic free, to laugh, to sleep. I don't feel addicted. I drink less that ppl I go out drinking with.

What does this sound like? Am I dependent on alcohol, or an alcoholic? Why cant I say enough is enough?
It sounds to me that it's difficult to accept the fact that you can't drink in safety. Forget the labels and get honest about your drinking. Hard line, I know but a lot of times that gets our attention before we end up shortly in the grave. Alcohol has different effects on each of us so comparing is a waste of time and often wishful thinking.
In the beginning this made sense to me: "If we don't pick up the first drink we don't have to get sober again."

Hang on and keep coming, it will get better.

BE WELL
IOAA2 is offline  
Old 03-05-2014, 01:31 PM
  # 14 (permalink)  
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: C.C. Ma.
Posts: 3,697
Originally Posted by FindTheAnswer View Post
I am still wondering what to call myself, too. What I do know about myself is that I have tons of regrets over my behavior while drinking. I have had the need to drink every night for several years. But, now I have stopped for 29 days and so maybe I start to think I'm not an "alcoholic", because that sounds too permanent.
.
In all my years in recovery I never heard of anyone that was cured of alcoholism. Sober and recovering, yes, but never cured so it is permanent if we like it or not.

BE WELL
IOAA2 is offline  

Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 05:34 AM.