New here...not sure I'm the typical alcoholic
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 2
New here...not sure I'm the typical alcoholic
So I've been drinking since I was 18. I'm 27 now. I've never been a huge drinker, but I will to have fun. I almost NEVER drink when I'm alone. I can count the times on one hand's fingers. I've had multiple stints in my life where I don't drink for for several months at a time, like 3-9 months.
The last two years I've been seeing a girl. We split up recently, and I had been drinking most of the 2 weeks while that was going on. I ended up saying really mean things while drunk, and this has been happening more and more frequently. We split up because she can't stand the cycle of getting along really well for 4 weeks, and then getting in a huge fight.
After my last drunk night and VERY stupid decisions made (which I don't recall what I said when I tried to show up to her place to talk while black out drunk), I spent the next to days sober and thinking.
Pretty much all of the fights we have, I have been drinking. Usually quite a bit, too. The reason they only happen about once a month, is because I'm far from a daily drinker.
So like I said...I think I'm a different type of alcholic...I haven't drank in 6 days and haven't had the urge in the slightest...its not that I want to drink, it's that when I do drink to have fun I end up turning into a verbal fight monster and say mean things to someone whom I love more than anything and would never say to them while sober!
So that's my story. Day 6. I'm going to re-evaluate in a month, but I'm thinking at that point my decision is going to be trying a year off of alcohol, maybe more.
EDIT: The lack of difficulty realizing I had an alcohol problem reminds me of how I never knew I had ADHD until I was an adult. I have ADHD-PI (Prominently Inattentive), which often gets unnoticed as ADHD because most people with ADHD act out, where as with PI their attention issues are internalized and introverted. With drinking, my problem went unnoticed because I don't drink often and and have long stretches without alcohol, but when I do drink it can completely destroy things.
The last two years I've been seeing a girl. We split up recently, and I had been drinking most of the 2 weeks while that was going on. I ended up saying really mean things while drunk, and this has been happening more and more frequently. We split up because she can't stand the cycle of getting along really well for 4 weeks, and then getting in a huge fight.
After my last drunk night and VERY stupid decisions made (which I don't recall what I said when I tried to show up to her place to talk while black out drunk), I spent the next to days sober and thinking.
Pretty much all of the fights we have, I have been drinking. Usually quite a bit, too. The reason they only happen about once a month, is because I'm far from a daily drinker.
So like I said...I think I'm a different type of alcholic...I haven't drank in 6 days and haven't had the urge in the slightest...its not that I want to drink, it's that when I do drink to have fun I end up turning into a verbal fight monster and say mean things to someone whom I love more than anything and would never say to them while sober!
So that's my story. Day 6. I'm going to re-evaluate in a month, but I'm thinking at that point my decision is going to be trying a year off of alcohol, maybe more.
EDIT: The lack of difficulty realizing I had an alcohol problem reminds me of how I never knew I had ADHD until I was an adult. I have ADHD-PI (Prominently Inattentive), which often gets unnoticed as ADHD because most people with ADHD act out, where as with PI their attention issues are internalized and introverted. With drinking, my problem went unnoticed because I don't drink often and and have long stretches without alcohol, but when I do drink it can completely destroy things.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 8,637
I'd say you're typical in the sense that
you're on a recovery website speculating over whether or not you're a 'typical' alcoholic
alcohol has caused you problems in your life
alcohol has negatively impacted at least one close relationship in your life
you actually look at times where you didn't drink for a few months as examples of how you're maybe not a 'typical' alcoholic
You've been 'black out drunk'
You're making observations about 'the urge' and noting the number of days without it
But whether you're 'typical' or not really doesn't matter anywhere near as much as what is it you want to do about this alcohol situation?
Welcome!
you're on a recovery website speculating over whether or not you're a 'typical' alcoholic
alcohol has caused you problems in your life
alcohol has negatively impacted at least one close relationship in your life
you actually look at times where you didn't drink for a few months as examples of how you're maybe not a 'typical' alcoholic
You've been 'black out drunk'
You're making observations about 'the urge' and noting the number of days without it
But whether you're 'typical' or not really doesn't matter anywhere near as much as what is it you want to do about this alcohol situation?
Welcome!
Canine Welfare Advocate
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Norfolk, VA
Posts: 10,962
Welcome.
You said you drink heavily once a month, so I think going more than a month gives you a better chance to evaluate the benefits of not drinking...or your struggles with not drinking.
Good luck.
Originally Posted by MacBradley 
So that's my story. Day 6. I'm going to re-evaluate in a month, but I'm thinking at that point my decision is going to be trying a year off of alcohol, maybe more.
Good luck.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Chicago
Posts: 577
I knew I had a problem with alcohol when I kept on doing things that I wouldn't do sober, often things that hurt or disappointed people close to me.
Lots of support here on SR, keep coming back, good luck!
Lots of support here on SR, keep coming back, good luck!
Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Ireland
Posts: 25,826
Welcome to the Forum!! 
If your drinking is causing problems in your life then I would put that in the definition of alcoholic/problem drinking, and something clearly needs to change as alcohol is not doing you any favours!!
You'll find loads of support here!!
If your drinking is causing problems in your life then I would put that in the definition of alcoholic/problem drinking, and something clearly needs to change as alcohol is not doing you any favours!!
You'll find loads of support here!!
Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 106
Macbradley, you are more typical than you think. I too am not an alcoholic but I used to binge to a point that it caused problems once in a while. You realize pretty quickly since you become sober that drinking wasn't worth it. The problem is after you are feeling good for a few weeks you start to think things will change if you return to a moderate amount of booze.
As almost everyone here can tell moderation or "reevaluating after 30 days" doesn't work out. The only prize is you get to go through the crappy parts all over again but only worse.
Embracing a sober life is very hard. After a while it is so worth it.
As almost everyone here can tell moderation or "reevaluating after 30 days" doesn't work out. The only prize is you get to go through the crappy parts all over again but only worse.
Embracing a sober life is very hard. After a while it is so worth it.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 2
Originally Posted by Mek2
Macbradley, you are more typical than you think. I too am not an alcoholic but I used to binge to a point that it caused problems once in a while. You realize pretty quickly since you become sober that drink wasn't worth it. The problem is after you are feeling good for a few weeks you start to think things will change if you return to a moderate amount of booze.
As almost everyone hear can tell moderation or "reevaluating after 30 days" doesn't work out. The only prize is you get to go through the crappy parts all over again but only worse.
Embracing a sober life is very hard. After a whole it is so worth it.
As almost everyone hear can tell moderation or "reevaluating after 30 days" doesn't work out. The only prize is you get to go through the crappy parts all over again but only worse.
Embracing a sober life is very hard. After a whole it is so worth it.
Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Canada
Posts: 2,449
Originally Posted by Mek2
Macbradley, you are more typical than you think. I too am not an alcoholic but I used to binge to a point that it caused problems once in a while. You realize pretty quickly since you become sober that drinking wasn't worth it. The problem is after you are feeling good for a few weeks you start to think things will change if you return to a moderate amount of booze.
As almost everyone here can tell moderation or "reevaluating after 30 days" doesn't work out. The only prize is you get to go through the crappy parts all over again but only worse.
Embracing a sober life is very hard. After a while it is so worth it.
As almost everyone here can tell moderation or "reevaluating after 30 days" doesn't work out. The only prize is you get to go through the crappy parts all over again but only worse.
Embracing a sober life is very hard. After a while it is so worth it.
and the chaos worsened.
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