Anyone like me?
 

Hi,

First of all, I'm 22 years old and I would consider myself an alcoholic. I also have general anxiety but it doesn't restrain me from going to school and working. I have been surfing the forum a little bit (I am new to forums) and didn't find any people that seem to have the same problem as me and I would like to know if I am alone or if I just didn't find the right posts.

My "type" of alcoholism is not really like the one I red on this forum as I am not drinking every day, not even every week. I can go weeks without drinking but then I eventually drink until I pass out. When I drink I ALWAYS drink until I pass out. I have been trying to stop drinking for about a year or two but always had relapses. My most recent one being the one that convinced me of seeking help as it was the worst of all. I won't get into the details but let's say that I made a total fool of myself since I was at a bar and worried my parents so much as I nearly choked out in my own vomit.

So here are my question: Is that considered alcoholism? Am I at the right place to discuss it? Anyone like me?

Sorry about the long read.

:welcome


Yes, you'd classify as a binge drinker. Can go long periods without but once you start, you don't stop until you've passed out or blacked out.

You aren't alone. There are many different people here and each has their own story of misery and shame. The good news is that you can stop this madness from getting worse by putting down the bottle for good. :)

Thank you! Just knowing that I am not alone makes me feel way better. I'm sure that this forum will help me. I will definitely do my best to put down the bottle! :)

I was a binge drinker. Started as a teenager. I always went further, harder and longer than everyone else. Bit by bit I lost everyone I knew. I was untrustworthy to socialise with.

Then I started drinking on my own ( because I had no one to drink with). Then I started binge drinking 3- 4 times a week. Same result every time. For a finish I was 5 to 6 times a week.

Binge drinking is progressive and will land you in trouble if you keep it up.

Best of luck

@Finnie You speak in the past. That means you are not drinking anymore? If so, do you have any quick tips when you feel the urge of binge drinking?

Thank you

You just described me at your age. Contrary to what many of us believed early on an alcoholic is not always that wino in a dark alley. Many are full functioning living a somewhat miserable life on a merry go round.
I will say this, my drinking gradually progressed over the years.
You have a chance of living a productive life should you stop drinking now. Do yourself a favor don't wait like me and so many do to turn your life around. In the end all drinking does is cause misery

My pattern of use is similar to yours. At my worst I was drinking 2-3 times a week, I never passed out though, I always got extremely sick before that ever happened.

It's not important how often you drink, or how much trouble it's caused you, it's your relationship with alcohol. Someone else on this forum made a really good analogy; substitute alcohol for any part of a meal. Do you ever feel concerned about how much corn, or how much mashed potatoes you will get to eat at a meal? Do you plan ahead of time how much of that given food you will be able to eat, and ways you might be able to get more? To normal people, alcohol is just like any other part of a meal, they can take it or leave it, they don't think about it, they don't really care about it. Is that how you feel about alcohol? Can you take it or leave it? From your initial post it doesn't sound like you have a good relationship with alcohol.

Another important thing to think about is why you drink to excess in the first place. A lot of drug abuse and alcoholism is really just self medication of unresolved, or often times unrealized pain. I would encourage you to examine yourself, what kinds of thoughts are in your head? How do you react to things in everyday life, are you angry? Are you sad? Do you have anxiety?

I'm a lot like you I binge drink on weekends. I have been sober 14 days now which is goin ok but I haven't gone to any social occasions in that time. That's the main problem feeling comfortable In social settings sober, does it get better?

Thank you guys! I really appreciate reading what you are saying. It really helps me understand more about my problem. I joined the February class and I know I've told myself that multiple times but I feel like this one is the one. :)

@Mytime. Yeah I get how tough it is to stay sober on social occasions. I never really drink alone. I think telling our friends that we are not drinking is the first step. I never did that.

Welcome habsfan18, when i was in my early twenties i used to binge drink like you describe. I could go for weeks without drinking but as soon as i did pick up a drink again i wasn't able to stop. My drinking progressed and by the time i did quit i was drinking every single day and it was incredibly difficult to stop. I think you are wise to quit now at 22. SR is an excellent place for support and understanding. :)

Hi Habsfan, I'm a binger too. No withdrawals, never drink every day or in the AM. I can even manage on many occasions to only have 4-5. But I would say at least once a week I'm at the 10-12 range. I'm definitely a happy drunk! I have a good job and am doing well, no DUI's, no family issues, etc.. I've often struggled with the term "alcoholic" and internally would debate if I was one. Then I had an epiphany that it really doesn't matter if I'm technically an alcoholic or not (which I probably am!). The thing is I do realize is I have a problem with my drinking in the fact that I can't consistently control it. I hate the way it makes me feel the next day, and sometimes the next couple of days. I'm afraid of what health problems lie ahead if I keep this up. Most importantly, I truly believe I will enjoy my life so much better if I quit. So that's where I'm at now. Only two weeks into it, but its a start and its going great!!! Good luck to you and you will find a lot of support here! The people are great! -NJDevilsfan : )

Thanks Betterlife! Very good read, even though you are a Devils fan! :P Good luck to you too! Let's take it step by step and we will do it! :)

I started out with occasional binge drinking. I never intended to get drunk and pass out, it just happened. That was in my teens and early 20's. My drinking increased to the point I was drinking every day by my 30's.

Alcoholism is a progressive disease, which means it will most likely get worse the longer you drink. That is the pattern of alcoholism.

Yes, I was a binge drinker for a while instead of everyday, telling myself it wasn't alcoholism. I was always changing the pattern around. You are wise to know something isnlt right and wanting to do something about it xxxxxx

I was exactly the same as you. I am 23 and saw my drinking leading me down a path of destruction and pain so I decided to quit while I was ahead. My first attempt at quitting told me all I needed to know-I could not stop thinking about alcohol and it wasn't enough to just quit. I needed help.

Life is so much better sober!

Welcome to the Forum, I used to have the odd day here and there without drinking, went to work, never lost a job or my driving licence!!

BUT . . . when I drank, I drank until I passed out, something had to give or I would have spiralled into a much worse place . . . alcohol had to go!!

Hi and welcome habsfan - yeah I drank like you for a long time.
I know you'll find people who understand you here :)

D

Hi habsfan, your description nails it for me.

That's my story and I drank exactly like you (and some others on this thread) - black out binge drinking alcoholic. No trouble staying off it for a while but get a few down and all bets are off. I wake up in strange places, run my mouth , do tragic, incomprehensible things and swear next time it'll be different.

Wandered into AA after one black out too many but had trouble identifying with the physically addicted, drink every day types. I've never been homeless, never been to prison and also i don't black out every time every time i drank which gave me the illusion of control.

For me it was an illusion and and 14 years later on i still don't fit some cookie cutter model of a park bench alike but my story isn't so different anymore - dead friends, lost jobs, general anxiety that slid into paralysing fear, pancreatitis, blackouts so shamefull i would do anything to roll back the clock on.

I've ticked off so many off the 'not yet's' I never thought I would - I love reading posts by drinkers with my brand of drinking. It helps me relate - thanks

I have no quick tips. I was in detox at 24. Flirted with aa but was drinking again in 3 months.
I stopped again on the 15th December 2013. I lost 15 years to binge drinking.

I am lucky this time. None of my friends call me anymore. My wife understands. I was very mentally sick throughout the last month but I still managed to dry out alone.

I won't be able to dry out alone again.

On binges. Identify when you binge... Saturday night? Stress? Sport? Christmas? Holidays?
Avoid them like the plague and get a support network.