vandelay187

I have no children and no intention of reproducing. Driving has never been an issue. i either don't go out or i have a place to sleep.

biminiblue

So, why are you here, vandelay? Has this level of drinking caused you problems? Did you have problems before this 26 month experiment?

If not, carry on. We don't have a problem with your drinking. If you don't either, then...?

entropy1964

So is the real question, am I an alcoholic? Or do you want to hear that you're not because of your perfect weeks? I guess I'd like to know what you're really concerned about. You are concerned, correct?

And hey, if this is working for you, go for it.

vandelay187

I think the bottom line is i experience all the problems a far worse alcoholic would. Effects on family, friends, depression, anxiety. I feel that if i can get that number down to 'just under' what makes me an alcoholic i no longer need to feel guilty. I came here to see what other people who have gone through this and/or are going through this would think. Certainly not to brag about anything.

as the one post said there's always someone worse off than you. sometimes i feel guilty complaining to a group who are really suffering when i'm able to say yeah i got it down to 20 beers a week.

i just started reading these sites today and thought i'd post and get some feedback.

Anna

Once you are an alcoholic you cross an invisible line and you can never go back. It's that simple.

biminiblue

Now we're getting somewhere.

"Normal" drinkers don't have to come up with elaborate schemes to continue drinking. You can use Google to see how many drinks a day are recommended.

The bottom line is your drinking is affecting your life.

If drinking is a problem, stopping is the solution. There is no "Under" amount. You're there already.

By the way, the people in this thread have stopped drinking. The "suffering" is over for us. I hope you join us.

Grymt

Denial has its place. What sort of future do you see for your self?

doggonecarl

Binge Drinking:

NIAAA defines binge drinking as a pattern of drinking that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels to 0.08 g/dL. This typically occurs after 4 drinks for women and 5 drinks for men—in about 2 hours.


The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which conducts the annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), defines binge drinking as 5 or more alcoholic drinks for males or 4 or more alcoholic drinks for females on the same occasion (i.e., at the same time or within a couple of hours of each other) on at least 1 day in the past month.

You are in the right place if you decide to quit drinking.

vandelay187

I really appreciate all this feedback. and once more, i apologize if i offended anyone or came across as bragging. Thank you all. I'll revisit this periodically.

noneever

I'm not offended and I don't think you're bragging. Please keep coming back and posting.

Marie0101

I'm not offended either. To me you seem to be seeking something here, and I hope you find what you need.

Maudcat

Everyone walks their own path. Here if you need us.

ChiefBromden

I don't think it's offensive. If anything, it's a good reminder of how insidious addiction can be.

It also sounds like a lot of work, while still consuming unhealthy amounts.

The good thing is that deep down you seem to know perfectly well this is going nowhere. Of course, I could be wrong?

starstarstar

This post doesn't bother me. I look at it as "what not to do" as I can't see myself thinking about drinking all the time. Too anxiety provoking for me.

HTown

I tried so many schemes. So many ideas to moderate. It was exhausting. It is so much easier for me to just not drink.

Maudcat

What HTown said.

Algorithm

I think that elaborate drinking schemes are a dead give-a-away. It just means one is trying to drink without getting into trouble, which of course means that they know very well they probably shouldn't be drinking.

For a long time, I didn't feel a need for schemes, but once it became plainly evident that I could not reliably predict how much I would drink once I started, or how I would behave if I drank, I would only purchase a small set amount per day, and only drank alone.

The problem with that approach is that if life throws you a curve ball you were not prepared for, and routines are upended, that discipline may easily go out the window. It did for me, at least. Madness, coupled with stupidity.

I don't know why I'm sharing, but I hope that the OP knows that this is always a distinct possibility.

OpioPhobe

It isn't the amount you drink or how often you drink that determines whether you are an alcoholic or not. You say that it is causing serious problems in your life. You have, thus far, been unable to quit drinking. In addition, you stated that quitting would be easier than this elaborate drinking strategy you have devised.

Something just doesn't add up with all that. Do you have any desire to quit completely?

As far as your plan goes, I admit that I don't understand what is appealing about it. I was never one for moderation of anything. If I tried to control my drinking I couldn't enjoy it. What you describe would be a living nightmare for me.

Imagine new, positive activities that you could do if you freed yourself up from the chains of alcohol. The next family vacation could be somewhere that doesn't serve alcohol, and you wouldn't even care. You could spend that money on something that actually adds value to your life instead of pissing it away on booze.

HTown

And you do literally "**** it away" as OpioPhobe says

tiffanyeagle

my friends that aren't alcoholics don't drink 20 beers a week or think about alcohol much at all. they are very different from me. and from what you seem to be saying as well. keep coming.