I drink 3-4 times a week but lately more frequently. I don’t wake up craving alcohol though. It’s always later in the day, usually after work. I drink about a 6-pack and a pint of Rum over several hours. I do often don’t remember what I’ve done and I’ve done some embarassing things. I’ve also become very agressive lately when drinking when I always was a happy drinker. LUCKILY, I always have a sober driver. Lately, I’ve been very edgy and nervous. I get angry at the drop of a pin. I’m scared that I need help. Are there meds. that help if I quit with your nerves? I don’t want to go to a rehab because I don’t have insurance and I don’t want to lose my job. I also have an anxiety problem to begin with and take Xanax for my nerves. I know the combo. of Xanax and alcohol is bad and makes the alcohol much stronger. Oh, I’m a woman in my early 30’s. I’m 5′7 and 125 lbs. so I’m not a big person who has a huge tolerance although it seems like it sometimes.
From what you have said, I think you qualify as an alcoholic. The binge drinking and blackouts are pretty sure signs. You should be able to go to the Alcoholics Anonymous website, www.aa.org for all sorts of information on this subject.
There really is no medication that is very useful to treat alcoholism. The treatment can be complex, but the best treatment available is probably the 12-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous, and there are meetings available virtually everywhere. Be aware, though, that AA is a program of complete abstinence, and following their suggestions involves a complete overhaul of your life.
October 31st, 2009 at 1:55 pm
red eyes, puffy face, liver problems, such as swelling, ulcers, shaking, delirium tremens ,nausea, Pain in the side or back from kidney problems, stomach and intestinal problems
poor diet and weight loss,Unexplained mood swings
…just to name a few
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October 31st, 2009 at 2:28 pm
You can be a drunk without being an alcoholic. The difference is, alcoholics go to meetings. You are not an alcoholic until you get in big trouble from your drinking. I have found combining alcohol with anonymous sex works well as a self-regulator, because if lots of men want to sleep with you then you can’t be in that bad shape. Plus, they’ll pay for your drinks.
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October 31st, 2009 at 3:01 pm
yes you need aa and counsling before some one calls 911 on you and you end in jail or mentel hospital i am not kidding you.
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October 31st, 2009 at 3:31 pm
mayb u dont need rehab..but stop drinking ..or try to.and start going to aa meetings.which should be able to fit it into your schedule.also talk 2 a doctor.
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October 31st, 2009 at 4:15 pm
I’m guessing you ARE. a) because your asking b) because of your symptoms…..I’m sorry, I don’t know about the drugs, but I do know that if I didn’t go to rehab, I would have ended up dead or in jail. Doing a 28-day stint in rehab seems impossible, but it’s ONLY 28 days. It is absolutely MIND BLOWING how much better your life is after you get out. have you ever been to an AA meeting? This is mentioned several times. What you have to do is decide to go, call, request a bed, then GO. Rent, your job, etc takes care of itself. I did it 3 years ago & my ex-husband did it (crack cocaine) 2 years ago. Life just takes care of itself. i know its scary, but you can do it.
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October 31st, 2009 at 4:21 pm
The symptoms and behavior you are describing are characteristic of alcoholism. Only you can truly make that determination, but if you are not certain, you can go to your doctor and take an assesment. There is also alcoholism literature that discribes a lot of what you discribed. Not remembering what you have done and being ashamed of your behavior can be one of the main symptoms.
I did a lot of the same things. I didn’t believe I had a problem, but knew I was on a bad road. I kept it up and almost died one night, not from the alcohol in my system, but from the way alcoholism affected my thinking and emotions.
There is also free assesments and information numbers in the phone book. Look under alcoholism.
I’m now over 7 years sober and life still has its problems, but I am happier than I’ve ever been.
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October 31st, 2009 at 4:41 pm
From what you have said, I think you qualify as an alcoholic. The binge drinking and blackouts are pretty sure signs. You should be able to go to the Alcoholics Anonymous website, http://www.aa.org for all sorts of information on this subject.
There really is no medication that is very useful to treat alcoholism. The treatment can be complex, but the best treatment available is probably the 12-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous, and there are meetings available virtually everywhere. Be aware, though, that AA is a program of complete abstinence, and following their suggestions involves a complete overhaul of your life.
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Recovering addict sober almost 4 years, and a medical doctor.
October 31st, 2009 at 5:04 pm
I am 32 and a woman and I drink almost every night. I dont see any thing wrong with it. I sometimes wake up with at hang over but feel alot better soon. I do not crave alcohol during the day either. Only when I get home. I dont think you have a problem. I guess because I dont think I have problem.
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October 31st, 2009 at 5:11 pm
I would suggest a trip not only to your doctor, but to AA as well. Contact MAD and find out how alcoholism affects others.
Believe it or not, if you drink and drive at all, you are not sober, and are kidding yourself that nothing will happen.
Try following the link below. Maybe the first step is to realize it’s more serious than you think. You will be in my thoughts.
Alcoholism is a disease and alcoholism symptoms are indicators that the disease is present in the mind and body. Other physical symptoms may include:
increased tolerance
continued use despite physical problems
abdominal pain
nausea
vomiting
red eyes, puffy face
numbness in the arms or legs
swelling of the liver
blackouts, not remembering drinking episodes
Psychological Damage
Alcoholism is a disease of the mind. Alcohol is often abused to self medicate anxiety, depression, irritability and sleep disorders but these conditions are worsened by drinking. This vicious cycle increases the amount of drinking as the psychological problems become increasingly traumatic and drinking is continued to numb the pain. Alcoholics will often deny having alcoholism symptoms and may drink in secret to cover-up the problem. Dramatic mood swings and aggression also accompany alcoholic drinking.
Work Environment
The job is usually one of the last things to go in the progression of alcoholism. The alcohol abuser tries very hard to not drink at work but as the disease of alcoholism increases, the morning drinks to calm the shakes and the couple of drinks for lunch start to grow in number. It may start with an afternoon off here and there but pretty soon major work obligations become difficult or go unfulfilled. Ultimately, the alcohol abuser may be disciplined or fired
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http://alcohol411.info/Symptoms%20of%20Alcoholism.htm
October 31st, 2009 at 5:34 pm
Your actions alone speak volumes. Rum has a very high alcohol level and is worse for women than men. You are drinking way too much and on a downhill ride. Seek medical attention before you loose your motivation to do anything but drink I’m sure there is help without rehab.
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October 31st, 2009 at 6:12 pm
Yes you are an alcoholic, just by what you have written here I can tell you are.
What you’ve described are all signs of alcoholism.
Yes, there are meds that are given to help you quit. They are given to stop you having ‘the shakes’, withdrawal symptoms.
One med I know was given in the USA, for this was a benzodiazepine called Librium.These type of meds are sedatives. Librium was specifically used to help with alcohol withdrawal, when I was in the USA (10 years ago).
Xanax is also a sedative, as you probably know because you take it for your anxiety. However, the benzodiazepines are considered ’safer’ and less addictive, than Xanax.
You will need to have a doctor, review your meds, prescribe you meds, and adjust your meds, because you are already taking Xanax.
Your doctor may consider an anti-depressant to help with your moods, like your anger, and edginess. It depends on what the doctor feels will help you specifically. Anti-depressants often help with anxiety.
Your doctor may refer you to a psychiatrist to review your meds, health, and prescribe meds, continue visits with.
You may also want to go to counseling. There are groups for alcoholics. Or you could go to see a therapist, counselor by yourself. You are more likely to succeed if you have a therapist or group to go to.
Right now, you can go to AA. Find your local AA group, and go.
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worked at ACCEPT in London years ago. (alcoholics counseling, clinic)
know many ppl in USA who have gone to rehab, groups, taken meds, etc who are alcoholics.
October 31st, 2009 at 6:48 pm
go 2 aa meetings theyll tell u go after work instead of drinking
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October 31st, 2009 at 7:18 pm
If you ask me I would say you definitely have signs of being an alcoholic. Even still, you must decide.
By the way, Alcoholism is not diagnosed by the ammount you drink, but rather by one’s dependency upon alcohol.
Check out this site from AA to see if you have a problem with alcohol.
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/en_is_aa_for_you.cfm?PageID=71
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October 31st, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Eww… I bet you reek of beer. But yeah, you seem like your depended on it like your body could handle ANY amount of a TOXIC drink, which could later cause some serious organ damage.
My dads an alcoholic & no one likes him. He has no friends except occassionally talks up a storm (usually w/ a beer in one hand) to a local known bum. Hes a total pest towards the family.
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October 31st, 2009 at 8:48 pm
If you think you have a problem, then you have a problem. It’s not the quantity or time spent drinking that determines if one is an alcoholic, it’s they way you feel and how it affects your life. Alcoholism is a disease of obsessive complusive behavior. Non alcoholics never even think they have a problem, only alcoholics do.
Rehab doesn’t happen for everyone, and most places of employment are very supportive if you are honest with them and actively seek help. Depending on where you are located, they may not be able to fire you if you seek treatment since alcoholism is a disease. Check your local Disabilities act and Labor Regulations.
Since it is a disease, it can be treated! Maybe not by seeing a doctor and getting a prescription but by going to meetings and learning a new way to live. Quitting drinkning is easy, you need help living afterwards and that’s what a 12 step program like AA does. If you are close to a major city you may be able to find meetings almost 24/7, most smaller areas have a meeting every night, if you are out in the boonies there are always online support groups for the nights you can’t get to a meeting.
You are not alone, you have not done anything that hasn’t been done before, nor are you going to face anything in your life that someone hasn’t already been through. In the meetings you can find people to help you, without picking up a drink. Go to one, keep an open mind and just listen. If it doesn’t kill you, go to another one the next night. If that one doesn’t kill you, keep going until a:) it kills you or b:) you get better. I bet b happens first.
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October 31st, 2009 at 9:33 pm
You’ve written a good question and I am sympathizing with you as I write this. I’m coming up on 5 year’s sobriety in August.
I had a similar drinking pattern to what you describe.I rationalized all kinds of reasons to drink. I wanted tio drink alone so that I could drink the way I wanted to. I drank to get drunk. I isolated myself from my family.
Many people would term me a "high bottom" drunk because I didn’t lose my wife, jobs, kids, or experience serious illness.
I was, however, depressed. I felt run down. I was edgey and I snapped at my wife.
It took me a long time, about 13 years, to come to a point where I decidced to commit myself to doing something aobut my drinking. I had tried a few times to moderate. I quit once for a year and was very much the stereotypical "dry drunk."
I found help in AA. Now to your question, am I an alcoholic? I decided after about 6 months working the AA twelve step program that it didn’t matter. I felt better and my life was better. (Not perfect - but certainly an improvement on the life I was leading.) If occured to me that what was important was not the label, but how I felt. If I felt better and my life was improving, I would keep doing what I was doing, which was attending AA meetings, working with my sponsor and making AA friends. At that that point, it was convenient for me to consider myself an alcoholic. I quitr drinking and worked my program as an alcoholic treating himself.
You sound like you have concerns about your drinking patterns and how your alcohol con\sumption my be negatively impacitng your life. Just consider not driking. Try this for a day or two, you can always start again. Try several AA meetings. See if you enjoy them. AA friends are easy to make and people will be forthcoming with you. See waht they have to say.
You’re young and you have a great life ahead of you. Tryu some different behaviors, ie sober behaviors and AA, abd see if this works for you.
Regarding the meds; most labels warn against drinking and taking medication. The doctor prescribing the medication is relying on you to follow the prescription. If you choose not to, the medication is likely not to work as intended. The only way for you to truly know if the medications work for you is to stop drinking while you are taking the meds.
My experience was that my first 30 days were the worst. I started feeling better after about 4 months. I really gained traction in sobriety and the impulse to drink lessened at about a year and a half. My point is yhou can always start drinking again and/or gto back to the lifestyle you currently have. Therefore, you have nothing to loose by some days or a month of sobriety and taking your prescribed medications in accordance with the prescription instructions.
In the AA program, you will find many smart, caring people who will be willing and able to help you.
Good luck.
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