Am I becoming an alcoholic?

[Fletch]

As an alcoholic I can tell you this: if you are questioning it, then there is cause for concern.

I can also say that there is no such thing as a "functional alcoholic", there is just alcholics. Like you, I only drank on weekends, limited my amounts, and still wound up with a drinking problem. If alcoholism is present in your family history, then I would consider that a precursor to what you 'could' become.

Alcohol is powerful. Do not treat it lightly. If your wife thinks you have an issue, and you are worried enough to seek advice, then you might either be on the path to alcoholism, or blind to the fact that you may already be one.

I thank God every day for my sobriety. If you wish to discuss it further, send me a PM.

I can relate. I began socially as most do. Then it became just about every weekend, thinking that I earned the right to drink. Then it became trying to find any and every opportunity to drink. Then I found myself on a daily, downward spiral that landed me in the hospital for alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

Reality literally crushed me when my doctor told me to go to the ER. Luckily I got help, got right with God and my family. The scary thing was and still some to this day is dealing with post alcoholic withdrawal syndrome (PAWS).

I am just over 2 months sober.

 

[ologan]

I can relate. I began socially as most do. Then it became just about every weekend, thinking that I earned the right to drink. Then it became trying to find any and every opportunity to drink. Then I found myself on a daily, downward spiral that landed me in the hospital for alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

Reality literally crushed me when my doctor told me to go to the ER. Luckily I got help, got right with God and my family. The scary thing was and still some to this day is dealing with post alcoholic withdrawal syndrome (PAWS).

I am just over 2 months sober.

Good on ya, Fletch!

 

[rocboy22]

I can relate. I began socially as most do. Then it became just about every weekend, thinking that I earned the right to drink. Then it became trying to find any and every opportunity to drink. Then I found myself on a daily, downward spiral that landed me in the hospital for alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

Reality literally crushed me when my doctor told me to go to the ER. Luckily I got help, got right with God and my family. The scary thing was and still some to this day is dealing with post alcoholic withdrawal syndrome (PAWS).

I am just over 2 months sober.

Good luck, man. Keep it up!

 

[Derekmtl85]

If you can't go 2-3 days without a beer, i'd say a minor problem is starting.

But until the day you start drinking right when you wake up, you are fine.

 

[Derekmtl85]

I can relate. I began socially as most do. Then it became just about every weekend, thinking that I earned the right to drink. Then it became trying to find any and every opportunity to drink. Then I found myself on a daily, downward spiral that landed me in the hospital for alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

Reality literally crushed me when my doctor told me to go to the ER. Luckily I got help, got right with God and my family. The scary thing was and still some to this day is dealing with post alcoholic withdrawal syndrome (PAWS).

I am just over 2 months sober.

Congrats, continue the good work!

 

[Shunpike]

Congrats Fletch. I hope you can keep it this way for a long time.

 

[WV Cowboy]

If you can't go 2-3 days without a beer, i'd say a minor problem is starting.

But until the day you start drinking right when you wake up, you are fine.

This is very poor advice to give, because by the time that you drink your first "morning drink", it is already way too late.

 

[ethiostar]

If you can't go 2-3 days without a beer, i'd say a minor problem is starting.

But until the day you start drinking right when you wake up, you are fine.

Wrong!

 

[Rackat]

But until the day you start drinking right when you wake up, you are fine.

This is a fallacy, one that can end with a person in serious trouble - health, finance, and legal.

I did the drinking test. Went four months without so much as a drop. Considered myself "not an alcoholic".

Alcohol is no different than cocaine or any other addictive drug in it's ability to destroy lives. The difference is that it is legal, socially acceptable, and commonplace. It begins as a "fun" release. Drinking socially, or getting "tore up" at a party and ends with a need to have it. Some people, like me, can set aside the obsession during the week so as not to lose our jobs and only drink on the weekends. Others find the obsession and find they have no control whatsoever.

Going a day, week, month, or year does not prove that you are not an alcoholic. Being able to stop yourself from having a drink first thing in the morning is not proof that you do not have a problem.

 

[rocboy22]

This is a fallacy, one that can end with a person in serious trouble - health, finance, and legal.

I did the drinking test. Went four months without so much as a drop. Considered myself "not an alcoholic".

Alcohol is no different than cocaine or any other addictive drug in it's ability to destroy lives. The difference is that it is legal, socially acceptable, and commonplace. It begins as a "fun" release. Drinking socially, or getting "tore up" at a party and ends with a need to have it. Some people, like me, can set aside the obsession during the week so as not to lose our jobs and only drink on the weekends. Others find the obsession and find they have no control whatsoever.

Going a day, week, month, or year does not prove that you are not an alcoholic. Being able to stop yourself from having a drink first thing in the morning is not proof that you do not have a problem.

Just like having a drink first thing in the morning is not proof you do have a problem. Every situation is different, just like every person is different. Say once a year at a camping trip or something you crack a beer when you get up...so what??? There are really no "absolutes"

 

[Rackat]

Just like having a drink first thing in the morning is not proof you do have a problem. Every situation is different, just like every person is different. Say once a year at a camping trip or something you crack a beer when you get up...so what??? There are really no "absolutes"

I disagree, but I will not argue the point.

 

[TheDude]

I think your Married.

:laugh2:

Need to get a whole picture. Did your wife put on 300lbs since you were first married? If so, add whisey to your arsenal.

I kid because I never understood social drinking excuse. I will drink every once in a while, but I go to bars with buddiesand order diet coke and don't feel any different for it.

 

[rocboy22]

I disagree, but I will not argue the point.

disagree with what part?

 

[Denim Chicken]

disagree with what part?

Bloody Mary breakfasts

 

[Fletch]

Thanks guys. Appreciate the sentiments. I hope the OP figures out his situation and what he needs to do.

 

[rocboy22]

Bloody Mary breakfasts

I didn't know if it was that specifically, or me saying there are no absolutes and every situation is different. I really don't understand how you could claim someone is an acloholic if they drink one day per year and they happen to do it in the morning when they wake up, but whatever.

 

[WV Cowboy]

I really don't understand how you could claim someone is an acloholic if they drink one day per year and they happen to do it in the morning when they wake up, but whatever.

I don't think anybody does, .. not sure why you brought that up as an example.

When we talked about drinking in the morning, nobody was talking about one day a year while on vacation. They were talking about as a habit.

 

[muck4doo]

This finally was something I admitted to myself this past month. I am an alcoholic. I can go weeks or days at a time without, but once I have one I go on a binge. Doesn't matter if it's beer or liquor. I always thought because I could go days without, there wasn't a problem. If it causes problems in your life, there is a problem.

 

[WV Cowboy]

This finally was something I admitted to myself this past month. I am an alcoholic. I can go weeks or days at a time without, but once I have one I go on a binge. Doesn't matter if it's beer or liquor. I always thought because I could go days without, there wasn't a problem. If it causes problems in your life, there is a problem.

Good luck with this my friend. I'm serious. I wish you the best of luck because I know that this can be a long and difficult battle.

I have seen it in close friends, and family members.

Get help for sure, but ultimately you are the only one that can fix this.

 

[Sarge]

Bloody Mary breakfasts