Hm. I think it depends on how often this is happening, and for how long. I think it is fairly "normal" for a young person (<30 or so) to get smashed now and then with his buddies at a party. I know a lot of people who got really drunk on weekends in college and even after graduation (myself included at times).
However, now that I am over 21 I rarely get smashed... and usually when I do it's because I told myself "It's been a long time, and XYZ is going to be in town tonight, so it's ok."
If you are around 30, working a full time job, and getting hammered out of your mind every weekend, maybe you have a minor problem. If nothing else, try cutting back to twice a month or something.
Also, keep in mind that the "best" type of drunk feeling is not smashed, but just moderately buzzed. That is also the best way to hit on chicks and to function the next morning.
It is also possible you are drinking this much because you are upset about something else in your life....
Now for some good news: you don't sound like you have a *major* problem and LOTS of people drink more than you.
However, now that I am over 21 I rarely get smashed... and usually when I do it's because I told myself "It's been a long time, and XYZ is going to be in town tonight, so it's ok."
If you are around 30, working a full time job, and getting hammered out of your mind every weekend, maybe you have a minor problem. If nothing else, try cutting back to twice a month or something.
Also, keep in mind that the "best" type of drunk feeling is not smashed, but just moderately buzzed. That is also the best way to hit on chicks and to function the next morning.
It is also possible you are drinking this much because you are upset about something else in your life....
Now for some good news: you don't sound like you have a *major* problem and LOTS of people drink more than you.
Platypus
Lifer
- Apr 26, 2001
- 31,046
- 321
- 136
I have, used to be my crutch for severe depression bouts... I finally just cut myself off from the way I used to drink. I still enjoy a drink alone or with friends frequently but nowhere near like I used to. PM me if you want to talk about it... I know better than to share anything person on this board.
wheresmybacon
Diamond Member
- Sep 10, 2004
- 3,899
- 1
- 76
If you think you do, then you probably do. If you're blacking out regularly, then I'd say yeah, you have a problem. Can you "put the brakes on" once you start?
I started out just like you. I wouldn't ever drink during the week, but when I'd go out on the weekends I'd get completely smashed. Over years and years it got to where the weekends didn't start on Friday, they started on Thursday. And then Wednesday. Pretty soon I was drinking every day. Most of the day. Just to function. I won't get into too many more details about me but suffice to say it got really bad.
I got out of rehab the first week in April. Don't let yourself get to where I've been. If you have trouble stopping once you start, I'd question your decision to drink at all.
Go to an AA meeting. They'are free, and going to one may give you a better perspective on where you're at. Substance abuse counselors are also a resource, and depending where you work that option is confidential and may even be free.
Good luck.
i just drink beer when i go out. it takes way too much money and effort to get plowed on beer. i can go to the bar and have 6 or 7 beers (if im really on a roll) and be completely fine. i don't drink liquor unless its a party at school because it catches up with you so quickly and before you know it, you're sitting down and have no idea where you are.
I drank 5-6 days (conservative estimate) for two years. I drank to the point of being drunk. My hands would shake by the middle of the day if I wasn't having a drink yet. Oh yea, I was also working PT and going to college full time. I failed a few classes too. Reasons why I drank this much, my lifestyle was based on partying, bar hopping, and clubbing. Thats all I thought about. I also had a really bad toothache once which turned out to be a root canal. Days before the surgury, I would drink myself silly until I passed out just to get over the pain. I also drank sometimes to get away from problems. I havent thrown up for "natural" reasons in over 10 years, but during these two years of my life, I must have thrown up at least once a week.
After a while, people started nagging at me and trying to convince me to stop drinking soo much. I lost two internships because of my drinking. Actually, I've never told anybody that drinking was the reason I lost them. But both internships, I drank like hell the night before work, woke up the next morning unable to get out of bed, and just quit instead.
I also remember not wanting to stop drinking because I was worried I would become a boring person and no one would want to hang out with me anymore. I knew I was fun and exciting and wild when I was drinking, and people had fun with me. But I was worried that I couldnt be all of those things without the alcohol.
I havent drank much now in over a year. I'll go out for drinks maybe once a month, if even that. Getting rid of the alcohol in my life was one of the best things I've ever done. I have an awesome internship, I'm graduating in December 2006, I've got a great girlfriend, and I've gotten into bodybuilding as well.
After a while, people started nagging at me and trying to convince me to stop drinking soo much. I lost two internships because of my drinking. Actually, I've never told anybody that drinking was the reason I lost them. But both internships, I drank like hell the night before work, woke up the next morning unable to get out of bed, and just quit instead.
I also remember not wanting to stop drinking because I was worried I would become a boring person and no one would want to hang out with me anymore. I knew I was fun and exciting and wild when I was drinking, and people had fun with me. But I was worried that I couldnt be all of those things without the alcohol.
I havent drank much now in over a year. I'll go out for drinks maybe once a month, if even that. Getting rid of the alcohol in my life was one of the best things I've ever done. I have an awesome internship, I'm graduating in December 2006, I've got a great girlfriend, and I've gotten into bodybuilding as well.
Joemonkey
Diamond Member
- Mar 3, 2001
- 8,859
- 4
- 0
Here is a fairly comprehensive set of questions to gauge your alcohol dependency
My SADD score is: 5 I have a LOW DEPENDENCE
this is off of a scale of 1-9 is low dependence, 10-19 is medium, and >20 is high dependence. and wtf is up with this question???
"After a heavy drinking session do you see frightening things that later you realize were imaginary?"
My SADD score is: 5 I have a LOW DEPENDENCE
this is off of a scale of 1-9 is low dependence, 10-19 is medium, and >20 is high dependence. and wtf is up with this question???
"After a heavy drinking session do you see frightening things that later you realize were imaginary?"
Don't get the crap scared out of you. Even if you did turn out to be alcoholic, it's not like the Dr. telling you that you have AIDS or something. Alcoholism as a disease is one that is potentially life threatening but fortunately has a very simple way of stopping its progression. Stop drinking. (I know its simpler in theory than in practice especially if you are an alcoholic. And note I said stopping its progression and not curing). It is progressive for the vast majority of alcoholics. You don't wake up one morning and suddenly you are alcoholic and nobody ever sets off drinking with the intent of becoming alcoholic. It is a very subtle and devious disease that creeps up on you over time and worms its tendrils around you while it keeps you anesthitized if you choose to go the route of denial. It sounds like you are a very level-headed and introspective guy who doesn't mind questioning your own behavior. You have a better chance than most as far as being able to quit since you are still able to be honest with yourself and question yourself. It is not too late for you. But YOU and only YOU can decide if you have a drinking problem at this stage. The fact that your drinking and your inability to control yourself around alcohol at times troubles you is reason enough if you decide you want to quit. If your drinking habbits trouble you, then it is a problem for you. YOU have to decide. As some people have already said, you do exhibit some warning signs. Blackouts are a BIG signal. Have you had any DUI or other alcohol related arrests or problems in your life because of drinking? Hopefully not yet. But there is only one way to ensure that you never do. Ask yourself what you stand to gain and what you stand to loose by either continuing to drink or quitting drinking altogether. Just remember you do not have to be physically dependent to be considered an alcoholic. It's just that by that time your alcoholism is readily evident to people around you. If alcohol is causing you life problems (arrests, fights with significant others or family, missing work, etc. . .) and people are noticing your drinking and you still find that you'd rather continue to drink despite this, you can be pretty sure you have a problem. From your description of yourself and your drinking habbits, these things are still "not yets" for you. But they could be in your future if you let your habbits persist unchecked.
You have taken the best first step you can in questioning yourself and asking for help. Others have been through what you're going through so you are not alone and AA can be a great tool for you to examine yourself by listening to the experiences of others. You don't even have to talk if you don't want to. People frequently attend meetings just to listen and nobody should give you a hard time about that. It's free and it doesn't commit you to anything. There is no real dictionary definition of alcoholism that covers every person's case. Each person has to decide on their own ultimately. But wanting to quit and not being able to is all the reason you should need to seek help.
That would be DT's or Delerium Tremens. People often imagine they see spiders for example. Happens to people who are severe phase III alcoholics usually with physical dependence. Basically if you answer yes to that question, all the other questions are pretty irrelevant.
You're not an alcoholic, you just don't know when to stop when you do drink. I only drink one day a week and limit myself to a certain amount, depending on driving, who I'm with, etc.
There was a time earlier this year where I was going through a super rough time - I drank every single day. Got not to the point of being hammered, but pretty buzzed, would wake up 4 hours later to go to work, repeat. It was a bad cycle and after a month and 5lbs of weight, I finally pulled my head out of my ass and realized I needed to stop, and couldn't use alcohol as an escape.
There was a time earlier this year where I was going through a super rough time - I drank every single day. Got not to the point of being hammered, but pretty buzzed, would wake up 4 hours later to go to work, repeat. It was a bad cycle and after a month and 5lbs of weight, I finally pulled my head out of my ass and realized I needed to stop, and couldn't use alcohol as an escape.
I've got a few friends that seem to have the same affliction: One will either be stone cold sober, or completely drunk. I mean one time we were over at a friends place pre-partying (having a few top shelf drinks at like 9 pm before going out and drinking crappy beer/hunch punch heh) and we were all feeling pretty good after like 4 drinks so we're watchin TV and he's sitting at the bar. I didn't even know that he was drinking, but the next thing I know he's got his head down on the bar, and like 10 seconds later he just vomited all over himself, but he was so drunk that he didn't even know it! I've seriously never seen him with just a buzz it's either DD or wasted for that guy.
Another one of my friends just doesn't know when to quit, he's been to the hospital 4 times for saline drips due to excessive drinking. Some friends threw me a party for my 21'st that got pretty out of hand, and one of the last things that I remember is seeing him passed out face down in the grass. He's the guy at the party that will do like 2 quadruple shots in a row first thing to show off, then he's done for the night heh.
Another one of my friends just doesn't know when to quit, he's been to the hospital 4 times for saline drips due to excessive drinking. Some friends threw me a party for my 21'st that got pretty out of hand, and one of the last things that I remember is seeing him passed out face down in the grass. He's the guy at the party that will do like 2 quadruple shots in a row first thing to show off, then he's done for the night heh.
I drink everyday and need at least 12 to get drunk like that. I don't drink everyday to get drunk, I just have a few after work and during dinner.
Sure you may exhibit some "textbook" examples of a drinking problem, but I think you're over thinking the whole situation.
You're also asking this question on a forum that appears to contain a huge population of the most morally upstanding citizens in the entire planet. Take it with a grain of salt.
Sure you may exhibit some "textbook" examples of a drinking problem, but I think you're over thinking the whole situation.
You're also asking this question on a forum that appears to contain a huge population of the most morally upstanding citizens in the entire planet. Take it with a grain of salt.
Why does everyone say that drinking by yourself is a problem? When I come home from work sometimes I like to have a beer or a glass of scotch, but I don't consider that a drinking problem. I mean yeah if I go home every day and drink away my depression in the dark while listening to eminem, that may be a problem, but I get the weirdest looks from some people if I mention that I had a beer when I was by myself.
I wouldn't worry about alcoholism at this point but you should definately be concerned about getting obliterated and drinking so much you cannot remember how you get home. That's a recipe for fatal disaster.
I drink every day but it's only one shot of tequila for breakfast. Sort of a ritual left over from my heavy drinking days. Other than that, I don't really drink, even social drinking is rare for me.
I drink every day but it's only one shot of tequila for breakfast. Sort of a ritual left over from my heavy drinking days. Other than that, I don't really drink, even social drinking is rare for me.
That bolded statement is somewhat of an oxymoron. One of the defining principles of being alcoholic is that you don't know when to knock off. Not saying that the OP is an alcoholic but merely that your statement doesn't really make sense. If you aren't an alcoholic you wouldn't be able to empathize with this sentiment though. For somebody to make a statement like that they would have to not be an alcoholic and never experienced complications in their life due to somebody elses drinking or else an alcoholic in denial. A true non-alcoholic knows when and where it is appropriate to drink, how much to drink, and has no problem cutting off.
They mean "getting drunk" by yourself. Having a beer or a scotch after work by yourself is no big deal, if you have just 1 or even 2 maximum. Beyond that and you are pushing it. Reasons for drinking beyond 1 or 2 drinks by yourself could include, but are not limited to:
1) You know you are going to loose control and so you don't want to go out where you'd have to drive and risk hurting somebody else.
2) You are ashamed to let other people see how much you drink.
That is why drinking alone is considered a warning sign.
wheresmybacon
Diamond Member
- Sep 10, 2004
- 3,899
- 1
- 76
I think the fact that you can control yourself at work functions says that you aren't an alcoholic. If you were, you wouldn't be able to control yourself there either.
What do you generally drink during the weekends? If you're drinking any hard liquor, that may have something to do with you blacking out all the time. It's a lot harder to keep track of how many drinks you've had when you drink hard alcohol. Sticking to light beer is probably a better idea.
Also, you don't have to get sh!tfaced every day to have a drinking problem. A drinking problem is being unable to control yourself when you do drink. If you get completely fvcked up everytime you drink (even if it's once a month), you have a drinking problem.
What do you generally drink during the weekends? If you're drinking any hard liquor, that may have something to do with you blacking out all the time. It's a lot harder to keep track of how many drinks you've had when you drink hard alcohol. Sticking to light beer is probably a better idea.
Also, you don't have to get sh!tfaced every day to have a drinking problem. A drinking problem is being unable to control yourself when you do drink. If you get completely fvcked up everytime you drink (even if it's once a month), you have a drinking problem.
Those are scary symptoms, for sure. I had planned to make a facetious remark but in all seriousness, try to spend a month with no alcohol at all. If you make it through the month, heave a sigh of relief and be more careful next time.
If you don't make it a month without any alcohol, talk to your doctor ASAP. This won't get any easier to quit if you keep doing it.
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