how does one tell if they are getting addicted to alcohol

[brainhulk]

Any former alcoholics care to share their experience?

 

[surfsatwerk]

Lack of control. Went to the bar for two drinks and leave smashed.

Obsessive thinking. You find yourself thinking about getting drunk when you aren't drinking.

 

[Ashenor]

Blackouts, Drunk Driving, waking up with a plus size companion in your bed wondering how she got there.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Feel like shit every day because you drink every night, yet keep drinking every night. Consciously realizing that you need to quit drinking, but finding yourself unable to do it.

For instance, you say to yourself "today, I'm not going to drink anything because I'm hung over as shit", yet when that afternoon rolls around, your hangover has receded a bit, you're feeling like you could handle some booze after all, your earlier thoughts about not drinking get forgotten. Repeat every day. You're then starting to become addicted to alcohol.

There are stages beyond that as well, where you start thinking a little nip while at work might clear your head a little. Pretty soon you're drinking as soon as you wake up.

 

[PricklyPete]

Feel like shit every day because you drink every night, yet keep drinking every night.

I work with a guy (consultant regularly at customers). He drinks like a fish every night...but still gets up for work every morning. I just don't understand how he does it. If I drink even half of what he drinks one evening...my body nearly shuts down for several days. So I do that VERY rarely (like once every 3-6 months) as I could not live a productive life otherwise.

 

[Ashenor]

I work with a guy (consultant regularly at customers). He drinks like a fish every night...but still gets up for work every morning. I just don't understand how he does it. If I drink even half of what he drinks one evening...my body nearly shuts down for several days. So I do that VERY rarely (like once every 3-6 months) as I could not live a productive life otherwise.

Tolerance and a soon to be shot liver.

 

[surfsatwerk]

People can abuse alcohol on occasion, or over periods of time, and not be an alcoholic. If given sufficient reason they are able to control or moderate drinking. The alcoholic can't control their drinking permanently or stop.

 

[nageov3t]

decide to have a glass of wine with dinner.

if you can drink that glass and have no desire to drink anything else all day, you're probably not an alcoholic.

 

[tboo]

When you feel like you cant go to a bar, function, party..etc and not have fun without having to drink.

 

[alkemyst]

can someone bring me my fucking drink already!@!@@

 

[jhu]

If you are shaking when you wake up but feel better after a drink, then you are addicted.

 

[Pr0d1gy]

You might be an addict if....

It's like a new Jeff Foxworthy joke spin off by Dice Clay.


If you start a thread in a computer forum asking how you know if you are addicted, you might be an addict.

 

[Via]

If you ever have to lie about your drinking in ay way you're probably in trouble.

 

[Pr0d1gy]

hulk I didn't mean anything specifically towards you obviously, it just seemed like the easiest joke to make. That said, if you do have a problem -anyone- PLEASE tell someone you trust and find help, above all else.

 

[GT1999]

I wasn't an alcoholic, but when I drank I had an issue controlling how much I drank. I would plan to have one or two, and end up drinking a LOT more. Once you loosen up you might drink more without realizing it. I didn't drink every day, but yeah, it's all about taking control and moderation.

I don't drink anymore. 21 days sober as of today.

 

[slayer202]

I wasn't an alcoholic, but when I drank I had an issue controlling how much I drank. I would plan to have one or two, and end up drinking a LOT more. Once you loosen up you might drink more without realizing it. I didn't drink every day, but yeah, it's all about taking control and moderation.

I don't drink anymore. 21 days sober as of today.

And the first step is denial

 

[GT1999]

And the first step is denial

Yes I agree. I'll admit that I used to do that.

Also, some might have called me an "alcoholic", though I had zero withdrawl when I stopped, and never found a severe urge to drink, however, I was definitely a binge drinker. I'd go a week or more without drinking, then just go at it.

I did all kinds of stupid things which has costed me a lot.

Some people just should NOT drink, I'm definitely one of them.

Some people realize it after they do something stupid, others after they go out and get a DUI or something. Either way it's good to stop now even if you think you MIGHT have a problem, otherwise you're setting yourself up for disaster.

 

[kinev]

C - Have you ever considered cutting back on your drinking?
A - Do you get angry if people talk to you about your drinking?
G - Do you ever feel guilty about how much/often you drink?
E - Do you need an eye-opener first thing in the morning?

 

[her209]

When you calculate your expenditures in how many beers you could have bought with the money instead.

 

[surfsatwerk]

When you calculate your expenditures in how many beers you could have bought with the money instead.

It just makes sense to do things that way. It's like the metric system.

 

[Arkitech]

waking up with a plus size companion in your bed wondering how she got there.

yikes

 

[Chiropteran]

I started drinking to ditch my soda addiction. It didn't work, because I'd just end up drinking rum & coke or similar drinks.

 

[bignateyk]

Theres such a thing known as "functional alcoholism" too. Being an alcoholic doesn't necessarily imply that you get trashed every night.

Can you stop and just go 2 weeks without having a drink? Having that urge just to have 1 or 2 drinks every evening could make you an alcoholic, even if that's all you have. It's just a question of whether or not you are mentally/physically dependent on it.

There's no problem with having a couple drinks every day if it's something you aren't dependent on.

 

[shortylickens]

If you have to ask..........

 

[A Casual Fitz]

Telling myself that I should cut back was an eye opener for me. That and when I started shaking really badly.