How do you know if youre an alcoholic??

[Holy War]

I think I may have a problem, but I really dont know (I drink everyday and the amount depends on the day). Its weird because I never thought you could have a drinkin problem until youre older, but Im 23 and think that maybe its just a phase (a phase thats been goin on since I was 15). Kinda a serious thread here, but if youve traveled down this path, please send me a PM so we can talk and I can get some honest info.

on a limb here sounding pathetic but, I drink alone ALOT. I just dont think its really that bad though. I mean you have to put yourself in my shoes, Ive seen a lot of **** (US Marine here). When Im sober Im not that ****ed up socially, but Im also in a position where I cant get professional help because if my employeer found out it would ruin my career. What do you think I should do? Stoping drinking is totally out of the question...I love it too much

But I mean really, Im just curious what the signs are. I mean I wont drink a 5th stright in a night, but I will kill a liter easy in 2 nights time whether its with friends or not. Just a part of my deep German/British heritage I suppose

I run marathons, am extremely fit, have a healthy love life etc etc. The only crossroads I have is with my family, because well, theyre my family and we fight like hell

this is drunk post, Im sure you all know that, as well as I do, but I am genuinly curious about youre respnoses/conserns here. I want to know if I need help or not

[hbarcat]

There are different kinds of alcoholics but the one thing they all have in common is that they drink when they shouldn't or drink in unhealthy amounts.

Now there are people who drink moderate amounts of alcohol every single day and as long as it doesn't interfere with your functioning in your daily activities then that's fine and you can do that and be perfectly healthy and happy until you die at the age of 115.

But if you drink every day in more than moderate amounts so that it starts to cause physical dependence and damage to your health then that is, be definition, alcoholism.

Also, I'm sure you know this, but you can't save up sober days and go on the occasional bender. Too much alcohol in the body at once is just plain bad for you. Though this is a rough guide, if you make sure you never exceed a Blood Alcohol Level (BAL) higher than the typical legal limit (.08) you can pretty much drink alcohol every day in moderation and stay healthy for a lifetime. If you find that stopping at that point is too difficult and you routinely exceed that limit then you are damaging your body and are actively getting yourself addicted to alcohol.

[WalterBush]

The rule-of-thumb definition I've seen used by psychiatrists and the occasional AA member is, you undergo a radical personality change when drinking, and/or your can't seem to stop drinking when you want to.

[Mark Latimour]

I have a friend whose a therapist who suggested the test that she uses is "do you organise your life around your drinking rather than just drinking when the opportunity arises".

However I will add that an alcholic I know uses this as a test: "If ever think to yourself: "I wonder if I have a drinking problem", then you have a drinking problem. Nobody ever thinks to themself "I wonder if I do too much exercise" or "I wonder if I eat too much salad" or "I wonder if I eat too many pop-tarts" and the reason you don't think that is because you don't have a problem with those things. If you did think it, then you would know you had a problem. Its no different with drinking".

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Try going without drinking and see if you have urges?

[Holy War]

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

Try going without drinking and see if you have urges?

my problem is that I have extremely powerful will power. just because I can put off drinking for a couple of weeks doesnt mean I wont go back to it. I can push myself to do anything. Im not trying to beat my chest here, but I will tackle any task presented to me by any one person (that is people who arent completely retarded asking me to do dumb things). If you give me a challenge, I will before all people on the earth, complete it.

I just dont have the will power to go completely sober. I just dont think I can do it at all. I can go weeks at a time without drinking, but i wll eventually get the urge to go back. I also dont think some circle of strangers can convince me to quuit

[kserg]

Alcoholics go to meetings... If you don't go to meetings then you are just a drunk.

[kserg]

Originally Posted by Mark Latimour

I have a friend whose a therapist who suggested the test that she uses is "do you organise your life around your drinking rather than just drinking when the opportunity arises".

However I will add that an alcholic I know uses this as a test: "If ever think to yourself: "I wonder if I have a drinking problem", then you have a drinking problem. Nobody ever thinks to themself "I wonder if I do too much exercise" or "I wonder if I eat too much salad" or "I wonder if I eat too many pop-tarts" and the reason you don't think that is because you don't have a problem with those things. If you did think it, then you would know you had a problem. Its no different with drinking".

I've seen people exercise to the point where it's unhealthy... they don't see it, but they still have a problem. Alcoholism is socially looked down on, exercise is not.

[Stanley Design]

A LOT of people here will believe you are an alcoholic at the drop of a hat. Look at it this way, are you a problem drinker? By which I mean...
Do you tend to overdo it more often than not?
Does it strain friendships/relationships/job/school?
Have you had any serious health problems from drinking such as permanent ulcers/shingles/jaundis/STI's?
Have you put yourself into serious financial debt due to drinking?
Have you gotten into serious legal trouble due to drinking? (More than drunk tank or fines)

Even if you answer yes to ALL of those, it STILL doesn't mean you are a problem drinker. It only means that you've had some bad experiences and at some point, for most people, they grow out of it and the thrill/excitement isn't worth the risks anymore. When it becomes a problem to YOU, then YOU have a problem with drinking.

Even at that, everybody is different and not everyone who is a problem drinker has to stop completely. Sometimes it's time to pull back the reigns and say "I need to take it easy, at least for now and make sure that I don't let it get out of control". At one point you end up out of the late teenage phase where you can drink uncontrollably and deal with the reprocussions later. Beer first, ask questions later. It doesn't work forever. Just keep an eye on yourself and make sure you're happy.

This is coming from a 22 year old who has had big battles with the bottle and still drink quite frequently (especially during the summer since I practically live in the pool or on the beach) I don't dive into it as heavily as I used to and grew out of the two-four and bottle of whiskey nights. Having a 6er of cold brews with your buds is where it's at.

A lot of people will call you an alcoholic, the only person that can make that call is you unless you're fiending for it non-stop and can't function without it. If you're in serious trouble with it, that's different. But it doesn't sound like you are.

[Mark Latimour]

Originally Posted by kserg

I've seen people exercise to the point where it's unhealthy... they don't see it, but they still have a problem. Alcoholism is socially looked down on, exercise is not.

I think you are misreading my post, I am not saying that someone who eats too much pop-tarts or exercises too much can't have a problem, but that if they wondered out loud whether they had a problem, there probably wouldn't be any debate about it, the fact that you had to think it in relation to exercise or pop-tarts is good evidence that you have a problem. For some reason people who drink tend to "wonder" about it alot and not realise that people who don't have problems don't wonder about whether they have a problem.

[Intenzity]

I thought about posting all this...and decided to do it anyway. It is in the spirit of encouragement, honest, but I also want to convey how serious substance abuse is and how dangerous it is as far as thinking you can handle it or go it alone. So, peace, okay?

http://www.aa.org/lang/en/subpage.cfm?page=71

That is the classic set of questions. If you answer yes to 4, it might be time to take a look at how you consume alcohol. But only you can be the one that makes the call for yourself.

Also if you have any family members that have it, your likelihood goes up rather significantly. It is a hereditary condition, just like your eye color, it comes with the genes.

Not to be confrontational, but as someone who has dealt with this issue first hand, your will power argument is one of the classics. It is what every alcoholic says when they don't want to admit what many already know about themselves inside.

And since it sounds like you have never been to any recovery program meetings first hand, don't let your imagination of what they may be like keep you from attending one, or from thinking you might know what they are about and how they work. That prejudice could keep you from a set of strangers that might literally save your life. And the whole idea is...they don't stay strangers.

If you really are curious, just go and listen, it is always free, and no one will make you talk or do anything you don't want to, you don't have to "join" and you don't even have to introduce yourself or call yourself an alcoholic. You can even ask for the book, for free if you want, or you can download it online. I would suggest a meeting for just men for the first couple, there are usually tons.

Here is the harsh reality: if you really are an alcoholic, you will end up there anyway sooner or later, probably later, after a lot more time has passed and a lot more damage has been done to your body and your life. So you can tell yourself you don't want to be there, but eventually, maybe because of your wife, or a judge, or a boss, you will end up there. If you really are an alcoholic.

And don't think you have to be living in piss-soaked pants under a bridge in order to be a "real" alcoholic, as people have pointed out, it only matters if it is effecting your life, it does not matter how much you are consuming, it only matters what the end result is. Don't get hung up on the quantities of what you are consuming, or compare your amounts to someone else's, its not about that. It only matters how it is impacting you, if it is a single glass of chardonnay, so be it.

I don't mean to be harsh or confrontational, I only talk this way to urge you to take this issue extremely seriously. Alcoholism is a 100% fatal condition, in other words if you really are one, and you don't do anything to actively treat it, it is what will be the root cause of your death. It may be because you mouth off when you are drunk and get stabbed by some psycho, or you flip your car over wasted, or your liver and kidney fails, or you get so depressed you kill yourself, but if you really have it, it will be the root cause of your demise. It may not say "alcoholism" on your death certificate, but it will be the real reason behind how you died. It is that effing serious. Just like cancer, it doesn't just get better. It always, always gets worse over time.

Don't play chicken with it, you *will* lose. Active alcoholism (if you are one, and you keep drinking) is 700,000,000,000 and 0, it never ever ever loses. Ever.

Think of all the greats, more talented that any of us here, names we all know who thought they could handle it - Jaco (enough said), Entwistle, (60 years old and snorting coke with a heart condition?? BAD, BAD, idea) Rocco (he had to have a liver transplant a few years ago and almost died before he got it), Bonohm, Bon Scott, every guitar player that ever played with the Chili Peppers, Paul Chambers...I could literally list 100 other names....all dead way earlier than they needed to be from some kind of substance abuse issue, alcohol or some other thing. It will kill you just as easy, and the entire time it will make sure you are thinking "I don't have a problem, I can handle it".

okay end of speech...Hang in there, there are lots of people that will do amazing things to help you if you want it. You aren't the first person to ask yourself these things. You just have to be the one to put yourself in the situation where that help is possible first.

[drteeth]

Can you completely stop drinking for a week straight?

[Jim Nazium]

Originally Posted by Holy War

...Im also in a position where I cant get professional help because if my employeer found out it would ruin my career.

Are you sure about that bro? I thought the military had gotten pretty cool with providing counseling to people. Is there a doctor or chaplain you can talk to discretely? Just ask if there is someone you can talk to?

I don't know if you are alcoholic or not, but I'd encourage you to find out. It isn't only your life that is at stake. Your friends, family, and the guys in your unit all count on you. Do it for them.

[PSPookie]

Originally Posted by drteeth

Can you completely stop drinking for a week straight?

That doesn't mean a thing.

I see some really good posts here and a ton of missinformation.

The most succinct test I've heard is this: If your drinking causes you problems then you have a drinking problem.

No one but you can diagnose you as an alcoholic. The fact that you are considering the possibilty is a good indicator that you may have a problem. If you're still not sure, go to a meeting or two and just listen. See if their stories sound familiar.


Oh, and one is much more likely to lose his job because of a drinking problem rather than because he is fixing his drinking problem.

[Absentia]

My wife and I split a pint or a 12 daily,
we don't see it as a problem it doesn't effect anything in our lives we just like winding down after work.

Yes there are nights when we will split the old fifth of jack but that usually with a party.
People will make you beleive you have a problem with anything if I would believe them
People would have me conviced I have
addictions to alcohol, porn, sex, pot, red meat, potatoes and cheese
and that I'm an OCD, manic depressive, bipolar hypochondric with ADD.

Yes believe me everything is a mental disorder or physical dependancy which by the way has a pill for it.

You're 23 and in the military, life is short cheers drink the beers.

[jojobean39]

You are an alcoholic. No way around that. Here are the glaring reasons why I came to the conclusion (I'm no doctor though, so don't take this as proper medical advice). As individual statements, some of the things you said are not that bad. But, put together, you have a problem.

I think I may have a problem

I drink everyday and the amount depends on the day

Its weird because I never thought you could have a drinkin problem until youre older, but Im 23 and think that maybe its just a phase (a phase thats been goin on since I was 15).

I drink alone ALOT. I just dont think its really that bad though. I mean you have to put yourself in my shoes, Ive seen a lot of **** (US Marine here).

Stoping drinking is totally out of the question...I love it too much

The only crossroads I have is with my family, because well, theyre my family and we fight like hell

Just take a look at those posts. It's causing problems with your work (you cannot be honest with them) and your family. You use drinking as a means to cope with things that you have seen as a Marine. You cannot stop drinking. You have been drinking since you were 15, which puts you at a substantially greater risk (nearly 5 times more likely) of being an alcoholic (source- http://www.sadd.org/stats.htm).

You have a serious problem. Do get help.

[lousybassplayer]

Marine brother here. Dude, if you are that worried about it its time to give it up for a while and see what happens to you. WE drink alot. Its part of our culture. But that doesn't mean we are impervious to the dangers therein. I have a good buddy (also Marine) who drank too much in his opinion and up and quit. Just like that. Went without a drink for months and cleared his head. Now he drinks occasionally, socially and in healthy amounts. He didn't have a full blown addiction, he had just gotten uncomfortable with why and how much he drank. I told him while he was dry that if ever a time would come that he felt comfortable drinking again he would, and if it didn;t come then he needed to quit permanently. The problem I have with the way society deals with drinking is that there is emphasis on there being some kind of line and you have to grasp in the dark to find out what it is. Trust yourself. You know more about hte inner workings of your mind than anyone. You know what you need to do, and if you are a Marine you can do it. Its that simple. Also, cheesy as it sounds, if you got stuff to talk about, hit me up. I am on here all the time and I am always willing to talk to a Marine. I've been there and done that all as well, drinking and the other stuff.

[Lady Kayri]

Former Air Force puke here. Better to take care of a potential problem now, before it becomes a real problem (say, DUIs, disorderly conduct, etc.) that forces your superiors to take note you have an alcohol problem. You don't even have to technically have an addiction to have an alcohol problem. Just get yourself messed up in situations where others notice, and you've got a bigger problem to deal with. I had one airman who worked for me who only drank once a month or so - but when he did, he almost always got into trouble of one sort or another. Technically, he wasn't addicted to alchol, but he definately had become a problem drinker. Unfortunately the military (not just Marines) tends to foster a culture where drinking is not only condoned, but even expected; drinking to excess sort of becomes a rite of passage. You need to step back and take a good look at what your alcohol consumption is doing to you, how it is affecting you; for that matter, is it taking more and more beer / whatever to give you a good buzz? And if you're already worried that it may be becoming a problem, that's part of your answer there. If you don't trust folks on base, there's got to be an AA chapter somewhere close to base; AA is aware of the 'stigma' among some in the military if you're admitting or at least considering you may have an alcohol problem. Or PM some of the folks here who've already told you they've been in your shoes...

[jwbassman]

You're probably an alcoholic if you have to ask this question on TB....

No but seriously it sounds, in my opinion, like you may have a problem and I truly hope that you will consider seeking help in the future before it continues to get worse.

[lousybassplayer]

All that is true. But the Marines take the drinking cake, hands down. Not that its as big a badge of honor after a few years as it is when you are new to the Corps, but its true. The military angle is a big thing to consider in this one.