Do I have alcoholism?
356566
You are deffinatley showing signs of having and or developing a serious problem. I think you should go and talk to someone (a councellor, not a friend or anything cos they can be quick to condem). I went through something similar and found talking through my problems really good. You shouldnt drink to get drunk - thats simply binge drinking. Have you thought about why you want to be drunk? Is it to feel good, to block out pain, etc? Also, its troubling to think that you hide your behavour. I know that its hard to talk about it, but it is deffinatley worth it. Its amazing how good i felt after the first session, just to spill everything out to someone who was totally unbiased, knowing that its totally confidential and whoever your talking to isnt going to think your a nutcase is fantastic!!! I hope everything works out for you, and again, please go and talk to someone. Something that really woke me up was when i was told that you can actually die just from drinking too much - because its a depressant, it can actually relax your system so much that you stop breathing and just die in your sleep. Imagine your parents/siblings/friends/etc walking in to wake you up and not being able to - that thought freaked me out. So yeah, again, hope it all goes well, i would give you my email address if you wanted to talk but i dont really want to post it here! Take care
1004829
my hands are the same way and have been for 20 years. i do not drink any alcoholic beverages. i dont see how it could be from drinking.
903244
Do you drink? You may be having a reaction to alcohol .. I would definitely visit a doctor on this onne.
179034
Depends on how much you drink daily. I know where I live there are outpatient therapies. And do not listen to whoever said that it is not an addiction, it most certainly is. If you are a heavy drinker, then you will need medical supervision to help with the effects of coming off the alcohol. I applaud you for wanting to quit. It is very hard, but definitely do-able.  Good luck to you.
63088
Sorry to hear that you are having a hard time socializing.  I think you need to give some more information before anyone can fully answer your question.\n\nFirst, is your problem associated with your inability to "connect" (or understand) others?  Do you wonder if you're normal or what normal behavior is?  Or, are you highly intelligent and find others not smart enough to have a meaningful conversation?\n\nOr, is this an anxiety issue?  Do you worry about what others think of you?  Are you concerned that people will laugh at you or talk about you?\n\nIf this is a matter of having a tough time understanding other people, I wonder if you might have come from an alcoholic family?  I ask because sometimes children of alcoholics complain of these kinds of issues--they can't integrate, don't know how to behave normally, feel out of sorts.  If you did come from an alcoholic family, seek out a local ACOA or AA meeting for support.\n\nIf you feel anxiety seek out medical help.  Drugs like Paxil can reduce social anxiety.\n\nFinally, if you feel as if you're simply a misfit--seek out other misfits.  Do you have an odd hobby?  Find others with that hobby.  Chances are you'll see eye to eye.\n\nGood luck.
279610
How much are you drinking alone?  If your drinking until your passing out each night, get some help right away.  It means you have a drinking problem.  Alcohol is a depressant so if your drinking because your depressed, then you're not helping yourself at all. Either way, please seek counseling asap.
55499
You will need to get alot more information to decide for yourself. When she drinks every day, does she always get drunk, or is it a beer after work? Has she gone thru a traumatic experience, but before she rarely drank? I'm sure you wouldn't have asked if you weren't bothered by her current state, so you need to voice your concerns, or just ask her if she wants to talk about anything. Let her know you are always there for her, because if you confront her about this and she does have alcoholic tendancies, her first reaction is to be defensive and question herself in whether you are a real friend or not. I would seek more information on the web as to warning signs of dangerous behavior, and how to approach people exhibiting such symptoms. Good luck.
986139
Unfortunately, with alcohol, especially drinks that are NOT beer, after two drinks, you are legally drunk. If you drink every day, you have a drinking problem.
714281
ur an alcoholic if u're addictive to it. i don't think ur an alcoholic 'coz u only drink after a meal, maybe u just love the taste.
269027
An alcoholic is some one that drinks for the sole purpose of getting drunk!\nThat's me! I don't drink socially. When I drink I don't stop till I am drunk! I used to avoid hangovers by staying drunk!\n3 years of my life was wasted!\nThere is a time and place for every thing, now when I drink I am at home with family and/or good friends so that when I am falling down drunk, they put me to bed. That way I can't hurt myself or anyone else! I don't crave it any more like when I was younger, but that took a few years!\nAs for an addict, I think that is some one that has a physical dependence on some thing like I did when I was avoiding a hangover. I also know people that cannot function without their "fix" whether it be alcohol or some other drug. While they are using they are the best at what they do, but without it they can't even make a complete sentence, walk or hold themselves upright!\nI also agree with the person above that pointed out that it does not have to be a drug, it can be a feeling. Thus being totally psycological or being addicted to the chemicals produced in our bodies.\nREMEMBER, you are the only one who can change you!\nHelp is just that, HELP! The real changes are made because YOU want them!\nThat's MY point of view.
1034614
There are different forms of alcoholism.....you don't have to drink everyday to be considered an alcoholic.  How it affects you....if you can't stop at having just one or two drinks for example, or if you have blackouts and can't remember what you did the day after is another form of alcoholism.  Needing to drink every day is definitely a form of alcoholism.  It definitely sounds like your friend is in denial.  You could mention to him that you feel that his health is in jeporady, but only he can want to help himself.  It takes alot of courage and determine to overcome this disease.  I know that for a fact.  My father died at the age of 36 from alcoholism and my family tried for years and we had him in many programs, but he just could not overcome the desire or will power to stop.  I am 50 years old and I know for a fact that I could if I allowed myself to get in trouble with alcohol.  If I have more than 3 drinks at a time, I have blackouts and become deathly ill.... that is a form of alcoholism.  Try to encourage your friend to get help and "be there for him", but make him understand that he has to want to STOP!
736009
Sweetie, I think you're not just stressed ... I think you're also depressed.  It's possible you're drinking to cover up, or drown, some emotions you don't want to deal with.  Please see either a professional (such as a counselor) or someone you have a lot of trust in (such as a pastor or priest) and have a really good heart-to-heart talk with that person.  If you are indeed trying to drown out your emotions / problems, they'll only become worse.  Eventually, they'll still find a way to surface ... only by then you'll have added the additional problem of having compromised your health and safety.  Just the fact that you got drunk enough to fall down a flight of stairs should tell you that your drinking is getting out of hand.\n\nAs for your back, well, you already have a history of back problems, so I'm sure the tumble didn't exactly help your back.  Just because it isn't all that sore yet doesn't mean that it won't be ... it wouldn't be unusual for the pain to set in in a few days.  Besides, you may have had enough alcohol in you to mask the real pain.  Given that you heard a crack, it might not be a bad idea for you to have a quick check-up with your doctor, just to be on the safe side.\n\nAs to your drinking chums ... well, if they're **really** you're friends, they'll understand if you tell them that you feel the need to back off on the heavy drinking and give your party-hardy self a chance to rest up and re-coup.  If they can't understand that ... well, then I hate to tell you this, but they're not really your "friends" and you don't really need them in your life just now.  Real friends - good friends - will always want what is best for you.\n\nPlease take it from this old party-hardy girl and get yourself to someone who will listen and can help you figure out why you're taking the risks you're taking these days.  \n\nAbove all, please be careful.  These just aren't the days when a young lady can get sloshed and be safe ... there are only so many times when you'll be able to beat the odds.\n\nI wish you the very best, dear.  Good luck.
679862
i know this isn't the answer your looking for, but as a friend, I'll give you my take for what ever its worth.i was classified as bipolar ever since i was a kid.doctors have put me on countless meds. throughout my life.meds. have never had any effect on me.before i knew the Lord,i thought of meds. as the answer.now that I'm a believer,i don't take meds. any longer and don't go to therapy.I'm not saying that he should not take any meds but that he must put his trust in the Lord to help him with this.let me put it another way,if you quit drinking by willpower alone you will always have cravings and may go back to drinking.if you ask Jesus to take this addiction away from you,you will not have any cravings and will never need A.A.if you need further proof,go to your local church and ask to speak to believers who quit drinking.i feel you should ask brothers from your church to talk to him and ask the sisters for support.i also don't know why people can't answer your question with respect.\nP.S. i loved your answer you gave to my question,you must be the glue that keeps your relationship together\n                     God Bless
1005569
In a word:  NO\n\nI think your friend's story of a man having an accident the day after he stopped drinking is pure coincidence.  Alcoholic problems are usually described in the sense when drinking effects (poorly) other areas of your life.  So if you are talking about drinking in excess before you go to sleep and likely suffering a hang over or having not enough real sleep, it will likely make it very difficult to perform your job the next day.  \n\nStudies have shown that drinking a glass of wine a day keeps the doctor away.
522267
It is good that you have made the admission that you have a drinking problem.  That is the first and most important step.  Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like you are truly ready to quit.  You will never be able to drink again or you will end up in poorer condition as it usually happens that people start drinking more after quitting for awhile.  If you were truly ready to quit, you would be willing to do ANYTHING to get over your problem...this would include following through with an AA group or such.  There are places available, for lots of money, that will detox you and give you a program to follow, but they usually end up telling you to go to an AA type of group.  Since you have little money, go to some AA groups, find out what you could be looking at in the future if you don't quit...its free!  It will also occupy time that you would be normally drinking.  Congrats on 5 days sober, you need to live it one day at a time and just thank God that you got through today and pray that you can get through tomorrow.  That is the basic premise of AA, but you need the support and encouragement!  Good luck though, whatever you decide to do.
769663
Get a complete physical evaluation and see a professional for alcohol abuse. There is no "ONE" answer to this. Different people need different treatment. Some need medication, some need other things. Some need both. Don't go by what works for someone else when you need to have yourself evaluated. Hang in there!
556383
The amount that you are having is fine - it is sustained over drinking or binge drinking that are problems.\n\nGiven that you are not drinking alone (whihc is a sign of alcoholism) - it makes me think you don't have a problem.\n\nI also understand that your husband is worried - particularly if he used to do too much before and feels he needs to be different.  I actually believe that to protect children you need to show them drinking responsibly rather than just avoiding it altogether.\n\neg taking children to the pub for a meal and having a small drink.\n\nThey will then learn that it is OK and not something secret, forbidden or exciting.\n\nMy parents used to give us watered down wine for our sunday lunch - that did more to put me off alcohol than being told I mustn't have any because it's bad (which would simply make me want to do it more).\n\nPerhaps the best course of action is to both (you as well, so he feels supported) head on a counselling course - it'll clear the air and help see that there is a middle ground to binging or abstinence. \n\nPersonally, I've let my daughter have a little taste (which she hated) - when she asked.  And then all the inquisitiveness disappeared from her.  But at least the topic's been broached - which'll make it easier when she gets older and wants to talk about it on a more serious level.