Am I an alcoholic? If I drink because I am nervous, or bcause I need to relax, or want to have fun?,?

Question

I make it a rule that I never drink before 6pm when I'm at home on my own. I only occasionallly have a drink when I'm out for lunch, as I find it makes me really sleepy.
I used to never drink at home on my own at all, but now I do.
I find if I've had a bad day at work, then I fancy a drink.
I only work part-time, but often find the night before I'm due to go to work, I feel nervous and need a drink to help me relax.
Sometimes, I drink just over half a bottle of red wine - but that is never every night and as soon as I go over the half, I start to feel nervous about it.
My mum is an alcoholic, I think, and I don't want to end up like her. (Hope she doesn't read this!).

What do you think?

P.S.
I usually only drink red wine, never spirits.
Occasionally, I might have a cocktail, but very rarely, and it'susually only 1 if I do.
Again, I occasionally have a liquer.

Ouch!! Yes - a silly question, but sometimes there might be something serious behind it.

Yes - I do it partly because I am unhappy about something and partly because I am in pain about something and there is no solution to the pain.

Answer 1

"Alcoholism is the consumption of, or preoccupation with, alcoholic beverages to the extent that this behavior interferes with the drinker's normal personal, family, social, or work life, and may lead to physical, or mental harm" - from Wikipedia (link attached).

Now to personalise it a bit. It's a really tough question, but I guess what is key is that if you can take an honest and objective view of yourself, and have an informed knowledge of the trade-off in terms of health risks, then as long as you aren't reducing your net quality of life or that of others around you, you aren't an alcoholic. Close relatives of mine have been alcoholics (immediate family), and I like a drink - probably more than most but less than many - but it's all about how it sits in your life. For me, I don't really know why I drink, but I know it doesn't lower my standard of living, upset my loved ones, or turn me into someone I don't like. I know a little alcohol is healthy, but I also know that maybe I have a bit more than that threshold, but I am willing to trade that slight increased risk against the relaxed and pleasant feeling I have when I take a drink.

I'm waffling here. I don't drink to escape anything, I seldom get drunk, and on the rare occasions that I do get drunk I don't get obnoxious. So I'm ok. Sounds like you're the same. Don't fret about it - and if you find you can't help but fret about it, well then maybe THEN it's time to think about not drinking.

Answer 2

I think being classed as an alcoholic has a very fine line. I believe that I am an alcoholic because I know I can never just have A glass of wine, I need the whole bottle and I cant just have A beer, I need 6 or 7. But I can go weeks without even thinking about it, Like now I have got a bottle of vodka in my fridge and is been there a while but I know when I do open it I will have to drink it all.
If you feel you have a problem with alcohol then get some help but it can only be your decision in the end. Good luck babes and contact me if you fancy a chat.

Answer 3

Crucially the biggest problem an alcoholic faces is his entire inability to leave the drink alone. You must determine whether you are dependent in the sense of whether u r addicted. Can u live without booze? Try to stop for 3 months and see how u get on. If u dont last the first week u may have a problem. I used to drink to change the way i felt but ended up drinking alcoholically, drinking for the sake of drinking. AA describes it as an allergy to alcohol coupled with a mental obsession, my experience was that i couldnt stop and would often end up blacking out, at the end of my drinking i couldnt go for more than three days wityhout a drink, it was hell.
I guess the thing is that normal drinkers dont write to websites to ask whether they're drinking too much, same as normal drinkers dont ring up AA helpline. Good luck

Answer 4

you may not be an alcoholic yet but drinking on your own is not good i too was like you and did this then i realised it could damage my helth and it was because i was not happy with the relationship i was in so i got out of that relationship and am now with a great partner and only have a drink occasionally and i found i am enjoying the drink as a social pleasure instead of masking pain so maybe you should think of what makes you do this and change things. find something else to make you feel better about yourself. drink is never the answer

Answer 5

Honesty here.
If you wake up in the morning and really need a drink then you do have a bit of a problem and if that is the case I would get some help.
But if like me,while I typing this I have a can of beer in front of me, Only finished work at 22:00hrs and yes I do like a drink after work I find it helps me relax as you do.
\so not knowing you personally I wouldn't say you are an alcoholic just someone who enjoys a drink.
Just don't get carried away with it.
as you said your mother has a problem so you know the signs.

Answer 6

i think similar each and every time i'm going out and order (attempt) to reserve drinks bc i lately became 21 besides. i propose ordering a 1/2 and 1/2 with absolut and cranberry and a contact of pineapple. the juices eliminate from the alcohol style so its no longer a huge marvel once you commence sipping. dont guzzle your drink down both. purely sip and take exhilaration in the flavour. you ought to no longer like the tastes of particular alcohols so experience free to target or purely order some thing non-alcoholic. purely because your 21 would not propose you would possibly want to drink. good success! yet another tip- if you're eating out ask the waiter/waitress what they could reccommend. that labored for me some cases and that i become particularly extremely joyful. i tried my first "complicated" lemonade the different evening that way and it become particularly good. or if you're out at a bar purely aspect to someone's' drink and tell the bartender "you'll have what they are having." that technique is an outstanding thanks to satisfy new human beings.

Answer 7

im like you only i drink white wine!i never drink before 8pm and i have a few glasses every night.If ure asking if u have a drink prob then u must think u have?as long as u can function normally,and u dont crave for a drink then u will b ok.My parents drank very heavily and ive often asked myself the same question as u......most of us have the odd lunchtime drink etc and a few at nights without it being a problem so dont worry.I go 2 work,look after my daughter and do the housework etc but if u feel u need a drink more than usual then nip it in the bud be 4 it gets worse.............good luck!"

Answer 8

I don't think you have a problem, just don't rely on alcohol EVERYTIME you feel nervous or scared or worried. You'll know when you start drinking early every morning till late at night and then wake up the next morning lying in your own sick only to realise that you have to have another drink. never think of alcohol as your safe place, but think of it as something you enjoy when you deserve it. Good luck!

Answer 9

You seem to depend on alcohol quite a bit. To make matters worse, you are a child of an alcoholic.

I believe there is a genetic component to alcoholism. It sounds like you need some support, or treatment, for alcoholism. Check out an AA meeting. It may give you some clarity.

Answer 10

Sounds like you need to find a different way to relax, wine does work but there are a lot of minus points to it. try not to drink to relax experiment with other methods, I won't suggest any cos I don't know what works for you but avoid the booze, it's not a good look