How do I know if I am an alcoholic?

Question

It feels like I am going round in circles. I don't actually drink that much - between 1-3 times a week, and usually the equvilent to about 8 pints at a time. I rarely drink in the morning, its usually after 2pm. I drink alone once a week or so, but more times its when I'm down the pub. I have trouble stopping once I've had that first drink. I do get bad cravings, right now I feel like I need a drink. Most of the time I can ignore the craving, but I'm struggling to go any more than 3 days without a drink. In the past, I have managed 14 weeks with a drink. My mum is a recovering alcoholic, so I don't know wether I've just inherited the genetic tendency towards alcoholism or if I'm making a big fuss cos I'm more aware of it in general. I cant go to AA meetings as my overprotective husband doesn't think I have a problem. I go through phases of heavy drinking, usually when I'm depressed (got diagnosed with depression 6 years ago after I got raped).
How can I tell if I need to stop?

Answer 1

http://www.aa-gb.org.uk/isaa4u.shtml
Have a read though, and answer the questions.
You are the only person who can decide if you have a problem or not. Someone once said that they'd rather be sober pretending to be an alcoholic, than a drunk pretending not to be :)
Good luck and best wishes

Answer 2

Sounds to me like you are an alcoholic. You've clearly inherited the alcoholic gene from your mom and it's giving you a problem. You cannot take or leave alcohol at this point and you can't stop drinking once you start.

Does your husband also drink? If so, he might be denying you have a problem because he also has one.

The key is you are craving the drink. When you get to the point that you are looking for alcohol, you have a problem.

Find an AA meeting.

Answer 3

If you're having cravings, then you are on the way.
Abusing alcohol is a way of numbing inner pain you may have, and if you are depressed alcohol is not the solution (it is a depressive)
Alcoholism can creep up on you very slowly, and although you say you only drink 2-3 times a week (but heavily), it will soon be 4 then 5, and it will get earlier and earlier, as you drink to get rid of hangovers.
Try to go for a month without any alcohol and see how it affects you.
If your husband is a heavy drinker, ask him to try and do the same.
Believe me, alcohol addiction is awful, as it is psychological as well as physical (ie - you convince yourself the only way you can cope is by having a drink)
Just cut down the intake for now, or cut it out all together, and try and see your doctor about the depression.
If you are on anti-depressants you cannot drink, or ask him/her for anatabuse, which are pills you take that make you very ill if you drink alcohol.

Answer 4

Generally speaking, if you ask that question, you probably are an alcoholic or are on your way there fast. If you have cravings and your use is increasing, that's a warning sign. You don't have to fit ALL the criteria (drinking in the mornings, etc.) to have an addiction to alcohol.

Contrary to what many might tell you, you don't have to go to AA to get a handle on your drinking. It sounds like you are catching it early which will make things much easier on you. Since you are also struggling with depression and probably post-traumatic stress disorder, I would strongly advise you to go to a counselor. If you're like most heavy drinkers, I'm sure you can come up with some good cover story to tell your husband while you're at the therapist's office!! Be sure to tell them your first visit, about your challenges with the husband, so the therapist does not call at home when he might answer. In time he/she might be able to help you talk to him about it in a way that won't freak him out.

Answer 5

Alcoholism is an addiction. Having cravings and the inability to stop once you start are signs you have an addiction. I think you know you have a problem or you wouldn't be asking here. Get some help regardless of what your husband says.

Alcoholism isn't necessarily defined bywhen, how much, or how often you drink. Many alcoholics hold down a full time job and for all outward appearances don't show they have a drinking problem. They don't binge 24/7 or necessarily drink every day. My father was like that as was his brother and my cousin. Like you, they had cravings and once they started drinking they couldn't stop.

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Signs and symptoms

Before treatment or recovery, most people with alcoholism deny that they have a drinking problem. Other indications of alcoholism and alcohol abuse include:

* Drinking alone or in secret
* Being unable to limit the amount of alcohol you drink
* Not remembering conversations or commitments, sometimes referred to as "blacking out"
* Making a ritual of having drinks before, with or after dinner and becoming annoyed when this ritual is disturbed or questioned
* Losing interest in activities and hobbies that used to bring pleasure
* Feeling a need or compulsion to drink
* Irritability when your usual drinking time nears, especially if alcohol isn't available
* Keeping alcohol in unlikely places at home, at work or in the car
* Gulping drinks, ordering doubles, becoming intoxicated intentionally to feel good or drinking to feel "normal"
* Having legal problems or problems with relationships, employment or finances
* Building a tolerance to alcohol so that you need an increasing number of drinks to feel alcohol's effects
* Experiencing physical withdrawal symptoms — such as nausea, sweating and shaking — if you don't drink

People who abuse alcohol may experience many of the same signs and symptoms as people who are dependent on alcohol. However, alcohol abusers don't feel the same compulsion to drink and usually don't experience physical withdrawal symptoms when they don't drink. A dependence on alcohol also creates a tolerance to alcohol and the inability to control your drinking.

If you've ever wondered if your own alcohol consumption crosses the line of abuse or dependence, ask yourself these questions:

* Do you need a drink as soon as you get up?
* Do you feel guilty about your drinking?
* Do you think you need to cut back on your alcohol consumption?
* Are you annoyed when other people comment on or criticize your drinking habits?

If you answered yes to two or more questions, it's likely that you have a problem with alcohol. Even one yes answer may indicate a problem.

Answer 6

If you and your husband do not think you have a problem with drinking, pack it in then if you cannot you have a problem, do not let your husband tell you what you can and cannot do if you need AA go, and ask him to go along with you. If your mother is a recovering alcholic I would be very careful with what I drank as you must have seen some bad things regarding drink in the past. You know what it can do to you so my advice would be not to touch the stuff.

Answer 7

the first step to dealing with any problem is admitting that that problem exists so well done babe for doing just that.if you feel you need help then go for it.it doesn't make you a bad person for being dependant on alchohol but it is bad for your health.everybody copes in their own way.

my marriage broke down because my husband drank 20 hours a day seven days a week and insisted that he was just having fun.he drinks everytime he has a problem instead of trying to face the problem.

Your husband probably doesnt want to admit you have a potential problem because he is scared too.

my daughter had to have counselling to help her cope with her fathers drinking and it did her the world of good.(she ended up very depressed when she was only 16.)

i would suggest you see your doctor and ask for a referral to a specialist counsellor especially in light of your rape experience.
it cant do any harm .

i always say dont let your problem whatever it is get the best of you or rule your life.we all deserve to be happy

wishing you all the best and hope your life works out the way you want it too

if you need someone to talk to i am always willing to listen to other folks problems.

sue jones..

Answer 8

u dont have to drink first thing in the morning or drink 24/7 to be an alcoholic. I think you already know you have a problem by asking this question. Go and see your doctor, he'll either give/change your medication and maybe refer you for councilling. I think you need to talk about the rape. All the best

Answer 9

Any alcoholic (as I am all though sober for many years)would be very reluctant to say if they thought someone else was alcoholic ,this is for the individual to make up their own mind about that is the only way they can come to grips with the problem and hopefully stop drinking, but as you certainly are in need of advice and given what you have written I would say without hesitation that you should never drink again

Answer 10

Sorry to tell you, but I do think you have the beginnings of an alcoholic. Here are a few signs of alcoholism to be aware of.

alcohol first thing in the morning
someone who drinks alone
cannot stop drinking until fully loaded
craving for alcohol
drinking alcohol is always on your mind
finding excuses on why you need a drink
get angry if someone takes your drink from you

I hope this helps. You might wanna check out All-Anon, it is a group for women who have went through having an alcoholic loved one, might help you out to talk about things and figure out if you too are following in your mothers foot steps. Good luck.

Answer 11

It sounds to me like you are definitely alcoholic. I did weekend drinking for most of my life and a few years ago I just stopped. I just got tired of all that goes with it and stopped. It wasn't hard for me, but I know it's hard for most people to stop. You simply have to come to the realization that it doesn't help or solve anything and you will have a much better life without drink. I know I do. I'm glad I stopped and hope you will, too.