What Makes an Alcoholic?

Question

Every night my husband and I like to drink wine. I always drink a dry white wine while he enjoys red wine. We usually drink till we are tipsy and then get to bed. Lately we have wondered if we could be considered alcoholics. Neither of us drink during the day or even think of alcohol at any other time except between dinner and bed time. We both have steady jobs and have a pretty normal life (no kids yet). I know a lot of couples that are the same way, but is this alcoholism or simply a way to unwind from the day.
Thanks :)

Answer 1

no then you are not an alchoholic. An alcoholic is someone who constantly needs it in there system almost as there support. It helps them with there stress and all that crap. If u drink it between dinner and bed your def. not considered one at all. Its almost like a nightime treat to urself.

Answer 2

No one can tell you that you are or are not an alcoholic. That is something that an individual has to determine for themselves. If you have any questions at all, you can always check out the alcoholics anonymous web site (yes there is one).

Here is an excerpt directed at this issue:

How can I tell if I am really an alcoholic?

Only you can make that decision. Many who are now in A.A. have previously been told that they were not alcoholics, that all they needed was more willpower, a change of scenery, more rest, or a few new hobbies in order to straighten out. These same people finally turned to A.A. because they felt, deep down inside, that alcohol had them licked and that they were ready to try anything that would free them from the compulsion to drink.

Some of these men and women went through terrifying experiences with alcohol before they were ready to admit that alcohol was not for them. They became derelicts, stole, lied, cheated, and even killed while they were drinking. They took advantage of their employers and abused their families. They were completely unreliable in their relations with others. They wasted their material, mental, and spiritual assets.

Many others with far less tragic records have turned to A.A., too. They have never been jailed or hospitalized. Their too-heavy drinking may not have been noticed by their closest relatives and friends. But they knew enough about alcoholism as a progressive illness to scare them. They joined A.A. before they had paid too heavy a price.

There is a saying in A.A. that there is no such thing as being a little bit alcoholic. Either you are, or you are not. And only the individual involved can say whether or not alcohol has become an unmanageable problem.

Good luck, stay safe and God Bless.

Answer 3

What happens if you don't drink your wine at night. Do you get cranky, upset or wish like crazy that you had your wine? If you feel any of that than you may want to think about your drinking. If you are starting to question it then maybe you should see if you can stop for awhile. That's always a good test. If you're not an alcoholic then it will be easy for you to stop drinking.

I went thru a period like this last summer. It started making me feel uncomfortable because I have never been a big drinker and I was getting worried. It turns out that I wasn't becoming an alcoholic because it was easy to give up, but I still didn't like the way I felt when I was drinking all the time.

Answer 4

Here are some symptoms, let's evaluate:

1.Solitary drinking - you drink w/your hubby

2. Unexplained mood swings- you don't mention anything about moodiness

3.Missing work- you have a steady job

4. Loosing interest in social activities- you know alot of people

5. Driving Under The Influence (DUI) - you don't mention anything about driving while intoxicated

So you are NOT an alcoholic, no worries enjoy your wine and drink up! Cheers!

Answer 5

This is a hard topic. There are alcoholic that hold down jobs and have "normal lives" to begin with. Try no drinking for a week. See what happens, do you feel you have to drink. You feel anxious or lost. Part of it might be that just you like to "unwind" from the day but the thing that worries me is that you drink consistently and drink until "tipsy" or drunk. Try stopping drinking for a week and see if you or your husbands demeanor changes.

Answer 6

Its simply away to unwind from the day, cheers! I think a alcoholic is someone who drinks every waking moment, even while at work. I have been around alot of alcoholic's in my life. My mother and father got divorced because of alcohol. They owned a bar together. Their divorce still affects me today with things in my life. My mother used to date this guy who used to drink from the time he got up to the time he passed out for a whole week. Then the next week he would not come out of his bedroom. Then he would start all over again. I could go on and on , but I won't.

So be careful drink responsibly, and if u do have kids in the future try not to unwind as much , as you might miss out on them growing up!

Answer 7

You're not an alchoholic. If you ever get to the point where you crave a drink in the middle of the day and eventually crave it 24/7, you might need to look into getting help.

You're no alcholic, but I could argue that you're a whino! ;)

Answer 8

a problem is considered a problem when it becomes maladaptive.

is drinking interfering with your life? have you stopped going to work because you want to stay home and drink? have you become irresponsible?

in my opinion, if you don't feel like you NEED to drink to enjoy your husbands company, and it isn't interfering in any other aspect of your life, this is safe drinking.

if it gets excessive and you two are withdrawing to drink together, it may be a problem

Answer 9

You become an alcoholic (when you are in a fase of your life that you drink a lot) when you feel drunk all day without drinking that day.

Answer 10

many folks relax with wine at dinner,you are not alcoholics, alcoholics are addicted and are using booze as a coping device for some other problem in their life.