Is it best to give up drinking forever if I sometimes go overboard?

Question

I have had quite a few problems with drinking in the past and sometimes tend to get a bit drunker than others if I go to a party or dinner etc and sometimes get quite loud, abusive and forget things the next day as well as sufffer terrible hangovers that last for 2 days sometimes. I am 35. I always want to go out and dance or have more drinks and my partner says I drink too much. I have been to aa and they say it's best to never drink again ever. Is this the only way of combatting a drink problem. do I really have to give up forever am I normal ?

Answer 1

alcoholisim is a disease, not a moral deficiency. If you are always over doing your drinking & being abusive, than you should stop. 100%. AA does not say quit FOREVER, they say quit for today. One day at a time is easier to deal with than the thought of NEVER DRINKING AGAIN. Give it 90 days... no drinking at all, go to an AA meeting every night & see what happens. Good luck to you.

Answer 2

Blackouts are NOT normal. They are usually a sign of a problem. The simplest way to fix this problem is to stop drinking forever. However, I totally identify with you and have had the same question a while back. This is how I handled it. I go out and drink but I watch my intake. When I get a buzz, I make sure that my husband and close friends know. Then they keep an eye on me. I start drinking water in between my drinks. It helps. Also, if I have a blackout or a bad hangover after all that I do the DD thing for a couple of weekends, kind of like a self-punishment to remind myself that next time I should take it a little easier.

Answer 3

I'm 23 and sometimes when I drink, I drink too much and blackout, or spit off at the mouth. However, I now started to set limits for myself and pace myself. I found that when I'm emotionally stressed or upset that is when I take my drinking to the extreme. But when I'm in a good mood I can drink in moderation, so I really watch myself when I drink and I'm upset. Or I just don't drink at all. I dont' think you have a drinking problem where you would need to go to AA but I do think you have a problem understanding when to stop drinking....I also will drinking a drink and then have a glass of water. This helps me slow down...and added bonus, no Hang over the next day because you're hydrated!! Good Luck.

Answer 4

Yes, giving up drinking alltogether will be best for you. Think of it in other terms and maybe you can rationalize the reason why. If you sometimes wrestle around with your buddies, but on occasion go "overboard" and break their bones, you would probably stop wrestling right? And let's say you have eyesight that goes from good to near blindness every now and again...you would probably stop driving because of the danger it could have on you or your passengers. Alcohol can be just as dangerous and ruin relationships you have with others around you. BUT don't let giving up the bottle be the end of having fun. There are plenty of sober people who have a good time without alcohol. I grew up with an alcoholic mother and she still is one. She does drink to excess and can be mean and so on...It has never ended....15 out of 20 times shes drunk, she's ok...but those other 5 times can be hell if you around her. Please, for the better of yourself, think seriously about quitting for good and focusing your energy into other areas of your life...such as the bedroom with your partner ;)

Answer 5

Definitely!!! if you can't or don't always quit after one or two, you definitely should not ever indulge. The Liver is not an organ to mess around with, because if it shuts down you die. It is hard on the liver to process alcohol, and the alcohol goes through a number of stages in the breakdown process, some of which are more addictive than the alcohol is in the first place. That is, having difficulty quitting, (going overboard) is an early sign that your liver has already been significantly damaged. Don't push your luck.

Answer 6

No you just need to set some limits for yourself. Allow yourself a set number of drinks and no matter what do not go over that limit. You can control yourself so do not get drunk to the point where you are abusive. If you cannot do that you should just quit forever. I am sure you can find a happy medium somewhere in the middle.

Answer 7

I know girls like that who never know when to slow down or stop drinking. Purchase a Portable breathalizer from ebay and keep it with you so that YOU can tell with each drink how drunk you are getting. I dont think abstinence from drinking is the right thing because drinking itself has many benefits, but only at moderate consumption. Its your personal responsibility to REMAIN moderate at all times. You dont have to over due it just to have fun. Good luck

Answer 8

Because of the probalems the drinking obviously causes you, giving it up would be best fro the sake of you and those you care about, unless you think you know that you would be able to limit yourself when drinking to say maybe 2 drinks when you go out, but if you cant do that, i feel as tho itd best for you to quit for good.

Answer 9

Give up drinking for a month. One entire month with not a sip of alcohol. If you can do this then you have enough self control to drink occasionaly. Also, if you can do this for a month when you do start drinking again, you'll be able to limit your intake to 3 drinks per outing.

Answer 10

Yes, quit forever. It will only get worse. I am speaking from experience. I've been sober now for 4 years. My life has never been better. It is hard in the beginning especially when you have lived that lifestyle for so long. Good luck to ya!