Am I an alcoholic and what is it doing to me?

Question

I am 32 year old working mother with a stressful full time job, beautiful 4 year old and a husband.

I enjoy my job and love my family, but I always feel so busy and stressed on an evening I generally drink over a bottle of wine a night.

Over the past 4 years the amount I drink has steadily increased and I wonder if I am an alcoholic?

I generally have a glass of wine in my hand half an hour after I arrive in from work at 7pm - my husband works quite late several nights a week and so I oftern drink alone.

Sometimes I can have a bottle and not have a hangover in the morning and other times I have a hang over from hell - and I think people are starting to notice. It does not effect my performance at work but it does make me tired
My husband works late several nights a week so sometimes by 8.30pm when I s

Answer 1

you have a problem seek help a bottle a night is not good at all do it for your son

what would happen if you didnt have a bottle each night, can you try

Answer 2

It sounds to me like you are not quite at the alcoholic stage, but that you will get there soon if nothing changes. Unfortunately there is a stage with drinking where you get chemically addicted to it, and once you cross that line you will find it hard or impossible to get back. Alcoholics usually are very defensive and deny they have a problem - you are not doing this, so I think you haven't crossed the point of no return yet. Your problem really is not the alcohol yet, it is stress. I don't understand why you are stressed, as you love your job, husband and child. So what is it that is stressing you? Be honest with yourself and really pin down the source of the stress. Then deal with it. If you are lonely in the evenings, try having girlfriends over after work, or join a yoga class, or get an interest in the evenings. Spend more quality time with your child and other children's mothers. Tell your husband you want one evening a week with him, just him - like before you were married. If your job is stressful, have a chat with HR - they are very sympathetic these days. Do you really need the money or can you cut your hours, or job share? Can you pass some of the more menial jobs onto an admin person? Try herbal remedies for stress and insomnia, exercise is brilliant for destressing even if you don't feel like it (get a dance video or a stepper for example). If people start to notice at work that you are hungover, you might lose your job and the chance of future employment. Really have a hard look at your life and make the changes you need. You won't need the booze then.

Answer 3

There is a fine line between a heavy drinker and an alcoholic though it does seem you have a drinking problem. You know you have troubles when people start commenting on your drinking or it affects your life.
I have an uproven theory that when people start drinking they started slowly so they should quit the same way. Slowly drink less and less.
Also look at work and see if you can take a holiday. If you weren't working would you still drink, I am not saying give up work but let's identify exactly what the problem is that is making you drink. I too have a stressfull job and people in my line of work are known to be big drinkers.
Maybe a few days away by yourself would be a better help then drinking.
Alcohol is one of the hardest things to give up and your body really figts you for it so don't let it get to much of a strong hold on you.
I am glad you have recognised you may have a problem that is a impressive first step.
If your husband knew how much you drink would he mind and do you hide the bottles from him. If you answered yes to the first not a good sign. A yes to the second is a very bad sign.
Good luck with it and take care of yourself and your child.

Answer 4

Well, chances are if you drink a bottle a day, you could be an alcoholic! If you NEED the drinks, you're an alcoholic, if you WANT the drinks, you may just like drinks! Try to slowly cut down. Have 1 bottle tonight, 3/4 tomorrow, 1/2 the next day, 1/4 the day after that, and slowly down to one glass a day, then to one glass every other day.

Find other ways to cope with your feelings, go outside, play with your child, have some fun with your hubby!

It doesn't matter how long it takes to get down to a glass a day, as long as you do!

Don't be worried, though. If you are an alcoholic, they have treatment!

One thing that will help is to keep hope. Tell your husband that you're thinking you might be an alcoholic! He may be mad at first, but at least he knows, and you're aware of the possible problem.

Another good experiment would be to try a ginger ale [or a fav drink] instead of the wine. If you can't replace your alcohol, good luck, because you're probably an alcoholic!

Not to scare you!

God bless you and good luck!

Answer 5

You may not be an alcoholic yet, but you sound as though you may become one.
Alcohol affects your liver, and can lead to cirrhosis, but you would have to drink a lot more than that to cause it. It may affect your memory short term. Try to keep off the spirits, but also try to cut down on your wine intake. A little wine is good for you, but not a bottle a night. A glass or two maybe.

Answer 6

Nothin wrong with 1-2 glasses of wine a day but don't over do it. My ex boyfriend died at age 36 from liver disease cause he drank too much alcohol, his wife had just had a baby...now the baby has no father. Don't disappoint your family, it's not worth it. Get help from Alcoholics Anonymous if you can't pull yourself away from it. There are plenty of other stress reducers. Sleep is number one. Get your husband to massage or rub you down a couple nights a week, dont forget to return the favor. Go for a walk with your daughter in the evenings. If you require medication for tension reduction, try clonazepam. Speak to your doctor about alternatives. Life is too short to waste on alcohol.

Answer 7

You are drinking a lot more than what is recommended as a safe limit, but at least you have noticed that there may be a potential problem.

I used to escape stress by having a drink and the amounts that I used to drink crept up and up until I decided to do something about it.

Have a look at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/nutrition/drinks_alcohol.shtml
There is a list of people who can help at the bottom of the page.

For further help and advice contact Drinkline, on 0800 917 82 82 (freephone).

Answer 8

Yes, you have a problem. You have several signs of alcoholism. You are dependant on it. You drink alone. You drink a lot at one time. You drink often - almost every night. The amount you drink has increased. I know this sounds harsh. You need to get some help. This isn't good for your body. Even if its not affecting your child, it will. It will afect your marriage. Your friendships. You will start to have issues at your job. Please, get some help. You can overcome this, but not on your own. I understand. I have to be very careful. Alcoholism runs in my family, and many memebers of my family are alcoholics. They have been for years, and it has permeated all areas of their lives. My brother is an alcoholic, but he has not even admitted that he has a problem. I am worried for him. But, you have started to ask if its a problem, thats very good. Next you need to admit to yourself that you have an issue. And then get help! AA, a doctor, your husband, friends, family, therpist, etc. There are many ways out there to get help. Good luck. I wish you the best.

Answer 9

You are drinking a sufficient amount to become dependent on alcohol. What happens when you don't have a drink? Do you feel anxious, sick, or shaky? These are all signs of alcohol dependence, which is what it means to be alcoholic. Any one who needs to drink to medicate themselves against stress is an alcoholic.

If you keep drinking, the alcohol will slowly destroy your liver and pancreas and put stress on other organs. This results in terrible stomach pain, septicaemia, jaundice and diabetes and death. If your liver fails, you will require transplant surgery.

As you become more dependent on drink, your body will develop a resistance to its affects. You will need to drink more to feel drunk. This leads to many dangerous psychological factors such as aggressiveness, forgetfulness,diminished responsibility and paranoia. You may get sufficiently drunk to endanger your child, who I assume is in your care when you are drinking. I once looked after an alcoholic who burned his house down because he forgot he had put a saucepan on the stove. You will also be at risk of brain damage. Many alcoholics develop seizure disorders and neuro-degeneration disorders such as Korsakoff's syndrome.

It is a very good thing that you have noticed you have a problem and admitted it. That is the first step to recovery. I suggest you contact your GP who will outline some treatment strategies with you. You may require medication to help you come off the alcohol. Withdrawal can be an unpleasant experience. You will need the support of your family to help you through it. There is a lot of support out there. You owe it to yourself and your family to try and beat this. It is a sad truth that many children of alcoholics grow up to follow the same pattern of behaviour. Please seek help and keep at it. The longer you drink the harder it is to quit.

Try these websites for more info.

www.promis.co.uk
www.alcoholconcern.org.uk
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk

Best of luck

Answer 10

You are by your own admission drinking too much, this will if you allow it to continue adversely affect all the organs in your body, not just your liver. You will start to experience mood swings, feel tired more often and for longer, develop thread veins in places you really don't want them, like your nose. You will get fatigued more easily, your personal relationships will suffer, you will spend more and more of your money on alcohol, which is poisoning your body. If you stop completely you will get withdrawal symptoms, not nice. The best course of action is to talk to your doctor and get them to put you in touch with a good therapist who can help you with the stress you are experiencing, give you (help you learn that is) coping strategies, and help you get off the alcohol. Good luck.

Answer 11

i think you are over worked tired and most off all you need your mans company no wonder you are turning to drink for company you are only a young girl with lots in front off you you have got to find some quality time as a family and also as a couple life is to short so you must make the best of it keep your wine for nice nights in with your man.romantic ones i mean good luck .