Do I have a drinking problem??

Question

some one once told me that you only have a drinking problem if drinking is causing you a problem ie: if you have to steal to buy drink you have a problem, if you beat your wife when your drunk you have a drinking problem ect.... i drink every night 4-6 beers i can afford it and it dosnt seem to effect my life in a negitive way at all. but my wife says i have a drinking problem, so to show her i dont i try to stop drinking on week nights but i cant do it! i just like to drink beer when i get home from my office job..... so do i have a problem????????

Answer 1

Yes, I'd think you do.


;-0

Answer 2

As you may know, alcohol can not only lead to problems with your life activities, but also your health. Heavy drinking over a long time (10 years or more) can lead to basically a cirrhotic (ie dead) liver. At this stage, a liver transplant is necessary, and to be eligible for a transplant, one has to have quit alcohol use for at least six months. People with cirrhotic livers who cannot get a transplant generally do not live longer than 1-2 yrs, and their lives are horrible because of the complications surrounding liver failure.

Your drinking, at 4-6 beers a night, is on the heavy side. Studies do show that the heavier the drinking, and the longer it has been happening, the more severe the health problems. So quitting at any stage along this progression is better for your health than to continue drinking.

Doctors usually use something called the CAGE questionnaire to see if you may have a drinking problem. It is centered not around any symptoms you may have, but on whether or not you and your social support system (family and friends) is concerned about your drinking.

The questions are:
1) have you personnally felt that you should Cut down?
2) do you get Annoyed that your family or friends think you may have a problem with drinking?
3) do you ever feel Guilty about your drinking?
4) do you often need to have a morning drink, or an Eye opener?

Usually doctors are concerned if you say Yes to one or more of the questions. In your case, it seems that you are annoyed about your wife's criticism.

Why does she feel like it is a problem? Are there activities that you used to do before this drinking, that you now don't engage in, and vice versa? Have you thought about quitting, and what would be the advantages and disadvantages to quitting? Who can help you with quitting? Are there any treatments that can help as well?

These are some of the questions that you should find answers to at the moment. They will help you in terms of making a commitment to quit. You should talk to your doctor as well, as they often have many resources and suggestions for quitting.

Drinking problems are very common, and there are a lot of people out there in your shoes. Some decide to quit and give themselves better and longer lives, others decide to keep drinking and end up at the stage of liver failure. This is a choice you have to make, but there are a lot of people who can help.

Answer 3

Well if you are unable to stop drinking even on a week night you have a problem. Do you look forward to getting out of work to have a beer? If you do then yes, your wife is right and you have a problem. Although you don't think you are being negatively affected by your drinking, the fact that you have to have alcohol means you have an addiction. If there is a history of alcoholism in your family it will be even more difficult for you to diminish your alcohol consumption especially quit. Contrary to what you have heard you don't have to become a wife beater or a thief to suffer the damages of your addiction, bottom line if you need to have a drink for any reason you have a problem. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Yes you do.

My husband was the same way; he was never late for work, always held a job. he never hit me, and even though we could afford his beer he did spend a lot on it. He didn't think he had a problem either. The fact that he couldn't stop for more than a few days speaks volumes. It didn't matter what I thought, or how much it hurt me to see him drink, he still couldn't stop. I finally after 18+ years together told him I wanted a divorce. That finally stopped him. He's been sober for more than 11/2 years and he says daily how happy he is. I don't think he realized how unhappy he was while drinking. It controlled him. If it isn't controlling you yet, it will given time. I think it already is controlling you since you can't stop at all.

So please for stop an get help if you need it. You and your family deserve it.

Good luck, I wish you well

Ps: He was worried what his friends might think when he stopped; he had overwhelming support from his friends who are still drinkers. Don't let what you think other people might say stop you; they will probably surprise you, and if they don't support you then they aren't true friends; they just want someone to drink with.

Answer 5

You do have a drinking problem,the problem is you would like to drink,your wife would rather you didn't! The problem isn't in the amount you drink,it's the fact that you find it hard not to drink.Is it worth your marriage? How strongly does your wife feel about it? I don't really see any harm in a beer when you come home from work.Maybe 6 is pushing it though.Try again with a compromise.Cut down your week time drinking and have a couple of alcohol free days a week.

Answer 6

According to Bill W (Alcoholics Anonymous) you have a drinking problem if your drinking is a "habit". Whether it's once a week, every night or only once a month,if you have to do it, it is controlling you and anytime you let something control you, it's a problem. One suggestion might be to find another stress reliever for your immediate return from work (althought the beers sound effective) to show your wife they are a preference, not a "must" have.

Answer 7

YES= what I did first was instead of buying the same brand, I bought o'douls. Its a .5 alchol drink. In otherwards its a way to drink as much as you want to without screwing up your insides. Also it brings back some of your tastes and feelings. Also get a case of V/8 juice, if you fall back on beer then a half hour before going to bed drink a can or glass of V/8. After awhile you'll start feeling better and if your still drinking beer V/8 sobers you up enough to come to your scences.

Answer 8

If you told me you drank one beer when you got home, I would say you have no problem but 6 every night? Two cases almost a week? That is a lot. And you just said that to show her you have no problem, you were going to stop but can't? Then in my opinion, that is a drinking problem.Sorry, I agree with her.

Answer 9

IT IS NOT A DRINKING PROBLEM. Problem is that, you just formed a habit, not addiction. You can change it little by little by just going 3 beers the next day, then 2 beers the other day. Until you can stop. Tell your wife beer is better than drinking hard liquor. A little beer is healthy but too much is bad. If she still feels bad, kiss her and get her to bed, and tell her this is the effect of drinking few beers

Answer 10

i visit merely communicate from my own own journey, yet ingesting conduct have absolutely replaced in this small Welsh village, the position i have lived all of my existence. contained in the previous two decades drunken fights are universal and many people are fearful to bypass out at nights, for concern of being attacked via drunken gangs. I stay a short distance faraway from 2 pubs - that are placed adjacent to one yet another - and the noise will be horrendous. Drunken shoppers in many cases stagger out onto the significant street and many urinate once there - male and lady alike. I take excitement in a drink and extensively utilized to regular the community pub, yet i does no longer bypass there now.

Answer 11

If you think you MIGHT have a drinking problem, there's a good chance that you do, and that your recognition of it is your first step to dealing with it. I suggest stopping in at an AA meeting where you can get help in determining if you do have a problem and them more help if you do.