Why is alcohol my best friend?

Question

The only time i feel relaxed and confident is after a few drinks. In my early 20's i discovered alcohol and realised i could do alot of things intoxicated than i could sober. I dont drink all the time and i dont get drunk but i like the buzz if gives me,i'm afraid it will get worse as my dad was an alcoholic and when i'm not drinking it-i'm thinking about it. Also things in life have got me down recently,and i've been given the chance to try drugs(heroin,etc),it's got to the point where i dont care what happens to me. Am i on the road to alcoholism?

Answer 1

It sounds like you are already there.

I am friends with many AA folks and have heard their stories. An alcoholic parent tends to breed alcoholic children (my mom was drunk and I have constant addiction issues).

I'm not saying get your butt to an AA meeting. But I would say to be aware that your drinking may be out of control. If it is, it's time to get some help.

FP

Answer 2

I struggled with Alcohol too, but not to the degree you allude to. Like you I have a family history and I can say without a doubt your are on your way towards alcoholism or worse.



Realize that alcoholism is a very slippery slope where denial is very powerful, especially when you defy the common stereotypes of an alcoholic. For example the fact that my drinking wasn't impacting my career or friends lead me to believe it was a non-issue. The fact that you are raising a red flag early is a good sign though, for most it is too late before they realize there is the potential for a problem.

There is no easy solution on what you can do to avoid this fate. Different things work for different people but the point is, you need to make sure you find a way out before you can't escape. Next month will be harder than today, the month after even harder, so on.

Some people need a support group, others need complete abstinence while others can be ok reverting to only social drinking. For me I used a lifestyle change. New house, new girlfriend, started excercising, etc...

Alternatively though it sounds like there is a root cause problem other than Alcohol. What is making you so down? Solve that problem you may not need to rely on alcohol as much. Perhaps counseling, talking with a good friend or a lover could help.

Good luck

Answer 3

Sounds like you're on the way to worse than that! I drink when I'm in a good mood, or just a beer after work, so I'm NOT against drinking in general, but if you ONLY drink when you're depressed, or to make you feel stronger, there is a problem. You could check into AA, just a a guest, and listen to some of the stories, but that may not be for you. AA doesn't HELP everyone. Your better option may be to confide in a clean/sober friend. Find a hobby- or something you really enjoy doing OTHER THAN DRINKING AND DRUGS and throw yourself into that for awhile.
You could find a place to volunteer-- maybe a shelter, or children's home. Find something that makes you FEEL GOOD when you do it. (Such as helping people..... not feel good like the buzz!)

Answer 4

No, dear you ARE an alcoholic. You DO NOT have to 'get drunk' to be an alcoholic ... but 'liking that buzz' and thinking (incorrectly, in fact) that you can 'do things' when you've had a drink that you can't do' when you are 'sober' is a RED CAPE in front of a charging bull. PLEASE GET HELP ... start going to AA meetings (every day, for now) and get a good sponsor you can call when you want a drink. STOP NOW before you 'slide down the hill to the very bottom' ... you may not know it, but you are already halfway there.

Answer 5

It sounds like you are already there. My mother has been an alcoholic for 7 years, it started with 1 glass of wine everynight, than progressed. I know you dont think you are a full blown alcoholic yet, but i would suggest an outpatient program or AA meetings. The first one may be scary, but you can do it. I wish you luck, and just by asking this question you are on the road to recovery. You realize that you have a problem.

Answer 6

U R there, kiddo. If you think alcohol is your best friend, you ARE an alcoholic. If you use alcohol to allow you to be social, you ARE an alcoholic.

If things in life have been going down, that's because of your alcohol dependency and, trust me, this doesn't get better, it gets worse.

If you were not alcoholic, you wouldn't be writing about "the chance to try...heroin", you'd be running away as fast as you could.

So now what. Well, you'll either keep this up and become miserable with drunken friends, or you'll gather up some resolution and stop this s**t.

I'd recommend relocating to another state, another set of new friends, and an abstinent lifestyle. That's what I did - but don't use me as an example. Go now. Put your foot down and stop.

It's an ongoing, lifetime argument you'll have with yourself, you just have to win that argument. Start today.

Answer 7

Honestly, with everything that you just wrote ...i dont think the question should be am I on the road to alcoholism and addiction... but are you already an addict and alcoholic. Try finding some alcoholics anonymys locations in your area, converse with ex-alcoholics and hear about their experiences. Also, do some research on liver failure... because eventually your liver will only be able to take so much.

I'm not trying to make you feel bad, i just think you should wake up and realize that there are other ways to be happy in this world instead of using drugs.. they help you in the present but will leave you with unhealthy sideeffects both physically and mentally in the future.

Daniel C

Answer 8

You are definitely at high risk to develop alcoholism.

These song lyrics by Brad Paisley might explain it best.

I can make anybody pretty
I can make you believe any lie
I can make you pick a fight
with somebody twice
your size. . .

Well I've been known to cause a few breakups
and I've been known to cause a few births
I can make you new friends
Or get you fired from work.

(Chorus)
And since the day I left Milwaukee
Lynchburg, Bordeaux, France
Been makin the bars
With lots of big money
and helpin white people dance
I got you in trouble in high school
and college now that was a ball
you had some of the best times
you'll never remember with me
Alcohol, Alcohol

I got blamed at your wedding reception
for your best man's emberrasing speech
and also for those naked pictures of you at the beach
I've influenced kings and world leaders
I helped Hemingway write like he did
and I`ll bet you a drink or two that I can make you
put that lampshade on your head . .

And since the day I left Milwaukee
Lynchburg, Bordeaux, France
Been makin a fool out of folks
just like you
and helpin white people dance
I am medicine and I am poison
I can help you up or make you fall
you had some of the best times
you'll never remember with me
Alcohol

And since the day I left Milwaukee
Lynchburg, Bordeaux, France
Been makin the bars
With lots of big money
(crowd:) and helpin white people dance
I got you in trouble in high school
and college now that was a ball
you had some of the best times
you'll never remember with me
Alcohol, Alcohol

Answer 9

The awareness of your problem with alcohol is what is going to be your salvation because most people will not admit even to themselves that they do have a craving for alcohol. I think you are self-medicating, in other words it is helping you get through things you find difficult. You are on a slippery downward slope if you continue the way you are. You are such an intuitive person. Please find some other coping skills that will not be a threat to your future. Remember, too, that even though alcohol boosts your spirits, it is actually a depressant. All it is doing, really, is relaxing you and making you less inhibited. You will learn other ways to cope. Thanks for giving us on answers your confidence. I'm sure many people will be able to help you better than I. Good Luck!

Answer 10

Alcohol is your best friend because it changes you into someone you'll like better
but it also changes you into someone you know that you secretly hate
Girl, you need to find something else to like about yourself, like a new job, take a new class, and get rid of your dopey friends, one by one.
Once you get used to taking one drug after another, you just stay that way, then you'll start to look like a garbage lady.
Why would a guy want a tired looking alcoholic when there are girls out there who look good and take care of themselves...don't take yourself off of the market so soon.
Sounds to me like your waving your hands around, sayin' "here i am, save me!" but you're old enough, and smart enough, and still have the insight, do it yourself....now.
YES the drink tastes good, yes you have more fun for a short time, but you'll just get more depressed because you won't feel good inside.