Am I an alcoholic?

Question

I drink 4 double vodkas neat at the weekend, almost as a 'set' routine every time. The thing is, I DO get an effect off of it, but not drunkeness as such. Just a 'normal content' feeling, that things are easier to deal with.
I don't drink in the week at all, as I luckily have a strong willpower. Instead though, for the last few months, I have put up with some horrible symptoms. I need to know whether they are related to alcohol withdrawal or not. The day after consuming, I don't get any headache, just an upset stomach and slight dizziness / fatigue. Then all week (esp. by Tuesday) I have twitchy eyelids (most noticable symptom), chronic diarrhea (most troublesome), panic attacks, paranoia, low self-esteem, nausea etc. But this ALL disappears when I drink. I have Diazepam (Valium™) 2mg tablets prescribed to me for the anxiety, but feel strong enough to leave them in the cupboard ONLY for real emergencies. I would appreciate any help, or replies from people that have experienced this.

Answer 1

Well done for admittng it

Answer 2

Looking at your other questions you seem to have 2 main worries in life, your health anxieties and your computer.

If the double vodkas are pub measures, not home measures which can mean anything, then 8 units is not a vast amount of alcohol, if only taken once a week, but I suppose it still constitutes a binge for you. Why not still have 4 drinks, single vodkas + a mixer?

I suspect you might have more general anxiety issues. Few doctors still believe that diazepam is much use and some studies show it fares less well than placebo! Might be worth seeing if your GP can refer you for some form of relaxation therapy?

Answer 3

You dont really have withdrawal symptoms of an alcoholic.
You do have depression symptoms though (or anxiety type disorder) The fact that the alcohol makes you feel better indicates that too cos its an inhibitor ie you feel relaxed, content and unworried.
id go back to the doc and ask for something you can take more regularly for the other symptoms and look at getting them sorted out.
PS I dont think youre a binge drinker either, you drink less than the limit in one session, so technically you dont binge.
alcohol is a depressant - that doesnt mean it makes you depressed, its depresses your systems eg respiratory, temperature, cognition etc.
to get a better idea of how depressed or anxious you are though, it would be a good idea to give up the booze for a while, then youll know better exactly what youre dealing with.

Answer 4

If you drink only during the weekends and go all the remainder of the week without drinking, you are not an alcoholic. As far as the effects go, ya, alcohol can do that as it takes a good three or four days to exit your system after you have consumed, and delayed effects aren't uncommon. In terms of you having a high tolerance for alcohol and don't get that drunk from it, at least in comparison to others, that is very indicative of alcoholics... a great number of alcoholics can drink continuously without having that great of effect, as such they consume more and more and never admit to being alcoholics or having a problem from it. The truth is, the higher your tolerance to alcohol, the greater the chance of your becoming an alcoholic is.

Answer 5

Hi there, its good that you are asking for advice, i think that you should take your tablets as prescribed to you stop the drink if you have the strong will power, the alcohol way be substituting the valium and you don't realise it, the twitchy eyelids is drink related, diahorrea and paranoia, firstly i don't think you are an alcoholic, but you are on the road to it honey, I'm not criticising you I'm trying to help, these symptoms disappear as its all psycological. You get these effects as your body is wanting more alcohol, Please speak to your GP. In fact promise me you will. All i can say is I'm talking through experience in my life, and i work in a medical dictorate ward in a hospital with people with drink and drug related problems. Ignore the nasty immature comments people my leave on here for you, they have yet a few things in life to experience, and you are not a binge drinker, i just read a comment that someone left. take care buddy hope you get sorted out soon. xx

Answer 6

I think you suffer from anxiety and depression.
Do you suffer from stress? Are you in a stressful job?
Maybe taking up yoga or meditation would help.
4 double vodkas a week sounds a lot but it isn't really too bad..it is 16 units of alcohol and this is well within weekly guidelines (21 units a week).
Try and stick to a healthy diet, get some exercise and fresh air and try to sleep well.
If you really are feeling uncomfortable go back to your doctor and see if you can get some counselling or help. The best thing to do is not worry as it will pass.

Answer 7

Hey, you need to speak to your doctor. It sounds like you're not an alcoholic but that you're having some bad side effects from either just your pills or both your pills with the booze.

It's not worth risking some really bad effects so please check with them.

By the way I used to take anti-depressants and when I drank at the same time it made me really messed up, so my advice is to stay off the booze completely if on tablets and get some help for the rest of your problems. However I know this is easier said than done. GOOD LUCK xxx

Answer 8

you need to see a medical doctor to rule out some underlying condition that the drinking may keep hidden. Personally I don't think you are an alcoholic just a person in need of that escape for awhile. Your symptoms could be related to alcohol BUT they could also be related to something more serious. Make and appointment and get a thorough check up.

Answer 9

The only real person that can tell you this answer is in the mirror. You'll just have to do some soul searching and decide.

My guess is no, you're not. It could be work related stress, vitamins that's hard on your stomach. Too much vitamin C will speed up your GI track and cause diarrhea.

Answer 10

I think you will find mixing the Diazepam with Vodka could be causing you those symptoms.

Stop with the alcohol. it's a depressant! You have prescribed drugs for depression yet you are compounding your illness with Vodka?

Get to the doctors for some proper help.

Answer 11

The tab s don't work esp if your drinking with them.
I also love the vodka and i don't think that i can give it up. I do get awful sweets the next day and by the after noon i do be stinking, i hope everything works out for you.
Paranoia is also on my list when iam sober.