Any alcoholics or former alcoholics here? At what point would you consider someone an alcoholic? Lastly, what do you drink for (anxiety cure?)?

 

Water and a Xanex...

 

I have a few friends that are alcoholics and a recovering one. When you find your life spiriling out of control and you feel like you are dependent upon the substance that's when you know you have a problem. Or if you get violent make horrible decisions constantly in trouble have cravings feel like you can't be happy with out it. Those are all signs. I know plenty of people who are finctional alcoholics and its not a problem. The real problem comes when it is effectiving your everyday operations and you're losing your ambition job friends etc. Hell everyone likes to drink beer I wish I could have one everyday but I can't I know my limits. If you feel like you have a problem then you probably do. I wouldnt listen to anyone else man if its effecting you and you realize it than get help.

 

x2. Basically when it starts affecting your everyday routine/life, you have cravings, all of what jwool said is right. I know a few guys who are alcoholics, its rough on your body and mind to say the least. If you feel like its a problem, get help.

 

My minor at Tech was substance abuse studies. Yes, there are actually courses in this area of interest. If the substance is controlling your life, you have a problem. Seek help, and get new friends.

 

also this is a common misconception. Alcoholics go to meetings drunks dont.

 

If you drink as a response to things going on in your life, you *may* be an alcoholic. In other words, if you *use* alcohol as a drug to fix/hide/impede/accelerate things, then you likely have a problem.

Like others mentioned, if it is causing things in your life outside of your drinking time alone to be altered, you may also have a problem.

I have a buddy that is what most would consider a fairly functional alcoholic. The guy makes 6 figures every year working mostly as a "hired gun" in sales, and brags that he goes through TWO of the biggest bottles of Grey Goose you can buy (at Costco) a week. When he goes out and drinks, he averages 10-15 drinks- even on week nights.

He's tried AA a few times, and has been sober for as long as a year at a time...and when he goes back to drinking he says that he can control it, and will drink in moderation. Within a week he's back to a handle or two a week...

Alcohol is scary stuff...if you, or someone you know is STARTING down that path...seek help ASAP

 

My best friend does the exact same thing, I spend a very limited amount of time hangin out with him now because of it..but he doesnt buy bottles of grey goose at costco though. He buys the cheapest vodka you can buy here its called "5 o'clock" Its 80 proof an he drinks 2 fiths within a 20hour period. An when he has the first drink, he doesnt stop untill every drop of alcohol in his house is gone. He usually drinks anywere from 12-20 hours at a time with no sleep. Then sleeps for almost 15 hours then gets up an does the same thing again.
He has lost almost everything, his home (lives with his mom now) his girlfriend, his car, his job. He has nothing. Now keep in mind the guy im talking about is 27 years old, he began his drinking problem in college (we went to college together) It will truely ruin lives man, if you think you have a drinking problem, i was seek help

 

not one myself but I grew up with one.

look at your lifes choices. if you choose alcohol over other things in your life that you know should have more priority it may worth looking into.
do you "need" a drink at the end of the day?
do you lose control of yourself after drinking?
do you wish you hadn't drank after drinking?
do you promise not to drink anymore the day after?
do you "sneak" drinks?
do you excuse yourself from events in order to go drink?

if you can't go a few days without it, you may want to look a little harder at your level of dependancy.

many jokesters will say we all do those things above, the truth is we don't. If you think there may be a problem there probably is. help doesn't have to be counseling. It isn't for everyone. talk to your spouse or friends. tell them you seriously want to get off the sauce. find things to do that don't involve drinking. Save the money you would normally spend for something else.

not trying to preach but if you have kids you owe it to them if nothing else. there's nothing worse than feeling like you have to hide when you parents come home.

 

Alcohol should be illegal.

Pot is the way of the future!

 

that statement is not too far off, except all the bars would be out of business.

i did designated driver a lot in the Army. Took friends out to drink and took friends out to "smoke"

I would much rather drive smokers then drunks any day.

 

You have a problem when you have beer with yout cerial. And I knew someone like that.

 

Check this out to see if you(they) have a problem. If so, check here to find a meeting. My name's Chris and I'm an Alcoholic. PM me if you need info.

 

I like to get drunk before having sex. It helps to get the girl drunk too.

 

Ah alcohol...natures birth control...