What constitutes being an alcoholic?!
Question: I'm going to an AA meeting tonight and am not sure if I am an alcoholic. I know for a fact that I do binge drink. I did a lot of that last year, and voluntarily removed myself from the "scene". I was great for 5 months, returned to the scene and controlled myself very well. Lately though I have been drunk twice the past couple of weeks and this past Saturday was the first time in my life that I had a serious craving to go out just to get drunk. For the past couple of days I've been thinking of giving up alcohol, and my mind has been racing me, telling me I'm being stupid.
A few more points;
* I have blacked out in the past
* When I go out to "party", I drink to be social
* I don't drink when I'm not at a party
Answers: I'm going to an AA meeting tonight and am not sure if I am an alcoholic. I know for a fact that I do binge drink. I did a lot of that last year, and voluntarily removed myself from the "scene". I was great for 5 months, returned to the scene and controlled myself very well. Lately though I have been drunk twice the past couple of weeks and this past Saturday was the first time in my life that I had a serious craving to go out just to get drunk. For the past couple of days I've been thinking of giving up alcohol, and my mind has been racing me, telling me I'm being stupid.
A few more points;
* I have blacked out in the past
* When I go out to "party", I drink to be social
* I don't drink when I'm not at a party
What makes you an alcoholic is when you feel the need for a drink. You are a binge drinker, and that's why you are trying to tell yourself the label doesn't apply to you. You are thinking that to be alcoholic you have to drink every day- and that's not always true. It becomes true the longer you remain an alcoholic not on the wagon, though. You have admitted you craved going out just to get drunk- not to socialize, so these weren't social drinks nor were you drinking to be social. For you, social situations are just the excuse you use to get drunk because you think it's a more acceptable excuse than the bald truth of the matter. Another danger sign- you are afraid to give up the alcohol. You stand at the crossroads here. Your logical mind is telling you there is a problem, but the alcohol habit is whispering in your other ear that you are not really like "those alcoholics" you see at the AA meetings. You just haven't brought yourself to the point you can see yourself as one, that's all. The thoughest part of getting help is always making that first admission- that you are not in control, that the alcohol is at the moment, and you are indeed an alcoholic. That's one of the reasons that the introductions always include that statement. You are almost there, at the point of taking back control, and all you need to do here is take that last step. Through AA you will meet alcoholics of all sorts, the stereotypical alcoholic doesn't exist really, and you will probably find you have a lot more in common with folks there than just the alcohol problem. Your sponsor will also be of immense help to you in dealing with all those fears in the beginning. I hate to tell you this, but from the sounds of things, you are an alcoholic. Not the gutter lying slush type, with a permanent red nose to be sure- but an alcoholic all the same. When you are ready to make that admission, that the alcohol has a power over you that you cannot control, then there are lots of people who are willing to help. But the first step has to be yours, and that will require you to call this demon by it's proper name.
These are things that indicate that drinking IS a problem.
Binge drinking.
If you black out when drinking, and/or if you can't remember what happened when drinking.
When you behave differently when you have been drinking. Or find yourself doing things you wouldn't if sober e.g. finding out later on, you yourself are embarrassed by your behavior when drinking.
If you find yourself craving a drink. And the thought of not drinking at all scares you.
If you only drink to be "social", but find yourself making more decisions based on the fact of where it would be acceptable to drink, rather than the pleasure of the company, dancing, etc. An alcoholic can always find someone to drink with, if that's what they need to justify it to themselves.
If you use alcohol instead of dealing with stress, life's problems etc.
Does any of that sound like you? If so, you may not be an alcoholic yet, but you could be heading that way. Best to get help before it does get passed the point that you have any control.
go. It won't hurt, everybody is nice and you will at least meet some new people. anytime you are trying to improve your life it is worth the risk of something new. In the meantime, how about just taking a break from drinking for a while and see if all these racing thoughts take a break too. I wish you good luck.