Am I an alcoholic, am I just an alcohol abuser or am i ok?

THIS IS GOING TO BE LONG BUT PLEASE HELP!
I don’t think I am an alcoholic because I don’t drink everyday or even that often; just on weekends (although that may have something to do with the fact that I have only just turned 18 so until now it been a lot harder to get alcohol)… but when I do drink I drink ALOT… I am actually known for my impressive ability to drink copious amounts but in the past year it’s reached this question.
A psychologist has told me that I have a serious problem with alcohol after I told her that I often cant stop drinking once I’ve started and that in my whole life I have never drunk alcohol without getting drunk or without the intention of getting drunk. A psychiatrist has similarly told me it’s a problem for me, especially because I have bipolar and that I should stop but I don’t.

When I drink I will on average drink more than 10 standard drinks in one sitting. When attending a social situation/party where I know everyone is drinking I always make sure I have an entire bottle of Jack Daniels or something like that just for myself. At one particular party I drank an entire bottle of Jack Daniels in a couple of hours then ended up waking up semi naked on a wet mattress on the lawn outside my friends house with absolutely no memory of the night before… which is one of many stupid alcohol anecdotes.

I never thought that my drinking was a problem because a lot of people my age binge drink but in the past year, a couple of my closest friends (one of which I have gone out with and drunk with many times) told me that my drinking is out of control. This was prompted in particular by an evening a few days before when I had the house to my self, so they came over and I proceeded to get really drunk on half a bottle of JD and half a bottle of Tequila (as well as weed) whilst they stayed relatively sober and I had supposedly been obnoxious and annoying so they left… after which I slashed my wrists with a kitchen knife and passed out on the couch in my own vomit… and continued drinking heavily (with other friends so they didn’t know this part) every night for another few days. They told me that a lot of our friends didn’t want to go out with me anymore and when we did they were all secretly keeping tabs on how much I was drinking.

The last thing that is making me ask this question is that there has been two occasions around a year apart when I experienced what I think was alcohol withdrawals after drinking heavily… the first was with a group of friends at a friends house whilst her parents were away...I was SO excited about the prospect of her parents liquor cupboard that whilst the others had like one glass of vodka lemonade I tried everything they had and drank glass after glass of hard liquor... but about 15 hours after my last drink I was in bed and my body started having spasms and my legs where kicking out without my control, I was shaking really violently all over and had tremors in my hands, I was sweating A LOT, I was dizzy and confused and thought I was actually going to die (I called my friend in a haze ranting that I was going to die) and I felt like there were things crawling all over my skin on my arms – like a tactile hallucination… the second time was at my friends birthday dinner, I had decided I wanted to get drunk that night .. Whilst waiting for the waiter to bring my drinks I was really antsy and anxious and started drinking any dregs from other people drinks on the table… then the day after I had similar symptoms to the other time… this is weird cause it doesn’t happen every time…and I think with both these occasions I hadn’t drunk for a couple of weeks before hand

I will get drunk at any opportunity I have and on a number of occasions I have got drunk to drown the sorrows as it were… it hasn’t really cause any problems with work or school or the police, but it has caused a lot of problems with my friends and family…

Sorry for the long question… PLEASE answer this seriously and don’t tell me to see a doctor cause I wi

[Nighthawk61]

You're last sentence wasn't complete. Don't tell me to see a doctor cause I wi....(will not)? That's too bad, because you're an alcoholic and it's not going to get better without you quitting. There's a lot of us out here. Nothing to be ashamed of. Nothing to fear. There's a way to keep yourself in control, and you can become a person that your friends can count on again, and not be frightened of. Your family and your friends will be so proud, if you admit you have a problem, now, and do something about it. I'm clean and sober for just about 14 years now. I wouldn't trade my sobriety for any drug or any booze. It's fun being clean and sober, and there's much to enjoy without using alcohol. I hope you consider getting clean and continuing in your life as a solid member of society and not someone that people need to fear , or pity. There is so much hope for you son. You don't need to ask if you're an alcoholic, i think that you know already that you are. Are you here for support about how to turn things around for yourself and enjoy life again?
Because there is a huge amount of support here, if you want it.
I'll be praying that this is something that you want, and we can get to work helping you to live your best life.

[ibizan]

I'm 250% right on w/all Nighthawk posted!We didn't ask for this disease of addiction...but IF WE LET IT..it will take our arses out of this life....and WE ARE RESPONSIBLE for what WE ALLOW it 2 do 2 us!keep us posted!

[burma57]

I really appreciated what you wrote to the young man who posted here. You explained the feeling of being "sober" much better than I could. I am close to 6 weeks of being free of alcohol and feel like it has been 16 years!!! I am learning new things about life each and every day and it is very very difficult and even getting harder but the real me is someone I enjoy getting to know!!!

Thanks for being a supporter and I would also like to enjoy that from you too if you don't mind!

Have a great weekend!!! If I can do it, it is possible!!!!! Not easy but possible and life changing!

Burma

[ibizan]

i recall when i had 3 weeks of sobriety it felt like 3 years....and i was antsy like u describe!it was weird,difficult and i felt like i had 2 left feet...but one hour at a time...morphed in2 one day at a time...and 11-22 will be 29 years.sober/clean for me!its so nice to feel comfortable in my own skin.....and not yearn for something to remove me from reality!Do u have a support system of sober/clean ppl?

[boozypirate]

Hi thanks for your reply :)
Actually the last sentance was that i will see a doctor but i just wanted to know what people on here thought first... i think if i did quit, the hardest part would be that a huge part of my identity (as stupid as this is) is based around drinking and drugs, especially as i am a girl who can drink every guy ive ever met under the table which for some reason is a good party trick haha..I read Russell Brand's autobiography and i remember that he said when he got clean the hardest part was that people he used to know would sort of be like "oh he's clean?... so now what does he do?" like it was his entire identity...
As well as that all the people I get along with are people who drink and do drugs!
I don't know what to do now....
Anyway, thank you, i really, really appriciate it!

[rpooo]

You are really smart to come looking for answers and I am very glad you found our community here. As always there are many people here wanting to help you every step of the way and anxious to relate their experiences to yours so that you may have a better and more effective way of treatment for this disease than they did. You’re so young to be starting out this lifestyle but you are no different from many of us here, as in my case I based my entire life around drinking. It doesn’t start out this way in the beginning but before you know it 20 years has past you by and your full of regrets or even worse as in my situation I was diagnosed with end stage cirrhosis.

"I think if I did quit, the hardest part would be that a huge part of my identity " You said this perfectly, that is exactly what alcohol will do. After my diagnosis at the age of 38 I immediately stopped drinking. It was very sad that I didn't know who I was without it, my wife after 8 years didn't really know the sober me either! This can seem pretty scary to someone my age. I worried If she would still like me or would I still be the man she fell in love with. As it turns out we both really like me! Lol Today I am 956 days sober and life has never been better, even with the cirrhosis.

20 years down the road how many of these friends do you think will still be a part of your life? Surround yourself with good people, and sober people and that will make you try harder to be the person you really want to be, the person you need to be. You already have a strong tendency to allow alcohol control the rest of your life, you deserve better than that and your loved ones want better than that for you. Some of your friends are telling you this because they care and they are worried.

I have been a member of this group for the past couple of years and have seen some amazing people turn their life around, you can do it too! Set goals for yourself and focus on those instead of partying. It takes time to get things going for yourself but you have to make it happen. There can be no exceptions or else or just heading back in the wrong direction. Let your family know you have a problem, confide in people you would never want to let down. They will help you stay strong when you are tempted. Come talk to us and let us know how things are going. Support plays a huge role in maintaining sobriety!

“The last thing that is making me ask this question is that there has been two occasions around a year apart when I experienced what I think was alcohol withdrawals after drinking heavily”
This could be withdrawal but more likely alcohol poisoning. Here are some things about it I think you should know:

Alcohol depresses nerves that control involuntary actions such as breathing and the gag reflex (which prevents choking). A fatal dose of alcohol will eventually stop these functions.
It is common for someone who drank excessive alcohol to vomit since alcohol is an irritant to the stomach. There is then the danger of choking on vomit, which could cause death by asphyxiation in a person who is not conscious because of intoxication.
You should also know that a person's blood alcohol concentration (BAC) can continue to rise even while he or she is passed out. Even after a person stops drinking, alcohol in the stomach and intestine continues to enter the bloodstream and circulate throughout the body. It is dangerous to assume the person will be fine by sleeping it off. What can happen?
• Victim chokes on his or her own vomit.
• Breathing slows, becomes irregular, or stops.
• Heart beats irregularly or stops.
• Hypothermia (low body temperature).
• Hypoglycemia (too little blood sugar) leads to seizures.
• Untreated severe dehydration from vomiting can cause seizures, permanent brain damage, or death.
Even if the victim lives, an alcohol overdose can lead to irreversible brain damage. Rapid binge drinking (which often happens on a bet or a dare) is especially dangerous because the victim can ingest a fatal dose before becoming unconscious.
These are the facts and I surely don’t mean to scare you but I know you want better than this, Me and everyone here wants better than this for you! You are far from alone in this situation and you can beat it. I hope the very best for you. Take good care of yourself :)
Randy

[ibizan]

i used to be quite proud of the fact that i could drink a LOT of ppl under the table...plus make my own ibizan Up in Smoke flick which may have rivaled Cheech and Chong!looking back on it now that is quite a silly thing to be proud of:)Your REAL friends will respect what ur trying to do and come @ MINUS bringing alcohol........i found out most if not all of what i had was a lot of partying buds who were there for the party!Not one of em inquired @ me when i did my 25 day inpatient stint.When i got out i got invited to a party...was told i could just drink a pepsi amidst all the drunks and dope there.RIGHT! i knew that was a set up for a relapse!It is quite the recovery adventure to find new interests...i sure found mine in greyhound adoption, cat rescue.. any kind of dog needing help.....some of the nicest ppl i've met are in rescue work!plus i attended AA and NA and i stuck w/the winners....took what i could use and left the rest!There is LIFE after alcohol/drugs!

[AntiBreadMan69]

you are okay love.

[boozypirate]

yay thank you

[afsardero]

its All about human well. its also responsibility of your friends to discourage you to drink more when u feel its enough otherwise its leads u unconscious. u should try to decide yourself how many glasses u may able to drink which make u conscious. u should try to drink slowly, not on empty stomach. take a time on drinking.their is drugs which make discourage u to use alcohol like disulfiram.if u r chronic user use vitamin supplements b/c alcohol cause  vitamin B1 deficiency leads neurological problems. mild to moderate drinking is suitable but heavy drinking leads Cancer:
Mouth
Esophagus
Throat
Liver
Breast

Liver:
Steatosis, or fatty liver
Alcoholic hepatitis
Fibrosis
Cirrhosis

Heart:
Drinking a lot over a long time or too much on a single occasion can damage the heart, causing problems including:

Cardiomyopathy – Stretching and drooping of heart muscle
Arrhythmias – Irregular heart beat
Stroke
High blood pressure

Immune System:
Drinking too much can weaken your immune system, making your body a much easier target for disease.

after heavy drinking , when u get sleep then u walk, then their is chance u can't see from your eyes. lot of people lose their eyes due to heavy drinking as u.

u must remember all this when u start drinking.

thanks.
Afsar KArim
Pharmacist