not sure if i'm an alcoholic

[littlea34]

Hi, this is my first time on this website or any help website for that matter, so i'm feeling a bit nervous.  I have a family history of alcoholism and it terrifies me that i'm going the same way.  i'm sitting here trying to make excuses for why i drink but at the end of the day they're just excuses.  Basically i come home from work most evenings and pour my self 2 maybe 3 glasses of red wine - not all at once of course!!! then i feel guilty and have 2 or 3 cups or herbal tea - yes herbal tea, i'm one of those condesending gits that tries to eat organic, consumes no caffeine then guzziles wine !
I feel this is more of a habit than an addiction as if i'm busy i'm not too bothered.  

I'm a full time working mum, i have a great husband and family.  I have a great job - a little stressful at times but thats the way i like it,  i like to do the best i can at mostly everything, unfortunatley i suffer from bouts of depression.

I just what to find a happy medium, where i dont feel guilty and i can start enjoying life to the max.  At the moment i feel like i'm stuck in a rut!!

[Twosandbits]

Hello Mark

I did reply on your other post, I think you will find doing this alone incredibly difficult if not impossible it is a hard hard thing to do even with support, you might need to rethink on that one! :-)

[biggerman]

I have recently stopped drinking after 10years of abuse n most recently bottles of vodka everyday For about week. enough is enough... I have decided to go cold turkey its been nearly 48 hours now n last night was horrendous man!! Sweats shakes nightmares. . .everything. today i feel 100% better than yesterday but know i have a long journey ahead n i hope to never feel like i did last night and the past few weeks as this horrible darkness has surrounded mefor years but im seeing the light and trying to right my wrongs. As i am not going to rehab or docs n trying todo alone..tho with support is there any foods n drinks anyone can suggest. all suggestions would be v much appreciated. mark

[shell921]

Here is what Dr Keith Ablow says about alcohol abuse :

People don't need to drink daily or fall down drunk in order to be suffering from alcohol abuse. Alcohol is a much more subtle and toxic substance.  It can impair a person's ability to resolve problems as a husband or wife, father or mother, employer or employee by giving a person false shelter from the problems in their lives, an escape from reality that allows real problems to multiply while they relax with two mixed drinks with dinner or two glasses of wine to get to sleep.  It can complicate depression or anxiety disorders by making the symptoms less intense-until they intensify, with a vengeance.

After working with enough patients who seemed surprised that I identified alcohol as a major source of trouble in their lives, I've thought up a four-question quiz:

1.    Has anyone told you that drinking is a problem for you?

2.    Have you ever been charged with an alcohol-related driving offense?

3.    Do you remember your first drink?

4.    Would you be upset if someone said you couldn't drink anymore?

I'd say that if you can answer "yes" to any two of these questions, alcohol is a problem in your life.  

[wyoga]

Very helpful to me for where I am right now!  Thank you

[wyoga]

Excellent response.

[Flying45]

You are not an alcoholic but alcohol dependant - dont put labels on yourself. You have control to cut down your intake xx

[ibizan]

hey lady so good to hear from u!glad things are better for u..keep a going..Little hasn't posted since 2007 and for some reason like they can and will do a polished troll appeared...hope he is gone or on way to Springer show......but it got u to post so lets keep hearing from u!

[TJack]

Hi Little,  we may have all started like you and not really thought there was a problem.
Oh how fast it escalated for me.  Then I could not quit!  I am typing this and almost 1 month since my last glass of red wine.  Sure it sounds good, but i know it is poison for me.  Hey Rodd and Ibi, i went into a hospital for a week in Beaverton, Or.  Cedarhills hospital.  For alcoholics, drug users and people with depression.  Saw a psychiatrist every day for a week.  She changed my anti depressant and i have to say, i Feel so good.  It took about 2 and a half weeks but I FEEL GOOD. I am happy and having a life instead of isolating and just concentrating on the next bottle of Merlot.  So, Little i guess the first thing I had to do was OWN it and then my poor husband saw how depressed i was and i think he was actually fearful of what i might do to myself, he found this hospital and i was in there in a matter of 2 days.  Good counseling etc.  But, i do believe the change in my anti depressant has been a God send for me.   Happy to be back on board and Little hang in there.  Keep posting and good luck to you.  TJ

[rod44]

LMAO.....I guess I had better be good so and keep ye updated, as long as ye are not after me pot a' gold, some say there is no such things as leprechauns although I did have some  encounters when I was drinking.....

the hospital misplaced my MRI scans and the Neurosurgeon would not do anything until he had the films so everything is in a bit of a mess.....
Ray

[dominosarah]

Yes Rod keep us updated on you......you dont want ibizan and i to have to hunt you down!!!

[ibizan]

u have a good memory...all his posts got deleted....yes i love the humor and sober/clean camaraderie here.....rod-pleas keep us informed...know u will!:)

[dominosarah]

I am most grateful for u 2 on here also and the rest of the people.  It feels comfortable coming here and we understand and support each other.  We also share the same type of humor!!!  gotta love it...........sara

[dominosarah]

SensibleinSarnia was the dudes name.......

[rod44]

Hi,
I can identify with the sense of humor lol....

I go for pre surgical risk assessment on Tuesday next so they will decide then

Ray

[ibizan]

we r grateful for u 2 here...we r smart cookies and smell a louse er i mean mouse hahahah......i have  keen sense of humor and it serves to help me preserve whats left of my sanity.....we just keep forging thru!when is that surgery?

[rod44]

Hi I am happy and comfortable in my sobriety.
when it comes to  execising my responcabilitys to others who look for help like you and sara and the other good people on here I am always glad to be of help, I do not let Small minded people upset me.
keep up the good work guys :)

Ray

[ibizan]

i cannot recall the name of the guy who posted was very anti-12 step..had real long posts and got quite nasty and medhelp had to delete him.this puts me in the mind of him only this is more polite but twisted rationalizations about the wifes drinking and informing others they are not alcoholic.....similiar to x-posters!many hoaxsters have been booted and come back on under new names!Twilight Zone opening music is playing!

[rod44]

One flew east one flew west one flee over the cuckoos nest!!!

[dominosarah]

I just hope they have a fence around their yard!!!

[ibizan]

the more i muse on this it seems more likely that it is a elaborate hoax.....the product of a mind who can spin a story like this......one who lives a confused life indeed!but i know there are ppl who live like this....sure grateful i'm not one of them!

[rod44]

I agree, lol Jerry Springer or the Simpson's..... It Takes All Kinds To Make A World

[ibizan]

Sara after reading all of lucas commentary on his wife i cannot help but wonder if this is all a ruse or just someone who should go on the Jerry Springer show!

[dominosarah]

Have you been on this forum before?  You sound like someone else that used to be here and tried to tell us about being an alcoholic and had stats for us and all.  Here is the cold hearted facts.  I am an alcoholic.  I can not have 1 glass of wine, beer, whiskey, nothing, nada.  I can not control my intake.  It is all or nothing with me.  I dont care what you say or what type of stats you have......I live in reality.           sara

[rod44]

Littlea34 also wrote...... it's not easy admitting to being an alcoholic....
This person came here to get help with what she feels is a problem with stopping drinking,
The purpose of this community is to help those who wish to stop drinking

AA dose not help people to "controle their drinking" we try to help people to stop drinking....