Am I an alcoholic? Addict?

[Hello123hi]

Hello, I have been drinking since I was 11 years old, August 2006, and.. I only use to drink on the weekends, but since April 2010, 14 months ago.. I have been drinking every night, but shameful to say.. Even during the afternoon hours. Even for one night I stay sober, I'm not who I am anymore, like I get mad. But my sober life only lasts less then 48 hours, and I heard the withdrawals will start 3-5 days time when your sober? So doc.. Am I an addict/alcoholic? Idk for sure.

[Hello123hi]

Ohk..im sober about 50 hours, and im strating to feel sleepless night for me, and unctrollable "cravings" for vodka.. Hands are shaking, feeling kinda depressed.. And moody..:(

[J T Junig, MD PhD]

There are specific criteria for alcohol dependence that you can find easy enough through Googling 'DSM criteria for alcohol dependence.'  Labels serve a purpose, I suppose-- but whether or not you meet all the critera, it is clear that you have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol.  If you reallly want to know if you are an alcoholic, simply stop drinking;  if you can walk away from it, chances are that your level of addiction was not all that severe.  But if you cannot live without it-- or without replacing it with another substance or behavior-- then you have your answer.

To a 'non-alcoholic', alcohol is just a beverage that a person can live without.  But an alcholic cannot function without the numbing effects of alcohol;  he/she cannot tolerate 'life on life's terms.'  By your description, that is you--  you become irritable and angry when you have to deal with life straight-on.    If you decide to go after recovery, understand that it almost always the help of others--usually a group format-- because you need to face challenges and here other opinions, and tolerate the emotions that come with interacting with others, without alcohol on board.