Alcoholism after College

[esc222]

Hi I'm a 22 year old male and just graduated from college.  During my last semester, I drank quite heavily on the weekends (usually Th/Fri/Sat) and would often have brown-outs/black-outs.  I usually would not drink on Sun-Wed.  I was wondering if this type of drinking can cause any serious withdrawal symptoms.  

I had 10-12 drinks this Saturday, Sunday had 3 drinks and I plan on not having anything for the next week or 2.  I have noticed very minor shakes in my hands today and will monitor closely, but should I worry about anything more serious?  I am going to drink plenty of water, eat healthy and exercise during this period as I feel i just need to detox my body from the long semester of partying.  Thanks in advance for any advice anyone can offer.

[rod44]

It is important to keep in mind the anti-social aspect of drinking, how many of us do things that we regret when drinking or have things done to us when we are drunk that we live to regret.

I am aware of many cases of asphyxiation that can be directly attributed to alcohol, you dont need to be an alcoholic to suffer this kind of misadventure.      

Ray    

[Westguy1003]

Very true. What's often forgotten / discounted / disbelieved is the concept of the functional alcoholic. People assume that alcoholics have some sort of scarlet letter on them that identifies them as such and they're easily recognizeable. Not always the case as we all know!

People who make plans to drink, hide it, and are "smart" about it are sometimes the most innocent and unassuming alcoholics. I would do everything but break out a weekly planner to schedule my drinking nights around my professional and personal commitments so I would only drink on "safe" nights when I knew I'd have enough time to sleep it off and could get away with it. I'd sneak booze into the house by tucking pints of whiskey into my socks, hide it where no one would find it, buy from a host of different liquor stores all over the county so I didn't hit the same one too often to arouse suspicion, sneak the empties out in my socks so no one would ever see them, etc.

When you demonstrate that level of comittment to keeping it a secret you can fool just about anybody... or at least you think you can.

Anyway my point is: just because you're being "responsible" about it, and "planning" it, and "thinking it through," doesn't make it any less dangerous or mean you're somehow cheating the odds. You may fool everyone else but in the end you're really only fooling yourself. It doesn't make you "better" or "safer." In many cases it's probably just the opposite.

If we could pool our collective brainpower and devote just a fraction of the time and effort all of us on here put into hiding our drinking and making excuses and put it toward something worthwhile we'd probably cure cancer and colonize Mars by the end of the week!

[ibizan]

Ah you young ones but then i was once in my 20's in a past life:)BEWARE the weekend warrior mentality!Ppl who drink selves silly on weekends easily convince themselves theres no problem for they aren't doing it during the week....but what they fail to see is that they consumed enough for 6-7 days in one or two nites!

[surfin]

I got depressed for a few weeks, so be aware that it could happen, but you should be fine.  Good luck soldier

[Westguy1003]

Jacker - HAHA, I totally am with you on the "lack of homework" part. "Well, no papers to write... where's that bottle? Gotta do SOMETHING."

Esc222-

EVERYONE (or nearly everyone) parties hard in college. Don't sweat it. You're still young so it's unlikely, although not impossible, that you have been drinking long and hard enough to cause any serious withdrawl symptoms if you abruptly stop. the shakes, some sweating, nausea, etc.. are probably just your body processing out the alcohol and "detoxing" as you put it. You could always check with your doctor just to be on the safe side and if your symptoms continue or get worse after a few days or so I would definitely consult your doctor. Best to pay the co-pay now than the fiddler later!

Jacker has a point though, the party is over and now real life begins. No ones saying you have to quit booze completely but you are certainly at an important point in your life where you need to start working toward your future. Keep the partying (and the drinking) to a minimum and def. confined to the weekends. The weekdays are for work now :-)

Congratulations on graduating and good luck with everything! Keep us posted!

[Jacker]

Well, college is over!  I understand the party atmosphere, but I think you are at a pivotal point in your life. If you keep doing this on weekends, you could easily damage yourself or open the door to more drinking during the weekdays.  Once you're out of the college scene, being drunk becomes less and less attractive to others anyway.

I don't know if it's withdrawal, but your body does have to work hard to rid itself of the toxins.  I think you are correct about a detox. You may not be an alcoholic, but don't go there.  Give yourself a break and then drink smaller quantities less often.  

I was a college partier too, and did not begin crossing the line until I was 27.  For some reason, that "lack of homework" at night made me decide to drink more often, and it was a big mistake on my part.