My alcohol problems...

[GodBlessTX]

I am not ready to admit I am an alcoholic, I personally know/knew several that were. I have an issue of binge drinking occationally like 12+ beers/cocktails to the point I forget half the night and wake up to a very frustrated spouse!

I have been under stress lately and have had more frequent "beer nights" than I suppose I should and will admit the 1-2 a day habit can be hard to stop, but I can avoid alcohol during the week but like a beer or two on the weekends...

Where I get in trouble is occationally having the guys over playing indoor/outdoor games and drinking way more than I should and paying for it the next day!

Anyone go thru this? This happened friday before last, I didn't touch a beer until this past friday and had a few on saturday with no problems avoiding sun or today and prolly all week...

Just my alcohol frustrations... Hard to be a social drinker sometimes...

 

[TheMainException]

Sounds like you're pushing the alcoholic limits...I can understand not wanting to call yourself an alcoholic...but get some help, get some non drinking friends to hang out with from time to time...confront problems where they stand, don't just allow they to run over you. If you can't remember the night...why is it fun? Truly it would be better to remember the night...is that enough to stop the 12th beer? Usually not though.

 

[GodBlessTX]

You're right... Saturday the wife filled me in and I was pretty disappointed at everything... I did tell the wife I felt I had a problem and should look at alternate ways/friends to have fun... She's not a big drinker so it helps cause I am not one to drink alone...

Definately a work in progress!

 

[TheMainException]

It's a good thing she's a nondrinker and that you don't like to drink alone! work in progress is all anyone can ever ask man. It's always such a bummer to hear of the stupid stuff you did the night before. That was one of the worst things...waking up with the knowledge that I had no clue what happened the previous night...always a punch in the gut to add to the painful hangover that would accompany memory-less nights.

 

[Kid Fish]

A couple drinks on the weekend isn't a big deal, just when you get to the point of even being able to down 12 is a problem. That's an awful lot of booze.

I would recommend you avoid social interactions with buddies for a while when beer is involved. It might be simply that your trigger is the group setting and having a blast. Avoid the atmosphere and you likely will avoid the overindulgence. If you don't abuse alcohol then you can still enjoy a beer or wine with dinner, but once you go over the line you can't even do that.

Alcohol is not evil or even unhealthy in moderation.

 

[GodBlessTX]

Thanks for the support! Yeah, I gave the "bar scene" up years ago too! The older I get the better this problem gets but I am seldom reminded that I can be an idiot with alcohol... I think last saturday was the switch from 12+ beers to whiskey... It's amazing I never get sick from it... Maybe that's what I need!

I think you are both right for now, just avoid gatherings like that and focus on limiting it on a whole... I did pass up a gathering saturday and stayed in for DVD night with the wife to avoid the urge to splurge!

 

[madison1101]

A couple drinks on the weekend isn't a big deal, just when you get to the point of even being able to down 12 is a problem. That's an awful lot of booze.

I would recommend you avoid social interactions with buddies for a while when beer is involved. It might be simply that your trigger is the group setting and having a blast. Avoid the atmosphere and you likely will avoid the overindulgence. If you don't abuse alcohol then you can still enjoy a beer or wine with dinner, but once you go over the line you can't even do that.

Alcohol is not evil or even unhealthy in moderation.

Alcohol is unhealthy in moderation for an alcoholic!!!!! Because moderation is temporary, and eventually, the alcoholic will either binge or go on week long benders.

A person who is serious about addressing the alcohol problem will abstain at all costs, and work a spiritual program of recovery to change those emotional reactions to stress.

 

[madison1101]

It sounds like you have a really good case of alcoholic denial. Binge drinking is also very typical for most alcoholics who attend AA meetings. I know that I was a weekend warrior, and could even go for months between binges back in the day. So what?

If you think you have a problem with alcohol, you have a problem. It is time to learn a new definition of alcoholism. It is a disease that says you don't have a disease. It is a disease that includes an allergic reaction to any amount of alcohol, so that the body and mind will crave more, and more, and more. It is a disease that lies and says you can have just a little. It is a disease that tells you your problems will go away if you have one or two drinks. Problem is, the next day you have the original problems, PLUS the hangover, guilt, shame and remorse as well.

Try attending a few AA meetings and learn something about alcoholism, and the people who call themselves alcoholics. Try reading the literature that AA puts out, called the Big Book. Try educating yourself on the disease of alcoholism, and what it really is about. Alcoholics Anonymous :

Trish

 

[BlessEwe]

Welcome! Glad you are here and posting.
You will get some honest answers here, and lots of support.

I am glad you are seeing how bad the blackouts can be, and is a major warning sign for you.
Normal drinkers do not like the feeling of more than a couple drinks, people with problems or future addicts want to keep the buzz going strong into a blackout. It is so nice in recovery to wake up and know what I did the night before.
Here is a link to look, hope it helps Classic Alcoholic Behavior

Please keep posting , there is a great group here.

 

[GodBlessTX]

Good info... On AA.org, I took the test and had 3 yes/9 no... On the Classic alcohol website, I fit best in stage one, but have the occational one night binge... Usually dont have more than 3 or so socially... Never missed work do alcohol or drank in the morning...

I dunno, maybe I am freaking out cause of how bad I felt for last weekend... I didn't say anything bad to anyone or hurt anyone except myself.

I will monitor this with keeping y'all posted. Trust me, my wife is monitoring too!

There should be no need for drinking during the week... Weekend beverages will be consider apon activities for now...

Thanks again for the help and links!

 

[madison1101]

Good info... On AA.org, I took the test and had 3 yes/9 no... On the Classic alcohol website, I fit best in stage one, but have the occational one night binge... Usually dont have more than 3 or so socially... Never missed work do alcohol or drank in the morning...

I dunno, maybe I am freaking out cause of how bad I felt for last weekend... I didn't say anything bad to anyone or hurt anyone except myself.

I will monitor this with keeping y'all posted. Trust me, my wife is monitoring too!

There should be no need for drinking during the week... Weekend beverages will be consider apon activities for now...

Thanks again for the help and links!

Welcome to my world. I never missed work, or school because of my drinking. I never drank in the morning, YET!!!!! I have never said anything bad to anyone, or hurt anyone, while I was drinking. I drank alone. That proves nothing, except I have not done certain behaviors that are considered stereotypical for alcoholics, YET!!!

The best way to find out if you need AA is to attend some AA meetings and listen to the stories of the people in AA. I relate so much to so many things that people share at AA meetings, especially the feelings and the denial.

Good luck.
Trish