Am I an Alcoholic

[djheater]

Alcohol can be an excellent stress reliever.

There are certainly more healthy alternatives.

Try and substitute one or two healthy stress relievers, like exercise a couple of nights a week.

It's a drug like any other and dependancy is weakness.

 

[GeorgiaBadger]

no you do not need AA.
Stress is self imposed. No one puts stress on you but yourself.

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: Vegitto

Originally posted by: Brainonska511
If you find you can't make it through the day without a drink, as you described above, you may want to seek out help, either professionally or maybe an AA meeting.

AA is a fscking cult. They might help people, true, but only if 'you accept that there is a higher power, and you are powerless without it'..

When I said AA, I meant find a support group, not necessarily "AA." Sorry if I caused any confusion.

 

[Mo0o]

It has to really affect your life, such as getting you fired, before you can be considered an alcoholic but i would say these could be early warning signs

 

[ebaycj]

take up smoking pot.

 

[manicfool]

Originally posted by: Jadow

I can't go on any longer, I have a show to watch, but do I have a problem? Is this normal?

Everything else you asked is irrelevant except this part.
Do not seek confirmation from others on this. If your own behavior bothers you and you see something about yourself that you want to change, that is all that matters. You are the only one who can acknowledge the fact that you are or are not alcoholic. And you are the only person who can change yourself.

From what you said, you are starting to show some signs of dependent behavior for what it's worth coming from me, a complete stranger on the internet. The sooner you nip a bad habbit in the bud, the easier it is to change. That's all I can tell you.

 

[GasX]

By some definitions, the amount you are currently drinking is a sign of alcoholism. It is also an amount well within the realm of "functinal alcoholism" in which your life is apparently unaffected by your habit.

A good acid test if to take a week off. If you start crawling out of your skin, you have a problem.

 

[angminas]

Originally posted by: VegittoAA is a fscking cult. They might help people, true, but only if 'you accept that there is a higher power, and you are powerless without it'..

You're not serious. They help people to get better (with a comparatively good success ratio), and you curse them? Not cool.

irony on

Stupid Salvation Army. Sure they feed and shelter people, but they have this quasi-Christian thing going on, and they set restrictions on what you do. Let's curse them, too.

Christian Children's Fund is a joke. They might build schools and feed the hungry, but they also say there's a God, and they expect children to actually attend their schools. What about free will!? Such losers.

Anandtech is a fvcking cult. Sure you can get free advice there that would otherwise cost you large amounts of money, but it's a group of people with similar interests, which creeps me out. They make you give them your e-mail address just to talk to them, and they don't even accept half of the addresses out there! On top of that, if the mods don't like something you said, they CHANGE IT. What a crock! Elitist pigs!

irony off

Yes, I am angry.

 

[Wreckem]

Originally posted by: iliopsoas

Originally posted by: Isla
I don't think that makes you an alcoholic. You might be consuming more alcohol at this time than is healthy, but that doesn't equal alcoholism.

That said, I have a glass or two of wine most nights. I don't have any other vices, and my life is pretty good, so I see regular alcohol consumption as fairly reasonable.

He's an alcoholic. He starts CRAVING for the martinis while at work. Grabbing the bottle the minute he steps in the door is also another bad sign.

Jadow, get some help and do it soon.

Well its just the beginning of a problem. It would be easier to deal with it now than in a few years from now.

 

[Wreckem]

Originally posted by: iliopsoas

Originally posted by: bignateyk

Originally posted by: ironwing
You're an alcoholic. You've identified the problem and I think you know what you need to do. Cut it out, entirely, forever. As others have suggested, find other things, healthier things, to do. Two cents.

I dont think hes an alcoholic, but this is definitly the starting point, so yeah, id cut back, or more than likely, you WILL be an alcoholic.

If you keep it up, you'll find that those 2 or 3 drinks arent enough to satisfy your craving anymore, and soon enough, you'll be getting hammered every night, and you wont even realize it.

I drink A glass of wine each night while I relax, but I never let myself drink more than that, unless there is a social function involved, then I dont hold back.

If craving alcohol isn't a sign of alcoholism, what is?

Alcoholism is when alcohol has a stranglehold over your life. Hes not at the point yet but its definately the beginning of a serious problem if left unchecked.

 

[Wreckem]

Originally posted by: GeorgiaBadger
no you do not need AA.
Stress is self imposed. No one puts stress on you but yourself.

Bullsh!t. Stress is not self imposed.

 

[ajayjuneja]

you're getting there, best stop now!

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: angminas

Originally posted by: VegittoAA is a fscking cult. They might help people, true, but only if 'you accept that there is a higher power, and you are powerless without it'..

You're not serious. They help people to get better (with a comparatively good success ratio), and you curse them? Not cool.

irony on

Stupid Salvation Army. Sure they feed and shelter people, but they have this quasi-Christian thing going on, and they set restrictions on what you do. Let's curse them, too.

Christian Children's Fund is a joke. They might build schools and feed the hungry, but they also say there's a God, and they expect children to actually attend their schools. What about free will!? Such losers.

Anandtech is a fvcking cult. Sure you can get free advice there that would otherwise cost you large amounts of money, but it's a group of people with similar interests, which creeps me out. They make you give them your e-mail address just to talk to them, and they don't even accept half of the addresses out there! On top of that, if the mods don't like something you said, they CHANGE IT. What a crock! Elitist pigs!

irony off

Yes, I am angry.

There's no proof that AA or any other 12-Step program is any more effective than going cold turkey, doing things in moderation or getting medical help. AA's long term success numbers are horrible, with a success rate of under 5% (the same as going it alone).

AA is a cult because it trades one dependency for another by attempting to convince a person that they NEED AA to survive, and that going it alone is impossible. What is worse, it fails.

 

[Jadow]

OK, I'm not an alcoholic. I didn't have the craving for a martini today, and after really adding it up over the last few weeks, it's not every night that I have one more like about 3 nights a week.

 

[SampSon]

I drink 4-6 drinks everyday after work.

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

Originally posted by: Jadow
OK, I'm not an alcoholic. I didn't have the craving for a martini today, and after really adding it up over the last few weeks, it's not every night that I have one more like about 3 nights a week.

Not being able to differentiate between 3 nights a week and every night is a bad sign. So is LYING TO ATOT!!!!!!!

 

[thecrecarc]

in my opinion, ur starting to become an alcoholic. not 100% there yet, but ur on the edge.

 

[jman19]

Originally posted by: SampSon
I drink 4-6 drinks everyday after work.

Oh yea? I have 5-7, and I start while I'm at work.

 

[SampSon]

Originally posted by: jman19

Originally posted by: SampSon
I drink 4-6 drinks everyday after work.

Oh yea? I have 5-7, and I start while I'm at work.

When I did most of my work out of my house I would put back about 12. I'd start at 1pm or so.

 

[MetalMat]

Originally posted by: ebaycj
take up smoking pot.

I second that