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Old Sep 19, 2013, 09:29 PM
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As mentioned in my new member post, I'm a drunk. I drink 2-3 drinks 5-6 nights a week. I average probably 15 drinks a week. I buy whatever the cheapest 80 proof liquor 1.5L there is at the time, just about every paycheck that I get. Though I recognize that I am a drunk, and a problem may come of it, I don't see any present problem with it. I only drink at night (after 7pm) and I never leave the house drunk. I have never drank at a bar, and I am not a violent drunk like my father was. The most of an *** I've made of myself drunk was trying to play PvP on League of Legends and having my entire team hate my guts. I am a loner by nature so I am not "missing out" on social occasions due to being a drunk.

So I apologize if this is an inappropriate question considering that most everyone here has an addiction of some kind, however I feel compelled to ask. In your personal opinion, is it possible to be a drunk without actually having a "problem" with substance abuse? Perhaps that's phrased wrong, of course it's substance abuse... Can I be a drunk without having a problem, per se? Does this question even make sense?

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  #2  
Old Sep 20, 2013, 06:21 AM
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splitimage splitimage is offline
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I sort of understand your question, and I'll try to answer it based on my own experience. The short version is yes it's possible to be a drunk and not have problems (immediately) or perhaps more accurately not suffer any negative consequnces from the substance abuse.

Take the case of my father. He was an alcoholic, the whole time I was growing up. But he like you did most of his drinking at home at night. So he never got a DUI - he did however drive drunk on occasion if we'd been out visiting friends, and frankly he should have got a DUI on those occasions, but he got lucky. He never lost a job due to drinking and generally functioned well in the world. It's unknown if he suffered physical consequences of his drinking, because he dropped dead of a massive coronary when he was 68. Did alcohol contribute to that? Probably.

Now take my case. I was a heavy drinker right from the age of 18 until the age of 38. In about 2002 I started writing in my journal that I thought I had a problem with alcohol and that I needed to stop because I was starting to become physically dependent on it. But really I didn't think it was that big a deal, because I was still holding down a good job, wasn't blacking out, wasn't getting DUI's etc. Like you I did all my drinking at home at night.

But and here's the but. For some people who are heavy and regular drinkers, you can start to develop tolerance for the alcohol, which means you need more and more booze to get the same high. So your 5 drinks a night, might become 7 and so on. For me it progressed to the point where I was drinking a 1 litre bottle of hard whisky / 24 hour period.

And I started having negative consequences. I started having black outs and passing out. I've injured myself numerous times when I passed out and fell during a black out, only to come too with blood everywhere and not remember a thing. I started having withdrawal seizures. I finally lost a job because I showed up at work drunk one day. I landed in hospitals needing a medical detox. I have a fatty liver, but thank God I stopped before I developed cirrhosis.

So you many not have experienced anything bad YET, but if you keep drinking the way you are drinking, it could get a lot worse really quickly to the point where you experience negative consequences but are unable to stop even though you want to, without help.

splitimage
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I'm a drunk.
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  #3  
Old Sep 20, 2013, 08:45 AM
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I see your point there. I have built a slight tolerance compared to when I started. There definitely are mornings where I really want to start it with a drink (like today).
  #4  
Old Sep 21, 2013, 09:15 PM
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TombE TombE is offline
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I can relate. Trust me. I have been a heavy drinker since I was 16. In my later years, not when I was a complete mess and an insanely out of control drunk, I didn't see a problem with getting drunk every night before bed. Obviously the drinking is a coping method. While no problems may have occurred as a direct result of drinking, the drinking is masking the real issue. I'm sure you already know this. So being a drunk without a problem? Nah. There's a problem somewhere in that equation. Whether its the actions that occur during inebriation or from it, or the underlying issue behind the need to drink so much so often.
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  #5  
Old Sep 21, 2013, 09:46 PM
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I am a drunk because in addition to anxiety and depression and BPD, alcohol has been the main culprit in me losing job after job year after year. I drink by myself usually and then the next day feel horribly anxious and worried about doing my job correctly that I'm useless for several days.
Because alcohol has caused me problems in keeping jobs, and it largely isn't fun anymore, it makes me a drunk.
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  #6  
Old Sep 22, 2013, 04:13 AM
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Ugh I drank more than I usually do last night. Woke up at 4am and I seem to be unable to go back to sleep. Can't get enough water. Incredibly depressed now...
  #7  
Old Sep 22, 2013, 05:43 AM
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NoEmotion I feel for you, you drink to ease depression but it just makes you more depressed than you need to drink more again, an endless cycle, you just need to go cold turkey mate.
  #8  
Old Sep 22, 2013, 07:39 AM
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NoEmotion,

I feel for you. I've been where you are now more times than I can count, and I hate to tell you this, it will only get worse.

The fact that you even want a drink in the morning is a sign to me that you have a problem. Normal drinkers don't want that. Or as we say in my AA group, "Scotch is not a breakfast drink".

Do you want to stop? It's hard, but it is possible. And my life's far from perfect now, but it's a lot better than it was before I got sober.

Since you're close to being a daily drinker, if you do decide to stop, I'd suggest talking to your family Dr. about getting help in stopping. It's possible that you're physically dependent on alcohol, in which case stopping cold can be dangerous as well as unpleasant. I've had withdrawal seizures in the past and trust me you don't want to go there.

So talk to your Dr., be absolutely honest about how much you've been drinking, and ask for help detoxing. They may recommend that you go to a detox, or they may decide you can detox at home safely with the help of medication. The meds will also make the process less painful.

I'd also suggest trying AA. I go to AA and found them really helpful both in stopping and staying stopped.

Good luck.

splitimage
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"I danced in the morning when the world was begun. I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun". From my favourite hymn.

"If you see the wonder in a fairy tale, you can take the future even if you fail." Abba

I'm a drunk.
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  #9  
Old Sep 22, 2013, 09:37 AM
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gismo gismo is offline
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NoEmotion,
I'am functioning Alcoholic, which means-
I do all my daily chores, laundry,ironing,dishes,vacumming,moping.
I do the school run 4x aday.
I have a autistic son of 8.
I get up at 6.30 every single day,
I bathe, wash my hair,
My son is bathed and into bed every night at 8.30 with a story.
I maintain my house ie:decorating,mowing the two lawns fixing stuff that needs fixing.
I get my straight A 18 year old daughter off to college every day.
Iam also a single mum at 49.
now my point is i have been an alcoholic since the lord knows when, i have tried AA, i have read plenty of book's on the matter, i'am currently on a "cutting down " regime as it were, and i believe also that your body doe's get used to more alcohol, i too have high anxiety and wake up at about 3 every single night sweating and fearing for my life, you are young and have a lot f years left inside you, i'am psychologically and physically addicted to the stuff,even tho i only drink 1 bottle of 12cl wine a night starting at 6
You say you don't see a problem with it, well my friend if you don't stop now i can assure you 10 years down the line their will be a problem. save your money , and try and get some help please.
good luck, gismo x
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  #10  
Old Sep 22, 2013, 11:02 AM
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TombE TombE is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NoEmotion View Post
Ugh I drank more than I usually do last night. Woke up at 4am and I seem to be unable to go back to sleep. Can't get enough water. Incredibly depressed now...
Don't dwell on it. It happens. I've started out with one drink made 50/50, then my liquor amount just increases drink after drink. It happens. Just keep on drinking that water and take some Tylenol for the headache. Alcohol definitely does not help the depression in the long run, as much as we like to say it does since it makes us feel good (most of the time) and allow us to loosen up. But afterwards... it shows it's true colors. Just deal with today and nurse that hangover
  #11  
Old Sep 22, 2013, 01:45 PM
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So sorry you're having a tough time. I'm a functioning drunk too. I have had a lot of close calls, drinking and driving, blackouts etc, but I always survived. I think that was blind luck and just God taking care of me.

Right now laziness is the only thing that stops me. I am too lazy to go to the store and buy alcohol. But I totally understand where you are coming from. I used to have vodka for breakfast too when I was younger, so I know what it feels like to want that morning drink.

The detox may be a good idea. You may have built up a tolerance in your system for the alcohol, and your body may be so used to it, it can't be without it.

But good question though.
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  #12  
Old Sep 22, 2013, 07:07 PM
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I'm not a functioning drunk and have lost so many Jobs I can't count count them. I used to use alcohol to relax from Anxiety; what a cruel cruel thing to do to myself. Basically alcohol is the worst thing you can do for anxiety and I've been paying the Price for years.
Also, while I've never had an addiction to meth or crack, I've gone through episodes in my life where I partake of these drugs and thus totally ruined the neurotransmitter setup in my brain. So now no wonder it is so hard for me to calm my anxiety. My poor brain and body, I'm so sorry I did this to you.
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  #13  
Old Sep 25, 2013, 02:53 PM
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arachnophobia.kid arachnophobia.kid is offline
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I often wonder the same question as you. I have some drinking habits of my own that I try to justify some days and then other days I feel terrible about them.

I agree with a lot of the other posters, it can get a lot worse than you are describe.

Here is a rule about drinking that I think is true but I don't alywas follow:

If you think you might have a drinking problem, you probably do have a drinking problem.
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  #14  
Old Sep 25, 2013, 03:02 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by arachnophobia.kid View Post
If you think you might have a drinking problem, you probably do have a drinking problem.
Right.. I don't know if you saw my other post here, but I'm sure it's more of a problem than I realized because of what a friend texted me.
  #15  
Old Sep 25, 2013, 03:10 PM
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NoEmotion, IMO the short answer is "yes, you are a drunk" Functional perhaps, but a drunk none the less. I drank like you, home and alone. I have been sober for 2 years and my life is much better without it.
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  #16  
Old Sep 26, 2013, 10:11 PM
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arachnophobia.kid arachnophobia.kid is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NoEmotion View Post
Right.. I don't know if you saw my other post here, but I'm sure it's more of a problem than I realized because of what a friend texted me.
Yeah, I didn't see your other post. I'm a drunk too, to some extent anyway. Tonight I'm having a few drinks, I'm on drink number 2.

Usually I drink 2 or 3 times a week as an attempt to keep myself together.

Anyway, we're both drunks, let's have a drink together sometime, figuratively speaking. As long as we're drunks we may as well be drunks together. But truly let's try our best to kick this thing.

- A
  #17  
Old Sep 26, 2013, 11:01 PM
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Originally Posted by NoEmotion View Post
As mentioned in my new member post, I'm a drunk. I drink 2-3 drinks 5-6 nights a week. I average probably 15 drinks a week. I buy whatever the cheapest 80 proof liquor 1.5L there is at the time, just about every paycheck that I get. Though I recognize that I am a drunk, and a problem may come of it, I don't see any present problem with it. I only drink at night (after 7pm) and I never leave the house drunk. I have never drank at a bar, and I am not a violent drunk like my father was. The most of an *** I've made of myself drunk was trying to play PvP on League of Legends and having my entire team hate my guts. I am a loner by nature so I am not "missing out" on social occasions due to being a drunk.

So I apologize if this is an inappropriate question considering that most everyone here has an addiction of some kind, however I feel compelled to ask. In your personal opinion, is it possible to be a drunk without actually having a "problem" with substance abuse? Perhaps that's phrased wrong, of course it's substance abuse... Can I be a drunk without having a problem, per se? Does this question even make sense?
Just another post that shows how different we are in my country. Pretty much every second person here drinks this much regularly with absolutely no one suggesting they have problems with substance abuse. The mentality here is as long as you have an alcohol free day every 10 days or so, you're all good. It doesnt sound like it is causing major problems in your life so I dont see the harm.
  #18  
Old Sep 26, 2013, 11:41 PM
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Well like I said, I don't presently see a problem with it. Society in the states has a different view though.

And of course, it could become much worse... it's gotten worse since I started anyway.
  #19  
Old Oct 01, 2013, 11:43 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NoEmotion View Post
Ugh I drank more than I usually do last night. Woke up at 4am and I seem to be unable to go back to sleep. Can't get enough water. Incredibly depressed now...
It's okay to be depressed.
  #20  
Old Oct 02, 2013, 12:07 AM
tdorkmen tdorkmen is offline
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Originally Posted by NoEmotion View Post
Ugh I drank more than I usually do last night. Woke up at 4am and I seem to be unable to go back to sleep. Can't get enough water. Incredibly depressed now...
It's okay to be depressed.
  #21  
Old Oct 04, 2013, 02:34 PM
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Though I dislike admitting it I am a drunk too. For me it started at an early age. I had so many chances to quit which I did on and off a year or two here and then I start again. For me I have used it for social anxiety, and unfortunately depression and also when manic because I think i am invincible. I'm so gutted I started again and am trying to get myself to quit . I've done the vodka for breakfast and because I work from my home alone I guess in my warped perception think it doesn't matter. Also when low i say it doesnt matter, as who cares if i end up dead? Which is probably where i'm heading. My world is so black and white that when I drink there is nothing but that feeling, when I'm sober I can't believe I'll ever drink again. I don't know how to get a handle on my lying, cheating brain and one drink and I feel like it will all be ok but it really isn't. I hope you find the answers you need.
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  #22  
Old Oct 04, 2013, 03:42 PM
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Please try to get help for your addiction. I am not standing on a soap box preaching to you, but you all sound like my brother who passed away 1 year ago, he was 43. He never admitted to having a problem, alot of you admit that you do and that is part of the battle. Please look after yourselves.
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  #23  
Old Oct 04, 2013, 07:13 PM
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Well I've read back through my original post. I'm pretty tipsy now and I realize that I'm a freaking liar even when I'm anonymous on the internet. 2-3 drinks a night? Please. Maybe if 2-3 drinks = 2-3 glasses a night, with glasses being 1/3 full of liquor. I drink about every night now, and even have one or two in the mornings sometimes if I know it's going to be an especially stressful day... WHATEVER! Drinking instead of having dinner tonight I'll probably end up in bed by 10pm cause I can't see straight hahaha.
  #24  
Old Oct 04, 2013, 07:40 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NextToNormal View Post
As mentioned in my new member post, I'm a drunk. I drink 2-3 drinks 5-6 nights a week. I average probably 15 drinks a week. I buy whatever the cheapest 80 proof liquor 1.5L there is at the time, just about every paycheck that I get. Though I recognize that I am a drunk, and a problem may come of it, I don't see any present problem with it. I only drink at night (after 7pm) and I never leave the house drunk. I have never drank at a bar, and I am not a violent drunk like my father was. The most of an *** I've made of myself drunk was trying to play PvP on League of Legends and having my entire team hate my guts. I am a loner by nature so I am not "missing out" on social occasions due to being a drunk.

So I apologize if this is an inappropriate question considering that most everyone here has an addiction of some kind, however I feel compelled to ask. In your personal opinion, is it possible to be a drunk without actually having a "problem" with substance abuse? Perhaps that's phrased wrong, of course it's substance abuse... Can I be a drunk without having a problem, per se? Does this question even make sense?
I did not read all the responses here, I already know what people are gonna be saying, I've seen it enough times it's very predictable in forums. Here is the God's Honest Truth bottom line real deal,

if it's NOT disrupting or effecting your personal life and or work in any way, there is no problem. News Flash: some people can actually drink regularly and know when to stop!

I also buy either a liter or 1.75 liter of the cheapest whiskey or vodka, which ever, I like both. I drink them str8 up, mixing is blasphemy imho. I come home have a few shots never more then 4 usually only 2 or 3 and some nites none. It does not interfere with my social life, financial life, family life, work life, in any shape or form. And I been like that for the past 20 years at least. Amazingly some how I can stop drinking. Some times I do treat myself and get totally ***** faced. I don't consider myself a drunk or alcoholic.

Only you know if it's a problem for you or not. If it is a problem that's a different story entirely!
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