Am I an Alcoholic???

[xx marti xx]

I know I drink alot.
It started 3.5 years ago when I split from my wife.
I am now with a new partner and I am happy with my new life,but the drinking hasn't stopped.
I work shifts so i get alot of time off,I generally only drink at home and this usually consists of 1ltr of voddy in an evening.....5 - 6 nights on the trot.I do still get drunk but I dont suffer with hangovers.
Ive been told that my response to drinking is a standard one amongst people with a drink problem, that is I drink coz I enjoy it and not coz I have too.
During my work cycle I dont touch any alcohol and dont really crave it,I dont need a drink first thing in the morning on my days off either.
So the question is ...Am I an alcoholic or just someone who likes to drink,albeit quite alot ????.Or am I just lucky that I dont get hangovers ?????
Any help/comments are most welcome
Cheers
Marti.

[skyep]

Hi marti - Personally, reading over your question, yes, I would say you have a drink problem. You don't suffer a hangover, because you drink regularly. During your work cycle ' you don't "really " crave it? You don't need a drink first time in the morning on your days off, how comfortable would you be not having any drink for the rest of the day?? 1 litre of vodca 5 -6 nights on the trot is a dependency. I think you already know deep down you have a problem, it's probably already presenting difficulties in your day to day life without doubt. Get some help before it really effects the ones you love, take care.

[KittyGlitter]

Hi Marti. The recommended limits for men to drink alcohol are: 3-4 units daily and 21 weekly. At the moment you are drinking 30 units almost daily which is 150-180 units a week. Please seek help, imagine what this is doing to your liver. You only have one precious body. No, you aren't lucky that you don't get hangovers because you are still damaging your body. I would suggest you have a word with a doctor that you get on well with and take it from there. All the best xx

[xx marti xx]

Cheers guys,you have said what i knew deep down.I just had to hear it from somewhere else.
I think i've cought it early enough as at the moment I can stop myself from drinking fairly easily.
Thanks again and sober times for me :0)

[mrknowall]

This is a start by admitting what you drink, And your not drinking in the day time which i a good thing.
I have friends who have turned it around
Try and stop it now

This site might help

http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/?Media=Pla yFlash

http://www.aamolly.org.uk/

I do wish you all the best

[StudentGal]

Marti, alcoholism doesn't come in just the form a lot of people percieve it. You sound like you are a 'binge drinker' which is a form of alcoholism. If you can't quit it all by yourself, you should contact a group help session

[The Tree]

What i find is people cant seem to differenticate between an alcoholic and someone with a drink problem.there is a difference.i think you definetly sound like you have a drink problem at least.i used to be a heavy drinker and i really drove my body into the ground.i have myself sorted out now and my health has returned to normal.it didnt happen over night tho.drinking that amount is not doing you any favours.you gotta stop it and give your body a rest.you hear people saying all the time when someone is trying to give up something thats bad/unhealthy for them to replace it with exercise.it is a very very good idea.i am sure you body is feeling run down.try and replace it with other things and see how it goes.and what i would advise is some psychotherapy.even a few sessions so you can see how they go.sounds like your break up had a bad effect on you and talking it tru and trying to find out why you turned to drink so much might be of great benefit to you.rather than abstain from alcohol and not know why try and get it sorted in your own head as to why.but you really got to stop and dont make up excuses.thats a trap that a lot of people fall into.be strong and go ahead with it.also one last bit of advise.try getting some vitamin b12 supplements when you give up.when you drink heavy the alcohol absorbs a lot of b12 in your system which is needed to get energy out of food.when i was detoxing i was given a prescription for xanax to help with withdrawls and also given ordinary b12 tablets which they strongly suggested i take.you can get them in any health food store and they will help your body as the alcohol leaves it.best of luck