Am I an alcoholic if I only binge drink once or twice a week?
think I may be an alcoholic. My question is, can you be an alcoholic if you are only a binge drinker? I feel like sometimes I am making a bigger deal out of it than it needs to be. However, over the past two years or so I've been feeling so helpless when I drink. I wake up the next day and cry because I don't want to live like that anymore, but then I do it again the next weekend. I'm almost 30 years old and think maybe it is time to grow up. I only drink on Friday or Saturday night, but will drink about six beers or mixed drinks and then about 10 shots on top of that. I don't drink during the week at all and have no problem abstaining during the week, I hardly even think about it. But once I get a few drinks in me, I feel like I just want to drink everything in sight. Any thoughts on this are greatly appreciated.
Anonymous2011-02-08T11:32:05Z
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Some good answers for a change, if drinking is making your life miserable, you want to stop but can't then you're an alcoholic, the amount is almost immaterial.
You describe alcoholism very well when you say what happens when you get a few drinks inside you.
I'm a recovered alcoholic in my 5th year of recovery thanks to Alcoholics Anonymous, I'm surprised it's only bee mentioned once so far in some of the very good answers.
I now work in an alcohol rehab unit in the UK and also as an adviser on the AA National 24hr telephone helpline.
I suggest you go along to a few meeting near to where you live, my link will help you find one, you don't have to say or do anything you don't want to, just listen to others in exactly the same position as yourself and how they recovered from the disease of alcoholism.
Since I joined AA in 2006, not only have I not had a single drink since, after completing their program of recovery, the desire ever to drink again has been completely removed.
You are welcome to mail me if you need any more advice.
EDIT: I've joined SMART twice in the past year or so as I'm of the opinion that you can never get too much knowledge, however I never hear from them unless they want money, AA has been free since it started in 1935, has meetings every day all over the world and is not a faith healing group, I've been an atheist for over 50 years and know many just like me, have a look and judge for yourself.
I never run down any help group so I can only tell you my experience in AA, Smart have 600 + face to face meetings around the world, AA had over a 106,000 in a 2006 census.
Once or twice a week is fine. If you are a daily binge drinker then you are an alcoholic. But having a few drinks a couple days a week in nothing to worry about. The crying may be depression related and for that you need a doctor. While there ask about drinking, etc. They will always tell people to not drink so keep that in mind. The other thing is they will say that the depression is alcohol related no matter if it is or not-if you tell them that you drink, so keep that in mind too. Just don't slip into a daily binge routine. As one nonalcoholic to an alkie I think you can pull through this. Give it a go and see how it works for you. Maybe you need just the minimum of units and not binge level stuff. I think that your are at the point that you have no control which is really too bad and may mean you need to retire from the party scene. Later, mate.
RE: Am I an alcoholic if I only binge drink once or twice a week? think I may be an alcoholic. My question is, can you be an alcoholic if you are only a binge drinker? I feel like sometimes I am making a bigger deal out of it than it needs to be. However, over the past two years or so I've been feeling so helpless when I drink. I wake up the next day and cry...
Alcoholism is defined as the compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcohol despite its negative effects on the drinker's health, relationships, and social standing.
Though you only drink two nights a week, when you do drink you cannot control it so yes, you are by definition an alcoholic.
If you really want to stop doing this you might want to get some professional help or join a group to talk about it. Often times there are other reasons behind excessive alcohol consumption (trying to escape or numb yourself to something for example) that can be worked out.
Some simple advice would be to not drink for a weekend or two to see that you actually can make it without drinking. That can help give you the confidence that when you do drink you don't need to go crazy and get drunk to have a good time. Also, limiting yourself to one drink per hour, or forcing yourself to drink a glass of water between every drink can also help as well.
Lastly, if your friends are encouraging/enabling you, let them know that you are not happy with how much you are drinking and would like it if they supported your decision to drastically cut back.