I have not been diagnosed as an alcoholic but have certainly got a problem, I started drinking heavily three years ago . Prior to that I would drink regularly but never every day. During the week I only ever drink on an evening, and any times at weekend but usually again on a evening. I have recently gone 9 days without a drink and then over 2 days i had 10 tins of strong lager and a bottle of wine, (not half as much as usual).I then went another 2 days without and then had a half a tin of strong lager, I immediately felt ill so had no more, for the last 4 days, but I feel ill, Ive got headache all the time, very high anxiety levels, and the feeling i cant breathe.Unfortunately i have had a bug, so wondered if it was related to this or related to not drinking, even though i went 9 days with very few symptoms. I have been wanting to seek help via gP for a while now but always chickened out, and even recently when I went with an injury, I was not strong enough to mention it. I feel Ive now been given the chance to stay on low measures but am scared about how I feel, especailly as my friend informed me you could die from stopping like I have,im so glad Ive found this board and are going to have a look around.
Welcome March, I'm so glad you're here!!!! If you haven't been to an AA meeting yet, I would suggest to try a few. In A.A. no one tells you if you're an alcoholic, you decided that for yourself.
For me, in the end I did drink everyday 24/7, but I too at one point drank similar to you. The problem for me, was if I took that first drink I could not stop until it was time to pass out or it was gone. I remember, now, spending a lot of time planning and thinking about when I'd be able to drink again. It was a big portion of my life.
Some of your symptoms could be both, your left over cold/bug and you body saying "Hey!!! I need a drink!!!" When I first was getting sober my hands didn't stop shaking for a couple of months and it was a good 6 months before I could speak to anyone without spitting on them. Gross is right, but it is what it is and what it could be again.
I really encourage you to see your doc too. My G.P. was great, all though he was the one that put my drinking in my face. Still my doc today!!!
Please come back and let us know how you're doing.
And welcome to the board, glad you are with us, as Jane suggested locate a meeting and attend it. You don't have to say anything just listen and if you still feel you need to attend well I hope it goes well for you...
I've been sober for 5 in a half years now and well I know for me if I pick up that drink, I don't think I will be able to make it back to AA or this MIP board. So for me staying sober for today makes a difference not only in my life but those around me.
Please feel free to continue to post, I'm sure you will benefit the gratitude we have to offer and we will benefit from you.
Again welcome to the MIP board, and thank you for sharing, takes a lot to make that first step.
Welcome! I agree with Jane on the fact that only you can decide if you are an alcoholic. I don't think its so much about the quantity or frequency but rather the "reason" we drink. That tends to coincide with us drinking a lot and often perhaps but the underlying stuff is more important. Some find the 20 questions helpful, have a look:
Take this 20 question test to help you decide whether or not you are an alcoholic. Answer YES or NO to the following questions. 1. Do you lose time from work due to drinking? YES __ NO __ 2. Is drinking making your home life unhappy? YES __ NO __ 3. Do you drink because you are shy with other people? YES __ NO __ 4. Is your drinking affecting your reputation? YES __ NO __ 5. Have you ever felt remorse after drinking? YES __ NO __ 6. Have you ever got into financial difficulties as a result of drinking? YES __ NO __ 7. Do you turn to lower companions and an inferior environment when drinking? YES __ NO __ 8. Does your drinking make you careless of your familys welfare? YES __ NO __ 9. Has your ambition decreased since drinking? YES __ NO __ 10. Do you crave a drink at a definite time? YES __ NO __ 11. Do you want a drink the next morning? YES __ NO __ 12. Does drinking cause you to have difficulty in sleeping? YES __ NO __ 13. Has your efficiency decreased since drinking? YES __ NO __ 14. Is drinking jeopardizing your job or business? YES __ NO __ 15. Do you drink to escape from worries or trouble? YES __ NO __ 16. Do you drink alone? YES __ NO __ 17. Have you ever had a complete loss of memory as a result of drinking? YES __ NO __ 18. Has your physician ever treated you for drinking? YES __ NO __ 19. Do you drink to build up your self-confidence? YES __ NO __ 20. Have you ever been to a hospital or institution because of drinking? YES __ NO __ What's your score? If you have answered YES to any one of the questions, there is a definite warning that you may be an alcoholic. If you have answered YES to any two, the chances are that you are an alcoholic. If you answered YES to three or more, you are definitely an alcoholic. (The test questions are used at Johns Hopkins University Hospital, Baltimore, MD, in deciding whether or not a patient is an alcoholic).
Me, I got 20 out of 20.....best test score I ever got but life is much better now!!
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Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. ~Buddha
I agree about finding a local AA meeting and giving it a try. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
I ended up drinking every day and I knew that it was killing me. It took me a long time to be honest with myself about it before I could be honest with my GP. MY GP is really supportive and that helps so much.
When I stopped drinking, I felt very shaky and anxious. I also had a really bad headache that took days to shift and various other symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. But, they will pass and then you'll start to feel better. If you are worried about detoxing on your own (which isn't always a good idea) call your GP and check what he/she says.
I do hope that you'll check out AA and that you'll keep posting here. AA has completely changed my life and I just wish that I had gone earlier.
Take care,
Carol
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss
March, Welcome! I think it's a good idea to see the doctor but I doubt you will die from detoxing. It took me about a week to get through the worst of it after a period of a couple of years of drinking every other day and then a period of drinking everyday for about 2 months. The anxiety I think is more just an overwhelming knowledge that you need to change and stop this pattern. I suggest you take a breath, give yourself some credit, and recognize you are coming to some really healthy realizations. Also, the fact that you have been sick also means you probably are run down, have been spending a lot of time at home and just thinking too much, and are all in your head with these scary thoughts. It is going to be fine. AA is there to help you if you want it. Also, nobody will every really diagnose you as an alcoholic other than yourself. The medical profession doesn't have the best grip on it which is part of the reason AA exists. Wrestling with the label "alcoholic" and driving yourself crazy trying to diagnose yourself is kind of a waste of time at first. Better to just focus on wanting to stop because that is the only requirement for membership.
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Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
