Am I an acloholic?

[Erethorn]

In my teenage years, and well into my twenties, I would drink, once or twice a week. And, perhaps once a month, I would get ‘plastered’, and for a dozen times, in that period, I would sleep in the gutter, as it were.

Since marrying and having a child, I would no longer drink to the point where I blacked out.

However, in the last couple of years, I find that there is hardly a day when I don’t drink 5 or 6 beers before going to bed. Not before, not during the day. I am a lawyer and I think my drinking habits have not interfered with my career. I have seen the term ‘high functioning alcoholic’ and I suppose that’s what I am. I am never drunk when I’m at work, and I’m seldom sober when I go to sleep. I just can’t sleep well unless I do.

Any thoughts ?

 

[tawny]

In my teenage years, and well into my twenties, I would drink, once or twice a week. And, perhaps once a month, I would get ‘plastered’, and for a dozen times, in that period, I would sleep in the gutter, as it were.

Since marrying and having a child, I would no longer drink to the point where I blacked out.

However, in the last couple of years, I find that there is hardly a day when I don’t drink 5 or 6 beers before going to bed. Not before, not during the day. I am a lawyer and I think my drinking habits have not interfered with my career. I have seen the term ‘high functioning alcoholic’ and I suppose that’s what I am. I am never drunk when I’m at work, and I’m seldom sober when I go to sleep. I just can’t sleep well unless I do.

Any thoughts ?

I would go see your doctor who will be able to give you appropriate referrals.

 

[jjtc]

Try giving up alcohol for Lent; that should give you a clear indication of how important it is in your life. In the Gospel this past Sunday, Jesus said “No one can serve two masters”. Find out who is in charge, you or the alcohol…

 

[PietroPaolo]

In my teenage years, and well into my twenties, I would drink, once or twice a week. And, perhaps once a month, I would get ‘plastered’, and for a dozen times, in that period, I would sleep in the gutter, as it were.

Since marrying and having a child, I would no longer drink to the point where I blacked out.

However, in the last couple of years, I find that there is hardly a day when I don’t drink 5 or 6 beers before going to bed. Not before, not during the day. I am a lawyer and I think my drinking habits have not interfered with my career. I have seen the term ‘high functioning alcoholic’ and I suppose that’s what I am. I am never drunk when I’m at work, and I’m seldom sober when I go to sleep. I just can’t sleep well unless I do.

Any thoughts ?

Obviously I can’t diagnose you, but I will point out that getting drunk is sinful. I don’t know if you need to see a doctor, but you definitely need to see a priest for confession. God bless.

 

[cheezey]

Try giving up alcohol for Lent; that should give you a clear indication of how important it is in your life. In the Gospel this past Sunday, Jesus said “No one can serve two masters”. Find out who is in charge, you or the alcohol…

excellent…

 

[James_Good]

My Good Friend.

You are an alcoholic of a functioning manner. I reversed your own admission without predigest.
Please follow your heart and do the right thing for yourself and family. Everyone knows this about you and some may be protecting you without saying anything.
Ask your family and friends for help and realize how wonderful that experience will be.

Good luck!

 

[Boswell]

Try giving up alcohol for Lent; that should give you a clear indication of how important it is in your life. In the Gospel this past Sunday, Jesus said “No one can serve two masters”. Find out who is in charge, you or the alcohol…

 

[Pat_Payne]

In my teenage years, and well into my twenties, I would drink, once or twice a week. And, perhaps once a month, I would get ‘plastered’, and for a dozen times, in that period, I would sleep in the gutter, as it were.

Since marrying and having a child, I would no longer drink to the point where I blacked out.

However, in the last couple of years, I find that there is hardly a day when I don’t drink 5 or 6 beers before going to bed. Not before, not during the day. I am a lawyer and I think my drinking habits have not interfered with my career. I have seen the term ‘high functioning alcoholic’ and I suppose that’s what I am. I am never drunk when I’m at work, and I’m seldom sober when I go to sleep. I just can’t sleep well unless I do.

Any thoughts ?

Just from what you’ve been telling us, you may well be. If nothing else, go to a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous – it couldn’t hurt I’ve added the link for the general office in Romania – it’s even in Timisoara, where you are. They should be able to point you in the right direction.

aa.org/lang/en/aa_international.cfm?origpage=31&country=Romania

 

[InNomineDomini]

am never drunk when I’m at work, and I’m seldom sober when I go to sleep. I just can’t sleep well unless I do.

Here’s another way to frame the question, and to ask it back to yourself, and perhaps ultimately to a doctor.

Suppose you decided to give up alcohol entirely for a given period of time, say, two weeks. Suppose also, that over the course of those two weeks, you had access to professional hospital monitoring for alcohol withdrawal symptoms, as overseen by an M.D.

If you suffered from such symptoms, and had to be treated for them, would you consider your alcohol consumption to be a short-term risk your health? If so, to what extent can this risk lead to more permanent damage?

 

[Eirebiz]

I think if you are questioning yourself then you have a problem. But please be warned, if you are a regular drinker do not give up suddenly as it may lead to convulsions. Speak to a doctor first. Take it from one who knows and the best of luck to you.

God Bless.

 

[glendab]

The way to find the answer to your question I think, is to simply go to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting and ask them the same thing you asked here. They are after all, the “experts” on all matters drunk and sober and perhaps you’ll find the answer you seek. If it turns out you are an alcoholic, they can and will help you. You can contact them on line or over the phone. They are probably in your local phone directory.

Good luck and God bless you.

Glenda

P.S. Alcoholism is a disease not a disgrace. Do not wait for it to get disgraceful before getting help.

 

[MacQ]

The way to find the answer to your question I think, is to simply go to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting and ask them the same thing you asked here. They are after all, the “experts” on all matters drunk and sober and perhaps you’ll find the answer you seek. If it turns out you are an alcoholic, they can and will help you. You can contact them on line or over the phone. They are probably in your local phone directory.

Good luck and God bless you.

Glenda

P.S. Alcoholism is a disease not a disgrace. Do not wait for it to get disgraceful before getting help.

This advice is spot on. The folks in AA know more than any MD about it.
The poster above who said “Find out who’s in charge…God or the alcohol”…was also very wise.

I think you probably are…and hats off to you for asking the question!!
Go to a meeting.
You won’t regret it.

 

[bigjohn2u]

My boss has the same routine -during the week- and he acknowledged that he is an binge drinker-- especially on the weekends – and he is a non- practicing catholic–

but on the job-- he has restraint-- but there you have an answer–

now with me – i currently like to have one beer – at night-- and that is just a “habit”

and i used to smoke - one pipe full of tobacco – but that was even a more addicting habit

 

[Dorothy]

A functional alcoholic is still an alcoholic. It usually interferes with having a good communicative relationship with the spouse. It can make for an unhappy marriage.

With regards to 5 or 6 beers…each beer is the same as a shot of whiskey.

May our Lord lead and guide you with his grace to get help.

 

[Sunbreak]

The amount seems excessive, especially if you have to do it every day or almost every day. As other posters have said, maybe a doctor could be helpful to find a way to help your sleep problems without alcohol. Even if you can still function during the day, surely all that alcohol can’t be healthy for your body over time.

 

[LongingSoul]

In my teenage years, and well into my twenties, I would drink, once or twice a week. And, perhaps once a month, I would get ‘plastered’, and for a dozen times, in that period, I would sleep in the gutter, as it were.

Since marrying and having a child, I would no longer drink to the point where I blacked out.

However, in the last couple of years, I find that there is hardly a day when I don’t drink 5 or 6 beers before going to bed. Not before, not during the day. I am a lawyer and I think my drinking habits have not interfered with my career. I have seen the term ‘high functioning alcoholic’ and I suppose that’s what I am. I am never drunk when I’m at work, and I’m seldom sober when I go to sleep. I just can’t sleep well unless I do.

Any thoughts ?

Perhaps I’m influenced by cultural elements being Australian and familiar with the phenomenon of alcoholism. (Australia has a deplorable alcohol problem)… but it sounds to me like you have a habit rather than an addiction. There is a difference. Try some techniques to break the habit like replacing drinking time at night with something else like sport or group activities of some sort, maybe even charity work.

If you aren’t able to break the habit and feel content, then look at alcoholics anonymous. I think the success of either solution depends on properly identifying what the nature of your problem really is.

God bless.

 

[Vico]

In my teenage years, and well into my twenties, I would drink, once or twice a week. And, perhaps once a month, I would get ‘plastered’, and for a dozen times, in that period, I would sleep in the gutter, as it were.

Since marrying and having a child, I would no longer drink to the point where I blacked out.

However, in the last couple of years, I find that there is hardly a day when I don’t drink 5 or 6 beers before going to bed. Not before, not during the day. I am a lawyer and I think my drinking habits have not interfered with my career. I have seen the term ‘high functioning alcoholic’ and I suppose that’s what I am. I am never drunk when I’m at work, and I’m seldom sober when I go to sleep. I just can’t sleep well unless I do.

Any thoughts ?

Alcohol increases deep (or so-called slow-wave) sleep during the first part of the night but decreases REM sleep. More than one or two drinks harms REM sleep. Lack of REM can cause sleep deprivation which can increase anxiety, irritability, hallucinations, lack of concentration, and increased appetite.

 

[LaughingBoy1503]

The way to find the answer to your question I think, is to simply go to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting and ask them the same thing you asked here. They are after all, the “experts” on all matters drunk and sober and perhaps you’ll find the answer you seek.

Having been court ordered to AA before I became a Christian and having been court ordered to spend 3 months living in a hardcore 12 step rehab treatment facility I can honestly say generally, people in A.A. are not “experts” on in all maters drunk and sober. Only on how they have recovered (though they say that no real alcoholic ever fully recovers) and how they think you should recover.

Though I would say “Yeah, go ahead and give A.A. a try” I would also say not to be fooled into thinking going to a.a. is the only way to get sober, or even the best way to get sober. Lots of hardcore 12 steppers will tell people that but it is simply not true.

 

[WKW_69]

In my teenage years, and well into my twenties, I would drink, once or twice a week. And, perhaps once a month, I would get ‘plastered’, and for a dozen times, in that period, I would sleep in the gutter, as it were.

Since marrying and having a child, I would no longer drink to the point where I blacked out.

However, in the last couple of years, I find that there is hardly a day when I don’t drink 5 or 6 beers before going to bed. Not before, not during the day. I am a lawyer and I think my drinking habits have not interfered with my career. I have seen the term ‘high functioning alcoholic’ and I suppose that’s what I am. I am never drunk when I’m at work, and I’m seldom sober when I go to sleep. I just can’t sleep well unless I do.

Any thoughts ?

You abuse alcohol. But why you do it is important. Many people self medicate with alcohol. It may be stress, anxiety or depression that causes you to drink. Since you have the resources you should seek out a counselor that works with people that abuse alcohol. I used to self medicate with alcohol many years ago, but received help with anxiety and depression and I haven’t abused alcohol in 14 years. I don’t recommend AA programs they only have a success rate of about 1% and many people there will not seek help with anxiety and.or depression problems.
I have known and worked with many alcoholics over the years and they wake up in the morning then drink until they fall asleep again.
The fact that you don’t do that tells me you’re self medicating.

 

[sierradepadre]

I have read what you posted and I immediately got scared for you.

Since you are a lawyer, do you not research for each case you have, put together all facts, etc? If you had someone on the witness stand and they were saying what you said, what would you be thinking?

If you were a judge and found the person on trial guilty of consuming more than a moderate amount of alcohol which is usually defined as no more than a couple of drinks per day, what would you have this person do as defined as a court order?

You have been given a lot of good advice so far!

Why not take notes on what people have said and prepare a plan of action and start and start tomorrow but pray on it today.

Alcohol has a numerous serious effects on your physiology. I think you know this It also has numerous negative effects on sleep. You may not see it quite yet but it does and will get worse. It has numerous negative effects on your loved ones and I am pretty sure your loved ones and others are not telling for whatever reason but that is not helpful

I think by reading what others have wrote, I think one conclusion is pure fact: you are hurting your body. The second fact is also true is that your drinking is having a negative effect on others. The third fact is that you are aware that you have a history. a recurring problem and that is a good start.

Whatever word you use or we use, you have read a lot to good information from your peers and …we love you and obviously so does Jesus.

So Counselor, what are you going to do now. We do not have to know but whatever you choose. I hope it is to get some help. Others after me will also give you some good feedback but I think you are pretty sure what that feedback will be.

And…whenever you want, come on line. Someone will always be here for support and to pray for you. You are never alone-NEVER!

Sierradepadre