How much do you drink and what?

I really don't know if I have a drinking problem. I assume I do, even if I don't drink every day and I have not been badly drunk for a very long time.

I consume alcohol only once - maximum twice - a week. I try to avoid everything that is stronger than wine; I usually choose beer or cider. Not more than five or six halflitres.

But the problem is that I do it to be able to relax. Otherwise, I am always under this inside pressure. It is horrible.
It is good to be slighly tipsy, as this helps with letting loose. I am very careful about not drinking in public - to avoid unpleasant scenes - or not being active online while I drink.

But I am ashamed.
This is why I think that I might have a drinking problem.

Hi Irmtraud,

check out this: alcohol-addiction/topic40051.html

For many people substance use is self-medicating an underlying issue of some sort. Obviously I can't diagnose you here. But perhaps there is a possibility you have some sort of anxiety-related disorder? Have you spoken to your doctor (I don't know where you are, in some countries a GP is enough, sometimes they need to refer you to a psychiatrist) about this? (I may be completely wrong of course.)

Big hugs if wanted.

Hy Oliveira,

thanx for your kind words! Yes, I have already checked that recognizing-list and I seem to be on the border, having answered an honest "yes" to every question in the "Has my drinking become a habit?" group.

Yes, I think I do use alcohol as an attempt on self-medication. And, it is a fact that I have an anxiety-related disorder (very strong avoidant tendencies.)

Thanks again!

Big hugs back, if wanted

I'm a professional hugger, I can handle any amount of hugs you've got and then some

You are welcome

I drank wine, beer, vodka, and gin and was a regular binge drinker. When I got older I decided to cut sugar out of my alcohol and just started drinking beer regularly and occasional vodka shots. Towards the end of my drinking habit I was only drinking one beer a night almost every night and occasionally would have one large shot of vodka for an extra strong buzz.

i typically drink a mickey (375ml) of whiskey (80 proof) almost every day if I have the money and time permits (i wouldn't show up to some place important drunk off my ass). I didn't even consider myself as a problem drinker until I started reading these posts

I have not drank in two days now... So far my max time sober is 3 days. I drink nearly a fifth of vodka a night. Only recently has my husband started limiting my intake. My most recent has been 1/2 - 3/4 of a fifth a night. I black out and have no recollection of shows we've watched, conversations we've had or even getting to bed. I think I may have an abuse problem... But like you I am unsure. This has been a nightly occurrence for the last 2.5 years.

If a friend of yours came to you and said "my max time sober is 3 days. I drink nearly a fifth of vodka a night. Only recently has my husband started limiting my intake. My most recent has been 1/2 - 3/4 of a fifth a night. I black out and have no recollection of shows we've watched, conversations we've had or even getting to bed [...] This has been a nightly occurrence for the last 2.5 years" would you feel she has a problem?

I put down 2-3 750ml bottles of booze a week. But it's usually a couple of days of no drinking/recovery, a couple of days of moderate drinking (1-3 drinks) and 3 days of heavy drinking. I rarely go over half a bottle because I'm too wasted at that point. (I have gone further a few times and was completely slammed the next day). I never black out. I'm addicted to gin, but will definitely consume anything alcoholic if gin's not at hand. I had a hardcore binging episode with gin when I was young and it gave me a permanently lower tolerance than other spirits, which of course is a good thing. I could probably put down a whole bottle of vodka or whiskey if I had too, but I haven't gone that far off the deep end yet. One more thing - I'm a "high functioning alcoholic" - it's extremely hard to tell when I'm drunk; hard working business exec; family man, pillar of the community, you get the picture. All of that actually bad because it helps me not deal with my severe problem.