Even HAPPY people are alcohol addicts

One of the most misunderstood concepts behind alcohol addiction is that many people believe alcohol is only for the "bad" times. I've had many people tell me to not drink my problems away, or not to drink when I'm sad. Therein lies the misunderstanding.

I don't drink when I'm sad. I only drink when I am happy.
I don't drink when I'm under stress. I only drink when I'm having a fantastic day.

So then random people ask me, "Well ... if you're having a good day, then why drink?"
My answer: Because alcohol intensifies my good feelings and emotions.

Alcohol makes me go from happy to super-happy. I feel euphoric, elated, like a living god when I drink while in a good mood. Sex is 10x more pleasurable when I'm under the influence. I can dance better when I'm buzzed.

As a test, I did drink once while I was sad, and never did it again. Alcohol only intensified my sadness, and only made me feel worse.

I'd rather stick to alcohol during the good times.

Be careful here. Alcoholism means that the alcoholic has little or no control over when, why, what or where they drink or how it will end. You aren't given a choice.
One of the main symptoms of alcoholism is 'loss of control'.
Both the good or bad emotions felt 'intensified' when I drank. I could either laugh or cry without inhibition, but I was not really processing or dealing with my feelings at the time.
I drank when I won and I drank when I lost. I drank to celebrate and I drank to grieve. Alcohol numbed me.
Alcoholism also left me with poor judgement and bad decision-making skills, which naturally increased the 'bad times'. 'Good times' became fewer and farther apart.
I no longer had control over how the night would end. I could not predict where it would go. Addiction of any kind can take us where we don't want to be. That isn't being happy.

Alcohol affects everyone differently. I just don't get angry or sad when I'm under the influence. The alcohol seem to block all negative emotions. When I'm drunk, I just want to have fun and party.

Professionals are conflicted as to if I have an alcohol addiction. Some say yes, some say no. I can say no to alcohol very easily, even when my friends offer to buy me alcohol. There are many times I was the only sober person in the room. I can go months without drinking.

My problem arises when I do choose to drink. Once I want to celebrate, my first shot turns quickly turns into 20 shots. I can't stop drinking until I pass out. This is why when I do drink, I stay at home. It's much safer this way.

Yep. Once I started drinking, I couldn't stop.
That's the way I left it and hopefully there it will stay.

My ex was the same way . He could go for long periods of time without having or even wanting a drink and he didn't drink for a reason , like unhappiness or depression or even celebration . He drank in social settings only - out with friends for an after work get-together or at a party .

But once any form of alcohol entered his system , he would be compelled to keep drinking until every drop available was gone and there was no way of obtaining more or he passed out from the sheer amount that he had consumed .

Was he a textbook alcoholic ? Who knows ? He claimed for years that he didn't have a drinking problem but I can tell you this - his friends and GF ( me ) had a huge problem with his drinking . Getting him to leave a bar or a party was a nightmare . He spent the next day physically wrecked by the hangover and needing constant nurse-maiding until it passed . I spent the day listening to " Why didn't you stop me ? " and " Why did you leave me there ? " among other forms of blame-shifting , despite the fact that he could not be stopped and he refused to leave when everyone else did .

You know what stopped him ? I left him . We were together for 8 years , shared a home and had made a good life for ourselves . But I would not carry the burden of his out-of-control drinking and his denial of the problems it caused . His friends stopped inviting him out because no one wanted to pick up the load I had dropped . He was a happy drunk too - right up until the moment his eyes rolled back in his head and he had to be carried home .

Within a year of my moving out , he was in AA and is a sober , healthier , happier person today . We're friends to this day and he's married to a wonderful woman and has a great life . He's content and successful and he wouldn't trade any of it for a drink .

I think the bottom line is , if you don't think you need to stop then you'll always find a reason not to . This is your decision alone . You don't need a professional diagnosis to validate that your drinking habits aren't those of a normal social drinker . If this behavior is causing you doubts or concern , that's enough .

I wish you well and I hope you make the choice that's right for you .