how booze affected me then and now.

I drank a lot in my 20's. From like 24 to 29 i drank just about every night. Sometimes just a couple beers, sometimes i'd drink til i passed out. I didn't know if i was an alcoholic and i didn't want to find out, so I just kept drinking. It just became a routine - hit the bar on a friday night, drink beer and watch football on sunday, grab a six pack of beer on the way home from work on tuesday.

when i turned 30 i went to the doctor and my doc said if i keep drinking the way i was i would get fatty liver. So i figured it was time to tone down the partying.

so i just stopped drinking altogether. The first weekend was kinda tough but after that I didn't crave alcohol at all. I went about 4 months without drinking. Instead of going to the bar i'd go to the gym. I totally changed my lifestyle.

then this past christmas at dinner i had a glass of wine. I guess i wanted to prove to myself that I could have a drink and I wouldn't fall back into the same routine i was in my twenties. And I passed my own test. I had a couple glasses of wine and that was it, I didn't start craving alcohol the next day or anything. On new years day I had 2 beers while watching football with my dad. The me in my 20's would have probably polished off 8 beers.

I don't crave alcohol like i did in my 20's. I'm much more into fitness and healthy living now. Which makes me wonder..was I ever an alcoholic? During my twenties I couldn't go without boozing up. Now the idea of drinking beer while i watch tv is so foreign to me but if i'm out at dinner i'll order a beer with my steak.

In my 20's to deal with stress i'd get drunk. Now if i want to deal with stress i'll go to the gym.

i still trying to figure out why during my 20's i was so addicted to alcohol and now i can take it or leave it.

Maybe you werent addicted? Maybe at the certain point in your life its just what you wanted to do, And you even said it your self its how you dealt with stress, and now you have a new way... and I say GOOD FOR YOU!!!!!!

Its really great that you've gotten out of the "cycle" and people like you make me believe that one day.. I will get out of my cycle too.. using alcohol as my release.....

alex7373 wrote:
then this past christmas at dinner i had a glass of wine. I guess i wanted to prove to myself that I could have a drink and I wouldn't fall back into the same routine i was in my twenties. And I passed my own test. I had a couple glasses of wine and that was it, I didn't start craving alcohol the next day or anything. On new years day I had 2 beers while watching football with my dad. The me in my 20's would have probably polished off 8 beers.

I don't crave alcohol like i did in my 20's.

Alex - I would say not enough time has passed to say whether you won't fall back into the same routine. Many people with alcohol addiction trick themselves into thinking they can handle it by successfully drinking small amounts for a period of time. Only time will tell if this will stay this way for you. It is possible that if you undergo a serious crisis, or maybe just slowly over time, your alcohol intake may increase and rival those old levels. As far as I can tell, you had your first drink (after a period of sobriety) on Christmas, and posted this less than a month later. I'd be interested in hearing how you are doing now, almost four months since your Christmas drink. If you are continuing to do well with no increase in amount or frequency, that is great. - Kelly