Looking for input

Hey,

I think I may some kind of a problem with alcohol. When I was a teenager i used to go out every weekend and get totally wasted, totally out of control, would never remember how I got home or half the night events for that matter, used to drink during the day a lot as well actually.

So anyway, 27 now you would have thought I would have grown out of it. I don't consider myself alcoholic, I don't crave alcohol. Maybe twice a month I will go to the pub to have a few drinks with a friends, no intention of making a night of it, but as soon as I have had three beers I reach kind of like a point of no return, and I wil keep drinking till I run out money or all the bars are shut. I really wish I could have a sensible drink, but 50% of the time I'll reach that stage where there is no turning back, end up in some dodgy situations I can barley remember, spent every penny in my wallet, hopefull havn't been to the cash machine and caused trouble I cOuld really do without.

My personality changes completely when I drink as well, I mean I am sure everybody changed, but I REALLY change, like I am a completely different person, know what I mean.

i think I have kind figured it all out for myself just reading this back, I havn't progressed with this problem in 12 years, I guess t-total is the way to go as much as the thought scares me. The problem is my social life revolves around drinking pints in pubs (maybe that sounds kind of sad), but then i need to do something, I can't carry on like this forever, and sometimes I just can't trust myself to have two beers and go home. Also I have got up to my tricks at work functions as well which is a no no.

Anyways, thanks for reading, any input would appreciated.

If you are not at the stage of physical addiction and do not have the psychological craving, I would be very careful because the addiction is a GRADUAL PROCESS. I have seen it happen to family and friends over the years. You are at a fork in the road...

You are still young, healthy with a job and responsibilities and you want to grow throughout Life, not sabotage that process.

Can you replace some of those outings and activities and friends with healthier friends, pursuits and hobbies? Have you read the posts by Jim S. and Shadowalker? They are very informative.

Good luck my young friend.

Mr. Shnrub… It is good to see you here. You may indeed be in just the right place.

It is my opinion that no one ever finds places like this by mistake. Never. We don’t post questions like you asked out of the blue. This thing has been bothering you for a while. Maybe as long as 12 years.

Your drinking pattern seems to be pretty much consistent for all that time. And I think it might be a reasonable position to assume that if nothing else changes in your life, this pattern will continue to assert itself. And furthermore, to continue to create difficulties for you. Also it might be useful to factor in the view of the person who posted just above me that dysfunctional drinking is a progressive thing. Over enough time it will only get worse.

If you agree with what I have observed and said up to this point, then you may also agree that a change in your life is in order. If so, the real question breaks into two parts. #1 What needs to change in my life in order for this problem with alcohol to resolve itself? And #2 How does one go about making this change happen?

Mr. Shnrub, I am an alcoholic, I more than admit that. I like you realized that alcohol was interfering in my life, and in turn, I took concrete action to change that unhappy pattern.

My suggestion to you at this point is to get and stay open minded as to what treatments/programs are available to someone like you. Almost no one gets better in isolation. Almost no one gets better based on self alone. Almost on one gets sober toughing it out John Wayne style. It all starts with the admission that this thing has our number, and it isn’t going to let go of us for free. There is real work involved. Doing nothing only guarantees that the suffering you are feeling now will go on and on.

I am a member of Alcoholics Anonymous. In the rooms of AA I found out how to not drink today, and do so happily. I think one of the smartest things a guy like you could do is find the nearest meeting, and show up. You will find it is full of guys just like you. My suggestion is to show up for more than one meeting, keep your mouth closed and listen. You will hear the answer to the two questions I posed.

All that is required of you to start is willingness, open-mindedness, and honesty.

Your friend on the road to the good stuff,