Am I an Alcoholic?
I love alcohol. I wouldn't be worrying about this at all of I didn't.
I have gotten to the point where the second I start feeling bad, I start craving a drink. I have got multiple empty bottles under my bed from where I have drunk in secret, and have taken it into the shower so no one knows. I have even sat in my car and skulled a drink before going inside just so have a "buzz" without anyone knowing.
That being said, I have good grades at uni. I manage three jobs. I have a social life, I have hobbies, and I never drink enough to be hungover the next day.
I feel like if I was an alcoholic none of those things would be true. I wouldn't have $1000 in savings if I was really an alcoholic, I wouldnt have good grades and good relationships with people.
But if I'm not an alcoholic, what am I?
@decisivePenguin432
There are high functioning alcoholics .... not all are broke or caught or unable to keep up with job/ school etc....that is a false way to measure it.
The hidden bottles the drinks before anything for a slight buzz.... the thought if a drink when ever a stressful moment speaks volumes more then .... If you ask the question you probably know there is a bigger issue.
you going to uni and doing jobs and having savings
your making excuses and comparing yourself to worst case scenario seems to be pep talking yourself out of the idea of being an alcoholic .....
@decisivePenguin432 "Functional alcoholism" is a thing.
@decisivePenguin432
I am sorry, but the only thing I can do is telling that I agree with the friends above.
Increasing alcohol consumption, making alcohol the central point of your life, hiding "safety bottles" everywhere, drinking alone, drinking in a car (I hope you are not driving it after?), using a booze as the "first aid kit" when you are feeling bad - for me all of these are strong and definite red flags.
In the last paragraphs of your message you quite nicely listed all the things you may lose if you don't make a decision to stop.
But it is not the other people to tell you that you have the alcohol addiction problem. It takes you to admit that the problem exists.
Do you have any ideas what you could do?
Here I am not allowed to give you any particular advice, because this is you who knows yourself and your life much better. But if a friend of mine told me she or he possibly had a drinking problem, I would suggest them going to the nearest open (not members-only) AA meeting, just to be there and listen for a while.
