Am I An Alcoholic? Here’s How I Quit Drinking

An alcoholic is someone who cannot stop drinking, no matter what they do. They are beyond human aid — they are hopeless — powerless to stop. “Hi, my name is… and I’m an alcoholic” is of course the more traditional way of introducing oneself at a meeting.

But for a reason I could not yet understand, I became willing to go to any length necessary for sobriety. I just started praying, asking God to help me, to relieve me of the terrible obsession with can police dogs sniff out nicotine alcohol. I told Him I wanted to quit but could not do it without His help. I admitted to God that alcohol was my current god but that I wanted Him as my God instead. I remembered having read an article about the AA program and how it had helped many people to quit drinking and turn their lives around.

Do You Need Help? 10 Warning Signs of Alcoholism

Early withdrawal symptoms include headaches, anxiety, nausea, irritability and shaking. Alcohol is society’s great leveller – alcoholism doesn’t care about where we come from, where we live, or how successful we are. Drinking alcohol is widely accepted and even encouraged in society. However, if you are drinking frequently or have problems because of alcohol you may wonder if you have a problem. Anyone who experiences concerns or troubles due to alcohol use may likely have a drinking problem.

A person following TSM who drinks without taking naltrexone can still relapse. So, in some sense, being “in recovery” is always a life-long reality. Sadly, there are many misconceptions out there, and we often hear people with addictions described as lazy, damaged, and weak, with no regard for the circumstances of the individual.

Why Some People Still Identify as an Alcoholic After Quitting

1. Whether you’re the loved one of someone struggling with alcohol addiction, or you yourself are struggling, it’s important to be aware of these signs and to know that you’re not alone.
2. From the ages of 18-28, I had 11 jobs, 11 apartments, totaled four cars, got arrested three times (all alcohol related), got married, then divorced.
3. Nonetheless, I tried the isolation routine in life — and failed miserably.
4. BetterHelp can connect you to an addiction and mental health counselor.

Many people can drink alcohol and not become addicted. But for some, drinking alcohol leads to alcoholism. Many people use the terms “alcohol abuse” and “alcoholism” interchangeably. However, alcoholism refers to alcohol addiction or dependence, where the individual has a physical or psychological compulsion to drink alcohol. Alcohol abuse refers to a pattern of behavior where a person drinks excessively in spite of the negative consequences. I attended the meeting the next day and was surprised at the friendliness and cheerful smiles of the people.

As dependence develops, it becomes difficult for the person to stop drinking. For those that become alcoholics it typically takes years and many times “hitting bottom” before they admit (voluntarily or involuntarily) that it’s a problem. An alcoholic has a “couple” of drinks with friends or to “unwind”. The couple of drinks turns into a couple every night.

I said I didn’t need to go to any meetings. He told me to go ahead and try, and check back with him every month. In retrospect, people had been talking to me about my “partying” for years. Parents, bosses, friends, bartenders, but no one came right out and used the word “alcoholic.” OK, maybe a couple of people said that word but I thought they were being judgemental.

Strategies for Dealing with Alcohol Use Disorder: What to Say and Do

Once it takes hold, it can be hard to shake loose—without the right help. Anyway, after I pulled the covers over my head, I stayed in bed until the next day, for some reason sleeping 13 hours. On the Sunday I poured out the rest of the drink which, when I poured it, I had no idea would be my last. I sat around the house not making any vows to myself but somehow just waiting. On the Monday, I went to see Dr. Schlichter.

Newscast on one of the local stations. After we got off work, we went to the 11 p.m. The chairperson asked if anyone was attending their first meeting. A guy said, “I am. But I should be in a psych ward. I was just watching the news, and right now I’m hallucinating that three of those people are in this room.” A Native American who crawled out from under an abandoned car one morning after years on the street, and without premeditation walked up to a cop and asked where he could find an A.A.

Renewal Center for Ongoing Recovery

I could go a few days without drinking and then a compulsion to have it would overcome me and I would give in and drink it to excess, and suffer the consequences. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers. Alcoholism is a disease that can affect both children and adults, but it doesn’t affect everyone the same way.

Alcoholism is the physical or mental dependence on alcohol. If you find yourself regularly thinking about your next drink, or if you’ve tried to cut back on drinking and never quite succeeded, you may have an alcohol addiction. A physical addiction is where the body adapts to the amount of the substance going into the system. As the body increases its tolerance of the amount of the substance (drugs or alcohol), more is required to get the same effect. When a substance is removed from the body, withdrawal is experienced. Someone who doesn’t struggle with addiction and can indulge recreationally doesn’t experience withdrawal.