hello, my name is Richard Johnson and I'm an alcoholic.

Richard J. Johnson

Richard J. Johnson

Joystick Member
Today was hard day. I had no idea I had a drinking problem until I put it into perspective. But I do have one and even though I'm pretty much the same guy when I do get drunk, I still get drunk and can't seem to stop drinking. Anyone else have or had a problem with the bottle? This sh!t is pissing me off and no matter what I do I just keep drinking and I don't know how to fix it.
 
First - damn good for you, in recognizing that there's a problem and deciding that you're going to do something about it. I mean it.

I can't offer counsel in terms of the alcohol use itself because I'm not much of a drinker. Although for some time I was smoking more weed than was probably wise or responsible...

...if your personal beliefs are a good match for their program, Alcoholics Anonymous appears to work for a great many people. Their program wouldn't suit me and may or may not suit you but if you haven't already, see if they can offer you useful guidance and support.

Alcohol can really destroy people and if you have identified it as problematic now, you're in a position to see that it doesn't grow out of control to the point of doing you and your loved ones serious damage. I wish you all success in finding the way that works for you, to put it behind you.

*EDIT* I'm not actually recommending it because I don't have professional-grade knowledge but there is a medication called Antabuse that basically makes your system so intolerant of alcohol that you can't keep the stuff down, at all. But I think that it's usually reserved for people who have tried everything else and are likely to die if they don't cold-stop their drinking, pronto. I don't know if such a thing would be appropriate for you but a physician and/or counselor might be able to offer you reliable information.
 
Richard J. Johnson said:
...Anyone else have or had a problem with the bottle? ...
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I'm a heavy drinker by definition I guess, when I drink, which is often enough.
I can get by once a week if I'm working, making money and moving ahead.
2 weeks is about my limit I think.
If none of the above then, well, sometimes it's just to socialize or take a mental break from lifes BS.

I find that the day after is your worst enemy. It just leaves a person mentally drained for lack of a better term.
Can't think and don't feel like doing anything.
Some people I know think that having another drink(s) will make them feel better.
You can't tell them that it's the booze that's making them sick in the first place.
If your off for a few days and eat half decent all of the physical and mental energy is back by then.

I go in cycles but Hell, everything I do is in cycles.

Yeah it's a strange animal. I don't have anything good to say about booze. Even if I do joke about it alot.
Just one of those deals sometimes. I don't get in trouble anymore like I used to though, apart from my drunk posts here.
Now I basically listen to some tunes and fall asleep while browsing dvxuser.

So, I think I understand where your coming from, from what you've posted.
I've drank for about 35 years or so, once or twice a week.

Well, you had the guts to post, so I'll give a shout out. I'm not sure what to tell you other than from my experience there are usually other underlying issues as well.
Could be things like anxiety, ADD or other things like that which don't help the cause any.
 
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Thanks for the replies. I just don't know why I drink so much. My mom pounded in my head "never drink, because you will get addicted" and I never drank in high school or college. I smoked a little weed, but found out quickly that it wasn't for me. Then this past year I started drinking. This sh!t has got to stop. Its expensive and uncool. Some peope can have one every now and then, but I can never have another one. If I do one becomes a half gallon.
 
Never had a substance abuse problem, but my own father was nearly killed by his, had a very serious heart attack and then found Jesus right around the time I was born. I almost didn't know him because of it...I'll just say this. There was a PBS special about doctors recently, and I remember one E.R. doctor said hands down the most destructive problem he sees is alcohol abuse, both because of what it does to your body, and what it does to your mind...I also had a good friend die a few years ago because he mixed Alcohol with Xanax. He basically stopped breathing and left behind a wife and 3 year old daughter.
 
http://www.alcoholism-and-drug-addiction-help.com/definition-of-alcoholism.html

Personally, I don't gain much value from definitions because inevitably there will always be contrasting views and opinions on what something is and isn't - so that it can all become a bit confusing.

But if you're a logical, left brained type and think a definition will be helpful, here's one I really like that I read at enotalone.com ...

"Alcoholism is a primary illness or disorder characterised by some loss of control over drinking, with habituation or addiction to the drug alcohol, causing interference in any major life function, e.g. health, family, job, spiritual, friends,legal."

Notice there that it doesn't say anything about how much you drink. So having a drinking problem isn't defined by quantity - but rather loss of control, which ultimately causes problems in other areas of your life, i.e. health, work, relationships etc.

Bottom line is as soon as your drinking begins to effect any areas of your life, you know that there is a problem.
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Your own opinion and assessment is subjective and maybe what you need is an objective one
so maybe ask your wife (who I assume you love and trust).

She will see it from the outside, for what it is, an objective opinion. If she's cool then stop worrying.
 
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dude admitting it is the first and hardest step. Only you would now if it was causing a problem and you probably wouldn't have said anything if you didn't already feel that it was affecting your life.
If you look to your family and closest friends for strength you'll find you can overcome this.
I actually work as a bartender 3 days a week, and can tell you that I see this everyday and you are a part of a small minority of people willing to admit it at all.
Cudos to you for having the strength to admit it.
 
All I'm saying is be careful that you are not someone who thinks he has a problem when in reality he doesn't – it happens.
Get a 2nd opinion from someone you trust who is there. None of us on the forum are there.
 
J Davis said:
Your own opinion and assessment is subjective and maybe what you need is an objective one
so maybe ask your wife (who I assume you love and trust).

She will see it from the outside, for what it is, an objective opinion. If she's cool then stop worrying.
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I disagree vehemently. There is a whole constellation of reasons that another person, even a loved one, will not give an honest assessment of how they perceive your behavior. And let's say that there's the possibility of some denial involved - now you've gone and gotten an honest assessment that's still worthless. Or even dangerous.

If you have concluded that you have a problem with a substance, there's no benefit to continued use that counterbalances getting away from it.

*EDIT* Enabling. *That's* the word I was groping for.
 
Find some new friends who don't drink or at least not as much.

It's way too easy to fall back into it when you have "enablers" encouraging you to do one more shot.
 
I'm with Karl on this one. If YOU think there's a problem, then there's a problem.

Seek professional help. Talk to people that you know who have been through it. Go to an AA meeting. It can be intimidating, but none of these things define you. They are just ways for you to explore what you are going through. May turn out that you are okay.

But definitely talk to your wife about it. Don't ask her for advice, approval, or suggestions. But she should know what you're thinking. It will help her have the tools to support you.

You could be over-reacting. I went through a similar issue in college. Was having beer for breakfast every day. Grew up with alcoholism all around me. None of my relatives lived long enough to know what diseases we can contract (except alcoholism). Turned out that dialing it down was all I needed. But that's for you to look at.

As much as we view DVXuser as a family, and you have support here, you need the real thing man. Drop a dime or two.
 
I don't drink, I used to and was a weekend binge drinker.

I got married and had kids and just quit. I'm not a social drinker because if I drink I want to get drunk. That's where the fun is.

You've already licked 90% of it.
Next just change a few habits that lead to your drinking. It isn't hard.
 
Standing up in a public forum with your real full name and saying " I'm an alcoholic" takes some serious balls.

It means you are a strong personality and that´s the best thing that can happen to you in that situation Richard. It means you got that power to get out of this - use it by all means.

I grown up with alcoholism around me and hated it so much, that I barely drink at all.
Thou that this is probably the strongest protection against alcoholism one can get, it was pure hell for me as a kid.

For goodness sake, don´t do this to your family.

Frank
 
Sad Max said:
I disagree vehemently. There is a whole constellation of reasons that another person, even a loved one, will not give an honest assessment of how they perceive your behavior. And let's say that there's the possibility of some denial involved - now you've gone and gotten an honest assessment that's still worthless. Or even dangerous.

If you have concluded that you have a problem with a substance, there's no benefit to continued use that counterbalances getting away from it.

*EDIT* Enabling. *That's* the word I was groping for.
Click to expand...

Agreed, once you feel there is a problem, then there is no more to discuss..........there is a problem.

Congrats, Richard. I commend your honesty, and any support I could lend, let me know.
 
Richard,

Seek help there are so many options. I lost a wife at 37 years of age to this disease. You can beat it with the right support. I have seen it done by many people including my wife now. She has been sober for 11 years.
 
Believe it or not, I have a reputation around here. Maybe not as much as I used to, but I do.

I don't drink all that much anymore, but I used to be a wreck. For me, it was just a matter of routine and finding a new one. I can have a few drinks and stop. That wasn't the case a year ago.

What I do now is drink a shitload of water. I find that it's like a smoker sucking on a toothpick. The motion is there, but you're not killing yourself. I've set rules for myself as far as when I allow myself to drink and it's been working. It may not work for you or anyone else, but everyone is different. I've lost about 15 pounds and I feel much better.

I wish you the best, sir.
 
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