Alcoholism Support Group
Alcoholism is the continued consumption of alcoholic beverages, even when it is negatively affecting your health, work, relationships and life. If you think alcohol is causing you to lose control, it's time to seek help. Our group is a safe place to vent, check in, get back up if you fall, and reach sobriety.
I grew up on a house full of alcoholics. Both my parents were, my grandfather and my uncle. I had to deal with people being drunk every day of my life until a few months ago. My mother would spend her days in bed drinking and sleeping while I had to take care of my younger brothers.. they would practically use all the money in the house for drinking so I did get a lot of hungry days in my childhood. Because a bottle of wine was a lot more important to her than feeding the baby..
Now that 24 years have passed, my grandfather and father are dead, uncle moved out and so did my mother. My main issues with her is the fact she still drinks.. she had another baby from another guy and she still drinks. We fight a lot cause I know how she used to leave me taking care of the babies when I was like 10, and now I'm afraid she neglects my sister and I am not there to watch over her like I did with my other brothers.
I currently don't speak to my mother. I stopped talking to her when I was about 18. Until a few months ago we weren't talking, but then she came into my life again and said she had changed. I saw her sober for a while. I gave her a chance. She said she got help and wasn't drinking anymore, so I was kinda glad to see her being a good example for my sister.
Then one day she got to my house, drunk. She lied about being drunk, she said that it was side effects from some pills she was taking - never heard of pills that make you drunk. I lived for 18 years with alcoholics, I can spot one miles away. So I let her go to the bathroom, I checked her purse and she had a wine bottle in it.. she was drinking again.. we had a fight and I never saw her again. She called me a few times, really drunk, and I just ignored her..
I have always stayed away from drinks. I know what it does to people. I don't like it at all. But recently I made this trip and went out with this guy, and I didn't tell him anything and accepted the drinks he paid for me even though I don't drink at all.
I felt happy. One or two drinks were enough to get me singing and laughing. I knew it was wrong but just once what's wrong with that right? Now I have started to drink. Not regularly. But the other daY i felt depressed and I wanted to be happy again, so I finished off the drinks we had at home..
I am truly scared to go into drinking since I have this huge bad example in my family, yet it makes me feel so good! It's not like the taste of alcohol is good or anything, I don't like its smell or taste, but I do like how it makes me feel..
I am scared to follow my family's footsteps and find in alcohol this artificial happiness.. specially since I am always so miserable and depressed due to other problems.. what do I do? Should I worry?
Now that 24 years have passed, my grandfather and father are dead, uncle moved out and so did my mother. My main issues with her is the fact she still drinks.. she had another baby from another guy and she still drinks. We fight a lot cause I know how she used to leave me taking care of the babies when I was like 10, and now I'm afraid she neglects my sister and I am not there to watch over her like I did with my other brothers.
I currently don't speak to my mother. I stopped talking to her when I was about 18. Until a few months ago we weren't talking, but then she came into my life again and said she had changed. I saw her sober for a while. I gave her a chance. She said she got help and wasn't drinking anymore, so I was kinda glad to see her being a good example for my sister.
Then one day she got to my house, drunk. She lied about being drunk, she said that it was side effects from some pills she was taking - never heard of pills that make you drunk. I lived for 18 years with alcoholics, I can spot one miles away. So I let her go to the bathroom, I checked her purse and she had a wine bottle in it.. she was drinking again.. we had a fight and I never saw her again. She called me a few times, really drunk, and I just ignored her..
I have always stayed away from drinks. I know what it does to people. I don't like it at all. But recently I made this trip and went out with this guy, and I didn't tell him anything and accepted the drinks he paid for me even though I don't drink at all.
I felt happy. One or two drinks were enough to get me singing and laughing. I knew it was wrong but just once what's wrong with that right? Now I have started to drink. Not regularly. But the other daY i felt depressed and I wanted to be happy again, so I finished off the drinks we had at home..
I am truly scared to go into drinking since I have this huge bad example in my family, yet it makes me feel so good! It's not like the taste of alcohol is good or anything, I don't like its smell or taste, but I do like how it makes me feel..
I am scared to follow my family's footsteps and find in alcohol this artificial happiness.. specially since I am always so miserable and depressed due to other problems.. what do I do? Should I worry?
Don't take a chance on something that you know 1st hand what it can do.
You already see where this can end up. Speaking from my personal experience, you can get to that place where alcohol runs -- and ruins -- your life, even though it is the last thing in the world you want.
Please don't turn to drinking when you are feeling depressed or down. Try another outlet -- exercise or meditation or music.
Considering your family history, I think you might want to back off from drinking totally -- it just isn't worth taking the chance.
He remarried at 60, and in a year his wife told him she was leaving because of the drinking - he joined AA, she went to Al-anon and he was sober 23 years until he died. It was a miracle.
I have a glass of wine once in a great while - I love iced tea and lemonade! What I experienced with my father has helped me avoid drinking - my brother is the same way
You will be fine because you recognize the risk - not worth it.
Alcoholism affects the whole family and there is a 12 Step program for you to use and gain from. Go to AA as well if you think you are alcoholic and they will help you decide if you are or not. I know a lot of people in AA who do both 12 Step programs, there are many more 12 Step programs out there for different conditions but the road to recovery is still the same.
Alcohol began that way with me too. Made me feel good, happy, witty, beautiful, etc. As time went on, I had to drink more to get those feelings. With no forewarning, I crossed that invisible line into daily drinking. Before long, the alcohol stopped working but I had no choice in whether I drank or not.
IMO, you're treading on thin ice. When you look at your mom, you can see your future if you don't stop while you can.
Also, alcohol is a depressant so careful of the vicious circle. Read your post again and ask yourself "Should I worry?"
Try Alanon too.
Good luck.
I am not gonna say that you cant "learn" how to be an alcoholic. I am gonna say that i do know there is a genetic gene that is handed down, that once it's activated it will ruin you.
When I was born, I was adopted into a loving great functional family, and never even seen a drunk person. I drank alcohol for the first time when i was thirteen, I completely blacked out and ended up in the hospital, stomach had to be pumped. I found my best friend, I found what made me "sing and laugh" and the party was on for 30 some years.
With this being said, its in your family, keep your awareness in full sight and i wish the best for you.
neil
Al-Anon, ACOA and open meetings of AA may be of great help to you.
At the AA meetings, get someone to show you in the AA BB how to diagnose whether or not you may be alcoholic if you are worried about that.
I agree with the others that this illness is genetic, it runs in families, mine being no exception. It can also skip generations.