Yep, fully functioning here..Do you black out drink...what "stops me"..is waking up with not a clue what I said to whom...

God gave us incredible senses and we pollute them with alcohol...complete stupidity...think about it..

I can relate to the part of watching someone you love almost die from it. Every choice you make will affect your future,so I'll pray for you for guidence in making each one.The pain is so hurting-to see someone you love killing themselves.I hope you choose to live.AA could be your best start-winners go to AA.Take care-

I never hit rock bottom either.
It was the fact that if I didn't quit drinking, I WOULD hit it.
That's what got ME to quit.
WHY wait til you get there when you can keep yourself from getting there by quitting BEFORE you do?

I don't like that term bottom. One quits drinking when they make an honest choice.

Which is usually the bottom or darn close to it.
If we didn't fear the bottom, why quit?

Hi Ashley.

I relate

Only you will make the decision if you are alcoholic or not. But a couple of things to think about. Is alcohol costing you more than money? Examples. Are people talking about youre drinking, is drinking affecting your relationships with family and friends, is your drinking affecting school or work. Do you blackout dont remember things you done the night before until people start to fill you in. ouch. These are signs you may need to do something about your drinking now.

Also are you living the life you want and if not why not and does alcohol have anything to do with it. If your answer to that is yes theres a good chance you may be alcoholic.And need help.

Ashley why settle for less than the best if you havent hit bottom yet then that is good why go all the way. And hopefully if you hit a bottom it doesnt have a trap door in it. What I mean by that is.

There are a lot of people some as young as you who drink daily or binge that take those few drinks they shouldnt have had and end up with Korsakoff syndrome. A wet brain.

I have seen a lot of young people come into recovery and rally get on with their lives. But sadly I have seen and known a few who have been unable to stop and who are not with us today.

Alcoholism is cunning baffling and powerful it is the only disease that tells you, you dont have it. It is a double edge sword on one side it is telling you everythings is going to be fine while on the other it is slowly killing you or sending you insane.

I am only talking about those who have an alcohol problem. I hope I havent put in to much information again but you can live life without alcohol and enjoy it.

Iam living proof of that. I am in my dreams awake doing the things I only once dreamt of before I took that first drink.

If I can be of any help please message me there are also a lot of good people here to talk to. Keep posting.

God Bless

Lionel

Ashley8888 wrote:

"I have not "hit my bottom" or really came close to hard consequences, YET"


If you want to know what YETS lie ahead for you, print out the following list and put it someplace handy for safekeeping.

Every time you experience one of these YETS draw a line through it and put the list back where it was.

Sooner or later you will get a chance to experience all of them if you keep drinking:

I have not gotten a D.U.I. YET
I have not been arrested YET
I have not been hospitalized YET
I have not lost my job YET
I have not lost my family YET
I have not been institutionalized YET
I have not been homeless YET
I have not died from this disease YET

I gotta say, Boleon, that "Yet" list really makes you think!

AnhMinh, you say patato I say potato, doesn't matter which is down. Ashlee if you are questioning your drinking, chances are you have a problem, and as has been already said, Why on Gods Green earth would anyone really want to reach BOTTOM before seeking help.

See what I'm talking about the old posts with the "YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE"... feature at the bottom of this page?
Ashley's post is one of them which is dated in March when she asked the same question.
I'm sure she didn't hear what she needed to or she wouldn't have posted this again but that's how the old posts keep popping up.

Alcoholism is a weird disease. It's the only one that tells you are perfectly OK.
I don't like the term; you have to hit your bottum. If that was the case I shoulda sobered up over twenty years ago.
The "yet" disease will destroy you, if you have it. I promise you will never be happy, if you are a practicing drunk.

Yeah Auctioneer, why would anyone want to hit bottom? I can say for me, I didn't want to or plan to, its part of that denial..."I've not had anything bad happen so I'm okay". Dearest Ashley, becareful, that binge drinking is a snake, "See you don't drink every day... You only drink in the evenings." It helped keep me in denial, questioning like you, but blind to "reality." Remember alcoholism is about "loss of control." Control of what you do when you drink, loss of control of how much you drink (bingeing). Can you drink two and walk away with out craving the "drunk" feel or getting tense or anger? Thats when its getting a nice grip on you. I'll post a list of questions for you to ask yourself. I've posted it for others so I hope other members do not get bored with me posting it from time to time to help people with the common question. Good luck dear!
Symptoms and phaes of alcoholism in women

--Jellnick

Have you ever experienced---- YES?

Prodromal phase:

1. Increased tolerance (need to drink more to get the same effect)? _____

2. Unwillingness to discuss drinking? _____

3. Feelings that women who drink excessively are worse than men? _____

4. Personality changes when drinking? _____

5. Drinking more just before your menstrual period? _____

6. Feeling more intelligent and capable when drinking? _____

7. Being "supersensitive"? _____

Early stage:

8. Periods of abstinence (times when you've tried to stop drinking)? ______

9. Disapproval from others about your drinking? ______

10. Rationalizing (making excuses for) drinking? ______

11. Temporary losses of memory (blackouts, times you couldn't remember what

you did) when drinking? ______

12. Unexplained bruises or injuries? ______

13. Drinking beofre facing a new situation? ______

Middle stage:

14. Neglecting eating? ______

15. Protecting your supply (hiding a "stash" of alcohol)? ______

16. Self-pity (feeling sorry for yourself)? ______

17. Feeling resentful towards others? ______

18. Being permissive or lax with your children because of guilty feelings about

drinking? ______

19. Drinking to feel happier but finding yourself feeling more depressed? ______

20. Being told by other that you "couldn't be an alcoholic"? ______

21. "Predrinking"_ drinking before a drinking occasion; or "postdrinking"- continuing

to drink after a drinking occasion? ______

22. Feeling guilty about drinking? ______

23. Drinking more or less continuously for a period of at least 18 hours? ______

Late stage:

24. Starting the day with a drink? ______

25. Termors ______

26. Decreased tolerance ______

27. Sneaking drinks? ______

28. Persistent remorse? ______

29. Gulping drinks? ______

30. Devaluing personal relationships? ______

31. Carrying liquor in your purse? ______

That "Yet" list was great!
I recently left my husband, who is an alcoholic. The only "Yet"'s that he hasn't 'marked off' yet are being arrested, and dying. He recently went thru DT's again and almost DID die - but he's still not going for treatment. What a waste of a life!
You already know you have a problem with drinking - PLEASE get help before you too waste your life.

Unless you take some action and reduce your drinking it will only get worse

No hangovers cos your body is so used to alcohol and no worries about what was sid to whom the night before becuase you have been drinking far too much alone in your home ccos its taken over everything and gogin out is not a priority

Please try

It sounds to me like something has happened, not long ago that has brought you to this point. Maybe you have hit your bottom, cause everyone is differen't. I think maybe your looking to be forgiven for something. The hardest person you will ever get to forgive you is you. It's ok to say I messed up. I learned from the experience.