This is definitely alcohol abuse and probably alcoholism. You are using the alcohol to ESCAPE and NUMB your feelings. The alcohol is causing you to act in a way you would not normally act then you have SHAME and GUILT. I would advise going to AA meetings on the weekend to help fight the urge. Also get together with friends that don't drink. If that's not possible, then take yourself out to dinner or something. You need to stop this before you do something really stupid like DWI.

Social drinkers don't feel the "urge to drink" which is what we alcoholics call being obsessed with the idea of alcohol. As an oldtimer says "I have a peculiar interest in alcohol even without drinking it". Once the obession starts then there's a compulsion to get it and doesn't go away until we pick up that first drink. Social drinkers also don't get wasted and may in fact leave a half glass or more untouched. Alcoholism is called cunning, baffling and powerful. I would go months without drinking but as soon as I picked up the first one I couldn't guarantee that whether I'd have one, two or twenty. It's not how much you drink but what happens after you have the first one. I am a member of both Alanon and AA and after hearing other people's stories I decided for myself that I qualified as an alcoholic. I learned I wasn't a bad person trying to be good but a sick person trying to get well. Try not drinking for 3 months and if you don't think or crave a drink in that time you're probably ok; if not there's a very good possiblity you have a problem with alcohol. Blessings.

Thank you both for your replies! GramaDiane: as I was reading what you wrote about not drinking for 3 months, I started to get nervous and panicky. I can't imagine NOT drinking at all.
And what you said about how it isn't how much you drink but what you do after that first drink? I totally agree. Everyone that goes out with me KNOWS that I can't have just one drink. And when I drink I HAVE to get tipsy. I can't drink just to drink. The purpose for me is to get tipsy if not drunk. But I appreciate the advice both of you gave me. I will def. see about going to an AA meeting. Thanks!!!

I have wrestled with alcoholism for 30 years. I am 7 days sober and feeling great.But I know I have to get help. GramaDiane is right about so many things. How can we leave a 1/2 glass behind? We can't. And we ARE obsessed. I start counseling on Monday, and I told myhusband I am DONE. I am going to make a serious effort this time. And we all need each other. AA may be your answer. If not there are a lot of alternatives. Take a serious look at what you are doing. Write every day. Add me as a friend if you want, and I will answer you.

when drink costs you more then money and you have to drink because you feel bad about what you did the night before ,there is a problem you drink like i did i changed the ways when i drank what i drank thinking it would be better next time and it got worse ,its not what you drink or when you drink its what drink does to you normal drinkers dont do stupid thigs when drunk and they remember what they did ,i agree with advice try AA meetings there you will meet pepole that have been where you are .Iwas there once but today with the help of AA i am 23 yrs sober .all i was told first day was if i dont pick up a drink i cant get drunk its the first one that does the damage ,give AA a go what have you got to lose ,they saved my life xx

There is a name in the Big Book of Alcoholics for this kind of drinking. It is called Binge drinking. There are many members in AA who drink like this. The most important lesson you can learn from this kind of drinking is the fact that you are AOK when you don't drink a drop of alcohol. It is when you take that first drink that you get all screwed up.

One of AA sayings is, "If you don't drink you wont get drunk!" You may need this later when you have to drink everyday, which will eventually happen.

You have done a good job to describe alcoholism and the cycle it takes. Most of us won't get help until we fall all the way down though,you can get off the merry go round anytime though. Welcome to the site.

Firstly, congratulations on the weight loss, it is great!
But to answer the 1st question, yes you seem to have the alcoholic tendencies. Why, you are doing it will really only be answered by you and good counsellig. For many of us it is historical drinking in the family unit. Sexual/emotional abuse, feeling of inadequicies or basic boredom and loneliness could be the reason. What ever the reason, it will be uncovered by you alone but don't feel scared about talking.
Speak soon.
K xx

I was a binge drinker, drinking mostly on the weekend. I always drank to get drunk, I mean what's the point in drinking if you don't get drunk? LOL When I called AA the first time I told them I didn't drink everyday and asked if I still qualified to go to meetings. Of course she said yes and they even sent over a nice lady to take me to my first meeting. That helped a lot. I've been sober for 28 yrs now and that is because I haven't taken that first drink. It's the one that gets you drunk.