hi angie...

i wouldn't get hung up on labels if that is a sticking point for you.

read some posts, ask some questions and see if anything makes sense or helps you decide how you can help yourself solve your problem.

I think you "belong" here, if just to read the experiences of others and figure out where you are with alcohol thing.

For instance I will have a rotten, emotional time and maybe once every six months or so the anxiety and stress will become overwhelming and I USED to go a binge for some relief from the symptoms of panic and anxiety. I consider myself a self medicater, not an alcoholic, and I know that from reading here the past few days there are a lot of people who would want to get angry and disagree with me for some reason.

If you are just addicted to alcohol, and drink for the sake of drinking, whether it is 2 glasses or an entire bottle every night, it is my novice opinion that you are an alcoholic.

As I said, this is just a novice and outsiders point of view, and just something to ponder.

Post script: I just came here the other day because I desperately wanted to drink. The emotional pain had me in such state that I just wanted to drink to calm me down for the first time since January.

I didn't because I came here instead, but maybe I don't belong here either? I don't know, but they say alcoholism is a progressive illness, and who knows if I would start every day? At least coming here stopped me before I started.

I also go back and forth on the labeling of the problem but if it is in fact a "problem" of any kind, at least you are aware. My advice (I'm kinda new to this, so you can take it or leave it) is this: try abstaining from drinking for one month. There are roughly three possible outcomes:

1) You can't make it the whole month without drinking.
2) You can make it the whole month, but by that last day you are really excited to drink again and celebrate by getting drunk.
3) You feel pretty good and you aren't even aware when the one-month point passes, when you go to a party you can take it or leave it.

For me, the outcome was always either #1 or #2, which made me realize I addicted to alcohol. If the outcome is #3, you might be able to cut back with conscious effort alone.

Go to a meeting and listen. You might hear some of yourself in someone else. I have seen lots of people at meetings who, in the bginning, were certainly "not alcoholics"..they just had a bit of a problem. After awhile of hearing their story in what others shared...they knew they were 'alcoholics". Don't get hung up on labels. I think that people who are not alcoholics never question if they are or not. HHMMMM???

Here is a link from the National Institute of Health on how to cut down drinking. http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/handout.htm Be aware that 1 drink a day is the guideline amount for females 2 for males. If you can limit yourself to 1 drink a day every day then you know you have no problem. But you are worried about getting drunk multiple days so it does sound like alcohol abuse is certainly present. You are here and you are getting some good information, stick around and try them out. Good luck

According to the big book on page 20, it says that alcoholics once they put alcohol in their system they can't stop. So I can stop for the night, but I do think I am a heavy drinker. And I can't stop. Thanks for all your imput.

LOL!!!

Laughing Out Loud

Laughing On Line

whichever way you look at it...

Belly laughing now

thanks for the laughs!