Am i have a drinking problem?

[Alex000]

I drink weekly 55 unit of alchol last weeks i felt bad so i wanted to drink more so i drank about 80 units of alchol. I drink yesterday 500ml of vodka in 5 hours and didnt was that drunk like i was in the past. Its because i drink everyday. I know 80 unit its a lot but can i just stay with 50? Or its too much also? I am 22 years old i cant tell it to anybody. Just help me here if 80 unit peer week is real that bad? What about 50?

Yeah that’s bad.

Have you family or friends who are aware of your issues with alcohol?

You need some professional help
Contact AA or your GP
Good luck x

That's a lot of alcohol. Can you find someone irl to talk to about this?

Oh love, let this be your rock bottom. You have recognised that you have a problem. Now you will know it every time you drink. Sometimes you will drink anyway. But please please speak to your GP or Turning Point or your local alcohol service. You need to get this sorted, stop it, get help for the demons you are using it to avoid, and then you will be able to move forward, until then you are stuck.

55 units is around four times the recommended amount so yes it's a lot. Suggest you get help ASAP.

I can but i want to stop by myself.

Yes I’m afraid that is a lot but I think you know it already. You’re only 22 and if you get help from aa or your gp now then you could stop irreversible damage to your body. If you have friends that also drink this much, please don’t think it’s the norm. It isn’t, and shouldn’t be.

That's very young...

Usuly i drink aroung 50 units. But only last week i drank that amount. Regulary i drink about 50 units. I dont wont to be hospitalization. I dont want to tell it to anybode

Do you think physichli i can quit alone? I am an alcholic? I drink only in night i never drink in the morning

@nimbuscloud

Have you family or friends who are aware of your issues with alcohol?

No

I dont think it would be wise for anyone on here to offer you whether it is medically safe to go cold turkey. I know it feels shameful to speak to a GP but honestly they will not think anything of it, and not judge.

@Sunflowersinthewind

I dont think it would be wise for anyone on here to offer you whether it is medically safe to go cold turkey. I know it feels shameful to speak to a GP but honestly they will not think anything of it, and not judge.

I have done cold turkey for few times i was sober for 5 days. Then i was felt fine i drink again but the addiction catch me again. When i start to that cycle again its hard for me to quit again. If i quit i need to quit for ever i think. But i cant think to leave without alchol

I think it's going to be hard for you to make permanent changes without seeking help or getting support from family and friends. I appreciate it will be incredibly difficult to open up to others about your problem with alcohol but you're better off tackling the issue now than later. Best of luck

Well done OP for reaching out. 14 units a week with some days alcohol free is the maximum recommended level. 80 units per week is very very high and will not be doing you any good. You may be able to reduce on your own but, there's absolutely no harm going to have a chat with your GP or calling AA for advice. This is a very common problem so you're not alone. Wishing you well x

Oh you’re so young to be dealing with this alone. Please speak to your GP. Or contact Alcoholics Anonymous. I went to my first meeting in eight years today having stayed sober for four years with the help of others who have a desire to stop drinking previously. And that’s all you need to go to AA. A desire to stop drinking. The best years of my life were the ones when I was alcohol free. They can be for you too.

If you want to stop by yourself try Alan Carr’s book as if you read the whole thing (or listen to it for free on you tube ) then try it can really make it feel easy. It worked for me, although I did then drink again . Am currently not drinking at all and it’s honestly so much nicer and I’m much happier without and don’t miss anything

Its good to hear that you have managed 5 days before. But I would still urge for you to speak to GP. As PP said, do not be ashamed , this is a common problem.

Thank you everyone. First i will try to reduce the amount. Does anyone think i am done damage to may body or organs like liver. I dont drink 80 units regulary it was one week and thats it. My regular its around 50 unit. But 14 units is really low i didnt know anyone who drink that low amount. I saw that 25 units is the recommend amout.

@TillyDevon

If you want to stop by yourself try Alan Carr’s book as if you read the whole thing (or listen to it for free on you tube ) then try it can really make it feel easy. It worked for me, although I did then drink again . Am currently not drinking at all and it’s honestly so much nicer and I’m much happier without and don’t miss anything

Yes i want it but can find it in my counrty. Alen kar helped me to quit smoking so i very trust him

Tomorrow morning call your GP and find your local AA.

I don't drink so I have no idea about units but it seems that you are drinking a lot. You are far too young to be drinking like that.

You managed to stop for 5 days, now you need to be serious about your health and stop for much longer. You need help from your GP.

80 units is huge. You can definitely try and cut down by yourself, you would have to do it slowly as you risk going in to withdrawal and can even have seizures. I would recommend group in touch with your GP or substance misuse services to do it safely and get to the root of your addiction. 22 is so young but you can definitely turn it around and hopefully not have caused any lasting damage.

Hello OP!

Well done for posting. You've done one of the hardest bits already. I wouldn't get too hung up on the term alcoholic if I were you. Even doctors don't use it any more. Bottom line is if you consistently find you can't moderate and continue to drink to harmful levels even though you don't want to, the best option is to have none.

It sounds insanely daunting, I know. I was at about 90 units per week. I'm not a doctor but I'd be amazed if they recommended in patient care at your level of drinking. For context, I was also addicted to tranquillizers, psyched myself up for ages to go to the GP, tearful and hungover and feeling very shame faced...but the GPs reaction was astonishingly mundane. Handed me over to the outpatient community drugs and alcohol crew and sent me on my way.

OP they were FANTASTIC. Feel free to ask questions if you want to know what to expect. Here are some things my keyworker told me. She said it was good that I'd come when I did (27) as early intervention is important in alcohol dependence. She also said I wasn't physically depending...YET. She made it very clear if I continued on the road I was on I would become psychically dependent and that is much, much harder to treat. She said unlike a lot of the older people they see year in year out, I had a real chance to stop the train before it went off the cliff. And so do you OP. There is so much good stuff waiting for you on the other side. PM me if you need to. There are other options than AA if you feel that is not for you. I PROMISE you can do this. I was absolutely convinced I was the one that was too uniquely damaged/dependent/weak willed/special to recover. But I'm on 500 days next week. You really would be better off going to your GP but if you're absolutely set on doing it alone PM me as there are some things you should know.

Oh and get some B vitamins down you, pronto - they'll help.

Please get medical advice!

But the pattern my friend followed who was drinking almost as much was to cut down to 40 units for two weeks then 30 units then make sure you have one then two alcohol free days working at reducing to 20 units. If you can stick to under 20 units and not relapse then you will get lots of health benefits, ideally keep to 14 in line with government advice long term