To think I don’t have a alcohol problem

[Boingyboingy]

So I do tend to drink everyday. Never to the point of not being able to walk, being sick etc. I don’t wake up and crave it, I just crave the feeling of being chilled out and being able to deal with stress better. DH thinks I am an alcoholic and has been going mad at me

I know someone who hides bottles of alcohol under the bed, behind piles of things, behind the sofa, at the back of the cupboard and anywhere you can think of really. The neighbours tell me they can hear the glass going into the recycling bin every day. I can see the bottles in there. But she’s not alcoholic. How ridiculous to think that! She just likes an occasional drink in the evening that’s all. No, definitely not alcoholic (!).

Also, people of any age can be alcoholic, it’s not a young persons thing. 70s? Yes. 80s? Also yes. Older? Yes. When they become unable to get the alcohol into their house (delivery etc) or become unable to lift it to their mouth then it might stop.

And detoxing in hospital? Great, until they get discharged. Then it starts again.

This is a very common misconception. A liver function blood test can come back normal at every stage of liver disease. LFT’s may only start to show abnormalities when there has been significant physical damage - anything from fatty liver, up to the early stages of cirrhosis. On it’s own an LFT is not a reliable indicator of the health of a liver.

This is just not true. Some posters have a very tenuous understanding of what alcoholism actually is.

If it's the relaxed feeling you love, does that indicate that you aren't usually relaxed without alcohol, are you otherwise stressed or anxious or bored?
It could be worth having a conversation with your GP about this.

I don't mean to sound condescending here, but you're still quite young at under 30, but not so young that you should feel impervious to the effects of frequent drinking, nor for this to become a lifelong habit.
When do you see yourself cutting down? In your 30s, 40s, 50s?

I knew a guy who had quit drinking by his early 20s, he had already damaged his liver and was told if he didn't quit, the damage would be irreversible and potentially life-threatening. I don't know how much he was drinking before, but it takes less alcohol than you may think to damage your liver.

Lulu (the singer) has just come out as an alcoholic. I thought she looked fabulous. Lovely looking hair, and nice figure for her age.

I'm French, so my perspective on drinking is different. Both my parents drank every day (wine with meals) sometimes an aperitif before and a brandy afterward if it was a special occasion. I never saw my mother drunk or throwing up in the street with her friends holding back her hair - that seems to be an British thing. I never saw her collapsed in the street, outside of a club, like the photos you see of women in Blackpool.

I think it is ok to have alcohol every day so long as you know restraint and when to stop. Drink stylishly.

I have looked at all your answers and cannot see that you answered what, and how much you are drinking.

If it’s every day, even a glass is affecting your health. You should have a few alcohol free days a week.
I haven’t read the whole thread, but as you get older you’ll get away with it less and less. I used to drink- work related, boozy lunches etc until it was banned by the LA. It was great to network etc. But both DH and I would pick up a bottle going home, it got too much. Getting older, having DD, being unfit, looking a bit bleary eyed, puffy. We were never sick, up early 6am, full day of intense work, then chores, but it takes a toll!

Exactly!

I don't think the op has a problem and I would doubt there's anything wrong with her liver either!

A glass of wine a day is beneficial to your health.

Drinking some wine with propermeals seems to have a different effect than drinking on its own.

I seem to remember hearing, I think just a few years ago, that alcoholism was on the rise in the over 50s, and more commonly amongst educated professionals. It was viewed as more socially acceptable daily drinking. A bit of wine with dinner every evening, not bottles of White Lightning from a plastic bag in the park.

How so?

It’s just my opinion, but I think they are very similar. Addiction is giving in to the cravings, staving off withdrawal or negative effects with more of whatever substance. Also not caring about consequences of the addiction, as long as it is fed. With alcoholics, when they go cold turkey. they can have seizures. I’ve seen it. It is scary. They are physically reliant on alcohol.
Emotional dependence is relying on the substance for a feeling of relaxation or support. But they can physically give it up without withdrawal symptoms.
I dont think either are very healthy.
Drinking every day cannot be good for anybody.

Michael Mosley says so!

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5vdhZ0K2YJFkL6SmlFWb6lz/cheers-how-choosing-red-wine-could-help-keep-your-heart-healthy

Voila!

https://theconversation.com/can-drinking-champagne-reduce-your-risk-of-sudden-cardiac-arrest-heres-why-its-only-a-small-part-of-the-story-255708

I mean this in the kindest way possible but you must seek help to rein in your alcohol consumption. The damage you are doing to your health is a huge concern…….liver, kidneys, brain……. Please speak to your GP.

And Champagne is très stylish!!!

A couple of glasses of wine can easily be 6 units. 2 glasses @ 250ml of a 12% wine is 6 units. 6 units on 6 days of the week is 36 units - well over double the recommended limit. So yes - it is harmful and not a negligible effect at all.

Yes it sounds like you have an alcohol problem. Your H isn’t being ‘weird’ about this: you seem in denial.

Looking great and drinking 'stylishly' doesn't mean that you're not damaging yourself! What a silly comment.

Stop drinking completely for two weeks. If you find it hard then you have a problem and should seek help.

Where's your evidence for that?

see above

There are two times I have thought i dont have a drink problem. When I drank and now, 2 years not having drank a drop. Looking back, I was hungover a lot of the time, looking forward to having a drink and regularly making excuses not to do things with people because I wanted to drink and I didnt drink that much or every day. I honestly love waking up every morning now after a proper sleep without any anxiety or dark clouds shivering. Maybe just me but I do think that there isn't real clarity until you dont. I will never drink again because I am not a one glass a day girl, other people are. By stopping for a few weeks, it definitely indicates whether it is worth it for you. No judgement from me though, just a bit evangelical about the joy of breaking free of the tyranny.

You may want to look at the underlying issues. My husband is a big drinker but railed at me about drinking ... I believe because I wasn't as thin as I once was. I've been sober for 2 years and I do absolutely everything in my power to avoid him. I go for 2-4 hour walks every night regardless of weather just to avoid having to interact with him at all. As soon as kids in bed, I'm out. I'm utterly disgusted by him sexually so that has stopped happening as regularly. I have lost 40lbs and look great though. So he seems happier? I hate absolutely everything about my life though and won't do mammograms or colonoscopies or blood tests because I'm just hoping I get cancer and die.