Am I becoming an alcoholic? Is this how it starts?

[editredit22]

I find myself happiest when I'm asleep, not that I get many hours these days... I started waking up far too early every night 4 am ish... and would drink to falk back asleep..

 

[TimeToDie]

I"d say it really depends on how much you're drinking, rather than that fact that you're drinking at an unconventional time of day (or night).

 

[editredit22]

I"d say it really depends on how much you're drinking, rather than that fact that you're drinking at an unconventional time of day (or night).

I suppose I drink more and more as my tolerance builds up. I find myself hateful for the day when I wake up.. and I'll admit theres sometimes sun and it can be 8 am I'll drink again just to get another hour away from reality..
Is sleep your favourite part of life right now? Is this sad?
Sleep has become the one thing I look forward to.. does anyone else feels this way?

 

[Rez_MbChB]

SO if you want my opinion as someone who experienced this I'll give it from 2 perspectives first as a doctor:
1. The habbits with alcohol you are displaying are extremely worrying. Alcohol in itself is a cause for many mental illnesses and antisocial behaviour. You're using it in a matter that seems to be self-medication for both your depression (I assume with the "lifes better asleep") as well as sleep issues. Now it may seem to help your suffering and sleep when you are drunk but alcohol tolerance is something that builds incredibly quickly , which means you will need more to feel the same effects and can quickly lead to hazardous consumption (if you're not at hazardous levels already). It also as I said earlier precipitates the underlying issues such as depression and sleeplessness, consequently leading to more drinking and more life impacts etc, constantly spiralling down.
https://www.alcohol.org.nz/help-advice/advice-on-alcohol/low-risk-alcohol-drinking-advice Thats a link to some guidelines in my country about it. Its worth noting that I personally would not say you are an alcoholic if you simply drink more than 5 standards, I would say it to be self-harm behaviours or simply societal pressures depending on the context. I would say you are if you start to experience physiological withdrawals and have a pattern of high use.

Now as my personal experience with alcohol:
I was unable to sleep like you, and dealing with the stress of work was getting to me. So I started drinking every night when I got home after all, I deserved it after a 16hour shift right?. So what was a glass of wine quickly turned into a couple of bottles and over the next month or so my behaviours started to get more and more anti-social. I would start to go out on work nights and get drunk as possible, ignoring my now-ex girlfriend and starting to be just really distant and flirt with girls etc. Worst think I've ever done in my life is drink. I would consider myself an alcoholic although now sober, it took me losing the only person who meant anything to me for me to realise. Honestly the reason I'm on here and gonna CTB in a couple of weeks is because I lost her, Im just sorting out some final stuff. I really would say that you should try and stop drinking, its one horrible drug and can make the pain of life so so so much worse dude.
If you do try and stop I suggest getting a few days' worth of diazepam from your GP (helps with withdrawals) and also ask for some quetiapine. Its a great medication for sleeping (try 25mg? I'm on 150mg but thats getting up there and not Ideal). I'm not going to pretend to know the underlying issues or trying to stop you CTB, just help ease the problems you have atm and provide some advice and personal experience. I hope this helps.

P.S if you want to know a few more specifics of what to say to your doctor to get these meds or have any questions feel free to message.

 

[not_a_robot]

I'm suicidal already, so I'm not that worried if I become alcoholic too....

I actually dislike it though, otherwise I'd be having martinis for breakfast.

SO if you want my opinion as someone who experienced this I'll give it from 2 perspectives first as a doctor:
1. The habbits with alcohol you are displaying are extremely worrying. Alcohol in itself is a cause for many mental illnesses and antisocial behaviour. You're using it in a matter that seems to be self-medication for both your depression (I assume with the "lifes better asleep") as well as sleep issues. Now it may seem to help your suffering and sleep when you are drunk but alcohol tolerance is something that builds incredibly quickly , which means you will need more to feel the same effects and can quickly lead to hazardous consumption (if you're not at hazardous levels already). It also as I said earlier precipitates the underlying issues such as depression and sleeplessness, consequently leading to more drinking and more life impacts etc, constantly spiralling down.
https://www.alcohol.org.nz/help-advice/advice-on-alcohol/low-risk-alcohol-drinking-advice Thats a link to some guidelines in my country about it. Its worth noting that I personally would not say you are an alcoholic if you simply drink more than 5 standards, I would say it to be self-harm behaviours or simply societal pressures depending on the context. I would say you are if you start to experience physiological withdrawals and have a pattern of high use.

Now as my personal experience with alcohol:
I was unable to sleep like you, and dealing with the stress of work was getting to me. So I started drinking every night when I got home after all, I deserved it after a 16hour shift right?. So what was a glass of wine quickly turned into a couple of bottles and over the next month or so my behaviours started to get more and more anti-social. I would start to go out on work nights and get drunk as possible, ignoring my now-ex girlfriend and starting to be just really distant and flirt with girls etc. Worst think I've ever done in my life is drink. I would consider myself an alcoholic although now sober, it took me losing the only person who meant anything to me for me to realise. Honestly the reason I'm on here and gonna CTB in a couple of weeks is because I lost her, Im just sorting out some final stuff. I really would say that you should try and stop drinking, its one horrible drug and can make the pain of life so so so much worse dude.
If you do try and stop I suggest getting a few days' worth of diazepam from your GP (helps with withdrawals) and also ask for some quetiapine. Its a great medication for sleeping (try 25mg? I'm on 150mg but thats getting up there and not Ideal). I'm not going to pretend to know the underlying issues or trying to stop you CTB, just help ease the problems you have atm and provide some advice and personal experience. I hope this helps.

P.S if you want to know a few more specifics of what to say to your doctor to get these meds or have any questions feel free to message.

Do you believe that alcohol does more lasting damage to the body than most illicit drugs?

 

[Rez_MbChB]

I'm suicidal already, so I'm not that worried if I become alcoholic too....

I actually dislike it though, otherwise I'd be having martinis for breakfast.

Do you believe that alcohol does more lasting damage to the body than most illicit drugs?

Um thats a tricky question. Its the biggest burden on healthcare thats modifiable bar-none in most OECD countries if not all(some may be smoking but none of the western ones at least). Especially here in new zealand. Do I think it does more lasting damage? Yes, but only because of the way in which its commonly used. when you think of a crackhead you think of someone homeless and missing all their teeth, but when you hear about someone being drunk you think of a club or the jersey shore or whatever. My exposure to drunks and drug users has been rather limited since med school, but after seeing proper alcoholics we often find that they are in just as bad a state as other drug users. I guess what I'm trying to say is I would put long-term damage more than ciggarets and about on par with horoin etc, but would say that physiologically it is slightly less addictive?? Im not sure though and am saying purely OPINION and what I have observed. Not an addiction specialist or anything so dont see much other illicit drug users so hard to compare.

 

[not_a_robot]

Um thats a tricky question. Its the biggest burden on healthcare thats modifiable bar-none in most OECD countries if not all(some may be smoking but none of the western ones at least). Especially here in new zealand. Do I think it does more lasting damage? Yes, but only because of the way in which its commonly used. when you think of a crackhead you think of someone homeless and missing all their teeth, but when you hear about someone being drunk you think of a club or the jersey shore or whatever. My exposure to drunks and drug users has been rather limited since med school, but after seeing proper alcoholics we often find that they are in just as bad a state as other drug users. I guess what I'm trying to say is I would put long-term damage more than ciggarets and about on par with horoin etc, but would say that physiologically it is slightly less addictive?? Im not sure though and am saying purely OPINION and what I have observed. Not an addiction specialist or anything so dont see much other illicit drug users so hard to compare.

I was just curious, I've heard other doctors say that, but it was casually.
It's funny that you are in NZ but use American landmarks as examples. Is there an equivalent of Jersey Shore in NZ and do you get all of our American tv there? Do tourists ask you about The Lord of The Rings since it filmed there?

 

[Rukia]

I suppose I drink more and more as my tolerance builds up. I find myself hateful for the day when I wake up.. and I'll admit theres sometimes sun and it can be 8 am I'll drink again just to get another hour away from reality..
Is sleep your favourite part of life right now? Is this sad?
Sleep has become the one thing I look forward to.. does anyone else feels this way?

I definitely feel you...Do you manage to get drunk? I dont because I am overweight now...so I will have to drink spirits and I dont like them...I drink beer, apple cider, liqueur...
I feel I buy more alcohol than local bums lol...

Sleeping and drinking are my favourite parts of the day...
You can check my thread here:

Self medicating with booze

 

[Jen0804]

I suppose I drink more and more as my tolerance builds up. I find myself hateful for the day when I wake up.. and I'll admit theres sometimes sun and it can be 8 am I'll drink again just to get another hour away from reality..
Is sleep your favourite part of life right now? Is this sad?
Sleep has become the one thing I look forward to.. does anyone else feels this way?

Yes I feel those way

Absolutely

Sleep is my escape

 

[editredit22]

SO if you want my opinion as someone who experienced this I'll give it from 2 perspectives first as a doctor:
1. The habbits with alcohol you are displaying are extremely worrying. Alcohol in itself is a cause for many mental illnesses and antisocial behaviour. You're using it in a matter that seems to be self-medication for both your depression (I assume with the "lifes better asleep") as well as sleep issues. Now it may seem to help your suffering and sleep when you are drunk but alcohol tolerance is something that builds incredibly quickly , which means you will need more to feel the same effects and can quickly lead to hazardous consumption (if you're not at hazardous levels already). It also as I said earlier precipitates the underlying issues such as depression and sleeplessness, consequently leading to more drinking and more life impacts etc, constantly spiralling down.
https://www.alcohol.org.nz/help-advice/advice-on-alcohol/low-risk-alcohol-drinking-advice Thats a link to some guidelines in my country about it. Its worth noting that I personally would not say you are an alcoholic if you simply drink more than 5 standards, I would say it to be self-harm behaviours or simply societal pressures depending on the context. I would say you are if you start to experience physiological withdrawals and have a pattern of high use.

Now as my personal experience with alcohol:
I was unable to sleep like you, and dealing with the stress of work was getting to me. So I started drinking every night when I got home after all, I deserved it after a 16hour shift right?. So what was a glass of wine quickly turned into a couple of bottles and over the next month or so my behaviours started to get more and more anti-social. I would start to go out on work nights and get drunk as possible, ignoring my now-ex girlfriend and starting to be just really distant and flirt with girls etc. Worst think I've ever done in my life is drink. I would consider myself an alcoholic although now sober, it took me losing the only person who meant anything to me for me to realise. Honestly the reason I'm on here and gonna CTB in a couple of weeks is because I lost her, Im just sorting out some final stuff. I really would say that you should try and stop drinking, its one horrible drug and can make the pain of life so so so much worse dude.
If you do try and stop I suggest getting a few days' worth of diazepam from your GP (helps with withdrawals) and also ask for some quetiapine. Its a great medication for sleeping (try 25mg? I'm on 150mg but thats getting up there and not Ideal). I'm not going to pretend to know the underlying issues or trying to stop you CTB, just help ease the problems you have atm and provide some advice and personal experience. I hope this helps.

P.S if you want to know a few more specifics of what to say to your doctor to get these meds or have any questions feel free to messagex.

What are the withdrawal symptoms... phsyical and psychological?