What age were you when you discovered you had a problem?

[coalfire]

What age were you when you discovered you had a problem?

I wouldnt even be together enough to have a plot. I'm lucky if I can find the loo or my keys! Messy messy messy.

[_EndOfTheLine_]

What age were you when you discovered you had a problem?

Yeah I suppose if don't feel yourself when you are drinking its also a problem. I am not at all myself when I'm drinking, I have no self-respect and I'm usually disgusted at what I'm doing although outwardly I might be the life of the party. I don't really want to be an alcoholic though, it sounds like quite a commitment.

[Accountable for Me]

What age were you when you discovered you had a problem?

I was 31 when it became a problem for me. However, when I did drink on rare occasions before then, I always got smacked drunk. I am now a few days away from being 39.

[coalfire]

What age were you when you discovered you had a problem?

_EndOfTheLine_;1096267 wrote: I don't really want to be an alcoholic though, it sounds like quite a commitment.

I don't think we get to choose. It chooses us unfortunately!

[RedJib]

What age were you when you discovered you had a problem?

I knew with certainty for the first time when I was 36. I'd gone to see a specialist to sort out a persistent pain I'd been experiencing (chest wall) and he ran a batter of tests. When I went to the follow up appointment, he asked me, out of the blue, if I'd drunk more than my mates when I was in college. Er, what? College?? (At that point, I didn't know about a GGT test and its ability to show long term AL abuse). I denied it (though I did drink alot in college, it seemed to me that alot of other young people did too), but it opened my eyes to an issue I'd been trying so hard to ignore. AL was controlling my life. Didn't stop me, though; I continued to drink for another ten years, knowing full well that I was NOT fooling myself--and probably not that doctor, either.
I feel so stupid in retrospect, but hey, the road led here, to sobriety today. I'm liking it.
Jib

[rebirth]

What age were you when you discovered you had a problem?

I didnt start drinking very heavily till my mid twenties but it wasnt until my early thirties that I became worried about my loss of control. The last straw was when I was thrown out of a nightclub because I was too drunk. That was about three years ago. It's been a battle since then but I am happy with my progress so far

[shelbysmiles]

What age were you when you discovered you had a problem?

I remember doing research online for alcoholism in my early twenties. I'm 34 now and should receive an honorary degree on all my "research".

[coalfire]

What age were you when you discovered you had a problem?

shelbysmiles;1096349 wrote: I'm 34 now and should receive an honorary degree on all my "research".

I know the feeling!

[Kimberley]

What age were you when you discovered you had a problem?

Interesting thread. I am always baffled by people saying they were in denial about being an alky, as I have always been perfectly aware I am one since the age of 18 when I began daily, all-day drinking. I guess for some peple it has been more subtle than that.

I never wanted to address it though until I had sorted my anxiety disorder out. That finally happened when I was about 25 and my journey to recovery began. I am now 30 and I finally think I may have found the combination of recovery ingredients that will work for me

K x

[mylife]

What age were you when you discovered you had a problem?

I think I was about 36 when I first thought hmm...???!! Could there be a problem here? I was going to have a minor surgery and the Dr. recommended no AL for two weeks before. I stopped for a few days but I couldn't stick with it for the entire 2 weeks.

However, I continued to drink for another 10 years before really deciding that I needed to do something about the problem!

[mumofsix]

What age were you when you discovered you had a problem?

I actually cant remember when it wasnt a problem - used to go clubbing at 16 ( even though the legal age was 20 - it amazing how old one can look in makeup as a teen) Now we want to look younger lol BUT when I did go clubbing it was Friday/ Sat nights and we would get pisses as! Sorry NZ term BUT this was acceptable (as my 18 year old daughter is doing now shes at University and on her own every Fri/Sat nite) the legal age for kids to drink in New Zealand has now been lowered to 18. This has caused major problems with drunken teens here. Anyway then I got married at 20 (and still am to the same man) had our children but I still loved getting smashed come weekends (except when pregnant). It just hasnt really stopped except the weekend drinking got moved to one day midweek too - probably about 3 years ago, AFTER I stopped bloody smoking, got really fit and lost 40 kilos, and took up running and body sculpting. Dont even ask me how they all go hand in hand but they have. I started smoking at THIRTEEN and watched my mum die on the end of a bloody cigarette when I was 29. I finally kicked that five years ago. Quitting the ciggies opened up my life so much - I never dreamed of being a runner, so this is why I have to quit the booze. I work so hard at the gym to look good and then undo it all by pouring 4 bottles of wine a week down my throat.

[Angelcakes]

What age were you when you discovered you had a problem?

Right from the very beginning, if I'm honest, when I started going out with my friends at 17. But that was 2 cans of beer on an empty stomach - I would be smashed. I remember at the time thinking 'these nights out would just be too boring if I'm not drinking' and that's when I knew it was a problem. I needed more interesting friends, and found them :h

[hippie37]

What age were you when you discovered you had a problem?

I was convinced I was just leading a very hedonistic lifestyle. I actually had some great times drinking and drugging it. The problem arose as to whether I was an alcoholic or not was not while I was caught up in the drinking. It was when I tried to stop drinking for periods and found I couldn't actually last longer than a few months. When the pain of not drinking out weighed the pain of drinking then I knew I had a serious problem. I had well and truly crossed the line and was so far past it I couldn't see it to get back over it. It's taken a lot of hard work just to see the line for me. Thankfully I'm back on the right side of the line. But I'm always aware of where the line is for me.

I don't think it's important as to when you first thought or discovered you were an alcoholic. It's irrelevant in the journey forward. But it's always good to remind yourself of where you've been.

Many Blessings
Phil

[InChains]

What age were you when you discovered you had a problem?

First realised I had a problem when I was 14 years old and was drunk literally every night and could not bring myself to stop, I started drinking daily when i was 5 years under the legal age and I can see now why they put the barrier there - I don't think I would have an issue with drinking had I waited, instead I developed around the alcohol, it's been a huge part of my life throughout my teens. A part of me is glad I figured it out so young and can deal with it before I want to get a job and have children, another part of me is jealous of people who started later and got to have normal, non-'foggy' teenage years. Live and learn I suppose

[Horace]

What age were you when you discovered you had a problem?

I was at the age of 18 when i discovered my disease.
And it was on early age, when i discovered it.