Binge Drinkers

[Struggles 106]

Binge Drinkers

Hey LJeanner

I am the same; the thing about this is it makes it easier to live in self-delusion. Much easier.
You end up going "I NEVER drink every day." " I did drink Tuesday but not again the next day. I never do that." Or whatever you can say to yourself to minimize it. Another good one is "I NEVER drink in the morning."
Oh yes there are many, but the clear fact remains that ONE becomes A LOT. And off we go to all sorts of mayhem and self-destruction.
Moderation? Not for me! I never want 1 or 2. No I take that back-I might WANT one or two, but after 1 or 2 my brain and body scream MORE and that,as they say,is that.

Apparently there are people who can moderate, but I agree that it is not worth the struggle. Seems like a workaround that doesn't really work in terms of personal peace and calm in your life.

But NO you are not alone. I used to LOVE drinking! Luckily I got my head out of my ass before it killed me.

You quit for a number of years! That is fantastic.

[ljeanner]

Binge Drinkers

It does make it easier to live in self-delusion, Ann, I agree. I've said those exact same things to myself. And although I always think I want to go for a drink, I dread it at the same time because I know I won't stop and I will end up embarrassing myself, somehow, whether it be the things I say, things I do or something I write on FB or in a text. It's ridiculous, really. Why would I want to continue doing that to myself every week? It is truly not very good for the self-esteem or peace of mind.

I am amazed at people who can moderate, but I don't think it is for me. I am AF 2 days now, which is not the least bit amazing, but typical after a bender. The test will be next week when a friend calls and wants to meet for a drink.

Your post is a very poignant reminder of the reality the the alcoholic brain (aka alkie brain, thanks sunbeam!) be it a daily drinker or the crazy-ass binge drinker. Thank you!

[resrchqueen]

Binge Drinkers

I binge a lot when stressed... I tend to bury my stress or maybe a better way to say it is I drown it in wine. That being said there are countless other times that I can have one drink or maybe two.... I don't get how this is but I do know I need to have a better set of tools for coping with stress as my stress has been high as of late.

[Struggles 106]

Binge Drinkers

Hey LJeanner

The binges become more frequent and the damage more clear.

I know what you mean; I used to think oh no not drinking again! Who knows what might happen? It's like OK I'll meet you for a beer. Then everyone with no issue with it has 1 or 2, leaves, and there you are still at the bar making new "friends".
God it is awful. I was getting to be known at all the bars around here and it was embarassing. SOOO not worth it.

Keep hanging out here. It's a great place for support and accountability.

[ljeanner]

Binge Drinkers

Are you sure you are not me! That's exactly what happens to me when I go out. I have been booted out of bars of late, which is terribly embarrassing to say the least, but at the other end was also helping to limit my options for going out drinking. It's a small community though, and I am sickened by having a public reputation as the local drunk. Ick.

I do plan on sticking with the forum. It will help me keep the eye on the ball.

rsrchqueen, I can relate to stress being a trigger. But it is a never-ending cycle for me as the consequences of my drinking end up leading to more stress and feelings of inadequacy.

[Struggles 106]

Binge Drinkers

Hey LJeanner

Yep-we are kindred spirits all right!

There is a pub down the street, kinda funky neighborhood place. When I first went there I thought WOW these people are drunks! HAHAHA-I becamt eh worst one there.

The shame and embarassment are endless. It's so nice to go through your days without fear of finding out what the hell you did or said. It gets to the point where you are just sick of it all. It's no way to live. And then you start telling yourself that you don't drink as much as so-and-so. But does it matter? Of course not. What ever the amount is. comparatively speaking or not-IT IS KILLING YOU. When I realized that I found my way (AGAIN)

Hoping to stay on the right track, and I know you are too. Most of us tried and tried and tried again.

[Dayum]

Binge Drinkers

omg! This thread is exactly what i've been doing. Binge drinking. But I do this basically alone on a friday and saturday nights (which has now upgraded to include Sundays) watching crap films until I just pass out.

Until this morning reading these forums I seriously thought that I didn't have a problem because I didn't drink everyday! Denial and self delusions.

I've been trying to hide the empty bottles from everyone else who lives in this build when I take them downstairs. I started to wrap them all up in black bags to avoid anyone seeing how much I've drunk that night. I now get recognised in my local shop by the staff and even the store mamager who offered to make sure he put my brand of beer aside each Friday night so I had enough! Sooooo bad. I feel so ashamed!

This will sound bad but I'm so glad its not just me. You guys give me inspiration to change and to know I'm not going crazy!

:new:

[ljeanner]

Binge Drinkers

Hi Dayum,

welcome. I am glad this thread could help. And don't feel bad saying you are glad you aren't the only one! I am also relieved to hear that others have a similar experience. I am realizing that it isn't even the number I drink that matters, but that I drink the first one to get that buzz and keep drinking until I am obliterated (I am small so it doesn't really take all that many). It is the reality of my life and it's time to stop the madness.

[princessjolsin]

Binge Drinkers

Since I am new...I have been reading so many posts! They are all so great and helpful!

The part I hate the most about binge drinking..is the next day, when people have to remind you of things you would NEVER do sober. I hate when people would tell me how hilarious I was....I know I was wasted. It is such a horrible feeling.

I definitely feel that no alcohol is the best than trying to see if you can be a "social drinker." that never works for me...I feel like I need a few more drinks in me to feel comfortable, but then I can't stop.

The depression is killer, too. All the sadness I feel is very overwhelming. Thanks to everyone on this board because you truly are helping others!!!!

[YouKayBee]

Binge Drinkers

I was a binge drinker, although it did progress to daily drinking on various occasions. I was also told by an NHS alcohol worker than I wasn't an alcoholic because I didn't drink daily, what a load of cobblers.

[nancy]

Binge Drinkers

binge drinking

I think this can be a very complicated issue. It can come in response to stress leading up to that binge. But I also think it's sometimes a result of the actual substances. It could be that your blood alcohol is getting spiked so fast that you are just losing reason. What kind of drinks do you have? I think some are more dangerous and binge-producing than others. The book Controlling your drinking by Munoz and Miller is good. I'm not suggesting that to encourage you to moderate, but because there is a lot of practical information about the effects of alcohol, like tables that will show you what happens to your blood alcohol content based on your weight. If you look at them you will find a very clear description of what will happen to you based on your consumption of drinks. Sounds like if you are small you simply can't have much or else the results are predictably disastrous. You can't keep pace with people around you or drink faster.

[Frequent Traveler]

Binge Drinkers

Surprised I missed this conversation,
I must agree that thru the years I tried to moderate and like many grew tired of keeping track and decided to just stop, I know easier said than done and it has not been easy. I found that the "switch" in my brain must have been defective as it does not work, I find I could go days and weeks without drinking and then when I would have that "one" it would lead to the whole bottle and possibly more and a lost few days after that.
So in end it was the best thing for me to stop and work on living alcohol free and to add to that I also decided to go nicotine free at the same time and so far so good.
Thanks all your support,
FT

[Struggles 106]

Binge Drinkers

Hey Nancy

I'm afraid that I must disagree. I don't think it is a "complicated issue".
I also disagree that some "actual substances" are more "dangerous and binge producing"
Ethyl alcohol is any form simply is what it is-a toxin. The only complication might be the simple math required in terms of body weight/mass in relation to x # of ounces per unit of time to drunkenness.

The alcoholic physiology is no different in any case, in terms of the inability to stop.

Sorry but as interesting as it may be to look at a "table" showing body weight/amount correlation it boils down to a simple fact. Drinking is BAD for people whose past behavior proves that they are simply better off not drinking.

A book called Controlling your Drinking would do me as much good as a paper weight as it would for education

[Sunbeam]

Binge Drinkers

Nancy, thanks for your thoughts, but I am much happier since I moved on from moderation thinking. Ann, that book would be BETTER used as a paperweight for me. I KNOW my health is better now without alcohol, both physical and mental health.

[nancy]

Binge Drinkers

binge drinking

I've just been giving a lot of thought to binge drinking vs. what people call alcoholism and there are things you can do about binge drinking, or that can help you understand. There is a spectrum of alcohol use disorders, with major differences in severity. When people say they are binge drinking it could be once a week or once a month.

I am not advocating moderation by suggesting that book, but the BAC tables are very helpful. And there definitely are differences in the type of drink you have. If you drink hard liquor in a fruit juice that's loaded with sugar it's going to taste like nothing. I don't want to open a debate on moderation, that's always a loser on this website, but these things are true for me.

I also think a once-weekly binge can result from a huge build-up of stress. But looking at the opening message again, I would advise that there are some situations that are just dangerous all the way and one is bar hopping.