hi everyone

[Louly]

Hi everyone im completely new to all of this.
Not quite sure what to say!

[Louly]

I think i need some help with my drinking. I am only 22 yrs old but have been binge drinking since i was around 16. I drink occassionally in the week but mainly at wkends as most of my social life involves going to pubs. I cant just have one drink and dont seem to be able to stop once ive started.
Lately ive been getting myself into situations that i wouldnt dream of being in if i was sober. This embarrasses me and the days after my drinking i am filled with regret.
I am fairly shy but find alcohol relaxes me and i have a reputation amongst my friends as a bit of a party girl. People always want to go out drinking with me as they say i am fun. If i ever say im not drinking i end up feeling pressured into doing so and end up getting drunk as usual.
I also lose some days at work as a result of a heavy night.
Im unsure as to whether im an alcoholic but i know i want to stop drinking now.

[Louly]

Hi Carol

I have answered those questions before and the answers show i would be classed as an alcoholic. i guess i just find it hard to believe cos i think im just a normal young person who likes a drink.
If im honest about it though im always the one that carries on drinking even after my friends have called it a nite.
Im worried about how to explain to people that i dont want to drink anymore.
How did you tell your friends?

Thanks for replying by the way.
x

[Louly]

i just did it again and my score was nine. thats shocking to me. >:(

[Louly]

Thanks again Carol. Your words have helped. Im still recovering today from saturday night (having had to have another day off work) so i think im going to say im going to try from today really hard. I will try and get the courage to go to an AA meeting as well.

19 years is amazing, congratulations!

[angussdundee]

Hi Louly, just wanted to say hello and wish you well before I shoot off on another working trip. I can understand your fears about coming clean with friends and family re your drinking problems. But hey, the truth is they already know about it. It's not something you can hide from them but we so often mistakenly think we are doing just that. Probably no one will be happier than your true friends and family to know that your finally doing something about your very obvious problem. You'll need all the help and support you can get if your to take on such a cunning, powerfull and baffling force as alcoholism. Don't let any beer swilling fairweather friend tell you different.
And how do we get the courage to do this? We get on our knees and we ask our God from the bottom of our hearts to give us strength. Three simple words said with willingness - God Help Me.
It works, it really does.

God help us all.

anguss.

[WolfM]

Dear Louly,
I "passed" the twenty questions the first time when I was 17. But I drank for another 17 years before I admitted that my life had become unmanageable. Anyway, I got had my last drink in 1987 and have not picked up since. I go to meetings, study the big book, talk to my sponsor, and work the steps. That is what works for me.
My friends and family? I did not get sober for them. So what they think is really irrelevant. But I do know that most of them knew I had a problem long before I was ready to admit it.
One last thing. Someone asked me once how you know when you are having a problem with alcohol? You start doing things you were never going to do.
Can you relate to that?

Wolf M

[CarolD]

:D? ?Welcome!? ? How? ?wise? you are to? look? for answers
so? young!!
The thing about drinking? is? that? ?it? usually? increases
with age? and? ?saps? your potential.

I never knew when I went from
"Party Hardy" to lush.

Let us know how you are doing..we do understand
because we were once you.

[Louly]

Thanks everyone for your kind encouragement. Wolf i can relate to doing things i was never planning to do, or i would ever do soberly. I think people oftem find it hard to believe what i turn into after a drink. Without a drink im quite quiet and sensible and generally 'nice' (apparently!) but then drink turns me and i become loud and flirtatious and sometimes aggressive. I try to laugh it off when my friends tell me what i do after a night of drinking but actually im so ashamed!

I just want to say how grateful i am to be able to talk to other people about this. I know im only young so was worried about whether you can be ill with this at my age.

[samf]

Louly, hi!

I was twenty one when I started drinking real heavy...and I was just like you said...quiet, etc, when sober...I turned loud and did a whole bunch of things I was ashamed of drinking and would have never done sober.

Everyone else I was with didn't seem to get a s plowed as I did. Every time I drank, I wanted more. I worked a long time at trying to control it, but could not. I always did the same thing, every time.

I'm real glad you are here!

Big hug!

Samf

[moon]

:)It is great having this site to come to thank to everyone

[samf]

Moon, am really glad you are here, too! ;D

Samf

[Arnett]

Hello? all? ?My? name is Arnett? Im a grateful alcoholic from? New Jersey? ?I have been sober by the grace of god? one day at a time since? November 22 1993.

[Louly]

Thanks sam those words are reassuring. So pleased to be able to speak to all of you.

x

[samf]

Am pleased to be able to speak with you as well, Louly!!

Arnett, hello!

Hope everyone has a good today!

Sam

[gr8tfuljohn]

You are very young. Take it from me after reading about your drinking experiences, I can tell you it only gets worse. I identify with you at your age I am now 57 and was a lot of fun at your age too. I wound up sleeping in a car behind a bar with no job, money, or place to live.