Alcohol Abuse

[concerned8923]

Hi,

I am 23. Since October several health related issues have happened to me. I am in the process of dealing with them and am not looking for criticism or judgement.

I have been drinking heavily for about 5 months. I am noticing a drastic decline in my health. I don't know if the health issues I am dealing with are in relation to my drinking. I drink about 3-4 times a week but I drink a lot. To the point where I don't remember anything the next day. Also, when I drink the night before I will drink the next day and then again in the evening. Sometimes this goes on all weekend.

My health issues are as follows:

I feel like I constantly have bugs crawling on me.
My skin is always itchy
My gums bleed
There is something going on in my mind. I obsess over certain sounds or pictures and they make me feel almost manic in a sense.
I am developing red spots all over my stomach and they are moving to my neck and arms.
- they are not itchy.
I have gained weight. I'm the highest I've ever weighed.

Is this a result of my drinking?

I don't want to live like this. My friends are supportive but they still drink with me. They know I need to stop drinking. I am currently seeing a therapist.

[Runner3]

My young friend,
  I wish I could give you a magic pill that made all of this crazy alcohol nonsense stop.  For you and me both!  The reality is that there is no pill, you have to want to quit.  I'm 38 years old and still struggling and I WISH, that I could go back to when I was 24 again.  Heck, I wish I could go back to 16 years old, I would have made so many different choices.  If I only knew then what I know now.....  Are you working, going to school?  Mid 20's is a fun time, but not for one with an addiction.  I would really like to see you quit.  You don't deserve to be 38 and regretting the last 14+ years of your life.  I went to AA when I was your age, but didn't stick to it.  You will need a  support system.  Can you surround yourself with people that don't drink?  Much easier said than done I know.

[concerned8923]

Hi,

I am not where I need to be at all. I have been seeing a therapist once a week and I was doing well for about 2 weeks and then I slowly started going back to my old habits… I have drank alone during the day a few times but it is not very often. Also, I am still partying all weekend – during the day and evening.

I wish I could stop.

[gerrywilson]

Go to rehab center. They will surely help you to get out of alcohol consumption.

[17mthssober275]

Hi, wondering how you are doing, Haven't heard from you in a while. How is everything going for you?
Judy

[17mthssober275]

Good to hear that you are doing so good, so proud of you. You are a great young lady with  good common sense. Yes, there sure is other things to do besides getting drunk and wasting the next day like you said. Good to hear you bought some new things for yourself, it makes you feel so good to spoil yourself. I also have a new dress and new high heels to dress up.Its great to spend some money on yourself, with something great to look good in, rather than waste it, indeed. Yes, like you said the party life may seem glamorous but sooner than later people get in a habit, then you're hooked. You understand health and having your priorities straight is a blessing and that is so true. Life can be so good, its what we make it. My fiance and I just spent 4 nights camping, I have an older trailer we stayed in, at Chilliwack, B.C.  We had campfires, barbecued and also played pool, shuffleboard, and played catch. I had some mitts and balls there, haven't done that in a while. It was so much fun. Just doing things that are regular things to do. We are never too old to have good clean fun, are we? So proud of you, that you quit drinking and you are so young and so intelligent.You are 24 in July, what do you have planned for your birthday, thought of anything yet? Do you have other clean and sober friends? Talk to you later!! Keep up that great positive thinking !!!!   Judy :)

[concerned8923]

Thanks!! I have actually been doing so much better... I have cut way back. In fact, I have completely stopped. Not because I need to but because I just have no desire to. There are other things that are more important to me. It's great. My roommate had our friends over and they were all drinking and I didn't even want to have one. I stayed home while they are still out partying. It's just not a lifestyle I want anymore. I'm getting too old. Going to be 24 in July. Once in a while it is fun but not every weekend. Waste of life and money.

I hate hearing the excuse, "well I have the day off tomorrow so I feel like I need to make use of it." There are other ways to make use of a day off other than getting annihilated the night before which in turn, causes you to waste your day off anyhow. Get up and live your life. That's what I'm doing. Upping the quality because I know there's more to life than getting drunk with your friends. I am able to do simple things like buy new clothes because I'm not wasting my money on alcohol. You just need to figure out where your priorities lie. The party life may seem glamorous but it's absolutely not. This is a glamorous life. Health is glamorous.

[17mthssober275]

Hi, good thing you are seeing your drinking as a concern and you're young. Its something to be proud of that you were honest with your doctor.
Just to let you know, I feel really comfortable at AA  meetings and I had never thought I would. I never thought I could ever talk to people and I do and I like it. What a suprise! A virus was the itching your doctor said. I was thinking it was allergies or something was bothering you. Glad you are on top of things, sounds like you are a very honest person and that will always be a asset for you in life. Wish you the best wishes on your plan to cut down, not everyone is alcoholic, and maybe you are not. I think it becomes a problem if you don't address it early to the doc and you have. Proud of you!!!!

[concerned8923]

Hi,

Quick update. I'm feeling good about things even though I'm not healthy. My sides are still hurting and so is my stomach.

The red marks on my skin is called pityriasis rosea which is derived from a virus. I have a head cold now and my doctor said maybe that's where it is coming from. It should clear up in a couple of weeks (even though it's almost been 2 weeks with the rash).

I'm not experiencing manic thoughts (they're there but very subtle) and I don't feel as though I have bugs crawling on me. If anything, my skin is a bit itchy but nowhere near as bad as it was.

I got drunk on Wednesday with my friends, Thursday I had a few glasses of wine, Friday I got drunk with friends and Saturday I didn't drink.

Sunday was my bad day. I was visiting family and a family friend brought over a bottle of champagne. Well, I got a good buzz on and wanted to keep drinking. That's when I started sneaking liquor... Ugh. Why did I do that?

This is my second day in a row not drinking and I plan on being sober until March 30 when my bestfriend will be in town. I will drink that evening and then try to be sober for another 14 days. Once I reach 14, perhaps I will be able to continue it for the entire month.

I just need to allow myself to remember how good it feels not to drink and then I'll be fine. I just need to make it to that point and have strength.

- M

[OpenMind24hours]

I can identify with you on the discomfort about AA. I held off going to my first meeting for TWO YEARS! Finally my disease got so bad it drove me to go there. But I went with a guy I knew that was in the program. All that additional suffering, for two years, for nothing. I loved it. And those people were bending over backwards to help me. Every one of them had been exactly where I was at that time. No one is a "leader" at AA, everyone is equal.  And none of us got there for eating too many chocolate chip cookies...we're all alcoholics. I was anxious going there but relieved that I was finally getting help as I left. I went on my own the very next night - instead of getting loaded.  It was onward from there.

concerned8923, You expressed that u want to get well again. You might want to just try AA and see how it goes. There's really nothing to it. But you can first call your local AA hot line and talk in person to the volunteer who answers the phone and see what happens. You might set up something to meet him/her or someone else and go there with them. -Or- first ask the hotline volunteer for an "Open Meeting" location. Anyone can go to those and listen to a speaker describe what their life was like, what happened, and what their life is like now. It's called an open talk.

I'd love to see you get your life back! -Robert

[concerned8923]

What do you mean by suffer even more? My doctor is aware of my drinking but he hasn’t done anything besides send me to get bloodwork for my liver. I have an appointment to see him on the 19th. I am not ignoring this – I want to be better.

[concerned8923]

I know that these symptoms should clear up if I stop drinking. It’s just a matter of how. I haven’t been diagnosed with alcoholism but I feel like I am.
I have blackouts
I am compelled to drink and feel like I need a drink
I drink alone
I hide my drinking
I don’t think I have withdrawal but when I stop drinking usually the next day is when I feel like there are bugs crawling on my skin
I don’t have a certain time where I drink but I get irritated if someone is drinking in front of me
The only time I can sleep is if I am drunk, otherwise I have trouble sleeping – usually results in taking something to make me drowsy
I have deadening of my memory when I am not drinking
I have lost interest in activities and hobbies. – my weekends consist of drinking, drinking, partying.
I binge drink.

I am tired of living like this, I truly am. I know I am better than this and I know that what I want is a sober life. I don’t want to have this obligation to drink just because my friends are or because it’s the weekend. I miss having a life where I would do things. I don’t want to be sick and I don’t want this to get worse. I am too uncomfortable to go to AA. I am going to get a gym pass so I can start occupying my time with classes and also work is getting more demanding…

[michelelavigne409]

You need to join a rehab center as soon as possible, because  as per your mentioned data, you may suffer even more, nothing is good in extreme . you must take some doctor's advice and then do some test per the doctor's instructions... you really need help due, don't ignore all this.. god bless you.. :)

[OpenMind24hours]

I would bet that if you stopped using alcohol, much of that will clear up; but only a doctor will be able to properly diagnose what's going on with you.  I'm an alcoholic in recovery. You didn't say if you were or not, but there are lots of symptoms of the disease that u can check out to see what you think:
1) Once you start you don't want to stop (can't drink only two drinks without going for more)
2) Blackouts (erased memory)
3) Compelled to drink, or, feel like you need a drink.
4) Drinking alone
5) Hiding your drinking
6) Withdrawal: Sweat, nausea, shake when you don't drink
7) Drink at a certain time, pissed off when that ritual is disturbed
8) Can't sleep without alcohol
9) Deadening of memory even when not drinking
10) Lose interest in activities and hobbies that used to bring you pleasure
11) binge drinking

I would say, from my personal experience with my disease, if you think you have a problem you usually do. But it's your call. I go to AA and we learn to never call another person an alcoholic. It's a personal thing with us. I really like what you said "I don't want to live like this". That's EXACTLY what I said to the guy when I asked to go along with him to my first meeting. But I'm not pushing meetings here.

Becoming free from alcohol is a very doable thing. But remaining free from alcohol takes work. I had to take part in my own recovery and work on myself so I would change. If I don't change nothing changes. Nobody could do that for me. But there are millions of us in recovery all over the world. So freedom for you is out there waiting. Keep your willingness and continue to make the steps in the right direction like you've described in your post. You don't have to be sick anymore.