How do I know if I'm an alcoholic?

[pandoram]

I'm 33, mother of 2, wife, have a full time job and just finished chemo fir lymphoma. I was not able to completely quit drinking during treatment and have been drinking almost every day since I finished. I am currently detoxing from percosets which I took for pain for tge 6 months of chemo so I've been using alcohol only at night after work to help with withdrawals. My drinks of choice are tequila shots about 3 a night or last night I had 3 vodka martinis which were each about 3 oz of vodka.

So with that said, does that make me an alcoholic?

Thanks all.

[baylin]

Hi there,
Withdrawel is hard from any drug /alcohol,   What you need to be very careful of is that you don't become dependant on the alcohol, as what seems like a quite innocent few drinks every night may turn into something beyond your control unless you nip it in the bud now, and as you have recognised that there may be a problem then perhaps seeing someone about how you are feeling would benefit you now and in the long run.  My drinking got very out of control after many years of social drinking, i also held down a full time job, but like everything else when you are not getting the same affects of any drug or alcohol, your intake will slowly increase and before you no it its spun out of control.  For me personally I have obstained from drinking as it did get very out of control and i had lost everything, including my children, but thats because I become very dependent on alcohol, I couldn't sleep, eat or even socialise without being under the influence.  If you feel you have a problem and you are questioning if you have a problem then maybe its time to think about help.  You seem to have had a few health problems also, and by adding alcohol into the situation is not healing or helping your body, alcohol is poison.  If you are having problems withdrawing from your pain medication then I would strongly suggest that you speak with your GP and tell him how you are feeling, as you seem to me that you are struggling with withdrawel, but using alcohol will only make the problem worse, in everyway.

[narla]

Nobody here can tell you if you are an alcoholic,if you are already questioning yourself then in my opinion you have a problem.If you want to stop try AA or an addiction counsellor,
My thoughts were because I only drank at night,didn't get blind drunk and held down a job then I mustn't be an alcoholic,that was until I was called in by my doctor after a routine bloodtest and was told I'd damaged my liver,don't wait to get that call,you've already been through chemo do you really want to damage your liver,kidneys or pancreas as well.
You need help but you can do this.

Keep posting and let us know how you are going

Denise