Alcohol question. Is this bad?

Question

I am 25 years old. I have a stressful job. I love it, but when I get off work, all I want to do is drink beer. Drinking helps me to relax. I have very bad anxiety and depression (i have no insurance) so all I think about it when I can drink. I don't get completely trashed, but I do like to feel drunk almost every night. I work full time, and sometimes I feel hungover and sick when I get to work. Every single weekend I drink. I drink each night. BUT the thing is... I am constantly drinking by myself. Sometimes when my boyfriend isn't home when I get home, I drink anyways. I like to drink some beers and listen to music. My mom, dad, step mom, and brother are alcoholics. But, Its not having any negative affect on my life. It makes my mind at ease. I have issues with depression and anxiety and stress. Its weird though because when I am out, all I can think about is when I get to go home and start to drink. I make minimum wage and the majority of my small amount of extra money goes to alcohol. In my mind, this is not a problem and I will not stop.. But I was just wondering if this is excessive drinking, or normal??

Answer 1

You are an alcoholic. Look it up, you have listed every symptom of being an alcoholic.  Get some help.

Answer 2

If you have to have it, it is excessive and a problem.  

You are basically giving control over to the alcohol in an effort to escape from the pressures of the day.

You're doing the right thing in acknowledging that you have a problem - and you may find great help in a local Alcohol support group.  They can help you find other ways to cope with the stresses in your life.  

You say it doesn't have a negative effect on your life but I think it probably does.  How much money is it costing you?  How irritable are you if you don't have that drink and how does it affect your relationships with others?  How does it affect your emotions?  How are you feeling in the morning when it's time to go to work?  Are you at your prime?

It sounds like you need to find help in dealing with the underlying causes that motivate you to drink like this.

I come from a family of drinkers and I just HATE seeing what it does to them.  Fortunately they're not mean drunks, but neither are they happy.  They are missing so much because they disappear into the bottle every night.  They're not happy in their marriages and they get drunk enough to be argumentative and basically useless in a crisis.  It's very sad.  I remember how great my grandparents were - how much they taught me.  There are 3 beautiful grandchildren around and they have drunks.  :(  Now I'm depressed....  

Think about those things tho and get help.  You'll find so much more in life if you're not deadening your feelings with alcohol.

Answer 3

they have a name for excessive drinking, it's ALCOHOLIC and it's not a disease its your choice, and you've stated that you don't want to stop being one. kinda wierd that you will call others alcoholics but when it comes to yourself it's just excessive drinking. oh and no its not normal to think about going home and drinking whenever your out, unless your an alcoholic of course.

Answer 4

Everyone crying "ALCOHOLIC!" needs to shut up, because you're clearly not listening to what the asker is saying.  The drinking isn't the problem, it's the anxiety and depression.  This is a common way for people with anxiety and depression to cope with those issues.  

So is this normal?  Yes, in that many people who have anxiety issues drink to take the edge off.  Is it excessive, or a problem?  Hard to say...you're not listing any numbers or amounts of how much you're drinking.  Despite what others would have you think, there's nothing wrong with drinking every day or by yourself, it's perfectly normal.  If it's not affecting your work or relationships, then it's not yet a problem.  

HOWEVER, you've already admitted that you're aware of your anxiety and depression, and you definitely need to deal with those in a way that's not going to put you at risk of doing damage to yourself or creating a problem.  It sucks not having insurance, I know, but you need to get yourself help for those issues one way or another.  Your drinking could eventually become a problem, so the quicker you can get help the better.  

Answer 5

"But, Its not having any negative affect on my life."

It is.  

Your family genetics or not, you need to do your best to slow down.  You also are perpetuating the cycle of the "depression and anxiety and stress."  Alcohol is a depressant drug to start with.  

Keep working, fill your after work time with something constructive where you can't drink.  Volunteer some where?  Just strive to get that job that does have benefits and get yourself the professional counseling you need and even meds to help with the depression and anxiety and stress.

Your body will thank you and your future children will definitely thank you.  

Answer 6

Let's see, all you can think about is when you can drink. When you are in an environment where you can't drink (work) you fell hungover and sick. You drink alone and everyday. With the money you spend on alcohol you could afford medical attention. Instead of investing what little money do make you spend it on alcohol. You state that you wonder if this is excessive or normal. You know the answer.  

Answer 7

I dont blame you...i always want to drink beer lol

Answer 8

It is excessive drinking, but I do the same thing hun. If it's not affecting your job or family and you can control it it's fine. If that's what you like to do. I do and think the same way you do. I think a lot of people do this. If you are happy with it then cheers. :)

Answer 9

That's definitely excessive drinking, bordering on alcoholism.  Ask yourself: how much do you spend on alcohol each month, and could you use that money for something better, such as getting health insurance?

You say it doesn't affect your life, but it does, you're already showing up to work hung over (which is close to showing up to work drunk), and spending all your time drinking prevents you from getting a new job.