Do I have a problem?

[bullettheory]

Hi, I'm just looking for your opinion and maybe a bit of advice.

Yesterday I had a mental health act assessment and the psychiatrists and social worker kept talking about my "alcohol use problem". Now this was the first time a professional has said I clearly have a problem.

For the past 9 months I have been drinking regularly, at one point it was every day, but I've managed to bring it down to 5 times a week on average. I drink to suppress my feelings and basically self medicate. Whenever I feel bad I usually go straight to the booze. The amount I am drinking is going up, as my tolerance has increased. I drink mainly to get drunk. Whenever I drink (especially with others) I find it so hard to stop and I usually progress to the point of forgetting and not being able to walk. A lot of people in my life have been questioning me about my drink, especially my girlfriend and I'm really scared I will lose her over it. I'm ashamed to admit it but its got to the point where I hide my booze from them and drink in secret a lot. I used to mainly drink in the evening but now it can also be in afternoon.

Despite this I find it so so so hard to even think I have a problem. I think everyone is overreacting. I'm not sure, I just want some opinions.

[Zedebee]

By the sound of it you are showing some problematic behaviours and it seems that your relationship with alcohol is unhealthy. Have the psych and social worker offered you any kind of support with it?

Denial can be a big problem with alcohol misuse but it's up to you to come to your own conclusion and admit that there IS a problem and that you do need help, otherwise you won't get very far.

The fact that you're able to identify why you drink and your irregular behaviours, is a really good start. And the fact that other people are suggesting it too is quite worrying.

You need to start being honest with yourself and with your girlfriend too.

[talaiporia]

Zeb has good advice. You need to admit to yourself this is a problem before you can start to recover. What do you think would happen if someone took away all the alcohol for a week or two?

Do you drink in a pub/bar or at home (from a bottle). If it's the first case, limiting the amount of money you take might help, and if it's the second, limiting the amount you keep at home might help.

[bullettheory]

Zeb - The psych and SW didn't offer any support but I am at a crisis house at the minute and they are trying to get me an assessment with Turning Point which I believe work with people who have substance use issues. I do DBT too and my therapist is also looking at my drinking but I don't know if he knows how much I am drinking at the moment. I am trying to understand others point of view and that, and I am slowly coming to terms with the fact that it may be bad, but it honestly doesn't feel that bad for me to need to stop. I've started to be a lot more honest with my girlfriend after talking to her so hopefully that may help a bit.

Taliporia - I would struggle a lot if there was no booze. I would try and find so many ways around it but I really really would find it so hard to cope. It's a bit of both, but mainly drinking by myself at home is the problem, so I will try that, I guess I just need to try and avoid buying when I'm out impulsively and I'm not sure how to stop that...

[Zedebee]

You really need to tell the psych how it is. Turning point can be a big help but you have to be really honest. Have you heard of pheonix futures? Or intuitive recovery?

[bullettheory]

I have a psych appointment on Monday so I will try and be honest with them then. They are concerned about my meds and my drinking (especially my quetiapine). Does anyone have any experience with that? They want to put it up but are concerned about how it may react. No I haven't heard of them but I will look it up. Thanks for your help.

[Zedebee]

How did the appointment go?