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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 2 of 2. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by DannaB on January 16, 2007, at 0:47:54
Hello all,
I think I am a bit of a binge drinker. While I am perhaps not an alcoholic in the typical sense (for example, I am able to keep liquor at home for months without being tempted to touch it), when I do drink I sometimes lose control and have a hard time saying "when."
This was never too much of a problem, but lately I have noticed these incidents becoming more frequent and more worrisome. There have been times I've gotten sick or had to apologize to friends or otherwise been embarassed after drinking.
While I don't think I have a physical addiction on alcohol, I have a psychological dependence in a sense because drinking is associated with parties and socializing with friends (all of whom drink) and it's quite difficult to be the only one abstaining. I am usually able to drink moderately (1-2 drinks only) if I plan ahead, but there is always the fear of losing control once my judgment is compromised.
So what I'm asking is how to approach this. How do I know if I can make moderation work or if I should really abstain? In either case, how do I handle situations where friends are drinking? What are steps I can take to ensure that I don't lose my judgment and drink more than I intend to?
My doctor knows my concerns about my drinking but this hasn't been the focus of our work together. I am "alone" on this and I really need some support but don't know where to go for guidance...are there groups you'd recommend? I'm not sure whether AA would be the best fit.
Posted by AuntieMel on January 16, 2007, at 9:38:45
In reply to Changing lifestyle to cut down on drinking, posted by DannaB on January 16, 2007, at 0:47:54
Only you can know if you can make moderation work. But you have to be completely honest with yourself.
I do know what you mean, though. It was always hardest for me at social gatherings - not from peer pressure, but from social phobias.
It eventually got to where the embarassment was worse than the phobia.
When you are tempted, play the movie of yourself drinking in your head, but play it *past* the fun part and through to the drunken conclusion.
When I'm with others, I usually have a glass of tonic. It takes a lot of getting used to looking at other people having "fun" that I am not having, but I console myself by remembering that I'll feel better the next day.
This is the end of the thread.
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