Alcohol & Me

Question
hi there,

i'm a male from Malaysia and now 28 years old.The thing is recently about 1 year back i was and still having problems when consuming alcohol.the problem is that at most of the times i forgot everything when took alcohol.first i will be like does not want to drink and if i started i cannot stop until i can't remember a thing but not knocked out...what i mean here is that i will still drive,walk,talk,eat and sometimes will start an argument or even ended up fighting with come 1 else and i did not knew anything till any of my friends or the people who i went out with tell me what had happen the next day.This has been continuing.Apparently i enjoy having some good times with my friends but this problem make me fell upset and sometimes i'll feel shame on myself.so to avoid this i'll sometimes cancel the appointments and just stay at home.After taking alcohol its like a another person is fully incharge of me where its totally opposite of my attitude in other words its like a split personality.i wasn't like this before and i don't know why i'm like this now until my girlfriend is not feeling secured when she is with me if i am drinking.i need some of your expertise on this on what am i suppose to do..thanks allot



Mr.X


Answer
Hello





The answer is that you need to stop drinking alcohol.



Most people who drink alcohol stop when they know they've had enough but there are some people who have a predisposition to alcoholism and quickly lose control as soon as they have had one or two drinks. Just like you, because of the stigma attached to the word "alcoholism" and the associated behavior, many of these people feel enormous guilt and shame and deny that they have a problem until things become completely out of hand and their lives become unmanageable.



By what you have described you fall into this category and the only way to prevent what you are experiencing is to refrain from drinking alcohol altogether.



Alcoholism is a powerful and complex disease and the affected person will do anything to maintain this habit even though they are aware of the harm it is doing, not only to themselves but everyone else around them. If not already, you will find yourself using excuses, telling lies, blaming others and denying that you have a problem.  You will find yourself being on the defensive all the time.



Whilst the answer is simple, carrying this out is not. If you have reached a point where you are alcohol dependent and find that you cannot stop on your own, you need to get some professional help. A good place to start would be by going to see your doctor and telling him honestly what you are doing and how it is affecting your life. Also look for any AA meetings in your area.



Learn as much as you can about alcoholism and what you need to do to stop drinking.You will find a lot of information on the Internet.



Chronic alcohol abuse is a practice that is beyond voluntary control, damaging emotional, physical and spiritual health as well as causing organic damage that manifests itself physically, psychologically and behaviorally. It damages the nervous system and destroys brain cells and may also cause delirium, mental confusion, extreme excitement, and loss of inhibitions. It can also cause cirrhosis of the liver, infections, heart problems, malnutrition, sexual problems and cancer.



An alcoholic has a recurring compulsion to continue abusing alcohol despite harmful consequences to the individual's health, mental state and disastrous family, work and social outcomes.



Unfortunately there is no "magic pill" that will help you to stop drinking. You first need to accept that you have a problem and take responsibility for your drinking. Your girlfriend and other friends are clearly aware that you have a problem. Talk to those you trust and be honest with them. Let them know that you want to stop drinking and ask them to support you in this.



Take action now before things get much worse and you start to lose everyone and everything that is important to you.



I wish you well.



Di