binge drinking and bedwetting!?

Question
This is sort of two questions. Firstly, every time I go out, with friends, I get SOOO drunk, I can't remember a single thing and have to be taken home by friends etc. I can't just have 4-6 drinks, I have more than 10 and get hammered. Should I see someone about this? It scares me how bad I get, so I avoid going out now!

Secondly, I now, embarrassingly, wet the bed every time to!? This has happened at least 10 times in the last year! Including times at friends houses, which is extremely embarrassing. However this never used to happen before when I drank excessively? The bed wetting only started last year, whereas I've been drinking for 4 years. Why is this happening? Thank you!


Answer
Hi Nik,



The first thing I would like to say regards your drinking habits.  I think you are putting yourself at risk drinking the amount that you do. Secondly, I believe you may be developing, or have developed some degree of dependence and tolerance of alcohol.  This means, in traditional language0 you are - or are in the process of becoming - an alcoholic.



Fortunately, you have identified that your drinking is a least somewhat peer driven phenomenon, that is, when you are with similarly inclined friends you will drink excessively.  I assume you are not drinking excessively at other times?  If this peer environment continues to motivate this manner of alcohol abuse, you will have to give this kind of socializing some thought.  It's not that socializing itself causes alcohol abuse, it's that it makes it more likely because everyone if doing it, and there is a perception that the time together is so much more fun when everyone has a buzz. In your case, you seem to be reaching the blackout stage of intoxication, and this is VERY SERIOUS.



I would be very concerned about the bedwetting, in that you may be incurring some physical problem due to the alcohol abuse.  I recommend you seek out a physician to have an examination and to discuss these symptoms.  These problems can come about even in a short time frame like you describe.



Lastly, I would recommend you see a certified or licensed addiction counselor and have a frank discussion about your drinking habits.  It is best to have a look at this earlier rather than later.



Best,

Peter