Expert: Beverley Glazer - 5/23/2009

Question
I am a 22 year old female.  I have always had a hard time making and keeping friends, so when I went away to school for the first time I started drinking.  Since I didn't really know anyone and people seemed cliquey, I drank in my room while watching tv.  I drank at least twice to 3 times a week and I would stop when I got dizzy.  That same year during winter break, I was drinking almost daily at nighttime before bed and I would wake up shaky.  I stopped drinking as frequently the next year because I transferred schools so i moved back home.  When I was 20, I was raped.  Neither of us were drinking.  I didn't really have anyone supportive that I could tell everything to so I turned to alcohol.  The next year, I went away to school again and I thought making friends would be easy but it wasn't.  I met a few people who always went home, had boyfriends, or didn't like to drink.  So when no one was there I would drink.  For my last semester, I was drinking 3 nights a week now 4-6 drinks.  Then when I switched roommates to live with a friend, she always went home to see her boyfriend so I drank.  At one point during the semester, I finished a 750 ml bottle of tequila in 3 weeks.  I go out with my friends at home to the bars and I don't feel anything until I have around 7-8 drinks.

I have passed out twice, blacked out probably around 9 times.  I tried weed once and had a major panic attack so I drank a poland spring water bottle full of vodka in like 20 minutes.

In january, I was out with a friend and had 10 drinks in four hours because i felt pannicky and mad that she was meeting all these people, so i drank and ended up in the hospital and given fluids.

I like how alcohol makes me feel, I like being drunk.  at least I am not anxious or sad or pannicky.

Am I an alcoholic?  I emailed my substance abuse professor since i am taking a class and asked her if tolerance can decrease and she suggested that I meet with her to take a look at my drinking, but I am beyond scared

please help, although i don't really know what you can say

Answer
Hi Alison,

Alcohol suppresses many emotions as well as emotional pain and there are many issues that you have to address - but first the alcohol abuse.

Right now, you are drinking on a dangerously high level and you have developed tolerance. Here's a self-test that will answer the question whether you're an alcoholic or not.

http://www.untwist-your-thinking.com/alcohol-addiction.html

The result can be scary, but there are many treatments that are available. The good thing is that you know this is a problem and you also know the root causes, but you can't kick this alone.

It might be a good idea to speak to a private counselor at school, because many students are in your situation and need help - but it's hard to ask. Some people check themselves into rehab, but you may simply need a week or 2 in a detox facility and individual outpatient treatment, but you must also address the psychological issues and your low self esteem. You can also find an AA meeting - focused on your peer group.

Here are the treatment options:
http://www.untwist-your-thinking.com/treatment.html

The important thing is that you reach out and get help - and you've contacted your prof as well as All Experts, so that's the start. If you need more information, just let me know.

I hope this is helpful,

Thank you for contacting All Experts

Good luck,

Beverley Glazer MA
http://www.untwist-your-thinking.com