Expert: james52144@earthlink.net - 7/21/2009

Question
hi, i am trying to seek help for my problem. the problem is i am not an alcoholic so to speak. i do abuse alcohol by "binge drinking" when i do drink. i can go a month without drinking and with no cravings. but when i do decide to drink i cannot stop. i do many shots and get drunk to the point i blackout. also sometimes becoming violent and self destructive. the simple thing would be to say to just not have a drink. however what i would like is to find a program to learn how to have just a couple on special occasions like a "normal" person would. i do not plan on drinking for a while either way, probably at least a year. but if i ever do drink again i want to learn these skills or what ever it is i need to learn. when i try to look up programs everything is for definite alcoholism. i don't know where i fit in. any advice?
thank you so much, dora

Answer
Hi Dora

Alcohol is one of those substances that we have to control or it will control us. The only way to control it is to master your thoughts. If you can say, "I will only have one", and control your thinking so that you are not tempted to have more, then you can only have one. You could also try drinking two drinks of water between any drink of alcohol so that the "binge" thinking won't kick in. Good luck.