Visitor Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 Hi, I haven't drunk alcohol since college (15-20 years) and have just recently started having a glass of wine after work (I teach) at about 4pm to calm my nerves. I feel I am staring to crave it and am worried I might be becoming an alcoholic. I also have these horrible cravings to inject something into my blood to calm me down (I have no idea what it could be - herion, etc. - since I have never tried these) but I just can't seem to calm my nerves sometimes and I have been on tranquilisers before short term but they are incredibly addictive and lose their effect quickly Am I normal? Link to post Share on other sites
Outcast Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 It's not healthy to look to chemical substances to calm you down, particularly non-prescribed ones. You could be beginning to suffer from anxiety, in which case you'd do much better to get a diagnosis and proper meds. Alternately, exercise and/or meditate. Long walks are very good for you. Do NOT drink or take anything to 'calm you down' other than maybe some warm milk or some carbs. Link to post Share on other sites
Hot Coco Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 How many wines do you have? Is it just the one glass? Or more? You might have low blood sugar. A snack like nuts or something before you eat dinner can really help. But if you're just having one or two glasses of wine (I'd say no more than 2) then I don't see the harm. If you start needing more than that, I'd worry. But try the food first. It really does sound like low blood sugar to me. Oh and P.S. in my opinion, the prescribed meds are as bad if not worse than are the non-prescribed ones. Stay away from them all if possible. Let us know how you're doing! Link to post Share on other sites
Author Visitor Posted December 1, 2005 Author Share Posted December 1, 2005 Hi Hot Coco, It's just the one glass so far, although sometimes I have a little extra I do think if it was more I'd be more worried... Also, it doesn't seem like a low-blood sugar/energy thing, it's literally that my nerves are fried - sometimes my hands shake and heart races - but this is after a 'normal' day (i.e. not one of the days I nearly get killed or run off the road by tailgaters! I think I just have a very high-strung nervous system and need something to calm it down, but the only thing (I've tried therapy, massage, meditation, exercise, etc.) besides giving up everything and becoming a recluse in the woods, is a glass of wine! Cheers Link to post Share on other sites
Art_Critic Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 My personal opinion is that one glass of wine after dinner does not make you an alcoholic.. If you require it or can't stop then IMHO you have a drinking problem and might be an alcoholic.. I've been sober for about 18.5 years.. I will say something that I might ask that you think about.. A person that does not have a drinking problem does not ask himself if he/she might be an alcoholic. Only people with drinking problems ask that question of themselves. I say drinking problem because a problem drinker is not necesarly an alcoholic. Someone going thru really tough times can drink like a fish and not be an alcoholic.. but they will stop when they realize it has become a problem.. an alcoholic will not stop. It could be the start of drinking that could lead to it getting worse Link to post Share on other sites
Hot Coco Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 Watch me get bashed for this but I don't see anything wrong with it. But like I said be careful with it. You may become dependent and need more and more. I honestly wouldn't worry about one to 2 glasses. Sip one very slowly for about an hour and then eat. That's not alcoholic behavior. Make it red and you'll get the health benefits to boot. The hands shaking and heart racing sounds like an anxiety attack OR I'll say this again, low blood sugar. I have that and I get irritable and shaky. A glass of wine will calm me right down but I usually will eat instead. A cup of yogurt or something. Seriously try it. But no. You do not sound like an alcoholic. Don't worry. Just watch it. Alcohol is a very sneaky substance. Link to post Share on other sites
Hot Coco Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 Good points Art. You know there's a fine line though between an alcoholic and a problem drinker. Does someone who NEEDS that one to two glasses of wine after work an alcoholic? Or a problem drinker? Or is it not even an issue. I think it's an issue if you THINK it is. Is it interfering in your life? Are you hungover in the morning every morning from it? Is it preventing you from living your normal life? If not then it's neither a problem, nor are you an alcoholic in my opinion. Ask yourself some of those questions. Look, only you know if it's helping more than it's hurting. You know the answer Visitor. Link to post Share on other sites
Author Visitor Posted December 1, 2005 Author Share Posted December 1, 2005 It's interesting... I think onew of the reasons I actually 'crave' a glass of wine after work is that it is like a 'siginfier' or ritual that the day (at least work! is over and I can relax. For some people, it may be going to the gym or running after work, for others it might be a beer with workmates, or a stiff gin-and-tonic when they get home It's just the right combination of being the only thing I have time for (gotta start dinner for the kids, etc.) and enjoy and is healthy (you're right - I've heard red wine is good for you too and I do sip it over an hour (sometimes 2-3 hours ! Anyway, I will try your advice to eat something as well, as it is a weird feeling I get that I should be literally absorbing something to calm myself, but I don't know what it is. Would something like good dark chocolate bo good to try? Do I partially crave the wine because it has sugar in it (I've no idea if wine does or not Thanks Link to post Share on other sites
Art_Critic Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 Do I partially crave the wine because it has sugar in it (I've no idea if wine does or not Alcohol is broken down into sugar.. So yes you can crave sugar.. I still eat a whole lot of chocolate and I have always felt it is because of my alcoholism.. I can't just eat a little chocolate or sweets and I have to have it because I crave it.. Link to post Share on other sites
Author Visitor Posted December 1, 2005 Author Share Posted December 1, 2005 Does drinking actually make you crave chocolate ? I've noticied sometimes that after a glass and dinner, I crave choclate (sometimes even with the wine). Does that mean I am an alcoholic? - If only the test for alchoholism was that simple! Link to post Share on other sites
Art_Critic Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 Does drinking actually make you crave chocolate ? I've noticied sometimes that after a glass and dinner, I crave choclate (sometimes even with the wine). Does that mean I am an alcoholic? - If only the test for alchoholism was that simple! Only you can decide if you are an alcoholic.. Rememeber that.. it has to come from within you.. No.. craving sugar doesn't mean that you are a drunk.. I think that if you are noticing that alcohol has a certain effect on you and that effect bothers you then I think you need to stop drinking and after a while re-examine the things you are looking at today.. Try to stop...at least for 2 weeks and see what happens Link to post Share on other sites
Hot Coco Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 Also try to eat PROTEIN, not sugar around that time. A piece of cheese with crackers or yogurt as I said. I don't know...for me that works. I'm not sure I understand something. Does the ONE wine last 2 to 3 hours? Link to post Share on other sites
Author Visitor Posted December 1, 2005 Author Share Posted December 1, 2005 Yes, the one wine glass lasts up to 3 hours. sometimes I'll start it at 4pm, begin making dinner, forget all about it and eat, and then around 7pm cleaning up see it and think, oh that'll be nice and sit down and have some choclate with it And, I will try a yougurt as well - God knows they have enough sugar in them these days! I have not had wine for a few days on end, but I guess what scares me is that some days I come home and it's just the first thing I want - a sip of wine! Thanks for all your help Cheers & Good Health Link to post Share on other sites
Outcast Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 For myself, I would be very concerned about any non-food item, particularly booze or drugs, if I 'craved' it. Wanting something is one thing, but 'craving' does sound to me as though it's crossing the line. One of the markers of addiction is that someone thinks a lot about the addictive substance so if you find yourself thinking about the wine and anticipating it during the day, I'd definitely be a trifle worried. Some of us have brains that seem to more easily click over to addiction than others. Me, I don't like to test the possibility that I might become addicted to anything because people in my family have been. I'd keep a close eye on the 'craving' aspect of it. It's entirely possible that you are suffering from anxiety and people tend to self-medicate with other substances when they are not treated by competent physicians. There are a lot of people these days who seem medication-phobic but they have no problem with people using potentially more harmful substances to self-medicate. I don't think this is helpful. When the titration is correct, prescribed meds will keep people functional and usually pose less risks. So I think you are wise to be cautious and if you find that the 'calming' can only be achieved with the use of alcohol, maybe see your doctor. Link to post Share on other sites
Hot Coco Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 If one glass of wine is lasting you 3 hours, I don't see that it's a problem. How big a glass is it though? But seriously, I think if you REALLY want it (crave it) and that's all you're having, and it has a calming effect on you, well I think that's WAY better for you than anything the medical community could prescribe. You'll know if it becomes a problem in your life. It's good to ask yourself those questions though BEFORE it ever has a chance of being a problem. Link to post Share on other sites
RainyDayWoman Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 yeah, the wine itself and the amount of it doesn't seem to be problem. it's your attitude about it and the way your mind responds to even the very thought of it. in my experience, if you think it's a problem, it probably is or will become...and it would be best to avoid anything unnecessary that could be very dertrimental. i don't think you are an alcoholic at this point.....i know people who drink far more than that who are not alcoholics. the difference, though, is that they don't crave it, and that's what could start the ball rolling into a much bigger problem for you. Link to post Share on other sites
Art_Critic Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 How big a glass is it though? True...if I remember my formulas right.. 1 beer is equal to 1 ounce ( 1 shot ) 80 proof whiskey or 3 ounces of wine.. If you drink a 12 ounce glass of wine that is really 4 glasses of wine.. or 4 beers or 4 shots of 80 proof whiskey Link to post Share on other sites
Author Visitor Posted December 1, 2005 Author Share Posted December 1, 2005 It's just a little wine glass...not a water glass! It's strange that even though I 'crave' it as I've said, I don't gulp it, and often forget about it afetr I have had the first sip. I think it's more of a psycholoigcal thing than an alcohol thing, if that makes sense. Anyway, I have been prescribed Paxil once for two years, and also Xanax for anxiety atttacks, and I feel both of those were far worse for me than the wine (when I took Xanax you could have lit the house on fire in front of me sitting on the couch and I wouldn't have cared to get up!) I do think I need to see a doctor because often my heart races, muscles tenses, up (a flight or fight scenario) for no apparanet reason at all! In fact, I was just sitting on the couch and realised that my fists were clenching my shirt very tightly for nor reason at all - it's sort of like a nervous system disorder (I was told I had PTSD when the put me on meds) that goes into spasm on it's own - kind of like a short circut. And just for a little background , my father was a alcohlic, which is part of the reason I am worried about myself (and also most of the reason I was told I have/had? PTSD!) Cheers Link to post Share on other sites
Outcast Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 If you have PTSD, then you need to see a therapist who is experienced in PTSD treatment. It's a specialization. Good to know the 'craving' ends quickly, though. Link to post Share on other sites
Author Visitor Posted December 1, 2005 Author Share Posted December 1, 2005 Thanks for pointing that out, Outcast - I've often thought that PTSD was a different problem than just the general 'anxiety' listed by therapists. The problem is that I can't find any who advertise that they deal with PTSD, and I'm afraid that if I call them up and ask them if they do, of course they will say they do, just to get me in. Can you suggest another way of asking them so it is more open ended and they can volunteer if they do or not without me having to ask straight out? Cheers Link to post Share on other sites
TUDOR Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 If you have insurance you can contact your insurace provider and ask them specifically for a list of Dr.(s) or therapists that treat PTSD. That is a good unbiased approach and you will know if your insurance covers it or not. Link to post Share on other sites
Author Visitor Posted December 1, 2005 Author Share Posted December 1, 2005 Unfortunately, we don't have private health insuarnce I'll have to look in the yellow pages and pay for it myself ... Link to post Share on other sites
BrainRightHeartWrong Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 i've been drinking between 1 1/2 - 3 bottles of red wine EVERY NIGHT for the past 2 odd years, my ex was mad into drinking too especially at weekends but didn't like drinking during the week as much as me as she couldn't function whereas I was relatively ok, during out last weeks together I was trying to be get her to be sensible at the weekend and she wanted to quit during the week... anyway for now I don't want to quit but I know I could if i want to although I have to admit at this minute I do crave it, i know if I pack it in sometime for a few weeks i'll forget about it NC with alcohol! Link to post Share on other sites
littlekitty Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 My personal opinion is that one glass of wine after dinner does not make you an alcoholic.. If you require it or can't stop then IMHO you have a drinking problem and might be an alcoholic.. I've been sober for about 18.5 years.. I will say something that I might ask that you think about.. A person that does not have a drinking problem does not ask himself if he/she might be an alcoholic. Only people with drinking problems ask that question of themselves. I say drinking problem because a problem drinker is not necesarly an alcoholic. Someone going thru really tough times can drink like a fish and not be an alcoholic.. but they will stop when they realize it has become a problem.. an alcoholic will not stop. It could be the start of drinking that could lead to it getting worse Fantastic definition of drinking issues AC. And well done keeping sober for 18.5 years! Link to post Share on other sites
littlekitty Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 As far as the OP's question goes, I think this sounds like nothing more than a 'god I've had a bad day and I could use a damn drink' senario. The majority of people I know have the odd day like this... is that really a craving for something? I'm not sure. But since the OP doesn't gulp it down, and isn't doing this everyday, or over doing it, it seems a pretty normal and not an issue from where I'm sitting. As all the other posters said, if things change, be aware, but right now, I don't see a problem! Link to post Share on other sites
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