Calling all Binge Drinkers

[Sunbeam]

What I love about MWO is that it offers the opportunity to find your own path, develop your own strategies and definitions. Sometimes I have seen and experienced misunderstandings here because one person may try to set a standard for another, or a person feels they are being judged by someone who sets a different standard.

So here are my own standards and definitions, which I do not wish to impost on anyone else:

A binge is an episode of consuming more alcohol than intended, after a period of controlled moderate drinking.

For me, moderate drinking is usually just one glass, two max, no more than 4 glasses per week.

Regular alcohol consumption is not good for my health. I have my own set of health issues, and any amount of alcohol can contribute to my poorer health. The sources which promote one glass per day of wine are usually referring to heart health, and ignore other health problems. Even on that point, I have read conflicting information.

FYI, my history before MWO included what most would call real binges: over a bottle of wine, memory losses, falling asleep drunk on the sofa until all hours, feeling shitty at work all day the next day. My fear is that I could slide back there. I started this conversation to avoid that.

[vera-b]

Hello all,

I really like Dove's definition of a binge -- waking up the next morning knowing you screwed up ("feeling shitty" were her words I believe). I have been moderating for a year now after my Dr. put me on campral. It was not enough to keep the demons at bay after the first couple of months. I guess celebrating with wine is not exactly the best tactic for an alcohol abuser! Anyway, there are times when it seems like my mind starts "drinking" long before I do. This is one of the things that attracted me to this site -- Roberta's story that while at her friend's her mind was running with thoughts like "why are these people drinking so slow" and "trying to sip a weak whiskey" and hoping to get in another drink under the guise of a nightcap.

I think many of us have minds that start drinking before we do - like Sunbeam who's head is imagining going to the liquor store. Have any of you listened to the hynotherapy cd's sold on this site? I'm waiting for my order and was hoping that if I listened to them, it would curb those days when my brain is particularly thirsty. Any thoughts on the cd's as binge control??? Thanks--

[vera-b]

Hello Sunbeam,

We must have been typing at the same time! Always comforting to know that there are others out there struggling to keep control. I was hoping that the cd's would help - any experience with them?

[jessie]

I would also like to know whether the cd's work. I have gone on a 4 day binge - I am really very upset with myself and again it started with only one glass of wine Tuesday evening and then the bottle was inviting me the next morning and so forth. So I'm pretty desperate again.
If the cd's help then I'll try them.

[Sunbeam]

Hi all,
I have not been using meds and supplements recommended here, have been quite successful without them, and on most days I don't need them. My thought is that they would be less helpful for the binges. I would love hearing from this binge group regarding the use of meds and supplements.

I like the analogy that a binge may begin way before you start drinking - that's the way it seems to happen for me. That Sunday I consumed most of the bottle of wine, I knew I was going to do that, even before going to church. Thanks for the suggesting the CD's - maybe that's the tool I need. Right now I am imagining myself listening to the CD's in church, LOL! I guess it would interfere with my singing in the choir....

So I too would like to hear from binge drinkers who feel that the CD's have helped them. Thanks so much for all of your thoughts.

[tea]

Hi Sun and All, Yes I try to moderate............ always always always go back to shop to buy more, sorz this isn't helpful in the slightest. I think I would rather have NONE at all than just be able to have one or two.... but then again one or two is the one or two that gets me going and I very rarely refuse... I have to keep myself permanently STRONG minded to refuse and I will say that this is getting easier with each time. I was doing extremely well, well for me that is, but then one slip and there I was again, but always telling myself I can mod if I wanted to, trouble is... I never wanted to... So for me it has to be AF completely.

Lx

[vera-b]

Hi Sun and all,

Just received my cd's and today is day 1. For me, it's about quieting this drinking mind so that I can achieve some control. The campral my Dr. prescribed helps the physical cravings, but I wanted to get to the point where it wasn't a constant willpower issue. Quite frankly, I'm tired of the stream of concious thought around drinking - will I drink too much today? What's in the house? Can I sneak an extra drink while the chicken is being turned on the grill? I want to be normal. As I'm writing this, I'm listening to the subliminal tape and it's a delightful ocean soundtrack. Think I may hit the beach tomorrow. Will let you know how the cd's work out.

[vera-b]

Hi Sunbeam and mods,
Am on day 3 of the hypno cd's. They're quite enjoyable. I really believe they're helping - it's 5:50 PM and I'd rather be listening to them and reading your posts than having a cocktail - or 4 - imagine!! Don't want to get too excited -- been here before temporarily, but I'm motivated to stick with it! If this mind can be retrained to act "normal", then I truly believe anything is possible.

V.

[Ukblonde]

I have nearly always binge drank, apart from a time when I was unemployed and tried drinking every day for 3 months. I was brought up without AL in the house, started going out at weekends and would nearly always end up drunk, passing out, throwing up, having an emotional fit etc. When I was training as a competive athlete I would probably only go out once a week so it didn't seem to be a problem. Once I 'retired' I could then go out 2 or 3 nights and not care about the morning after.

In the last 3 years the pattern has been drink until I am sick of it - spend a couple of days recovering, get life back together then do it again. All on a weekly basis. In March I found myself a decent rehab and though I had it beat. Managed 8 weeks, slipped, then 1 month, June was just one big relapse.

Anyway - everytime I know it's not going to be a few drinks, I actually want to get blasted and drink so fast it can only be carried out at home. Recently I turned to Vodka, often neat from the bottle - I can drink a 750ml bottle in 2-3 hours. This week I had most of a 1 litre bottle Sunday night and 3/4 of a 750ml last night.

I tried modding a few years back but it was no good - every time I have a drink I can't get enough of the stuff. Trouble with abstaining is that I have to wait a few days until the next craving comes before I know if I can avoid it. Everyone around me just waits and wonders when the next explosion is coming!

[misskris76]

a lot of drinkers are also hypo gycemic. look it up. google it. explains the eating/smoking bit. i myself,
:( , sadly, suffer from an eating disorder, anorexia, as well. but the hypoglycemia kicks in bc of the eating disorder, not inherent, but if hypoglycemia/alcoholism gene is in your your system, it will def exhibit why u r getting drunk faster/craving alk more...duh,,SUGAR!!! hope it helps.. tip...eat simple carbs but healthy ones, while drinking. ...cheese and crackers, veggies and dip, chicken or other protien with some carbs like flat bread veg pizza or and dip or potato wedges with dip (these are the heathiest bar food options i can come up with with!!) with your drinks, will help you mod. hope it helps