Dear Jasmine,
My problem is with alcohol. I don’t think I am an alcoholic but I think I may have some problems with drinking. I don’t have a problem with not drinking everyday but my problem is when I drink alot. This doesn’t happen often but when it has, it seems to have caused some problems.
I have trouble controlling my emotions when I drink too much. My emotions gets all jumbled up and my mood can quickly shift from one to the next and I have no control over it whatsoever. My lack of control has given my girlfriend much grief as she has told me that I verbally and physically abuse her when I drink too much.
I am not sure why my mood changes so dramatically when I drink and I am not sure what I can do about it.
William W.
Birmingham, AL
Dear William,
First off, if I were you I would consider several things. Consider how your drinking habits have affect your relationship around you. You mention you that your girlfriend says that you physically and verbally abuse her. I assume that this deviates from your normal behaviour and that is why your girlfriend is concern. If you know that you exhibit this type of behaviour and you know that this is a problem, yet you do not prevent yourself from drinking so much then you could be on your way to becoming an alcoholic.
You already admit you know about all the negativity assoicated with you drinking so much but yet if you choose to do so, it means you can not control yourself. So the first step you should take if you can not control yourself from drinking so much is to consider going to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. If you truly can not control yourself from drinking to the point where you whole demeanor changes then I would seriously consider contacting Alcoholics Anonymous to get some help. It is okay to have a few drinks here and there but to drink to the point where you are being physically and verbally abusive is not okay. Get control of yourself before you like alcohol take control of your life.
Always here,
Jasmine
