Well, my friend and i, we drink very heavily. Sometimes, up to 5 litres of beer a day, for a week or so. I was wondering, how would i know if i was addicted? I just dont understand this whole addiction thing....i mean.....I could definitely stop but i like it! And also, does alcohol at a quite young age cause brain damage? if so, would it actually be noticable?
Thank you so much!

My young friend,

You are headed right head on with a train crash. Your story sounds just like mine. At 18 , I was buying a six pack or two every day and boy would we live it up on the weekends. I liked it too. I done that till I was around 23 and went through the w'd's of quitting and done a pretty good job. I stayed clean for about 10 years and then chronic pain caused me to use opiates for relief. However, I also found I liked them like I once liked the beer only this time I am in the fight of my life.

It is that one thing just seem to lead to another. A beer here and there on ocasion will not cause you to be a addict. What worries me is the amount and your love for it.

We all probably can relate. That's just my take................there are many wiser than I on this forum who can offer you a better answer.

Hang in there,
fisherman

ps the 10 years I was sober are probably the best of my life. I accomplished many things and if I had not of stumbled at 33 , I really don't know what I could have accomplished by now.

Here is how you can sort of tell if you are addicted. Well, this isn't a solid iron clad guide but it's just what I went through:

The day AFTER drinking:
*Shakes and panic attacks in the morning or after the alchohol has worn off.
*Racing heart beat
*Abdominal Pain
*Cold like symptoms
*Chest pains
*Nausea / Vomiting
*Diahrrea
*Morbid thoughts
*Heavy legs or fatigue
*Hyper sensitive to caffiene / salt .. intake of which will lead to panic attacks.
*short term memory loss
*Difficulty thinking ( aspecialy noticable in reading skills )
*High blood preassure
*Insomnia when you don't drink
*Severe chest pains if you don't drink and attempt to lay down.

Another thing I think you should note is : If these symptoms are completely irradicated by drinking alchohol then you know it's addiction ;) Even my blood preassure would drop down to normal when I was drunk.

Here is how you can sort of tell if you are addicted. Well, this isn't a solid iron clad guide but it's just what I went through:

The day AFTER drinking:
*Shakes and panic attacks in the morning or after the alchohol has worn off.
*Racing heart beat
*Abdominal Pain
*Cold like symptoms
*Chest pains
*Nausea / Vomiting
*Diahrrea
*Morbid thoughts
*Heavy legs or fatigue
*Hyper sensitive to caffiene / salt .. intake of which will lead to panic attacks.
*short term memory loss
*Difficulty thinking ( aspecialy noticable in reading skills )
*High blood preassure
*Insomnia when you don't drink
*Severe chest pains if you don't drink and attempt to lay down.

Another thing I think you should note is : If these symptoms are completely irradicated by drinking alchohol then you know it's addiction ;) Even my blood preassure would drop down to normal when I was drunk.

Wow, i have NONE of the symptoms, except the difficulty thinking. Thats why i'm more scared of the effect on my mind rather than my body. Thank you for your help!!!!