Is drinking alone a sign of having a problem?

[Anonymous]

Im new to drinking. I think i started this past summer before turning 21 a few months ago. I went to my friends graduation party weeks before my birthday and it was the first time i got conpleeetttely wasted out of my mind...
But usually I just drink alone in my room. I had a bottle of bacardi rum and I would take shots of it some nights. However, it took me 5 months to finish the whole bottle. I dont really like hard liquor tho, I would rather have a whole bottle of wine. Thats my favorite. Oh, and my family has no idea I drink. I would sometimes be out in the living room drink out of my mind and they wouldnnt even know. From all this information, do you think this is a sign of alcoholism and depression?

[meatballs21]

No, you don't have a problem.

If you drank that whole bottle of Bacardi in one day, you would. A whole bottle of wine to yourself is cause for concern if you do it frequently. If you needed drinks to function and it was all you thought about, then you'd have a problem.

As for depression - probably not, either. If you enjoy having a drink or two, that's fine. It's when you begin regularly self-medicating using alcohol that you might be concerned (and more about the depression than the drinking). I know that I self-medicated for a while in my late 20s/early 30s and would get through quite a lot - I had a pretty good liquor cabinet and kept it well stocked. I don't drink even a quarter of that much now.

This might help you put it in perspective. Don't worry.

www.washingtonpost.com/.../

[meowcow]

Unless you drink to the point of passing out and losing control, it's not a problem.
I enjoy a shot or two of whisky or brandy every now and then when alone. Or I'll feel like beer on a Friday night after work. Nobody around but myself (the wife is watching TV). I neither think there's anything strange or abnormal about it.

[Smmyskittles]

You turned 21 a few months ago, so no.
I was drinking every weekend for a solid year after I turned 21. Sometimes even during the week because I could.

Beware of the "beer" belly. It sneaks up on you and it's hard as heck to lose!

[Anonymous]

There's nothing wrong with having a drink by yourself, but there might be something wrong with hiding away and getting drunk off your ass all alone.

[SunDevil11]

Definitely not alcoholism because i think a lot people, including myself like to have a drink every so often. Maybe if you were constantly drunk out of your mind it could be alcoholism. I doubt it's depression, but it could be?

[BeerFarts]

There's nothing wrong with drinking by yourself. I usually unwind with red wine after a long, stressful day of work. As long as you do everything in moderation then you're good to go.

[Nomad69]

It can be a sign of needing to escape or unwind. I used weed and alcohol for those reasons, sometimes I still do. Exercise is a healthier escape or way to relax after your workout

[Marinepilot]

It's not a problem. Furthermore you'll hear that alcoholism is a disease. Not saying you are an alcoholic, but many say that drinking alone is a sign of problem drinking. It's not and alcoholism isn't a disease. It's a mental and moral weakness.

[serious]

No, drinking alone is not a sign of having a problem.

[Dandeus]

Not necessarily. Lots of people come home, have a drink and watch some TV or read. It's the hiding it and getting wasted that's an issue.

[JohnnySS]

gee you're a light drinker but I don't know ur a female itd be a sign for me though id drink a lot more.

[chrisbigman]

Not necessarily. You can have a drink of wine or beer every now and then. It's only a problem if you drink too much in a certain amount of time.

[chrisbigman]

But what is your reason for drinking exactly?