Signs you may be an alcoholic:
1. You go to the doctor to have your thyroid checked and he informs you that your liver enzymes are way too high.
2. When he proceeds to inquire about your daily alcohol consumption, you pretend to be offended and then glance down and realize you're wearing your Bourbon & Canal liquor store t-shirt.
3. You go out drinking later that night to celebrate living through another day.
You know you've hit rock bottom when on Christmas morning you find yourself alone in the local truck stop bathroom vomiting up multi-flavored vodka shots. Lucky for me, there just so happened to be two bars in Vigo county open on Christmas Eve and I managed to locate them both. After downing as many draft beers as my already full holiday stomach could handle ( in fear that the bartender actually did have a life and would be closing soon), my own personal Santa Claus arrived bearing gifts. He presented me with an entire stocking full of individually packaged Vodka shots in a wide assortment of flavors. Raspberry. Apple. Chocolate. Sweet Tea. My eyes were indeed as big as a kid's on Christmas morning and probably as bloodshot as those of a person at a Cypress Hill concert. You can probably conclude the rest of the story from here. Needless to say, I decided I was too hungover to attend any family gatherings and spent the remainder of Christmas Day at home in bed. Sadly, this was not the first low point in my bout with vodka. The battle for me actually began sometime early in 2008 during what I like to refer to as the Reconstruction Era. I had begun reconstructing my life and putting the pieces back together after the devastating blow of ending an eight-year relationship. What began as a newborn freedom to explore and experiment with the nightlife scene fastly became a downward spiral. Vodka and Sprite became Vodka on the rocks (with a lemon). Drinking two nights a week quickly became three, four, ok seven nights a week. Did I seem to care about the toll this was taking on my health and my body? Absolutely not. I was living my life for the first time in eight years and it felt GREAT.
For instance, one might assume that landing yourself in the ER would have fallen under the red flag category. For me this was not the case. I simply made a bad judgement call and didn't properly nurse my hangover in preparation for the following night out. Duh Brittany you know you have to hydrate before going straight back into it. I mean this could happen to anyone.
ER nurse at 12:50 am: "How many drinks have you had in the past 24 hours?"
Me: "Alot."
ER nurse: "How much is alot?"
Me: "Ummmm..well... ummm probably about 2 fifths."
ER nurse: "2 FIFTHS! Of straight alcohol?"
Me: "Yes, I believe so."
ER nurse: "How many drinks would you say you drink per week?"
Me: "Alot."
ER nurse: "How much is alot?"
Me: "Can you please be more specific. "Are we talking beer or hard liquor?"
ER nurse: "Both, just an estimate."
Me: "Ummmm..welll.. probably 20-30."
ER nurse: Blank stare
Me: "Should I sign up for rehab now?"
The truth is the past two years have been both the best and worst two years of my life. I don't really know how to explain that but that is how I feel. I've cherished every moment I've spent meeting new people and going new places. Believe it or not some of the coolest people you will ever meet hang out in the little dive bars that many people refuse to even stumble into. Every person has a story to tell and it's both exciting and rewarding to hear them tell it. I've also learned alot along the way. For instance, vodka on the rocks is both easier on the wallet and lesser in caloric intake than mixed with a soda or juice. "I'm driving home officer because I was too drunk to walk" is not an acceptable answer when getting pulled over. Light beer does not help you keep off the weight it only makes you urinate much more frequently and often in your pants. Damn you MGD 64. Sad to say my drinking days have slowed and I've begun to spend my time on more quality activities such as reading and writing. However, as I near my 25th birthday, I look back on my early twenties and smile because I know my best days are behind me.
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