Drinking every night..when does it become a problem?

SoozieSoo

Hi,

I have been to the docs this morning. Recently, despite being on medication I have been feeling very down. The doctor said that it may be due to my drinking stopping the tablets working.

Thanks for all the advice. For my mental health I have decided to knock the drinking on the head as I need this medication to work if I am to get back on my feet.

tanith

Well done for checking it out with your GP sounds like you have just opened your eyes to the danger.,... good luck .... I hope you feel better soon and the tablets do the business... thanks for updating us....

belfastgirl23

Good for you, I'm so pleased for you:)

Just try to go easy on yourself over the next week, give yourself some nice treats - eg a nice hot bath or treat yourself to a new book or whatever would be good for you. I'd also say try to put the £ aside that you would have bought wine with and do something you'll enjoy.

Also try to get some exercise. if you've been used to having a drink before bed it can be a little bit disruptive to get to sleep in the early stages, if you're physically tired this will help.

It is also possible that you might slip up. Speaking as a very experienced yo yo dieter the biggest thing is to not let this become an excuse to keep sliding. Every day is a new day!

Good luck, I'll keep everything crossed for you. The first few days are always the toughest, try to keep this in mind, it does get easier...

trickytrolleys

Good for you, well done!! :T

Best of luck :cool:

ailuro2

Good for you...sounds like you could do with giving it a rest for a while at least- just to see if it helps- getting out and about of an evening would maybe help take your mind off it- not down the pub, out for a walk, or the gym, or a local adult education course?- it's not all basket making and upholstery these days:j

vik6525

SoozieSoo wrote: »

Hi,

I have been to the docs this morning. Recently, despite being on medication I have been feeling very down. The doctor said that it may be due to my drinking stopping the tablets working.

Thanks for all the advice. For my mental health I have decided to knock the drinking on the head as I need this medication to work if I am to get back on my feet.

Well done!! If you're taking medication cause you're feeling down, then chances are the alcohol was making you feel worse cause its a well known depressant... Im glad you had the courage to see a doctor, cause a lot of people dont until its too late. Take some time out for you, relax, think positive and give yourself a bit of a pamper now and again.
And thanks for keeping us updated. It was really brave of you.

jillie1974

thats great soozieSoo. hope you are felling better soon. and dont forget when you need to talk/ shout or just have a moan thats what we're all here for!!

IFA

I must admit I like a drink on Friday Evening every week without fail and have a few on holidays/ xmas /special occasions etc.. I can't stand the fact of having no beer on friday eve's, does this mean I have a problem? Had 8 pints last friday (gf's birthday) which was a bit more than usual (6-7 pints). I think drinking every day is a bit much and it actually makes it boring (its nice to wait all week for the treat even though i binge..

I guess the question is (regardless of quantity) if you find yourself craving something ie beer are you addicted? similar to do you crave chocolate/sex/coca cola/takeaways and countless other things..

If something is getting in the way of your normal life (work, relationships etc..) it could be seen as addiction

I always thought a few beers a week was actually good for you and find a lot of people who don't drink at all very bored and depressed individuals.. My doctor has also advised that a few beers is beneficial

Guidelines say 21 units a week for men (14 women) OR 2-4 units a day (men)!! 2 pints (normal strength beer) a day but no more! so my 6-7 pints in one day isn't good lol oh well I'm off for a beer

If you find that giving up drinking makes you feel better overall then you know you have been drinking too much, if no difference then it wasn't a problem. I'm not sure how long you would have to give up for to feel the difference, the doctor may be able to answer that one, I gave up for 2 months and didn't feel any different but everyones different..

Good luck!

munchkin62

hi,i hope you dont take offence to me replying but i feel i need to you see im a recovering alcholic and think that maybe you should look into getting some information from AA im not saying your alcholic only you can decide that but the differance between a (normal) drinker and an alcholic is that when they take the first drink it sets up a compulsion to have another and another and so on, its an illness and if you have a problem were you have to rather than want to drink alchol then you must seek help because it will just get worse,your friends, family ,colegues might see things in you that you can not ! i wish you all the very best.

scoobysue_4

Vashti wrote: »

Well, I drink every day, and I know my husband thinks I have a problem. He has never been that bothered about alcohol... I was cabin crew for years and have been used to sinking quite large amounts of drink on quite a regular basis. I also find I am quite an 'addictive' person...I can't just have one, once I get the taste I can drink a surprising (and worrying) amount in a night without waking with a hangover. I find it get's to about fiveish, I'll start the supper, and think...hmmm. Drinkie poo. I can also drink a lot and still be relatively sober (at least I think so.) For a while, I went onto red wine instead of spirits, cos I thought it was 'healthier'....lol....but recently I have gone onto martini and lemonade, because I am seriously worried about the amount I was drinking, but I can't seem to stop. I worry about it, so I guess this means there is a problem. If I am totally honest...I sometimes *think* about a drink even earlier in the day...but I never do.

i very often have a drink every night and once the weather starts to turn warmer i regularly sit out of a warm evening (i live alone) and have two or three beers or a couple of glassess of wine with my book, i dont consider myself to have a problem because i can take it or leave it and when ive not got money to spare on drink then i dont buy it.