The giving up/cutting down alcohol support thread!

smiler26

Hi all,

Firstly, well done on a great and inspiring thread.

Secondly, I hope that someone can help me. I'm 28, and live alone. And, well.... I think I have a problem. In fact, I know that I do, but I don't have anyone to talk to about it, and this is the first time that I admitted it.

I didn't sleep very well last night and I did a lot of thinking about my situation. I realised that for the last 6 months, I have drank at least 1 bottle of wine every single night. In fact, it's often 1.5-2 bottles. I don't even know why - I get home from work about 7pm every day, and I always have to log in from home and work for another couple of hours.

And this is the time that kills me. I just love having a glass of wine in my hand at this time of the day. On Friday night, a few things hit me, I was going to a friends birthday party in his house. I drank a bottle before I got collected and i drank another bottle there. I don't remember coming home, and I woke up on Saturday morning fully clothed in bed with all of the lights on.

I'm really scared and I don't know what to do. Can someone point me in the right direction please?

Thanks in advance!

Bismarck

smiler26 wrote: »

Hi all,

Firstly, well done on a great and inspiring thread.

Secondly, I hope that someone can help me. I'm 28, and live alone. And, well.... I think I have a problem. In fact, I know that I do, but I don't have anyone to talk to about it, and this is the first time that I admitted it.

I didn't sleep very well last night and I did a lot of thinking about my situation. I realised that for the last 6 months, I have drank at least 1 bottle of wine every single night. In fact, it's often 1.5-2 bottles. I don't even know why - I get home from work about 7pm every day, and I always have to log in from home and work for another couple of hours.

And this is the time that kills me. I just love having a glass of wine in my hand at this time of the day. On Friday night, a few things hit me, I was going to a friends birthday party in his house. I drank a bottle before I got collected and i drank another bottle there. I don't remember coming home, and I woke up on Saturday morning fully clothed in bed with all of the lights on.

I'm really scared and I don't know what to do. Can someone point me in the right direction please?

Thanks in advance!

well done for posting -you're among friends and we don't get spammers too often....without knowing much about this I shouldn't make snap judgements but:

overworked, stressed ,resentful and unhappy spring to mind.

you're drinking because you're in a trap and can't see the way out, so getting blotto seems like a good thing to do. you need to find new coping mechanisms and re-evaluate everything if you want to make the changes you need to make to keep on going.

just my quick thoughts....take care....

jo1972

It's ok eselt, I've no intention of staying off the wagon, I enjoy sobriety too much...I'm not going to allow myself to feel down about last night. It's funny cos my last 'blip' was on the 13th August and yesterday was the 13th September :eek: :rotfl:

I feel better now, I took a couple of paracetamol when I got up which have kicked in now, had a bowl (in fact 2 bowls!) of cereal and just got myself and the kids ready to go out, just hoping the car starts :eek: To think, a couple of months ago everyday was like this, got drunk, got up took tablets, waited for them to kick in before I could do anything. No, definately enjoying being sober

eselt, have a lovely day at the coast, make the most of the weather, it sounds great where you are

Smiler, you are in the right place, we can all empathise with your situation, have a read through the thread and you will hopefully get a few cutting down/stopping vibes. We are all here when you need us.

smiler26

Bismarck wrote: »

well done for posting -you're among friends and we don't get spammers too often....without knowing much about this I shouldn't make snap judgements but:

overworked, stressed ,resentful and unhappy spring to mind.

you're drinking because you're in a trap and can't see the way out, so getting blotto seems like a good thing to do. you need to find new coping mechanisms and re-evaluate everything if you want to make the changes you need to make to keep on going.

just my quick thoughts....take care....

Thanks Bismarck. The thing is though that I ADORE my job. I love working, and I don't mind working from home/in the evenings. To everyone, I'm bubbly, outgoing, successful etc.

But I just seem to have gotten into a rut. It's just this one big thing that's getting me down, but everytime I try to stop, I fail miserably. I hate it.

Bismarck

You may enjoy working but how many hours are you doing?

When you've stopped drinking, what do you do instead?

eselt

Hi Smiler

Welcome aboard- I must admit you do sound like you are working very hard-getting back at 7 then starting again at home? I used to love my job too, until I started working way too hard, drank myself stupid to relax, developed a big drink problem, then burnt out completely and had to give it up- even though you love what you do you do need to switch off and find ways to relax. If you didn't switch the computer on when you got home and carry on working would you still reach for a drink? Perhaps its just a habit, and if you didn't work at home you could relax without a glass of wine? I was always much more productive and efficient at work when I wasn't drinking- I wasn't tired/hungover, I could think faster and straighter, and I whizzed through the day. Cutting down on your drinking might help you get through more in normal working hours so you don't have to bring so much home?

Anyway, you are very brave to recognise you may be heading for a problem with drinking- we are all here to support you whilst you try to tackle this. Best of luck!!!!- eselt

lozzywozzy

Smiler, just a thought but as you work so hard, do you feel that as you work hard you must play hard??

1 to 2 bottles of wine is a fair amount to be drinking each night and as you are obviously worried about it, does suggest you have a problem.

You say you love your job, which I am sure you do, are you perhaps using alcohol to wind down and also use as a reward for a job well done? I can relate to what you are saying, I love my job and the times I drink the most are at the end of my more productive days. Don't know why this is but I think its one of my triggers.

Have a read through the posts, (take a few weeks, it did me lol) and you may recognise some of you own triggers etc. I have learnt a lot buy other peoples experiences and it may help to identify why you are drinking too much.

Good luck and keep posting!! XX

biscotte

Hello Lozzy, smiler, i really understand where you are coming from. Lots of people further down the road than me will come up with lots of wisdom and advice. My only thought is that we are in it together if we want to be.

Jo, I really sympathise with the hangover - it's quite cross making isn't it when you realise that hours are lost.

i hav had a hiccup.. Had the neighbours round - had a few glasses of white - kids ot bed a bit too late. Now, had i not come on here i would go and continue to drink wine (glug glug). But now i feel renewed just by popping in here so i am going to have a cup of tea.

thank you all,
g'night

alisong_2

Hello everyone, hope you've all had a good day.

I've still not caught up on all the thread but there seem to be quite a few 'new' people since I was last here so welcome.

A couple of people have asked for what others found helpful. I'd say the single most useful thing for me has been getting outside help. You can go to a centre or AA. I think it's the sharing how you feel with others (or just one key worker) and using their experience to understand why you drink and then you can tackle the causes.

Just saying things out loud to another person who knows what it's like has been an incredibly revealing thing for me!! That's what's worked (so far!) for me after so many years trying on my own and never making any sort of psychological breakthrough.

Bis, thanks for the encouragement the other day, it's much appreciated and Jo just get on that wagon again which I'm sure you will.

Take care all, Ali x.

Bismarck

you're welcome...hope everyone's feeling good today!