My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

AIBU?

To consider smoking to combat my alcohol addiction?

24 replies

TheRippedOutPage · 05/02/2017 14:29

Sounds ridiculous I know.

But basically for the past few years I have binge drank on a weekend. This week as an example - half a bottle of red wine Thursday night - 6 cans of lager Friday night and 6 cans lager Saturday night.

I'm so angry at myself. I look and feel like crap. I'm supposed to be losing weight for my holiday through drink I'm consuming probably two days worth of calories a week extra.

I'm a crap drunk too - get argumentative with DH, slobber around, fall asleep on the sofa then once in bed wake up around 3am feeling dehydrated and crap. I've had all weekend off to catch up with sleep and relaxation and instead I've spent it drunk, hungover and unable to sleep.

I try so hard every week to avoid it but once Friday comes I literally just talk myself into doing it again. I am addicted and it's wrecking my life :-(

The only thing that has ever stopped me was when I smoked - I didn't feel the need for alcohol too and the combination of them both make me nauseous so I stopped drinking.

How bad would it be if me to just pick up a pack of cigarettes for the weekend? Just to break this alcohol habit?

OP posts:
Report
araiwa · 05/02/2017 14:33

have a spliff instead

Report
KoalaDownUnder · 05/02/2017 14:35

The fuck?!

No. That's a terrible idea, and you know it.

Report
Wolfiefan · 05/02/2017 14:36

Um no. Don't switch one addiction for another. Seek actual treatment before your health really suffers or your relationship crumbles.

Report
CrazyDuchess · 05/02/2017 14:37

Definitely one of the most ridiculous AIBU's I have ever come across!

If your drinking concerns you look into alcoholics anonymous or other such support services.

Report
Notcontent · 05/02/2017 14:39

No, don't do it. Smoking is pretty terrible - but you don't need me to tell you that.

I don't have a problem with alcohol but I do have a glass of wine most nights. Recently I have found myself topping it up and was thinking how easy it would be to start drinking half a bottle or more every night.. But yes, any more than a glass and I feel crap. So I remind myself of that. Can you just exercise a bit of will power?

Report
AlmostAJillSandwich · 05/02/2017 14:46

So you want to swap the sugar packed alcohol that poisons your liver, for carcinogen packed cigarettes that poison your entire body? How is swapping potential liver failure for potential cancer in any way a good thing? What you really need to do is go along and speak to your doctor, and possibly get referred or see if theres any local AA meetings you can tag along to.
If you manage not to drink at all monday through thursday though are you sure its actual addiction? I've never known an addict to anything (alcohol, cigarettes, harder drugs, food etc) be able to abstain throughout the week then binge at the weekend when they have less responsibilities like not getting up for work the morning after. I do know people that enjoy alcohol and food etc that binge at weekends simply because they want to, and think the deserve it after being good all week.
You're right, the mass amounts of sugar in alcohol does make them highly calorific and sugar is the worst kind of calories for affecting weight. There's also more sugar in drinks like wine and alcopops than lager etc as theyre much fruitier and a sweeter drink. definitely see your doctor, as otherwise where does the chain end? Right now it's swapping alcohol for cigarettes, but when you're sick of stinking, your teeth and fingers yellowing and coughing all the time what do you switch to? Back to alcohol? On to high sugar foods? Canabis? You need to break the cycle for good, and if the doc can't help directly they'll most likely know a service that can.

Report
TheRippedOutPage · 05/02/2017 14:46

I don't know how to get treatment or even if there is any available. I'm worried about going to GP as I have a professional job and not sure if they will have to disclose it

OP posts:
Report
AlmostAJillSandwich · 05/02/2017 14:50

As for the worry about being a professional, the doctor won't need to disclose anything unless theres a risk of you showing up to work drunk in a job where you're going to be directly putting someone in danger. (E.g a teacher in charge of children, doctor/nurse in charge of patients, or industrial type job where you're in control of machinery and such like)
But if the worry alone of you not doing your job properly or the thought of losing it doesn't spur you to stop drinking by itself that you need someone elses input, you despertely should be seeing the doctor anyway.

Report
Wolfiefan · 05/02/2017 14:55

You honestly can't think where to find help or it is another excuse? Even NHS website has answer to that. As for them having to disclose surely the bigger issue is if you don't get this sorted and end up losing your job anyway?

Report
QueenOfTheSardines · 05/02/2017 14:56

If you have children I would be cautious about seeking help that isn't anonymous. TBH when I was struggling I wasn't able to find any useful / helpful support and ended up packing it in for myself. Does DH drink? If it's just at the weekends then the trick is just not to buy it and not to buy it and not to have anything in the house and then grit your teeth. Find something else to do. Probably not smoking as that is a bastard to pack in as well! Good food? How much are you spending on booze, get some brilliant food or a takeaway or buy a film or whatever you like doing. Bottom line is though you have to just quit. I gave up smoking with the Alan Carr book (plus zyban) but I found his approach helpful, I know he wrote one for drink as well.

Good luck!

Report
Sweets101 · 05/02/2017 14:57

I know someone who did, however they were at serious risk from their alcoholism. I don't think you are there.

Report
Welshgirl40 · 05/02/2017 14:57

Vaping? Might be worth a go?
Flowers

Report
ilovesooty · 05/02/2017 14:59

No it's an awful idea, it really is. You can self refer to your local community drug/ alcohol team.

Report
QueenOfTheSardines · 05/02/2017 15:01

Just reread how much you drink and while you want to change your behaviour and may well have some alcohol dependency if you can't leave it alone at the weekend, it's not panic stations yet. I mean to my eye that's a normal amount in practice for lots of people. You don't want to do it though and you do it anyway - that's addictive behaviour. Just knock it on the head. I know it sounds trite but really it's the only way. I did :) and so have many others.

Report
TheNaze73 · 05/02/2017 15:06

Maybe try crystal meth?

Report
TheRippedOutPage · 05/02/2017 15:11

Crystal meth wrecks your teeth though and makes you spotty. Heroin could be an idea though I suppose

OP posts:
Report
Wolfiefan · 05/02/2017 15:16

Normal amount of alcohol!
Bottle of wine? White in my fridge is 9.4 units.
Stella beer can (smaller size) 2.1 units per can. X12 equals 25.2 units.
Total 34.6.
NHS recommends not binge drinking and no more than 14 units a week.
I would class more than twice that each week a big problem.

Report
ilovesooty · 05/02/2017 15:27

Heroin has all sorts of dreadful effects, I can assure you.

Report
noeffingidea · 05/02/2017 15:32

thenaze therippeedoutpage sorry but you're both wrong. Cocaine is the only answer.
OP, no it's a terrible idea. All you would be doing is swapping one addiction for another. I speak as someone who was addicted to both.
If you are serious about giving up alcohol then either seek professional help, or decide to tackle it head on.
I gave up both by myself at home, what I did was to generally take up a more healthy lifestyle. So exercise, some relaxation,and some nice healthy food.
Think along the lines of a spa weekend, pamper yourself in a healthy way.

Report
Wondermoomin · 05/02/2017 15:35

Is it a stress response, you get to the end of the week then let loose with alcohol? What non-harmful things do you enjoy that you could substitute?

Report
Mabelface · 05/02/2017 15:37

Your local healthcare trust should be able to provide alcohol counselling for you. I went a couple of years back when I was worried about my drinking. I can now drink without bingeing. My drinking was symptomatic of how unhappy I was and I was self medicating. Once I left my husband and got sorted, I didn't need the wine anymore. I did, however, take up smoking again, which I massively regret and am working on quitting that again now. I'd advise against starting again.

Report
specialsubject · 05/02/2017 15:37

A spa????

There are alcohol addiction helplines and charities as well. Please please get help.

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

Trainspotting1984 · 05/02/2017 15:39

Units aren't any indication of addiction or problematic drinking wolfie they're just a guess at which alcohol can become bad for your health.

I totally agree with queen the amount you drink sounds totally unremarkable but that doesn't mean it's ok, it's affecting your life negatively. You sound fairly bored, unmotivated and hungover. I know this feeling and also spent a few years getting pissed on those feelings then blaming booze. You need to change your life- a new purpose, hobby, job, etc?

Report
AgentCooper · 05/02/2017 15:43

I wouldn't recommend it, OP. Smoking is a very, very powerful addiction and I know very few people who manage to keep it contained to the weekend. It has a habit of creeping into your life until, before you know it, you're on 20 a day.

I think what you need to really consider is why you feel you need something - talk it through with a counsellor.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.