I'd like to do something about my drinking...not sure where to start

[Transcendence]

Hi
For the past 10 months I've been drinking between 2 and 5 bottles of wine per week. I suppose in an average week it's about 3 bottles per week but it really crept up in the past 2 weeks, to 5 or 6 bottles per week.

It's too much. It's affecting my finances and my energy levels and even my physical appearance.

I tend to drink alone at home. Nobody knows how much I drink. I do it to repress emotional pain. I've been in therapy in the past and going back to it is not an option just yet until I've saved up a bit of cash to pay for it (not able to get it free on the NHS).

I also managed to go 2 years completely sober and only started drinking again in November 2016.

Is it realistic to try to only drink when I'm out socialising with friends (which tends to be no more than once a week) and completely rule out ever drinking alone? Has anyone found they've been able to do that?

HI Transcendence, I was in the same position as you, I always drive when I go out so never have more than 2 drinks over an evening, but I was drinking wine alone when not out (probably the same amount as you). I decided to set my objectives to never drink alone in the house and although it is early days, (2 weeks!) I've stuck to it. For the same reasons as you, I was worried about a dependency, plus the physical effects. I am very sporty (running and cycling every day) and never really suffered from hangovers so it wasn't ever a problem (aside from the bad sleeping) but I was drinking way over the recommended limits. A lot of people find it really hard to cut down and the only way is to go completely AF - you did it before, don't you want to go that way again? Whatever you decide, good luck - the Club Soda FB page is very helpful whether you decide to moderate your intake or go completely AF.

There's a good app I use called Sober Time it has a talk forum where you can ask for advice and read the sticky advice posts etc.
It also has a motivational counter.

I don't drink at home Mon-Thursday inclusive. Don't go out often during the week (two small kids and WFH) so sticking to this rule effectively restricts drinking to the weekend. Been doing this for nearly a year. Previously we would open wine on a. weeknight out of habit. Exceptions for holidays and Christmas period. I am so looking forward to my Friday 5pm gin and tonic later on.

I'm another one who wants to switch to social drinking only. The drinking at home alone needs to stop. It's such a bad habit but habits can be broken with determination. I'm sick to death of feeling tired and fuzzy.

I tried and failed. Many times. I decided to just give it up completely

I would start by saying I'm only drinking on Fridays which turned into weekends and then back to square one !

It is doable though but if you drink as coping mechanism I think it's hard to manage unless you sort out the underlying issue first. And in my own experience , I found it only made it worse

How about start with a month off and see how you feel after that ?

I'm in exactly the same boat. I've tried stopping but simply can't.

I tried and failed a million times. I've posted on here about it before. I decided 9 days agonid had enough and needed to stop. I downloaded the app recommended to me on here (Quit Drinking by Andrew Johnston) and since I started listening I really haven't missed it. I actually tried some again last night nearly to prove I still enjoyed it. Nope, thumping head today and happy with nonr again tonight. I was in a real hole with a num mber of emotional issues too that I still need to deal with but the last week has worked. Whether it just is now my time to stop or whether the app really is that good I don't know. Either way I'm much happier

Apparently it didn't fix the insane number of typos I make when I'm tired!!!

I never knew there were apps for this sort of thing. I've just down loaded the Andrew Johnston one, so thanks!

I was one bottle of wine every night without fail. I managed to stop completely for four weeks and didn't change anything else e.g. food intake or exercise and lost 2lb per week, that was a great incentive!

However I thought I'd go back to social only drinking but of course it turned into just one or two glasses during the week and now I don't always finish the bottle but it's very close to.

Another stupid thing I do is mentally I don't class other drinks as "drinking" as they are not my drink of choice, I don't enjoy them as much and therefore don't drink as much. I started drinking prosecco instead of my usual non fizz white wine thinking I'd drink less as the bubbles slow me down but guess what? I can easily drink a bottle now! Same with red, although it makes me pretty non fictional the next day beer and cider (in my stupid mind) obviously is not drinking, regardless of the fact I can quite easily knock back five pints.

I've read books on stopping that did nothing so now I'm putting my faith in Andrew Johnston!

So op, no, if drinking is a bit of a problem I do not believe you can just be a social drinker.

I'm still moderating, drinking no more than 4 units a week, never at home alone. I'm surprised how easy it was, but I do a lot of sport and not drinking makes that so much easier as dies the sleeping better. I agree that for some people with a drinking problem and an 'off switch' it isn't an option and in many ways total abstinence is the only way to deal with it.

You want to watch you dont end up with cirrhosis of the liver. That disease is sinister. Get yourself to a doctor have a liver function test. I lost my mom to that horrible disease she was diabetic too.