So fed up. Binge drinker. Alcoholic?

[LittleBlackCurlyHairs]

I’m a terrible binge drinker and I’m so fed up. My binges start on a Thursday evening and last until Sunday night. I binge drink 4 nights a week and have a hangover 4 days a week. I feel shit more than I feel ok. I don’t eat properly anymore, I just live on takeaways and pot noodles because I can’t be arsed with anything anymore.

I used to not start drinking until 7pm at the earliest ... then it was 6pm, then 4pm ... it’s starting to slide down to 3pm and once I start, I just drink and drink until I physically can’t drink anymore. I can drink a whole can in 10 minutes.

I have to stop. I have to stop now, today. But come Thursday night I’ll be reaching for the cans again. I’m barely functioning now.

Do you drink at all on Monday - Wednesday ?

Apart from the hangover, what other problems does your drinking cause?

Would you consider residential treatment?

I don’t drink Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.

Apart from the hangover, I’ve stopped all activities that I used to enjoy. I barely leave the house. I don’t look after myself. I don’t eat properly. I’m getting fat which makes me less inclined to actually care about the clothes I wear. I’m anxious constantly, this effects my work (I’m actually a health care professional but I’m hanging on my a thread). I have no sex drive so my marriage is suffering. I don’t take my beloved dog out as much as I should. She’s supposed to have at least 2 hours exercise a day, she’s lucky if she gets 20 minutes. I just feel shit. Like a really shit person.

2 years ago I was at the gym 4 days a week, martial arts twice a week and actually liked myself. Now I’m a mess.

Yeah but you are a mess who acknowledges she’s a mess and is willing to change. So that’s a start.

And you already know how to not drink at all, because you do it three days a week.

I have heard (although I don't know much about it) about some medication the doctor could prescribe which would prevent you from drinking, I think they make you quite sick when you do consume alcohol so you don't want to drink. Would this be an option? Your in a tough cycle but you sound like you want to break it which is good!

You've got to start asking yourself what it is you're running away from. And find someone, one trusted person, to confide in and who can validate your feelings. Also remove toxic people from your life. With these three things it will become easier to cut down to infrequent drinks and stick to new habits for eating, occupying your mind and caring for those you love and who rely on you (dog etc).

Have a break. Forever is a long time so try committing yourself to a month and take it from there. You will be able to think more clearly about your more long term situation once you get some space from the alcohol.