How much is too much?

[onmytenthcoffee]

I love a glass of red, well it is usually a bottle and a half a session. I drink at home, over the course of 6 hours. This is standard. It's three times a week.

I WFH and have a lot of leisure time and just really enjoy that kickback.

I never have any adverse effects from it such as hangover or fatigue. So I carry on. In a way I wish I had bad effects as it would make me stop, but every day I wake up spritely and ready to do what I need to, which I suppose isn't much given I only work around 10 hours a week.

I often get scared I'll get liver failure. It says 6 units a day for 10 years will 100% give you liver failure. I'm 42 and been drinking like this since about age 18 and then you can throw in heavy nights out into the mix as I partied hard right up to age 30 before I had kids.

When is liver failure coming? I don't even want to stop because it just relaxes me and makes me feel content.

Those stats don’t sound right in terms of full on liver failure. Liver damage yes but the liver can repair as long as you don’t have cirrhosis.

it is a risk though if you keep drinking a lot and you don’t really want it to come op as by all accounts it is a horrific demise.

You’re not drinking 6 units every day though are you? They say it is very important to have days off for your liver to repair which you are doing. You are drinking more than recommended but it won’t necessarily cause liver damage.

How much is too much? That's for you to say. Yes there are guidelines but I think it comes down to the results we're getting from life and if we're happy with them. I'm guessing that you are questioning this simply because you posted here.

I would start with your comment "I don't even want to stop because it just relaxes me and makes me feel content."

Is that so that you don't want to stop? Because you also say you're scared.

I would start with the end in mind: how much would you like to be able to drink in a perfect world? The amount you're currently drinking? Less? None? Start there.

Then consider what life would be like when you've reached that. You'll be doing different things for sure (unless you say your ideal would be to drink exactly what you're drinking right now). You'll have learned how to relax and get enjoyment from other places than alcohol. You won't be worrying about liver failure. And even though you say you don't suffer hangovers (one of my clients has this too), you will feel a less dull form of enjoyment.

Then you decide if you want to change or not. And if you do, well it's totally possible. One of my clients has cut out 2.5 bottles of wine a week - a once impossible goal which is now her new normal. It all comes down to what you decide you want for yourself. Happy to answer questions.

It doesn't sound healthy, try cutting back to drinking once a week and keep reducing your intake from there.

I used to enjoy a drink, more like a bottle of wine a week but I've noticed massive health benefits since giving up.