Anyone else drinking almost 2 bottles of wine a night?

[Peaky777]

i’m drinking nearly two bottles of wine most nights. Sometimes I go weeks without drinking but when I’m on it, I’m on it. I drink nearly two bottles in about 4 hours. I know this isn’t right. I don’t really get a hangover but I do feel ‘jaded’ and I stumble over my words. I’m scared I’m going to lose everything. My husband works in another country so he doesn’t know. My children are older so spend time away from the house with their partners but we’re all so close. Nobody knows. My daughter even said the other day that she’s glad I’m not ‘one of those lonely mums who drinks on her own’…I’m exactly this person! So, I want to ask, has anyone drank this much but managed to stop or cut back without using AA? I just can’t bear the idea of this. I know I should consider it but I can’t . Any help or advice is appreciated.

Your drinking does not mean you’re not the great person people see you as.

You have a strange relationship with alcohol, but you’ve shown yourself you are not dependent on it because you frequently don’t drink at all, so quitting shouldn’t be as hard as it is for daily drinkers.

Please speak to your doctor. You won’t regret it.

If you find it too difficult to say, write it down on a bit of paper and hand it over.
You won’t be the first to do that.
Your GP would much rather help you to quit than try to shovel snow in a blizzard.

My Dad died in his mid-50s. He hid his drinking. He ended up jaundiced-yellow in ICU, shitting liquid blood and out of his mind with alcohol induced dementia.

Please get over your embarrassment. It's utterly self-centred.

I feel like it would be hard to say it so this is a good bit of advice. Just annoyed with myself., my dad is an alcoholic so I suppose this was all inevitable. Just horribly embarrassed .

My mil use to drink letre of vodka day straight in my house she was constantly pissed we nipped it in the bud now she don't drink was horrible thou

Yup this was me 👋🏻

Almost five years sober now. OP, go to your GP. It was almost anticlimactic when I went, feeling like I was confessing to a murder or something and their reply was incredible routine. They see it day in day out. Or in some places you can self-refer to your local community drugs and alcohol service. Mine were FANTASTIC. They gave me a real kick up the arse. I never ever ever thought I'd be able to get sober but the gifts of sobriety are endless. The relief is indescribable.

GPs are no doubt more neutral than me, but if you came to me and told me, I would have immense respect for you for your honesty and wanting to change. I don't think a lot of people even get that far.

Also I'm yet to meet another human being that doesn't have a bad habit or coping mechanism of some description.

If going to the GP feels like too big of a step right now, I think the book suggestions are good. And maybe look into podcasts? Something you can just listen to passively, no pressure or evidence.

I can’t help it! I just can’t get over the embarrassment and shame! I wish it was that effing easy! Your last sentence is what scares me from ever fully admitting what’s going on! I judge and criticise myself constantly so don’t worry about that… your last sentence is really unhelpful .

Don’t be. I can absolutely relate.

You need to break the cycle. Can you get out, go for a walk, swim whatever? Then stop one hour at a time.

Once you’ve broken the cycle the future will look more manageable. There’s loads of quit lit and helpful threads on here

and go to your GP for help. They’ve heard it all before. They are there to treat, not to judge ❤️

I do drink, but mainly to treat my bastard insomnia. In general I hate alcohol. I’d nominate it as the single most overrated thing in life. It’s a rubbish, horrible drug. I’d much rather live in a society in which ecstasy and MDMA were legal but alcohol was illegal.

My dad is also a chronic alcoholic so I get it.

I'd rather live in a society where none of those had been invented

I gave up drinking over 3 years ago. I knew I had to stop. I drank wine at night and probably would have ended up at two bottles a night. When my youngest was born I even started drinking wine at 4pm some days - but it was almost seen as fun - frazzled mum getting on the wine early etc, as you see on social media. It's not though. It's alcoholism and people need to call it out.

What finally helped me stop and not go back was reading a book called This Naked Mind. But when I read things like this about your poor friend, I know I can never ever go back even when I have had the worst day. I do it for my DCs and myself.

OP I find swimming in cold water and drinking calming tea helps when I just want to take the edge off. I also find my body naturally unwinds if I let it, after work. I am so glad I stopped.

Make an appointment with your GP to discuss the pain you are suffering around your liver. They will ask how much you drink and then be honest. Go in with the mindset that you need advice and help with your health. This may not be easy but take it one step at a time.

I don't agree that it's easier if you're not physically dependent. I have had issues with alcohol in the past similar to OP. I would go weeks without drinking and then buy a bottle of spirits in the supermarket and be through it in two days and then go back and buy another the next day. Then I wouldn't drink for weeks and the cycle would repeat.

I remember reading somewhere that if someone interrupted you halfway through a drink for whatever reason and you couldn't not finish it or couldn't only have one then you have an issue. Unfortunately I'm in that boat so chose abstinence as I can't stop if I start.

OP - Well done for recognising you have a problem and please don't feel ashamed about going to see your GP. They see this all the time and can signpost you too the correct service who can help you.

I drank far too much during the covid lockdowns. Fertility issues and life in general got on top of me. Then, after a while, I got sick of feeling like shit. I started running. It was the big change I needed,.

2 + years sober here . You can do it. You have to really want to . I'm sorry but it really is that . People knowing might be the driving force for you . It took me hitting a rock bottom xxx

Wishing you all the best with putting yourself first and kicking this - you are worthy of a life without this and the shame it brings.

Could you try and reduce gradually? Space out the time you take to have a drink, or even just adding ice or a bit of soda to wine?
Do an activity like exercise or go to the movies, where you won't be able to drink?
I hope you can find a healthy balance. I know it's really hard. X

You absolutely do not want your children sobbing at your bedside because you didn't want to tell a GP in complete confidence you're drinking too much and are worried.

You are unwell, there's nothing else to it, go get the help whether you write it down or ask aloud.
You can be a good person, wonderful mother/wife, great teacher AND an alcoholic. The wine doesn't cancel out all those things, but it might in future if you don't seek help.

Just to add, I would try and find some hobbies for the evenings to distract you and make the evenings less boring. Yoga/swim/something you can’t drink at. You need to change up the routine and do some things in the evening.

Hi OP. I wasn't too far off this but never really took a break. It's no wSy to live.

I am now 3.5 months sober.

There is so much support out there. I don't know if you are on Facebook but there is a brilliant group on there called 'life's better without alcohol' . It's a private / closed group. There are now 60000 members. You don't have to post. Just read and get the support from those on there. From that group I did an initial 30 day challenge called 'shrink the drunk' .. it's a game changer and really helps change your mindset.

In addition yes quit lit is brilliant. Alcohol explained is a great starting point. Good luck

Hi OP. I hope you're doing ok. Of course you already know you need to stop and I hope you find the strength to do it. I did wonder if your daughter suspects something and this is behind her comment, sort of urging you to reconsider. I saw this the other day and think it might help you. Take care of yourself.

Have a look at the Sinclair Method. I was drinking far too much, I signed up and they prescribe Naltrexone which stops the buzz you get from drinking. It really worked for me.

(Apologies if this has already been mentioned!).