Can someone talk me through what to do please

[User21012025]

Hello, I've been steadily drinking more the past year or so. I am now easily drinking 1.5 bottles of wine most nights. In the past 2.5 years I've had two babies (never drank in my pregnancies) but after my second, due to the stress I suppose, I have been turning to wine to unwind after the hectic, stressful days with them both. I always liked to drink but not to this extent. I have had PPD and had medication with both. I see it as a reward and a way to relax. I worry that I am really doing some damage now after over a year of drinking like this. I know that I can't go on like this, I know that I need to talk to my GP, but I am so embarrassed to admit that I have a problem. If someone could tell me what the GP advised, medication advised, etc that would be very helpful. Also if anyone could let me know about any warning signs they had that they were drinking too much? Although from what I've read you only have symptoms when it's too late. Thank you in advance, please don't be too harsh, I'm already beating myself up enough.

@User21012025 well done for admitting you have a problem and seeking help.

you are right in that very often people are unaware of the damage they are doing to themselves until they are very outward/obvious signs such as an abnormal blood test, pancreatitis, jaundice (extreme cases), gastric ulceration etc.

But I can categorically tell you that you are damaging your body by drinking like this. You will almost certainly have a fatty liver (something like 99% of heavy drinkers get this) which can lead to scarring and fibrosis/cirrhosis. You will have changed your brain chemistry massively (alcohol really fucks with certain neuro transmitters) and possibly have leaky gut syndrome. And that’s just the start. But the good news is you can reverse these (bar heavy scarring on the liver) by going AF.

I’ve heard various things about GP responses - most people say their GP was great and directed them to help and support. There are medications to help with cravings (acamprosate) and there is disulfiram (Antabuse) for really serious problem drinkers. Some people will say going cold turkey could be dangerous (serious withdrawal problems mainly due to altered brain chemistry) - so you might want to start by cutting down over a period of say 2 weeks - google “tapering” off alcohol.

I recommend the sober powered podcast. Gill who has it is a former biochemist and former drinker and her podcasts cover just about everything you could possibly need to know to help you.

Good luck. I definitely got into a cycle of alcohol abuse during lockdown and although I am AF 99% of the time now, I still struggle with cravings from time to time.

Its hard but getting free from alcohol is possibly the best gift you can give yourself and your family.

In your exact position I went to an AA meeting.

3 months later I had stopped drinking.

11 years later I am still sober and still attend regularly as it helps keep me sane!

There are online and in person meetings you can try. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking.

You have already made the biggest and hardest step by realising you need to address the issue.
I think it always sounds a bit insincere but I really mean it well done

I went through a phase of drinking far to much , I could drink 5 / 6 cans of cider on week nights and many more at weekend .

Everyone is different but for me I decided to quit cold turkey, perhaps not the best idea for everyone but it worked for me.
I bought lots of different AF cider and Guinness and a soda stream .
I found the 1st week or so surprising easy but the few weeks after that were really hard.
I tried to fix the craving with sweets , chocolate, chips, crisps and all manner of junk food .
Nothing worked but the AF cider and Guinness at least gave me the illusion of having a drink.
I fell off the wagon a few times but not for long each time.

If your going out , don't try to kid people with your pregnant, on antibiotics etc , they will see through it or ask questions you can't really answer. Just tell them you are giving your system a rest.
Good friends will support you anyone that questions you or tries to get you to drink needs cutting out of your life.

I stayed off the drink for just over a year , I now drink occasionally, usually a couple of times a month and I am happy with that.

My experience will not be suitable for everyone , you have to find your own path but you have already got your your feet on the path.

Well done OP in this post. I really suggest you read Catherine Gray the unexpected joy of being sober. I have recently stopped drinking alcohol (nearly 4 weeks ago). I was drinking 2 to 3 bottles of wine a week and just feel so much better without alcohol. My skin, hair and nails look better. I am not bloated at all now. Now I broken the cycle I actually really enjoy not drinking but I suggest you find some alcohol free alternatives as they can help. I love alcohol free kopperberg in a wine glass at the weekend. You will be damaging your body so for your own health it's best you stop

Thanks everyone, I guess I'll try and cut down and go from there? I was thinking cold turkey but I don't know if it would be safe to, how do you know you have got to that point where it would be unsafe?
I want to go to the GP but I cannot stand the thought of this being all over my medical records.

Well done. I am not a doctor so I don't know the answer to the safe amount to cut down by but hopefully someone else will know. If you don't want a doctor involved could you start by aiming to reduce the amount you drink from 1.5 bottles a night to 1 bottle then half a bottle etc? Or alternatively decide to do so many alcohol free nights a week and slowly increase the number of alcohol free nights you have?

I also can't help with the 'safe' aspect but though I'd always drank mine only got out of control after my DH died so it was a rapid increase so though it certainly wasn't great I don't think I had the long term dependency that others may have .
So my body complained like helll after the first week but I did not suffer from the blinding headaches, sickness , DT shakes and suchlike that I know others have.

I agree with @Fundays12 , it may be wise to cut down slowly
.
I think the best way would be to have AF days rather than less each day.
Once you have had one drink it will be hard to resist another one.
On the days you do allow yourself a drink limit the amount to what you believe is realistic and sustainable.
Set a time when you can drink , say 5pm then make it later and later , over a period of time .

All that said , everyone is different and that method wouldn't of worked for me so you need to find out what works for you.

I'm doing Dry January and haven't drunk since New Year's Eve. Before that I was drinking a bottle of wine every night. I didn't go to the GP I just stopped, although I didn't have a physical dependence on alcohol I was an habitual drinker and didn't have any symptoms of withdrawal when stopping. I'm absolutely not saying you should just stop, might be worth a visit to your GP if you think you have a physical dependence. But for me the benefits of not drinking are far outweighing drinking, my plan is to continue for as long as I can. A month off has really reset my relationship with alcohol

Very similar experience to the poster above. Had got into very bad habits and stopped at New Year.
2 things that have helped me.. The Sobriety Counter app - this tracks how many days/hours you've been alcohol free but I really like the health stats which show you when your sleep will improve, better skin, better memory etc. It gives you smaller steps to aim for.
The second one is This Naked Mind book which they suggest just reading a few chapters at a time. I'm half way through and it really does make you rethink things.

https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/How-to-reduce-alcohol-intake.pdf

found this after a quick google. At the back it also has a list of organizations that can help you.

best wishes for your recovery.