Can’t stop drinking

[OnlySoMuchWine]

I live alone - in my 50s - work from home. I don’t drink during the day but I drink 4 or 5 nights out of 7. This week it’s been 6 nights, including last night when I had 14 units of wine. Today has been a write-off. I’m very disappointed with myself.

Why do you drink? And do you want to stop?

Hello, I'm in my late fifties and gave up drinking three hours ago.
I was supported by the ladies on the long running alcohol free thread.
I actually didn't think I'd ever give up. I drank five nights out of 7. It was recking my health. I was obese and very unhappy at home.
I'd also had some very embarrassing episodes.
What do you want to achieve op?

Three years!

Tomorrow is always a new day. Keep how rough you’ve felt but move forward.
The last time I drank I was really disappointed in myself and my favourite glass got smashed, alongside waking up thinking what have I done.

I am going into 64th day clean of the year. Come from a period of drinking every day in the evening towards end of last year, don’t ask me how the liver wasn’t effected. Having an app where I record what I have/haven’t done each day really helps take responsibility, it is never too late. I did get some support last Autumn a free 6 session video 1-2-1 help where the goal was to cut down little by little.

I did dry January and now I’m doing Spring Sober where you are doing 3 months without drinking. It is better to wake up sober I promise.

I’m lonely. I want to stop. I’m not drinking tonight.

I want to stop drinking except at airports - can’t imagine flying sober.

You can stop lovely. It's absolutely possible, you just need the right support. You need to ask someone in real life.

You can have valium to fly. But actually you can do anything sober, there's millions and millions of recovering addicts in the world!

OP I had a big job but I was very lonely after my parents died. You can change your life to a sober one, I'm living proof.

I drank so much I think I would have died if I carried on.
Both AA and smart recovery have online sessions. No charge and you didn't need to go on camera.

Please can you post a link to AA online sessions? Thanks very much 🙏

I'm early 50s. Stopped 4 months ago after over 30 years of near constant drinking (bar pregnancies). I started off reading ALL the soberlit books, hung about on /stopsdrinking on reddit and here on mn. Did some therapy sessions. Tapered down over a 2 week period then took the plunge. Feeling very much better and so glad I did it. You can do it!!

Hi. You can stop. You need a community and support though. Download the free AA App, join an online meeting via zoom this evening, you don’t need to talk or score your face you can be totally anonymous, or you can say hello, your name and that you want to stop drinking. You’ll be welcomed with so much love and openness. You’ll hear everyone’s stories and you’ll get insight into how to stop. I’m a binge drinker and just starting out with AA. It’s early days yet for me, but I can see that it’s a positive step in changing my life and being a non drinker. Without AA I would not be able to stop. On occasion I’ll manage to moderate and then down a bottle of wine on a Saturday night and another on a Sunday before work on Monday. Not good 😓 I gate myself for it. I’m a greedy little madam with no self control and it’s so detrimental to my life, body and mental health.

With honesty and openness we will be able to stop and your already taking the first step by reaching out in here 🌸❤️‍🩹 xxx

@WendyWagon 😘😘.

OP I’m sorry you’re feeling so rubbish. Please do join us on the very long running thread in Alcohol Support. I’m not quite six months sober but I was an every day drinker. I think it was over 3 years since I went a day without a drink. That might just have been a small glass of wine or a G&T but it’s still a pretty scary thought. Most nights I would have two or three decent sized glasses of wine. The thought of not drinking was quite frightening and I wasn’t at all sure I could do it.

The ladies on the thread I mention, including Wendy, have been incredibly supportive and I’m convinced it’s down to their advice and compassion that I am still sober, with no desire to start drinking again.

I would also say @OnlySoMuchWine that I don’t think you can be selective if you are serious about stopping drinking. I’m not sure you can say “I’ll only drink before a flight” because before you know it, the next thing that causes you to be scared or anxious would also be dealt with using alcohol. Lots of people have anxiety which leads them to drink, some are sad/grieving/going through divorce/insecurity or bereavement and drink so they don’t have to face their feelings. There is loads of Quit Lit around emotional sobriety which is worth a look at.