I want to stop drinking

[Nopenousername]

I have been lurking on these threads for years. Read the books recommended on here. Went without alcohol for months on at least 2 occasions but I just can’t stay sober. I come from a family of alcoholics. My dad and uncle died as a result of alcohol related health problems. I went to a work xmas do last night, had two medium glasses of wine with a meal. I kept waking up throughout the night and had the most disturbing dreams. I am tired and irritable today. I no longer binge drink, 2 drinks is my limit but I can’t seem to be able to stop. I don’t want to speak to my gp, in fact when any doctor asks me about my alcohol consumption I always say I don’t drink. I am ashamed of myself and want to stop drinking badly but can’t..

Come and join us on the winter AF thread. It’s good chat, accountability and advice. There are lots of people like me in early sobriety and people with much longer who are generous with their advice!

Most celebrities, sports players, TV personalities, and even our Prime Minister use professional help to cope with day-to-day stress, improve their performance, and manage countless other challenges. If they can seek help, then why can’t you? Why wouldn’t you? There should be no shame in getting professional support. My suggestion is that you speak to your GP without further delay.

Thank you. There are various reasons why I don’t feel I can speak to my gp. From working up a courage to make an appointment and discuss the reason with the receptionist to seeing on here how dismissive gp’s are. Also, I had an alcohol related accident years ago after which made it almost impossible to obtain life insurance so I am reluctant to have my medical records ‘tainted’ with this

Have you tried a support community or a sober coach? You aren’t by the sounds of it, an alcoholic in the classic sense, but you do sound like someone who is struggling with their drinking. Something like Bee Sober would suit you because you’re more a grey area drinker. But you might also consider finding a sober coach who you connect with. Many of them also run their own online communities.

It is AA if you can’t stop drinking.

I tried again to tell another gp yesterday I’m drinking - never made it to my medical records. I was just told to up the anti depressant already on.