Have I got am alcohol problem

[Coco251]

I’m a 37 year old mum of 3 children. I’ve always enjoyed drinking and been a big social drink throughout my 20s. My mum has always loved a drink and I just thought I got it from her. More recently I’ve not been enjoying it. I find myself constantly waiting for the weekend when I think it’s acceptable to have a drink. I won’t drink during the week but as soon it gets to Friday and Saturday I will drink around 1.5 to 2 bottles each night. I keep wanting to stop but I feel like every week there is a social situation with alcohol and I find it hard to say no. We are now coming up to Christmas where I know there will be a lot of parties and alcohol. I feel in a bit of a rut.

Well done for taking the first step

Yeah I'd say so. You don't enjoy it, but can't stop. And that's a lot of alcohol in a short amount of time.

I don’t drink Sunday - Thursday so I guess I’ve got it in my head that it’s not a problem. I’m just finding it hard to stop. I feel like I can’t relax and have fun unless I’ve had a drink.

Awareness is the first step.

Three years ago, I had a long conversation with my doctor, who told me that I was a functioning alcoholic. I disagreed. I had a preconceived idea of what an alcoholic looked like, but very little understanding of what being a functioning alcoholic actually meant.

I accepted that I was a heavy drinker, but I didn't consider myself an alcoholic. After all, I went to work sober and managed to function perfectly well in everyday life.

My doctor explained the behaviours and characteristics associated with functioning alcoholism. Over the following six months, I began to examine my relationship with alcohol and, more importantly, how and why I used it.
Who knew? She was right.

I'm now completely teetotal. However, I would be dishonest if I said it was easy. Not a day goes by when I don't wish I could have a drink. I've come to accept that this may never disappear.

Recognising that your relationship with alcohol might not be a healthy one is an important first step. Awareness really is the beginning of change.

@Coco251 - speaking as someone who used to be like this but progressed to terrible binge drinking, hiding vodka/drinking in secret and wrecking relationships, I’d say you are at least on the way to having a dependency on alcohol - psychological at least.

It’s not so much the amount of alcohol, but the “thinking” behind it. The anticipation, the thinking you can’t have fun or relax without it, yet you don’t actually enjoy it. Not being able to say no. Replace the word alcohol with cocaine and would you still feel ok about your weekend “drug taking”, because alcohol is a drug.

Im day 8 AF after trying to quit many many times. I don’t know if I’ll crack it this time but if I don’t, my life is going to be so shit.

The fact you’ve posted here shows you have insight into your drinking being potentially harmful to you so that’s great. Don’t be seduced by thoughts that everyone else is doing it/it’s what people do on the weekend etc. That’s a red herring. Ok maybe lots of people are, but some of us are wired differently and soon what you are drinking may not be enough and you maybprogress like I did.

Honestly, if I could go back 20 years I’d have a word with myself and I’d have cut right back/stopped then. I’d have spared myself, my DH and my DC a lot of heartache.

Try reading some of the other threads on here about people’s experiences and see if any of it resonates either way you. Good luck 💐

It’s also binge-drinking. Taking more control of it is doing the right thing x