To find it impossible to cut down on drinking

[namechange2117]

NC'd for obvious reasons.

I'm 35 and have been what I would describe as a heavy drinker for the past 12 years. I used to make sure I had a few days off alcohol on 2 or 3 nights per week, but in recent years I've started drinking every night almost without exception.

On a quiet night in I'll drink a bottle of lager and between three-quarters and a full bottle of red wine to myself; and if I'm out with DH it can be four or five large glasses of wine plus several cocktails. I'd say I drink about 70-80 units per week on average, which is alarming when you consider the government's recommended amount for women is 14 units.

I'm typing this after waking up with yet another bad hangover this morning, not getting out of bed until midday (we don't have DC's!) and struggling to do any work at all today as a result of feeling so rough. The drinking regularly affects my work performance and I'd say I lose at least a day - maybe more - a week due to being hung over.

Today I feel awful physically with an aching head, nausea and exhaustion. I'm also irritable, depressed and ashamed/worried that I've wasted a full day's work, which I will now have to catch up over the weekend.

I wish I could cut right down on alcohol to the point where I'm only consuming 20 units per week at most, with at least four days off each week. I'm worried about my health and ashamed of how I've made a fool of myself on several occasions due to alcohol - falling over at a recent party in front of guests and slurring my speech being two examples. The amount of money I spend on booze is far too much and DH and I do want to TTC at some point too.

The problem is that I'm just really struggling to kick the habit. I really enjoy the taste of alcohol and the feeling of "relaxing with a glass of wine after a long day". I feel like I drink mainly to escape the pressures of work (I'm self-employed and whilst I do enjoy my job, it's also very stressful) and of life in general (I'm a very anxious person and don't really enjoy socialising). DH is also a big drinker which doesn't help, and much of our free time revolves around alcohol - dining out and or drinking down the pub.

Am I being unreasonable to carry on drinking like this and to not have the will power to cut down?

Have a look at some sober blogs op
Club soda UK
Love sober
Soberistas

It's good to get inspired.

Also try AF wine it helps.
Good luck! You will feel so much better once you have control back. You can do it!

https://joinclubsoda.co.uk

https://www.lovesober.com

https://soberistas.com

I wish I could cut right down on alcohol to the point where I'm only consuming 20 units per week

Cutting down doesn't work. You need to go "cold turkey" and come right off it - zero alcohol. It needs to become the new habit or "norm" that you are tee-total. Once you've been without for a few months, you can re-introduce it in a more sensible/controlled manner.

I had 40 years of obesity caused by binge eating. 40 years of trying to reduce my intake and trying to avoid binging. 40 wasted years because it never worked. Last year I finally broke the cycle and just cut it out - no bingeing at all since. I realised it was all down to habit/behaviour, so changed my daily routine. I stopped going into the shops where I bought the food to binge on, I stopped buying multipacks, I used to binge on my own, mostly in my "one man" office, so I started to spend less time in the office and more time with friends, family and visiting clients.

I wouldn't say I'm cured, but I'm certainly in a better place mentally and physically.

Hi love. You might try this book, it really worked for me:
www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/books/allen-carr/easy-way-to-control-alcohol/GOR001905543

I tried so many times to cut down but it was only quitting completely that worked.

Place marking

Been in recovery 30+years (am nearly 70 ) 😁