To ask you how to get a grip

[Namechange100100]

Longtime poster, name changed for reasons that will soon be obvious.

I'm an alcoholic. This is the first time I have admitted it.

I was put on furlough during lockdown. I'm still furloughed and, in all honesty, I am using not being at work as an excuse to drink.

I've had issues with alcohol since university. I haven't drunk regularly since then, but when I start drinking, I often don't know when to stop. Since furlough it is pretty much all I've done.

My father was an alcoholic, he abused my mum and I in the worst possible way. I swore I would never end up like this.

Please explain to me how to get a grip!

Can you talk to your GP?

No advice I'm afraid, but I recon admitting it is a big first step.

Recognising it is the step that many people can't take, so you've already started to get a grip.

Your GP should be able to point you in the right direction. I suppose it depends how heavily you have been drinking as well, whether you are physically dependent on it as well as mentally?

The Drink aware.co.uk website has advice on giving up alcohol.

There are support threads here where you could talk to others who have been where you are.

Good luck, you can do this.

By admitting it and saying it out loud I think you just took the first step of making it happen.

If you can, reach out to your GP who can direct you to the available resources to start getting help.

Some people manage to quit without support - a close family member of mine did, just made the decision to stop one day due to a medical scare and never took the supported route - but I do think most people need the backup of a group / counsellor / sponsor etc.

Do it now / today - don’t wait. Good luck!

Thanks for the advice. I appreciate your kindness.

I feel rather disgusted with myself. I deliberately avoided alcohol until uni, then I went nuts.

I know I need to pack in this moronic self-destructive behaviour.

I was addicted to sleeping pills for years and didn't realise it was all down to childhood stuff for many years.

I'm not a youngster, I feel like I am hurtling towards middle age, and my worst fear is ending up like my so-called dad.

Thanks for listening, I would be grateful for any advice.