To think I don’t have a alcohol problem

[Boingyboingy]

So I do tend to drink everyday. Never to the point of not being able to walk, being sick etc. I don’t wake up and crave it, I just crave the feeling of being chilled out and being able to deal with stress better. DH thinks I am an alcoholic and has been going mad at me

Ah jeez, that's a very sad attitude to life sorry!!

Go out & smell the roses, life will be over soon enough, and you'll sure as God miss it then!

Life is mostly what you make of it imho - so don't waste your one precious, fabulous life!

P.s. sorry for the sermon but you got me going!!

If you need alcohol to relax and it’s causing conflict in your relationship, it’s a problem

I like to drink but I make sure my sober days outweigh the drinking days out of 7.

Both my parents were alcoholics so again, I should have known better.
I used to drink a couple of large glasses of wine every day, I’d occasionally kid myself that I wasn’t an alcoholic as I didn’t drink on a Sunday/ Monday but I didn’t always manage that.One bad Monday and I’d open the fridge as soon as I got home, was easily doing 3 bottles a week.

I dreaded being on call, I wasn’t supposed to drink at all whilst on call but used to have what I called my ‘on call glass’ which was probably about 125mls so I was always under the drink driving limit.

I’m grossly overweight as I was probably drinking half my calories! By some miracle my Liver function was ok but if I’d continued that wouldn’t have lasted.

Starting on Mounjaro has helped with alcohol cravings as well as food, I now have one glass a week, on a Saturday and don’t enjoy it anywhere near a much as I used too, it’s been a Godsend for me.

I think it's clear there is a problem and you are not admitting it. Having several drinks 6 days a week is pretty sure to be more than 14 units a week. Just a question of how many more, keep an alcohol diary and find out exactly how much you are drinking. The fact you think you would need to see a GP to cut down is pretty telling.

OP, you're using alcohol because it chills you out and helps you relax. That is a problem - there are so many other ways of reaching that chilled out relaxed feeling. I'm not surprised your husband is concerned.

My husband said the same things you're saying in the early stages. Alcohol killed him.

How much do you drink daily?

Would you be able to go a week without drinking?

Do you suffer from anxiety?

Its definitely a problem if your relying on it on a daily basis.

Be honest with yourself. If you were told today that there's no alcohol available for the next six months, how would that make you feel??

It sounds like you are having "a few" everyday. How much in all honestly are you drinking each week? and what eg wine/spirits.

It does sound like you have a problem tbh.

You're medicating yourself with alcohol. Not a healthy coping mechanism in the long-tun.

You crave the need to be chilled amd less stressed. That involves you needing a drink every day to get that feeling
You are a alcholic

Alcholic's very very rairly are sick because they have built up a intolerance

(''Husband is home on Sundays, i just play games on my phone or read'')
Do you not do anything together?

In your opinion you don't have a problem, so our opinion doesn't really matter. I'm speaking as someone who did eventually wake up needing a drink and this was the point I never thought in a million years I would reach.

OP, it's not at all normal to drink daily. I don't know anyone who does and if I did, I'd be concerned about them.

I am not tee-total but I drink only on special occasions, when we go out for a meal, birthdays, Christmas etc. That's really enough, I feel like this provides many opportunities already. I'm older than you and have DCs which also probably reduced my consumption, but when I was your age I'd probably have a drink or two on a Friday or Saturday eve in addition to special occasions, just to put this into perspective. You are going to ruin your health and looks with daily drinking and what you're describing is addiction.

I just crave the feeling of being chilled out and being able to deal with stress better.

If the effect of alcohol controls your behaviour, then it (the alcohol) is controlling you, rather than you being in control.

Another PP linked to Drink Aware. Do the questionnaire and see where that leaves you.

One of their questions is whether any family members have expressed concern over how much of often you drink.

You used the word ‘crave’ the feeling of being relaxed, if you need alcohol to relax and you crave the feeling it gives you then yes you likely have a problem

How much do you drink each day?

The way you describe how it makes you feel is no different to anyone who smokes and is addicted to nicotine or someone who does drugs and is addicted to the high/effects of that.

You have a drink dependency issue.

Sorry.

Your dh is right, drinking everyday is alcoholic behaviour. You might not get to the point of being trollied every time or even just occasionally but drinking everyday - you have a serious problem.

If your alcohol consumption is causing trouble in your relationship, then you have a drink problem. Call it what you want but you clearly have a problem.

In some countries a small wine with dinner every day is acceptable. I also know people who might have something like a small measure of whisky / hot toddy before bed. If that’s as far as it goes I don’t think that is a problem. Surely it depends on how much is being drank every day.

You could ask yourself if your are dependant on it in order to get the feeling of being relaxed? An inability to abstain or at the least, reduce consumption, despite negative consequences (physical, mental, practical etc) is what makes it an addiction.

You use the word "crave"
Non alcoholics don't crave alcohol or how it makes them feel

Op take a few days off. If you are counting down the days then yes I think it’s an issue. It’s a habit possibly rather than a full blown addiction?

My OH is a functioning alcoholic. He drinks every day, isn't sick and doesn't fall over. He doesn't drink when he's working, doesn't drink drive. Occasionally he will go on a bender and that's quite scary but generally he's exactly as you describe. He doesn't think he has a problem either. Genuinely can't see it, or maybe just persists with that narrative. I'm not sure which it is really.

I was thinking this. If you fell pregnant, would you have any issue stopping cold turkey? Would you miss it?