alcohol overindulgence

[Inky]

I've always been partial to the odd drink or two. I was practically weaned on it. None of my family are alcoholics but all drink (probably quite a lot). Always a beer or 2 with lunch (even brunch), not to mention every evening.

During my pregnancy I found it quite difficult to abstain, and almost impossible while I was breastfeeding.

Now I find I'm drinking quite a lot (on average half a bottle of wine every night). The thing that brought it to my attention was I was trying to loose weight but found it impossible to not drink. Is this just because of the strain (I am finding it quite difficult at the moment - at home full time, although I do have something to go to with the kids every day), no time off, not very helpful & very over worked dh, no family for help. Or does it sound to you like I'm a raging alckie?

I rarely wake up with a hangover but always wake up feeling shit, mainly due to a lack of sleep. I could solve both problems (ie too much booze & not enough sleep) by going to bed as soon as I put the kids down, but then I don't feel like I've had any chance to unwind, have any peace or adult conversation or any break from work.

I have no self control - I can't just watch one TV programme - I'll stare at any old rubbish all night, nor can I have just one malteseer - It has to be the whole (family pack). I can't just have 1 drink it always ends up being loads.

Any helpful & un-condemming comments/advice please.

We tend not to drink much during the week - partly because my dh thinks that a Vacuvin is an instrument of torture, so when we open a bottle, we "have" to finish it that night. But we do enjoy good wine at weekends (wine is a hobby of ours - especially dh).

We're boring old farts and don't often go out to pubs (too smoky and noisy - I'm getting old!), but spend the money instead on a good wine collection!

While I was pregnant, I didn't give up alcohol totally, instead agreeing with my GP that I was going to reduce the quantity and up the quality - teaching ds quality "in utero"!

We've already got ds into bad habits - we've taught him to say "Cheers" (or, as he puts it "Tees"! ), so now he waves his anywayup cup or milk bottle at all and sundry, going "Tees" and expecting us to clink our glass or mug with him. He's only 19 months, so it's really cute! He's not very gentle with the clinking, so you have to be sure that your glass is nearly empty or stay just out of reach, otherwise tea/wine gets spilt all over the place.

Jasper - we used to live in Shawlands. I presume you used to go to the Granary. We're now in Pollokshields - no decent pubs close by, even we wanted to go out!