1. Community
  2. Mental health
  3. Alcohol Consumption

Drinking every day...

Posted , 75 users are following.

peter97822
peter97822

Hello. I've just signed up here because I thought it might help to acknowledge somewhere, in some small way, that I have a problem with alcohol. And maybe compare notes with other people and their experiences. I'm not ready to tell friends and family yet. I'm in my late 30s and for a long time (4 years) I have been drinking something every day (with very occasional alcohol free spells) - it varies between 2-6 cans each night. Always just in the evening. The daily amount I consume isn't enormous - but over time it's become a seemingly unbreakable habit, and of course I worry about the long term health effects. I've got used to waking up with a woolly head or a hangover. My mind has an incredible duality - every morning I resolve to stop but by the evening I crave it all over again. I get so frustrated with my lack of self control. It's not social drinking - I live alone and most of my drinking is done alone. Often I'll even find myself turning down social invitations because drinking alone in my flat seems so much more pleasurable (I'm a shy and very socially anxious chap). On my own there's no-one to raise an eyebrow, or suggest that I've had enough. It's like the ultimate love/hate thing. Nothing, absolutely nothing, can de-stress me quite like alcohol - but I also know this effect is temporary and that my stress will often come back worse in the morning. I'm concerned about quitting altogether because then my friends will want to know why - and I'll have to admit that there was a problem. It feels shameful somehow. I feel my relationship with alcohol is very different to that of other people; for example I'm always amazed when I see people with half drunk bottles of wine in the fridge. If I ever have any alcohol in the house with me it gets drunk that same day! Anyway, I'm going to try and quit, starting today. I'll let you know how I get on : )

10 likes, 182 replies

182 Replies

Prev Next
  • vinod44086
    vinod44086 peter97822

    Posted

    Hi all, From 2010 to present day,, I have been drinking, in these 6 years,, 1st year I drank beer only and then started to drink visky,,,

    average consumption of alcohal per day is 270ML &  10 cigarettes per day

     and i have taken non healthy food too with sugar drinks,,,&

    in these 6 years, my weight increased from 60 kg to 90 kg, (pot belly)

    am in kind of a stress,,, depression,,, pain in eyes,, black outs,,,and anxiety,, couldnt go sober for 3 continuous days,,,, 

    help me out guys,,, i cannot share this with any doctors,friends & relatives,,,

    I feel like quitting every morning,,, till evening i dont evening smoke or drink,,, but after 7pm,, i change my mind i go for a drink,, while drinking i hate myself for drinking too,,

    • ADEfree
      ADEfree vinod44086

      Posted

      Vinod, alcohol creates it's own depression and anxiety, so you may have to see how things settle out once you kick the drink to the curb. 

      There's a way you can reduce your drinking and eventually erase the compulsion to drink down to the point where you can drink like a normal person, though many who use this method decide drink isn't worth the bother in the first place and decide they'd rather abstain. Have a look here:

      https://patient.info/health/sinclair-method-for-alcohol-use-disorder

      This is the method I've used to cut my drinking back from 9 pints per day to less than 6 total for the last month. It's a gradual reduction, so detox isn't always needed. I'd been drinking daily for 30 years. After following this method for 5 months, I started having my first dry days in a long, long time. Well worth a look.

    • vickylou
      vickylou vinod44086

      Posted

      Vinod I take campral which stops cravings and does take your mind off drinking. Have a look at my discussion on BACK ON CAMPRAL, especially RHGBs reply. It certainly works for him, has done in the past and again now for me.
    • vickylou
      vickylou

      Posted

      Oooooo I do wish there was an edit button!  should have said I've used it years ago, not RHGB using it again. Sorry for confusion

    • peter1984
      peter1984 vickylou

      Posted

      Im 32 n ive been drinkin everynight since i was 15 n lastnight i never ad a drop its realy easy if u put ur mind 2 it vickylou
    • peter1984
      peter1984

      Posted

      How much do u drink per day
  • kelly86800
    kelly86800 peter97822

    Posted

    Bless you

    I am you!!!! It's easier to have a glass and you feel better immediately from day to day life! I went to an AA group but it seemed so extreme I hated it! I can't just have one either although I don't drink until I pass out like a lot of people from AA said they did xx

    • kelly86800
      kelly86800 peter1984

      Posted

      Well I can go a week without and want to say that was last week but it was actually 5 weeks ago so I've been drinking everyday for five weeks! Again I'd like to say a bottle of wine but I always buy two now! Sometimes I drink the two but mostly a bottle and a half. X

    • peter1984
      peter1984 kelly86800

      Posted

      I drink 6cans of carlin anight but i can wen want 2 jus put ya mind 2 it
    • kelly86800
      kelly86800 peter1984

      Posted

      I guess that's the answer to alcohol

      'Just put your mind to it' ??

      No I haven't had a drink today

      Thanks and all the best

    • gwen45436
      gwen45436 kelly86800

      Posted

      Hi kelly - I drink from 6pm onwards - 1 bottle has turned into 2 - but down to 1 and a half as am getting scared.  This is so weird how it increases. I want it down to 1 bottle then a half.  Flippin hard work. Embarrassed to say the least.

      G.

    • kelly86800
      kelly86800 gwen45436

      Posted

      Sounds like we are in the same situation

      Not bad enough to be going to AA groups but people who are trying to manage a lot in their lives and create balance

      Thank you for that Gwen xxx

    • vickylou
      vickylou gwen45436

      Posted

      If you can last all day without a drink, and then start at 6pm, I would call that controlled drinking, rather than a problem.. If I was desparate for a drink, there's no way I could wait all day

    • ADEfree
      ADEfree kelly86800

      Posted

      Kelly, I forget.. have you already tried Baclofen?
    • ADEfree
      ADEfree kelly86800

      Posted

      Kelly, disregard that last post, I was thinking of a different Kelly!
    • peter97822
      peter97822 kelly86800

      Posted

      Thank you! Well yes it does sound like we are similar, and I think there are lots of people in the same boat. It's the 'just a couple of glasses to reward myself for a busy day' type thing, but it escalates and becomes an unbreakable habit. I drink as a release from work stress - but most of my friends don't use alcohol as a medicine in this way, which tells me my relationship with this substance is dysfunctional. Do I wish alcohol didn't exist? Yes. Do I regret it almost every time I drink? Yes. Does alcohol narrow, rather than expand, my experience of daily life? Yes, yes, yes. So despite not exactly fitting in with the stereoptypes and definitions of alcoholism, I can say alcohol is a major problem to me.

      I can say (despite having relapsed only very recently... hope it doesn't sound hypocritical) life IS better without alcohol. When you've worried and obsessed about it and let it cause you guilt and lower your self esteem and nag at your conscience, then you give it up... it's a great feeling. A life without it isn't anything to dread.

      I was recommended a book on here 'Mrs D is going without' which you can get on Amazon etc - it's great because she also tells the story from a 'daily drinking' perspective that you and I share. Also her website it great, she really responds to people, I was delighted to get a message from her after I read her book! Good luck.

Back to top
Prev Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.