Drinking more and more.
Discussion
I used to drink once a week.
But this has increased to 3 or 4 times a week.
And I always feel awful the day after, not with a hangover, but remorse that I have been drinking again.
I am going to try and not drink again for at least 6 months.
Why did I post this thread? Partially for support, and partially for the abuse I know I will get, as long as the words work to help me, I don't care.
But this has increased to 3 or 4 times a week.
And I always feel awful the day after, not with a hangover, but remorse that I have been drinking again.
I am going to try and not drink again for at least 6 months.
Why did I post this thread? Partially for support, and partially for the abuse I know I will get, as long as the words work to help me, I don't care.
Have a look here - http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
You need something to do.
Find a hobby, stick with it. I quite enjoy swimming, for example. A good "hobby session" - whether it's exercising, going for a hoon, astronomy or whatever should keep your mind engaged enough to not need a drink.
In the same way you don't need a drink at work because you're otherwise occupied, doing the same at home should stem the urge for a drink. When I split up with the bird I found myself doing nothing in the evenings and turning to a few beers to pass the time. Do so with something else - and preferably something that gets the adrenaline going.
Find a hobby, stick with it. I quite enjoy swimming, for example. A good "hobby session" - whether it's exercising, going for a hoon, astronomy or whatever should keep your mind engaged enough to not need a drink.
In the same way you don't need a drink at work because you're otherwise occupied, doing the same at home should stem the urge for a drink. When I split up with the bird I found myself doing nothing in the evenings and turning to a few beers to pass the time. Do so with something else - and preferably something that gets the adrenaline going.
Just start by saying you won't drink for a week; then when the week's up it will be easier to extend that to 2 weeks; and after 2 weeks go for 3 until you reach your goal
I got a scare a couple of weeks ago and stopped drinking at home ... I still have a glass of wine when I go out for a meal, but I don't drink to excess at home any more
I (cold turkey) stopped smoking by a similar method 8 years ago and now I can tell my doctor the truth when he asks
I got a scare a couple of weeks ago and stopped drinking at home ... I still have a glass of wine when I go out for a meal, but I don't drink to excess at home any more
I (cold turkey) stopped smoking by a similar method 8 years ago and now I can tell my doctor the truth when he asks
Drinking two bottles of wine a night hasn't happened over night. Feeling guilty the following morning serves no purpose other than compounding the guilt and shame. I would suggest you make contact with an Alcohol Service where you can be assessed and supported to either reduce your intake or be abstinent. Changing this habit can be done on your own if you are suitably motivated, however getting support may make this easier. Good luck with what ever you choose to do.
A drinking habit is an easy thing to acquire, but a hard thing to lose, in my experience. From what you have described, you certainly aren't a raging drinker unable to stop, BUT, I think a sharp change in life style may be needed.
I found my self drinking a lot, a few years ago now whilst I was in my early twenties, I was working away from home, living in BnB's, hotels ETC, not much else to do on an evening and it did become a bit of a problem, changing it was hard, because after all the time I had spent boozing the habit/routine of going to the pub then calling at the offy afterwards on the way back to my bed was all I knew.
I worked myself out of that rut by creating a new routine, it took time - eating in places that didn't serve alcohol, focusing my energies on activities that needed me to be sober such as learning to play the guitar (can be done drunk but I was a total novice), I joined a local gym even though I was working out of town, reading/writing and studying, it wasn't easy and I had to distance myself from my work mates who drank as I did, which was on reflection, was the reason I drank like I did, just to fit in and get on, I'm not blaming them, though - it was my issue and mine alone.
IMO, the routine is everything and if you break the routine that allows drink to become prevalent you will have made a significant step towards kicking any drinking habit you may feel you have a problem with.
I found my self drinking a lot, a few years ago now whilst I was in my early twenties, I was working away from home, living in BnB's, hotels ETC, not much else to do on an evening and it did become a bit of a problem, changing it was hard, because after all the time I had spent boozing the habit/routine of going to the pub then calling at the offy afterwards on the way back to my bed was all I knew.
I worked myself out of that rut by creating a new routine, it took time - eating in places that didn't serve alcohol, focusing my energies on activities that needed me to be sober such as learning to play the guitar (can be done drunk but I was a total novice), I joined a local gym even though I was working out of town, reading/writing and studying, it wasn't easy and I had to distance myself from my work mates who drank as I did, which was on reflection, was the reason I drank like I did, just to fit in and get on, I'm not blaming them, though - it was my issue and mine alone.
IMO, the routine is everything and if you break the routine that allows drink to become prevalent you will have made a significant step towards kicking any drinking habit you may feel you have a problem with.
I was similar a few years ago although it was beer not wine and work prevented me drinking for half the month anyway. But took up boxing and training for that stopped me having the desire or time to drink. Getting back from training at 8PM by the time i'd showered and cooked i had little time or energy to drink
Try giving up for a few weeks, and then don't drink on a 'school night'. The resistance to alcohol (which you have undoubtedly built up) soon goes.
However you do need to be disciplined about this and not allow 'non-school nights' to creep into Bank Holidays, etc, since before you know it you'll be back to drinking every night of the week, and just the one bottle won't be enough.
However you do need to be disciplined about this and not allow 'non-school nights' to creep into Bank Holidays, etc, since before you know it you'll be back to drinking every night of the week, and just the one bottle won't be enough.
I'll agree with the 'habit' side of things, as in the past couple of years I've found a drinking habit that I find hard to shift.
The habit being that whenever I sit down to watch a movie at night, I have to have a bottle of wine with me to drink. At first I just wanted to have a drink and watch a film, but its reached the point now where sitting down to a film without any booze just feels wrong.
I used to be in the military and I would drink a fair amount; which at one point was the same as your habit OP, I was packing away four cans of lager every night as well as being down the pub Thurs/Fri/Sat with a normal pub amount of drinking then. I managed to break that after several months (could have been longer, I really can't remember) but still did the usual social drinking.
I work shifts now and I avoid drinking whilst on shift, but this doesn't always work. To 'help me sleep' I have on occasion had some wine, but this rarely works so I keep to my drinking when I'm off shift, therefore any hangover can be slept off.
I'd like to shift this drinking alone at home if only to save myself the money I'd spend on beer and wine, but its getting past that habit barrier without giving into the temptation to just think "Sod it" and nip to the shop for wine and settling down to a film.
A change of routine and an increase in willpower will go far to help us both it seems!
The habit being that whenever I sit down to watch a movie at night, I have to have a bottle of wine with me to drink. At first I just wanted to have a drink and watch a film, but its reached the point now where sitting down to a film without any booze just feels wrong.
I used to be in the military and I would drink a fair amount; which at one point was the same as your habit OP, I was packing away four cans of lager every night as well as being down the pub Thurs/Fri/Sat with a normal pub amount of drinking then. I managed to break that after several months (could have been longer, I really can't remember) but still did the usual social drinking.
I work shifts now and I avoid drinking whilst on shift, but this doesn't always work. To 'help me sleep' I have on occasion had some wine, but this rarely works so I keep to my drinking when I'm off shift, therefore any hangover can be slept off.
I'd like to shift this drinking alone at home if only to save myself the money I'd spend on beer and wine, but its getting past that habit barrier without giving into the temptation to just think "Sod it" and nip to the shop for wine and settling down to a film.
A change of routine and an increase in willpower will go far to help us both it seems!
backwoodsman said:
Muzzer79 said:
How much are you drinking?
2 bottles of wine per nightbackwoodsman said:
And I always feel awful the day after, not with a hangover
That's a hangover, two bottles in a night is a lot as I'm sure you don't need telling!My way around it was just to have no booze in the house at all, but that depends on how desperate you are for a drink I guess. There is a shop easy walking distance from me, but generally this works and I try to sit and drink something more healthy as much as poss.
Consider why you are drinking so much and approach it from that angle, there must be some reason why you feel the need to cut it out completely rather than just cutting down to sensible levels.
The last 4 bottles have been given away this morning.
My wife has agreed to not buy any drink for herself.
Like others have said, it's got that sitting watching the tv doesn't feel right without a drink.
I am going to throw myself back into my radio control cars, and even try a few static models.
7 years ago, I quit a 40 a day smoking habit, so I can damn sure beat this.
My wife has agreed to not buy any drink for herself.
Like others have said, it's got that sitting watching the tv doesn't feel right without a drink.
I am going to throw myself back into my radio control cars, and even try a few static models.
7 years ago, I quit a 40 a day smoking habit, so I can damn sure beat this.
Brigand said:
I'd like to shift this drinking alone at home if only to save myself the money I'd spend on beer and wine, but its getting past that habit barrier without giving into the temptation to just think "Sod it" and nip to the shop for wine and settling down to a film.
A change of routine and an increase in willpower will go far to help us both it seems!
It sounds like we face a similar challenge.A change of routine and an increase in willpower will go far to help us both it seems!
Good luck with your own battle against it.
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff