cutting back on alcohol intake

[Anonymous]

If you cannot just not drink, you either have anxiety, depression, or an alcohol problem. Trust me.

It sounds OP like you might be experiencing some anxiety that a few sessions of CBT therapy or Buspar can fix sans alcohol. I have heard working out helps a little too.

[Anonymous]

Like they say at 12-step meetings, "you cannot control the drinking." So, if you are an alcoholic, you will not be able to control it (without just quitting).

[Anonymous]

Reading this after having consumed yet another bottle of wine on my own (started at 8:30)! and having smoked 17 cigs last night. Wine and smokes, for me, is a deadly combo. My doc prescribed naltorex, or however it's spelled, but I haven't started yet. Feel like shttizo in the am. Look even worse. What to do, what to do, what to do. When I've been preggo, I'm awesome and very healthy. When I'm not, I have one smoke with that glass of wine and all bets are off. Sucks. I feel so helpless right about now!

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry (are you OP?)? When you are ready, try the Naltorex, but I think what will be the most helpful are AA meetings - and I'm not being sarcastic either. The only people I know who successfully quit drinking or whatever regularly attend meetings - like some every day in the beginning until the edge wears off. Even if you are skeptical, you could just practice "one day at a time, one hour at a time" and try, for one night, going to one meeting before you drink and see. Hugs.

[Anonymous]

I'm the PP, but not the OP. I just can't figure out what the trigger is - is it the glass of that eventually calls for the smoke, or vice verse? Honestly, I love the taste of a good glass of Pinot, and I'm usually fine with that as long as I don't have a smoke in hand. I think the underlying cause of my behavior is the cigarettes, not the alcohol.

All in all I really hate my life right now, every time I go on this binge I realize the house becomes a mess and bills don't get paid. I feel so guilty. I'd like to enjoy a glass of wine, but without the cigarette. Does that makes sense? I wish I could do lobotomy on my brain, to fix it and all.

[Anonymous]

Well 00:11, your awareness that the house becomes a mess etc. is actually a positive thing - you are aware that some things in your life have become or do become, at times, unmanageable. That's half of "step 1" (for real - look it up). I have a 6 month old (and I'm a lawyer) - and I'm too tired to drink - I keep buying it occasionally and pouring a glass missing that buzz I used to get from drinking, but that's like an old memory now - all I experience are degrees of exhaustion and just end up throwing out old, full bottles and only having had the first sip. : /

[Anonymous]

I hear you, PP, I hate throwing out bottles of unused wine! I just wish I weren't this way, I feel sooooo much better when I'm healthy and not on this binge. I pray, over and over, that my 3 kids don't have this same gene. Seriously, I wish for someone who can hypno or lobo my brain, I just want to turn this smoke=wine craving off. It just drives me effin crazy shittzola!

[Anonymous]

If it makes you feel better, I just stepped out for yet another cig - I'm so hooked. I did buy greensmokes and like them a lot though, but I haven't dropped real cigs completely - yet. But that voicebox anti-smoking commercial has really made me want to quit for real!

[Anonymous]

I had habits much like OP and was sick of feeling crappy alL the time. I made a major life change 3 yrs ago and never looked back. I started excersing 6 days a week and drinking NO alcohol during the week.. No exceptions. Even if i go out during theweek to dinner or happy hour.. No drinks. I limit alcohol to fri and sat and Never more than 2 glasses of wine. I find i enjoy a drink so much more when i only have one and realLy dont like the way I feel if i drink more. I look better, sleep better, and have a better outlook on managing stress. I found it hard the first 2 weeks but after that i didnt miss my old habits at all

[Anonymous]

Cognitive–behavioral treatment programs have been shown to have positive results in encouraging drinking in moderation. The web site Down Your Drink (www.downyourdrink.org.uk) is a helpful introduction to some of these techniques.

[Anonymous]

As the PP described, the answer to the question "how does this make me feel?" is what truly motivates people to change. If it makes you feel terrible, you won't forget that and you'll change. You can do it. Today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My mother drank like this when I was young. My memory of her is that she was always so tired on weeknights. She would be just useless after dinner and in bed by 8-9pm for sure. By high school I was old enough to connect the dots. Some evenings she would say really cutting things and I realized she was drunk. She started to always say no to coming to my extra curricular events, even when I won awards. And I've had to help her to bed. She was always mortified the next morning but never made a change.

More than one glass of wine is unhealthy. Stop now. Create a healthier evening ritual for winding down. It doesn't have to only be a drink of some kind. How about soft slippers and bathrobe, a foot soak, a nice lotion, as well as some different kinds of tea.

Not OP, but in a similar situation.......this above post hit me hard. I feel like the PP describing her mother is describing me. I am useless to my kids by 9pm, too tired for a story, irritable.....and that is only after 1-2 small glasses. I don't want them to have this memory of me....to "connect the dots" and look back and think their mother had a problem. So unattractive and depressing. I am going to remember this post when I reach for that evening glass of wine next time.

I mean to say this as gently as possible..the PP's mother was (is?) an alcoholic. If you see yourself in this, please get help. You may not be able to stop drinking by your own willpower, and you may need outside or professional support.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the pp. I also did find out that replacing a large glass of water, & keeping your heart rate up (50 crunches, etc.) would realLy help reduce evening drink & cig.

[Anonymous]

23:54 are you the same person who posted two weeks ago about being so depressed? Please get help, you owe it to yourself to get help.

OP,you have been given some good suggestions. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

OP, good for you for seeking help for your drinking habit. If you can't simply stop drinking, then you are dealing with a dependency. The other PPs have had great suggestions. Your work may have a confidential free service for helping with addictions that may be of help with you. You owe it to yourself and your kids to deal with this now. Talk to your spouse and a trusted friend. Maybe they have been wanting to say something, but were afraid of your reaction. Listen to your heart and to those who love you.