Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I found it easier mentally to just quit drinking altogether. The “emotional labor” of thinking about drinking/cutting back/taking breaks took too much of my mental headspace. It’s been a year since I had a drink and I don’t miss it at all (plus I look great!)

This. No one else noticed or cared, and it was much easier than all the other rules I tried to use to keep it on check (only on vacation, only two drinks a night, yadda yadda).

Seriously, this is true. Not mentally fighting over trying to control it is definitely easier. I’m long-time sober and haven’t had a desire to drink.

Anonymous wrote:There are free groups in every town that provide help. There are also women only groups.

You don't even have to leave your house, and there's one running somewhere pretty much round-the-clock: https://aa-intergroup.org/meetings/

There are free groups in every town that provide help. There are also women only groups.

Anonymous wrote:I found it easier mentally to just quit drinking altogether. The “emotional labor” of thinking about drinking/cutting back/taking breaks took too much of my mental headspace. It’s been a year since I had a drink and I don’t miss it at all (plus I look great!)

This. No one else noticed or cared, and it was much easier than all the other rules I tried to use to keep it on check (only on vacation, only two drinks a night, yadda yadda).

I found it easier mentally to just quit drinking altogether. The “emotional labor” of thinking about drinking/cutting back/taking breaks took too much of my mental headspace. It’s been a year since I had a drink and I don’t miss it at all (plus I look great!)

Anonymous wrote:No judgement please! I know I drink too much if this is even a question!

I can go months at a time without drinking. The problem is when I start again, I get into a really bad habit where I drink every night and that first night back to not drinking is hard for me. Any advice? I'm currently in that position. I came home from a vacation in Europe where I drank for a month straight. Went for a week not drinking and then got started again at a birthday party here in DC.

Walking, exercise, what?

Yeah, that first sucker drink will get ya...

A lot of people with alcohol use issues can "white knuckle" for several months "dry". And then, we drink. And once we're drinking, it rapidly becomes a daily thing, even an all-day thing. Distractions help with the white-knuckle phase, but they don't solve the underlying issue(s). You're not the only person wired this way, and it might be beneficial to you to seek out a group of us. You'll probably hear a lot of similarities. You don't have to wait until you hit rock bottom to stop drinking. Rock bottom can simply be the place where you decided to stop.

If you know drinking is a problem, why not become sober? Like don't drink for a month straight? You sound like you need AA or rehab.

Anonymous wrote:There are hundreds of threads on this topic. No need to start a new one.

Scrolling by is free.

You need a relaxation ritual that you will enjoy. How about a walk followed by tea with honey?

There are hundreds of threads on this topic. No need to start a new one.

No judgement please! I know I drink too much if this is even a question!

I can go months at a time without drinking. The problem is when I start again, I get into a really bad habit where I drink every night and that first night back to not drinking is hard for me. Any advice? I'm currently in that position. I came home from a vacation in Europe where I drank for a month straight. Went for a week not drinking and then got started again at a birthday party here in DC.

Walking, exercise, what?