Anonymous wrote:OP - I totally get where you're coming from. I am a working mom with a 3-year-old and definitely use alcohol as a crutch. I never get drunk/trashed, and I never have a hangover, but once I finally get home from a long commute on the beltway with a screaming/crying/whiny/hungry kid my 'reward' is usually milk for her and a glass of wine for me.

I always stop at 9pm, and usually mix white wine with lots of soda water. But still, this happens every day.

I periodically take a few weeks or a month off at a time, and have no problem quitting when there's a reason, but day-to-day it's hard to abstain. It's definitely a coping mechanism.

It doesn't sound like you have a drinking problem

I'm on day 2 of the alcohol experiment thanks to this thread! Hoping to keep it going, I am tired of how much energy I was just expending just thinking about my drinking.

Anonymous wrote:Babies solve problems. Get pregnant again.

Literally the worst advice I have ever read.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This was me, and I decided to confront my issue for what it was and deal with it as such - a problem. Today I am one month sober! I go to A.A., have a sponsor, and work the program. It is working for me and I feel great. Good on you for wanting to make a change, OP.

Another vote for the Alcohol Experiment: https://www.alcoholexperiment.com

I'm almost done with the 30 days. I have tried MANY times before to "just stop" on my own, but never got past a week. Something about her approach, readings, and the online community of support is the magic formula for me. Really happy with it and plan to extend for as long as I want to.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was in the same shoes as you although I was drinking more and for longer and hiding it. I quit cold turkey in January and haven't had a drop and my life is totally different for the better. I think you really need to go a month without any alcohol but don't eschew alcohol related events. Have a look at how people react when they notice you aren't drinking. Alcohol is the only drug that people ask you why you're not having it. Anyway, try reading/listening to Annie Grace's The Naked Mind. I think you will find it useful. And that glass of champagne at the wedding? Its really not that great.

+1 to the Alcohol Experiment. I had spent 15 years drinking 2-5 drinks a night — really obsessing about alcohol — and stopped in my tracks with the Alcohol Experiment. It’s been 10 months and my life is 10000x better since I stopped. I have a drink only maybe once every few months and rarely even finish the whole thing.

My husband was no help, as he drank as much as I did. Since I’ve stopped, he’s cut way back too.

I listened to a podcast with the Alcohol Experiment author. She said she was drinking 2 bottles of wine A NIGHT, every night. She was a full blown alcoholic, not a social drinker.

Annie Grace? How is this a response to pp?

Anonymous wrote:OP here. It's been a few weeks and everything seems better. I want to thank whoever said sparkling water in a crystal glass. I felt stupid doing it, but I poured La Croix into my favorite crystal glass and I carry it around with me while doing the kid's night routine (something that sometimes stresses me out). It has easily replaced alcohol. It's flavored, feels fancy and gives me something to hold. Also there's no caffeine so it's not keeping me up. It reminds me of how my grandpa chewed toothpicks when he quit smoking.

Only problem now is that I have trouble sleeping.

Attaway, OP!

OP here. It's been a few weeks and everything seems better. I want to thank whoever said sparkling water in a crystal glass. I felt stupid doing it, but I poured La Croix into my favorite crystal glass and I carry it around with me while doing the kid's night routine (something that sometimes stresses me out). It has easily replaced alcohol. It's flavored, feels fancy and gives me something to hold. Also there's no caffeine so it's not keeping me up. It reminds me of how my grandpa chewed toothpicks when he quit smoking.

Only problem now is that I have trouble sleeping.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was in the same shoes as you although I was drinking more and for longer and hiding it. I quit cold turkey in January and haven't had a drop and my life is totally different for the better. I think you really need to go a month without any alcohol but don't eschew alcohol related events. Have a look at how people react when they notice you aren't drinking. Alcohol is the only drug that people ask you why you're not having it. Anyway, try reading/listening to Annie Grace's The Naked Mind. I think you will find it useful. And that glass of champagne at the wedding? Its really not that great.

+1 to the Alcohol Experiment. I had spent 15 years drinking 2-5 drinks a night — really obsessing about alcohol — and stopped in my tracks with the Alcohol Experiment. It’s been 10 months and my life is 10000x better since I stopped. I have a drink only maybe once every few months and rarely even finish the whole thing.

My husband was no help, as he drank as much as I did. Since I’ve stopped, he’s cut way back too.

I listened to a podcast with the Alcohol Experiment author. She said she was drinking 2 bottles of wine A NIGHT, every night. She was a full blown alcoholic, not a social drinker.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ Ugh, no.

Annie Grace's alcohol experiment.

OP do this: Annie Grace’s the alcohol experiment online. Sign up; it’s free. Listen to the webcasts each day and journal a little - it’s anonymous.
There’s no judgment, and you don’t have to commit to giving up alcohol. You don’t even have to stop drinking before you start the experiment.

Just 30 days.

I did it almost exactly a year ago and I actually haven’t had a drink of alcohol since , although I didn’t enter it at the time thinking I was going to cut back completely. As I did the experiment though, I realized I didnt want to drink any more.

I came across this thread a couple of weeks ago while looking for something else in the forum, but the subject line rang true.

A huge thank you to everyone who recommended Annie Grace's 30-Day Alcohol Experiment. I started it the next day and am on day 14 now. I feel great and I love the approach.

That's great! I'm on day 238. But who's counting?! I've lost 15 pounds without doing anything else, my skin looks great, and I wake up feeling awesome instead of crabby.

Day 238 - CONGRATULATIONS! I'm on Day 17 - down a few pounds and (despite cutting myself a lot of slack on food) and I totally identify with waking up feeling great - can't believe the good mood I'm in by the time I get to work, and it's not like I love my job. It's been a lot easier than I thought it would be, despite having my first true cravings this weekend. Socially, it's been easy - it's more habits at home that are hard to break. Especially with this weekend's great weather - all I could picture was sitting on the front porch with a beer or glass or rose in hand and savoring the evening. Got through it, but was a bit humbled after such a smooth start.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ Ugh, no.

Annie Grace's alcohol experiment.

OP do this: Annie Grace’s the alcohol experiment online. Sign up; it’s free. Listen to the webcasts each day and journal a little - it’s anonymous.
There’s no judgment, and you don’t have to commit to giving up alcohol. You don’t even have to stop drinking before you start the experiment.

Just 30 days.

I did it almost exactly a year ago and I actually haven’t had a drink of alcohol since , although I didn’t enter it at the time thinking I was going to cut back completely. As I did the experiment though, I realized I didnt want to drink any more.

I came across this thread a couple of weeks ago while looking for something else in the forum, but the subject line rang true.

A huge thank you to everyone who recommended Annie Grace's 30-Day Alcohol Experiment. I started it the next day and am on day 14 now. I feel great and I love the approach.

That's great! I'm on day 238. But who's counting?! I've lost 15pounds without doing anything else, my skin looks great, and I wake up feeling awesome instead of crabby.

^^^Doh, I meant good luck to both you and PP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This was me, and I decided to confront my issue for what it was and deal with it as such - a problem. Today I am one month sober! I go to A.A., have a sponsor, and work the program. It is working for me and I feel great. Good on you for wanting to make a change, OP.

+1. Good for you OP - reaching out in whatever form is a great first step. Best of luck to both of you and PP

Anonymous wrote:No judgement at at ALL- i've been there.

But don't brush this off as a no-big-deal.

You need a lifestyle change- either hire a live in nanny or do Whole 30 or do SOMETHING - but this is a big red flag that your lifestyle is not working, and you need to go get a checkup and talk to your doctor. Sneaking drinking is dangerous and alcoholism can ruin your entire family's lives.

+1 especially about the sneaking. That is really troubling.

No judgement at at ALL- i've been there.

But don't brush this off as a no-big-deal.

You need a lifestyle change- either hire a live in nanny or do Whole 30 or do SOMETHING - but this is a big red flag that your lifestyle is not working, and you need to go get a checkup and talk to your doctor. Sneaking drinking is dangerous and alcoholism can ruin your entire family's lives.