Drinking too much

koolpc · 8 Jan 2019 at 19:13

Anyone drink too much? If so, why?

For me, i got arressted twice in 2018 for drinking too much / harrassing ex.

Yea, bad i know but getting divorced after 31 years together is extremely tough to say the least.

I made myself a promise not to drink in 2019. Already failed! Why? Sad, down, depressed.

I turn to drink to hide from reality but it makes my depression worse.

Anyone elese experience the same?

Ayahuasca · 8 Jan 2019 at 19:16

I enjoy drinking, even to excess but I would never turn to it as a solution. Hangovers are enough to realise it will only serve to make your mental health worse if consumed regularly.

Randomface74 · 8 Jan 2019 at 19:20

2019 starts tomorrow, so ur good. gl

LOAM · 8 Jan 2019 at 19:24

I often wondered if I was drinking too much so I quit in September 2017. Initially it was going to be just for a month to see if I could I guess and I never bothered starting again.

I don't miss it unless I'm out socialising (rare these days). If I fancy a beer I have found some really good alcohol free wheat beer so I have one of them.

VincentHanna · 8 Jan 2019 at 19:27

Admitting you have a problem is a good first step

https://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/About-AA/Newcomers

I wish you luck.

Puzzled · 8 Jan 2019 at 19:31

LOAM said:
If I fancy a beer I have found some really good alcohol free wheat beer so I have one of them.

Which one if you don't mind me asking.

I don't drink a lot these days and rarely to excess but soft drinks in general are pretty rubbish compared to a beer.

paradigm · 8 Jan 2019 at 19:32

Wouldn’t say I ever drank “too much” barring say the odd Xmas party when I was younger. In recent years I’ve only been a couple of pints a week and maybe a nice bottle of wine with a nice meal kind of drinker.

That said I have currently stopped drinking, not touched a drop since before Christmas due to illness, not bothered about having a drink either, so I’m at least going to see January out if not longer than that.

azazl187 · 8 Jan 2019 at 19:34

Drinking too much is something that i visit every now and again until i have this massive bender and then i dont drink for a few weeks again. Having young children doesnt help though, as in you dont really have the opportunity to drink too much and have a late night out as they are always up at 6:30 no matter what and you have no time to nurse a hang over let alone get someone round to look after the kids when you are out.

I think your issues go a little deeper though, you are turning to drink as a resolution and that is always going to end badly fella. I know a few older guys that went down that route and they are no use to man nor beast now as they need the drink to keep going. You dont want that i can assure you. I think the fact you are reaching out here is healthy and shows some strength of character. Take that strength and get over your 31 years of marriage and im sure you will be all the better for it. If you waste time wallowing in a dark drinking hole for too long you will regret it.

I understand it sounds harsh but you know it makes sense.

Megahurtz400 · 8 Jan 2019 at 19:35

koolpc said:
Anyone drink too much? If so, why?

For me, i got arressted twice in 2018 for drinking too much / harrassing ex.

Yea, bad i know but getting divorced after 31 years together is extremely tough to say the least.

I made myself a promise not to drink in 2019. Already failed! Why? Sad, down, depressed.

I turn to drink to hide from reality but it makes my depression worse.

Anyone elese experience the same?

I’ve never drank too much, binged every Friday/Saturday night a few years ago but grew out of it and now the only time I have more than one or two is a stag do or similar event where it kind of revolves around the booze.

Get some professional help if you need it mate, I believe you can quit it!

Slam62 · 8 Jan 2019 at 19:37

Divorced after 31 years is a massive shock,

All I can do is wish you well, you have to find your own way.

This is obviously going to be difficult and take a long time.

413x · 8 Jan 2019 at 19:38

I' ffortunate I don' aactually enjoy drinking. Saves so much money and I avoid nights out

Housey · 8 Jan 2019 at 19:38

I rarely drink these days but it seems that is not common in my friends and colleagues who all seem to drink a few times a week. I’m maybe 4-5 times a year blow out, 20 times light social and the odd glass when I want, but rare. I hardly drank a drop over the Christmas period.

However if it is impacting you as the OP suggest you need help and support. Don’t be ashamed as you have acknowledged it now. But do seek help as a drunk angry fool is just that. Good luck OP, life is a battle.

Dis86 · 8 Jan 2019 at 19:38

I lost a friend last year to drink. He was incredibly intelligent, charismatic and talented. He ****ed it all away. I know I shouldn't be but I'm still angry with him. He should have known better. I should have done more to help him.

ScoTTyBEEE · 8 Jan 2019 at 19:40

Gave up for 2 years until Nov. last year. Since then I've drunk on 3 occasions and got totally sfaced each time. Took me 2 days to recover from each one and I've realised I can't drink in moderation and I don't even enjoy it that much anymore. Life without alcohol is so much less complicated for me.

Also lost a friend to drink last year and if you have any feeling you may go down that rabbit hole then stop now as I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

Junglist · 8 Jan 2019 at 19:42

I think everyone needs a vice in life. I don't really drink very often and can probably go the entirety of my life without another sip of alcohol and I wouldn't miss it. Smoking however, that has a grip on me.

bowey · 8 Jan 2019 at 19:43

I come from a family full of heavy heavy drinkers, obviously from an early age I drank and still do to this day, I give it up last October and November.. First two weeks were hell to be honest third week I literally felt like why on earth did I even drink? The full of November I loved it I felt so much better, December 3rd I had a pint of coors light and I absolutely loved it and went bezerk with the drink again, back to square one.

Chojin · 8 Jan 2019 at 19:46

I received a bottle of whisky about 10 years ago which was pretty much untouched, but since Christmas has barely anything left. Also went through most of my backlog of rum, ginger ales, pilsners etc.

I seem to have developed a taste for all things alcohol after not really being fond of it. It's partly down to not wanting a sugary soft drink, or a change from the usual water and herbal teas I drink during the day.

Still got some bottles of red wine, mostly Carménère which is my favourite but need to buy some good steaks to go with it.

Begbie · 8 Jan 2019 at 19:47

I stopped drinking about 4/5 years ago for about 9 months. Not for any real reason, I just hated the hangovers and making a fool of myself. These days, I save it for big events or going on holiday. I still drink, if a friend visits or maybe some wine with dinner. But I now go months without drinking anything. I feel no need to drink all the time.

Maybe that's age, some say I'm boring but I think I'm less boring now.

LOAM · 8 Jan 2019 at 19:47

MonkeyMan said:
Which one if you don't mind me asking.

I don't drink a lot these days and rarely to excess but soft drinks in general are pretty rubbish compared to a beer.

It's the franziskaner version, to me it tastes exactly the same as the real version which I always liked.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Franziskaner-Alcohol-Free-Beer-Case/dp/B071JV6YP8

It's available from Sainsbury's as well.

explicit4u · 8 Jan 2019 at 19:49

I’d hazard a guess that most people are drinking to forget or escape some part of their life.

I’ve been in that boat before and it’s awful, you feel good when you do so you continue but as the op mentioned you start to push it too far and because inhibitions disappear you see how troubled you are. This is when you should seek help (preferably before you do harm but it’s a wake up call at least).

It’s not a solution, just a very easy to obtain and in some circles acceptable way to numb pain. If you even have a fleeting thought that you drink too much, take it seriously and seek help. I’d recommend talking to a therapist and getting to the bottom of why exactly you drink to excess, and take action.

Nowadays it’s mostly social, sometimes to excess but that’s rarely the intention it just happens and that’s usually when I tell myself to stop and start to sober up or at least slow down enough to be fully ‘present’.