WorkingForTheMan Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 As title really. I think I may have a binge drinking problem. I can never stop at one or 2. I dont expect hugzzz because I know this isn't the right place for that.. Some experience would be helpful though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riedquat Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 As title really. I think I may have a binge drinking problem. I can never stop at one or 2. I dont expect hugzzz because I know this isn't the right place for that.. Some experience would be helpful though I'm like that, although I've no intention of stopping (I just don't go out more than once a week or so). The easiest way I've found to avoid drinking too much is simply to not take enough money with me to buy more than 1 or 2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libspero Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 As title really. I think I may have a binge drinking problem. I can never stop at one or 2. I dont expect hugzzz because I know this isn't the right place for that.. Some experience would be helpful though A lot of people get carried away after a couple of drinks and end up legless... I presume you don't just mean this? If you think you have a drink problem my advice would be to speak to AA (they have local branches.. you'll find a number online). I have spoken to them about someone I know who has a drink problem and they were very helpful.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Sacks Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 Me too. I decided to stop by going to meet a personal trainer for a workout every evening for a few weeks. (I told them what I was doing.) I'm too polite to turn up drunk (or not turn up) so it broke the habit. I have tried having "just one" or "just a social drink" since, but found those stressful and unenjoyable. So I've just outright quit. Yeah, I've quit too, not that I really had a problem but I do feel much better for not putting my body under that stress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitarman001 Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 I have a cider maybe once every 2-3 months. I don't like the taste of beer, it costs a lot, gives you a beer belly and you feel like crap the day after! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gigantic Purple Slug Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 I drink maybe 1 mall bottle of beer a night on average (sometimes 2, sometimes 0). Ocassionally I will do a month off the booze (at least once per year) to detox. I find that if I exercise hard I don't want to drink, but I haven't been doing that lately because I have been too busy working. Soon though I will go back to that and the drink consumption will go down. Pay attention to how much booze you consume. It creeps up on you, then it's difficult to stop. I know a few people 40+ who drink 30 odd pints a week. It's not good for you and ******s you up. Edit : If you give up for a month your body becomes less good at dealing with it, so you only want a small amount. Then just don't build back up to the larger amount again. Be aware people will try to sabotage this process and call you stupid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
interestrateripoff Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 What are you deeming as binge drinking? I've been in a few talks where doctors say drinking 4 pints is binge drinking. If I go out I usually have 5 pints. However if you do have a serious problem I hope that you beat it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WorkingForTheMan Posted October 3, 2011 Author Share Posted October 3, 2011 ok, seeing as you have all being pleasant and non-judgemental so far, I will tell you the reasons I am considering quitting: [*]I always drink to excess, stopping only when I've run out of money or the bars close [*]I always spend far more than I intend to, and its actually making me quite skint at the moment [*]I always end up saying or doing something I regret while drunk [*]It badly affects my sleep [*]It seriously depresses me the following day (hangover/regret) [*]I'm beginning to get a bad reputation with friends and colleagues [*]I feel like I've got into a habit and am wasting my life doing this every weekend /list] those things make me think I have a problem that I need to sort. Its not just a simple case of getting a bit too drunk now and again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gigantic Purple Slug Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 The badly affects sleep is the only and sole reason that I would alike to stop. I awake at c3am every night after just a half bottle of wine, and literally stay awake for about 2 hours each time. Never hungover, never pissed just having my life affected a lot by being tired and irritable. I seriously reckon you should consider speaking to someone..... +1. In addition I would recommend going to somewhere that has professional experience in dealing with it. Don't just chat with a mate who may well be in the same situation but less willing to admit that they (or you) have an issue you need to deal with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
up2late Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 I stopped drinking about 10 years ago because the booze was affecting my health. One of the most important things I did was to cut ties with my old drinking buddies. It's quite a leap to cut yourself off from your network of friends but now I look back, I had nothing in common with them apart from a common desire to get p*ssed so it was no loss, really. I went to a local group who were based on REBT. This takes a more clinical approach than AA's spiritual approach but a lot of the core truths remain the same. It's always good to talk things through with others. Especially when it's all new to you. I smoked cannabis regularly to help me through the early days and then my cannabis use just tailed off over the next few years.More info 10 years on and I'd never want my old life back. It's up to you to decide whether alcohol is holding you back, but if you are feeling uncomfortable with how you are drinking, then it probably is. All the best with whatever you decide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longtomsilver Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 As title really. I think I may have a binge drinking problem. I can never stop at one or 2. I dont expect hugzzz because I know this isn't the right place for that.. Some experience would be helpful though It's almost impossible to find balance when you're a drinker - there is no middle ground you either are or aren't. I used to binge *** BIG TIME *** for most of my twenties, mostly at the w/ends but then the whole week was geared up to those special nights of blowing £££s on drinks and I was only too happy to buy my friends a round or two so that I couldn't consider it a problem - for five years I was easily spending £200-300 a week 'socialising'. There are moments of temperance (longest so far is two years) and then a few blow-outs on genuine special occasions such at weddings, homecomings (friends serving oversees) etc etc this does not lead me back into temptation. My current situation is that I am hitting it quite hard now (for a lightweight) after a few years of drinking 2-4 bottles of Guinness at the w/ends only in the home I have now gone on the vodka.... ostensibly to cut back the units i.e. 35ml 1unit as opposed to a 1.7x on 330ml of beer mixed with energy drinks, tonic water and orange juice I am currently churning through a 1.5 litre bottle every week. It's all or nothing I'm afraid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Masked Tulip Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 As others have commented, if you think you have a problem then talking to an expert in this field is important. Your GP should be able to point you in the right direction but it sounds like a sit down with AA is the way to go. Ask yourself if it is the alcohol that is the problem or whether the drinking is a symptom of something else - anxiety, depression, past hurts, guilt, etc. Best of luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WorkingForTheMan Posted October 3, 2011 Author Share Posted October 3, 2011 Ask yourself if it is the alcohol that is the problem or whether the drinking is a symptom of something else - anxiety, depression, past hurts, guilt, etc. Boredom i think! seriously. On saturday despite promising myself a sober weekend I had done all my chores etc by lunchtime and thought "well, what now?". Then my friend invited me for a beer. The rest is history. Got in sometime on Sunday am! I don't have any hobbies as such, but theres always someone who's up for a pint. But as I say, its never just one.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccc Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 I love bevvy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Masked Tulip Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 Boredom i think! seriously. On saturday despite promising myself a sober weekend I had done all my chores etc by lunchtime and thought "well, what now?". Then my friend invited me for a beer. The rest is history. Got in sometime on Sunday am! I don't have any hobbies as such, but theres always someone who's up for a pint. But as I say, its never just one.. Well, that in itself is a kind of issue or problem isn't it. It sounds as if you probably could easily change your ways by taking up 1 or 2 hobbies/pastimes. Not only can you have something to occupy your time, make you happy by having something to look forward to, but it will bring in a new circle of friends and expand your horizons. It could be a sport, hobby, anything... but not drinking... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longtomsilver Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 My hobby is golf, which is not a help for a drinker! Take up fishing. Fishing must be 10x worse than playing golf for drinking. I am also drinking because i'm bored and have a stressful time running the household with two kids to look after. One is always demanding/screaming for something. I'll revert back to sobriety when I get downtime to do my hobbies : paragliding, mountain biking and renew my PPL. Above everything else I rate paragliding Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libspero Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 Boredom i think! seriously. On saturday despite promising myself a sober weekend I had done all my chores etc by lunchtime and thought "well, what now?". Then my friend invited me for a beer. The rest is history. Got in sometime on Sunday am! I don't have any hobbies as such, but theres always someone who's up for a pint. But as I say, its never just one.. I'm really no expert but the acid test to whether you have a drink problem is whether you are in control. If you can genuinely stop drinking for protracted periods and not miss it then I would say you are pretty safe, but it sounds as though you get bored and agitated without drink, and despite actively trying to find alternatives your mind ends up subconsciously homing in on it again. The person I know who had a drink problem did exactly the same.. he would stop for a while, clean the house, "sort his life out".. then get bored and talk himself into a drink which would always end up as a bender. If this sounds too familiar for comfort I would either make a concerted effort to stop for a protracted period, or call AA for a chat. They are really nice guys, you wouldn't be wasting their time.. they would be happy to help you understand if you genuinely have a problem or not. It's what they're there for Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rantnrave Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 I have never quit drinking because I never started... At the age of 14, the family went to a European campsite and my folks got sick from drinking really nasty plonk. I had to nurse them back to health over the next few days, in a foreign country, which added another dimension to the situation too. Made an impression on me as a lad and I vowed then to never drink. Have kept to that over the years. I was out most nights at uni with mates. Had a great time without blowing a fortune and I can actually remember the good times and natural highs. I still go out to pubs now, will have a lemonade, or if it's still early a hot drink. I guess I'm not a shy person, so don't need a drink to give me confidence, break the ice etc. EDIT - just reread the above and thought it could read as really arrogant. It's not meant that way. I have no problem with others who want / like the odd drink and consume it responsibly. It's my choice not to and I just wanted to point out that life can be enjoyed without alcohol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichB Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 Good luck. Friend of mine just died as a result of alcoholic liver disease. I managed to give up booze entirely for 6 months at the beginning of the year, didn't really miss it. Somehow slipped back into it. Giving up was easy - I just felt full, like I'd had enough. Reckon without that feeling it would be pretty tough, but it's time to give it a go I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thod Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 So do teetotalers live longer? Not according to all the scientific research. You would need to consume a bottle of wine a day to be worse off than a teetotaler. Moderate drinkers live longer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Generation Game Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 It's almost impossible to find balance when you're a drinker - there is no middle ground you either are or aren't. I used to binge *** BIG TIME *** for most of my twenties, mostly at the w/ends but then the whole week was geared up to those special nights of blowing £££s on drinks and I was only too happy to buy my friends a round or two so that I couldn't consider it a problem - for five years I was easily spending £200-300 a week 'socialising'. There are moments of temperance (longest so far is two years) and then a few blow-outs on genuine special occasions such at weddings, homecomings (friends serving oversees) etc etc this does not lead me back into temptation. My current situation is that I am hitting it quite hard now (for a lightweight) after a few years of drinking 2-4 bottles of Guinness at the w/ends only in the home I have now gone on the vodka.... ostensibly to cut back the units i.e. 35ml 1unit as opposed to a 1.7x on 330ml of beer mixed with energy drinks, tonic water and orange juice I am currently churning through a 1.5 litre bottle every week. It's all or nothing I'm afraid. That's £50k right there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Self Employed Youth Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 I've cut down a hell of a lot recently, from everyday drinking 6-8 pints (since been 13). to drinking a couple once a week. Although it's more to do with the current money situation than anything else, and a lack of homebrew for a fortnight! I haven't felt bad at all. I wouldn't worry. Just stop for a few days and see how you feel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darkman Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 I dont expect hugzzz because I know this isn't the right place for that.. That's a funny quote But anyway, I think you recognise eventually whether you have an addictive personality or not. And once you know, you can deal with it accordingly. It's so easy to become reliant on alcohol. You begin to need it, otherwise you can't relax. Before you know it, you're drinking excessively every night. Personally I know I can't stop at one of *anything*. So for me it's all or nothing too. I went overboard last week, and going cold turkey since then has been hard. Reality seems hyper real when you're stone cold sober, and I've been jittery & unable to relax since then. In other words, the alcohol was taking over. I only drank in the evenings, but the effects went well into the days anyway. Ultimately, alcohol in large quantities is a waste of money and damages your health. Therefore it's a waste of your time. Either control it, or it controls you. Seek help if you really have to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longtomsilver Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 That's £50k right there! At the time it was easy come, easy go. My first job after Uni (1996) pay went up from £23k to £27k after six months and less than two years in(banking/London) it doubled again. So now as an immature 23 year old on £50k+ that made a very bad combination and I behaved irresponsibly. Usually attention seeking in W.Mids i'd put my card behind the bar and allow the tab to creep up... and to repeat the statement the next night out it'd have to go higher however my popularity with some of my friends was the inverse to what I lavished on them... I alienated a few friends especially when one time I blew £2k in ???o'neils of all places - if that isn't tasteless then I don't know what is. I'm pretty much unemployable now rough justice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Bart' Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 I have tried having "just one" or "just a social drink" since, but found those stressful and unenjoyable. So I've just outright quit. Social drinking is the only time that I do drink. Generally I might have 8 or 9 drinks during a get together, but paced over an afternoon and evening (say one per hour), so that I'm not really that affected by the alcohol. The number of times I might do that is around 7 or 8 times a year. I haven't had a drink for 6 years now and I can say that the longer you have without drink the less you miss it. If my doctor said to me "never drink again", it really wouldn't bother me at all. I only really drink to be sociable. Beer I can't stand. Larger I'll drink if someone has a can in their fridge, but it takes me ages to finish it. Most of the time I tend to drink blue concoctions like WKD or Blue Lagoons ("girlie drinks" as a colleague describes them). No alcohol at home. Even my mouthwash is alcohol free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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