What is a healthy relationship with alcohol?

[Bamby3]

What is a healthy relationship with alcohol and is there a benefit between different types of alcohol when reducing consumption, e.g. Wino>cider> stop?

[Dizzytwo]

Hi, welcome to the group. drinking in moderation can work for most people.

However if you meet the diagnostic criteria for problematic drinking, then simply drinking less is easier said than done. Returning to moderate drinking rarely works for true alcoholics, and constant alcohol consumption can damage brain function, making it much more difficult to stop once they’ve started.

To me its a bit like smoking. Hard to stop once started but it can be done if you want it enough xx

Mo

ps you can lock your post to this community only if you would like to. For privacy reasons I think it's a good idea 😊

[Camper33]

Hi I am new on here and now 3 days drink free, you don't say how much you are drinking, look at the amount of units on the alcohol you mention that gives you an idea of amounts you are having, the guidelines as you probably know is 14 units per week and I was well over that, and when I start I need another as Mo mentioned. If you are drinking well over the units like me you need to try and stop all together or have breaks in the week, whatever you decide good luck.

[Bamby3 in reply to Camper33]

I just drink a bottle of white wine a week. It's a little bit more complex then that I find. I occasionally stop drinking for a month or 6 weeks and it's no problem. This time I find it more difficult. I like to drink but I have to do it alone because I'm surrounded by non drinkers and some of the comments from them seem quite self-righteous but I'm the only one with a car as well so I'm always the designated driver. I guess I'm just a little bitter and disappointed about the situation. Also I started to feel very self conscious and anxious...and I'm not sure if it's the withdrawal or something else. I find it difficult to pinpoint it.

[Smegmer in reply to Bamby3]

1 bottle of wine a week ? That might a problem if you were budgie ! Doubt very much you are having withdrawals !

[Hidden in reply to Smegmer]

Hahaha 😂😁I don't think budgies can type 😁

[Tinmanisastar in reply to Hidden]

I was drinking to excess. Not sure why but there u have it. As a former health care professional, no doubt those of us out there who still partake will be vilified and I ve been told to tell these nasty people to stop!!!. Interesting point from Paul sings one time physician. Is it not hypocritical to vilify some groups and leave others alone?

[Camper33 in reply to Bamby3]

As Smegmer said that is not a lot, wish we could just have 1 bottle per week.

[Isinatra]

A healthy relationship with alcohol is when a person can take it or leave it. They don’t have a need to ask themselves which type of alcohol is healthier because they don’t drink enough of it to matter. If a person wishes to stop drinking after reaching the stage of dependency, it’s best to stop, not try to wean themselves off. Weaning rarely works because the body isn’t being given the chance to rid itself of the alcohol. Weaning extends the physical/emotional dependency and makes it harder to stop, if at all. No matter what form the alcohol is in.

[Bamby3 in reply to Isinatra]

That's a nice reply. Thank you.

[Isinatra in reply to Bamby3]

💖.

[notmyfirstrodeo]

Hi there! I wondered if you'd thought about what you associate with the drink? I ask because for me the ritual of opening a cold drink, sitting with it, in a nice glass seems to be substituted with a glass of alcohol free (AF) lager (still in a nice glass). Could you try that? Or another AF option like a fancy mocktail or smoothie?

[54431342]

Having a healthy relationship with alcohol is like having a healthy relationship with cyanide.

[Isinatra in reply to 54431342]

I liken drinking to a game of Russian roulette. Which turn will determine who becomes addicted? The only guarantee is to not play the game.