I have been reading lots of posts on here. Some really lovely helpful people supporting one another which is great to see. I decided to tell my story. I am 41 and a fitness fanatic... who drinks too much! How does that work, eh? I walk, run, swim, cycle and lift weights. Then after that I drink about 10 units a night, 4-5 nights a week. Have done for about 10 years now. Why? Just habit I guess! I usually do Dry Jan which is helpful to 'reset' my drinking. This year I thought oh what's the point? January is a miserable month... why make it worse, right?! Anyway, there was a weekend in January where I got very drunk with friends and the next day realised I had drunk half a bottle of rum and 2 beers in one evening. I felt so ashamed. Then had a few drinks the following night as well! I thought ok I won't drink Monday. But I did. Because I couldn't face a sober evening. That's when I realised I had a bit of a problem on my hands. So I downloaded the Drink Aware app and made the pledge not to drink on Mon/Tue/Wed. The first week was bad (I am diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder since age 20) I felt really anxious. Week 2: I feel more confident I can do this. I just go to the gym instead. So it's going ok but still early days. I definitely drink to switch off anxiety. But the exercise helps with that a lot. I'm really hoping I can moderate. But we shall see! Thank you for reading!
Half a bottle of Rum is 14 units. Your 10 units a night X5 does build up to quite a bit in a week. I would aim to stop in the week and just go to gym and maybe just drink weekend, reverse the order and you would be down to about 20 units then for the whole week.
Welcome to the site. And I’m glad you decided to post. I’m not able to help you moderate, as I’m a failure at that. But I applaud your attempt at addressing your problem. I needed to try everything I could to control my drinking. You may need to, too. And I wish you success.
One suggestion is to keep checking in here and reporting on your progress. It helps me when I’m accountable. Plus you may get some tips.
ok... I love this one! It originated several centuries ago in France when the weavers demanded a pay rise. They did not get a pay rise so they threw their wooden clogs (sabots) into the loom to stop it working!
hi and welcome I drink on a Saturday it`s my few hours of escaping reality stick with the fitness routine and maybe take up another hobby on days you want a drink.
I was reading on another mental health platform that over exercising was actually making the person worse with anxiety but they found a routine that had a better life balance combined with the fitness.
You've made a good start and we're glad to support you. Drinking to ease anxiety is not uncommon, and most of us would drink to avoid something in my opinion, we've all had our problems here, so you're in the right place.
Post as often as you need to, our friendly members are a great support to everyone.
Chloe
oh my god you really do sound like me! I also get SAD. I double my citalopram dose Nov to March. I get terrible depression in Dec/Jan. Sometimes suicidal thoughts. But I force myself to exercise. I mean I really have to force myself on the cold, dark nights. I also get neck pain from front crawl but I do other strokes as well to avoid repetitive strain.
I have found when I drank every night I didn't really enjoy it, I just did it. I also on more occasions than I want to remember, got drunk, showed myself up and spent the next day or week feeling ashamed! I was the life and soul of every gathering but not so popular when not drinking, I was the entertainment that made others feel better about themselves! Now with the help of my husband my drinking is kept to weekends and we share a bottle or two of wine over the weekend ,so no binge drinking. Last weekend we just had one bottle between us which I did savour and enjoy but found I did not want anymore on the Sunday , so what I have realised is that in time our body can get used to less and then I registered how much better I was feeling and sleeping and coping without alcohol in the week. and how much more it was actually enjoyed occasionally. So there are benefits to not drinking in excess but you have to be patient cos at first the urge to drink is strong, it is a habit that has to be reigned in and maybe replaced with something healthy but satisfying .
However, if you have got a real alcoholic problem then total abstinence is the only way. It sounds like you can stop for long periods but I also do know a alcoholic that could also stop for weeks at a time but once he had that next glass he went on a binge and drinking was out of control for long periods .
Thank you for your reply. What I'm finding so interesting is that everyone has a different drinking style. I have two large (and I mean large!) rums and one small beer. Then that's enough and I go to bed. I hate being drunk. I like to be 'comfortably numb'. To switch off. A friend of mine was a different type of drinker. Once she started she really couldn't stop. She wanted total oblivion. She'd go missing for days. It was such a worry. She went to AA and it saved her life. She asked me: how can you stop once you start? I said I just do. Our brains must be wired differently! But you see now, she has stopped completely and looks & feels great! We all have to do what works for us.
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Also it's great that you have learnt to moderate. This is my aim. Sorry I went off on a tangent there!
That is a good idea!
I'm 41. I've been this way (anxious and with SAD) all my adult life. It has got easier to cope as I've got older. It runs in my family. My Mum's drinking style was to drink then sing then cry then throw up. I lived with that for years! You'dve thought I learnt something from that. Lol!
. So many things to relate to in your story. It’s a shock (I found) when summing up how much drinking is happening. Couldn’t face dry Jan either. Found this space and great supportive members. Hope it helps 👍💪
Sorry - only just seen this! I have been very busy doing lots of work on the house. I am doing fine thank you, enjoying my non-drinking days now they are a habit. I feel better for it. Because it's cold, I just go to bed earlier. How are you?
I think you are in the right direction. Best way to know if you are an alcoholic or not, is to, abstain from alcohol for a good period of time. Say about a year. You will then be able to asses the mental state of youself during that period. Are you restless irritable or discontented. If anxiety and boredom and depression is at its peak, you feel hopeless, all this could be due to un-treated alcoholism. This is where the 12 steps of AA can help alcoholics. We address the root cause. The spiritual malady.
Hi... I'm new to this.. just today actually. Your post really resonated with me. We are a similar age, both fitness fanatics... I often wonder how healthy I'd be if not for my daily bottle of wine.. I do it because my job is stressful, I'm a single mum of 3, my eldest has ADHD and quite frankly I do it to switch off my anxiety. I'm on Sertraline and have found the combination of that and wine means I sleep 9 hours per night, when u don't drink I seem to wake after 5 or 6... Anyway did a few alcohol free days earlier this month and woke up sweating like crazy, had to wash all my bed linen... Also had really vivid dreams, very detailed, then convinced myself I might die from withdrawal having watch some stuff in YouTube so got wine and have drank most days again since. I really want to stop.
Welcome to the community. Keep checking in and let us know how you’re doing. Maybe write your own post. Don’t forget to lock it (at the bottom of the post there’s a choice for “community only”.
I can relate to your habits. I too am heavily involved in exercise, I cycle to work and do up to 42 miles per week. Fitness is a huge part of my life. I too have been using the NHS drink free days and my pledges keep me focused. I wondered how you are getting on as its been 7 months since you posted this.
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Hi all, I’m new here!
Loser
reflection since New Year’s Day 
