New and terrified

[RocketLass]

Hi everyone, super new here and I find it scary even writing this.

For a little while I’ve known I’ve had an issue with drinking, I’m very partial to drinking on my own (swigging out of the bottle in secret) but never one to drink in a morning but I definitely can’t stop when I start sometimes.

A few years ago I broke my neck drunk and even that didn’t change things. My social life is all based around drinking, we all love to go to parties and raves and I’m worried that I will lose my close friendships if I don’t drink and worried I won’t enjoy social situations.

Do people think it’s possible to cut down but not stop completely? I want to still drink but have more control and not use it as a coping mechanism.

Any advice really welcomed!

[SoberDrunk1]

Unfortunately, if you are an alcoholic, you cannot moderate. The worst part is when you want stay stopped you can’t, your mind keeps tricking you back into drinking. In your case, the neck injury didn’t keep you stay stopped. You will have to look back honestly and look at the drinking career. See how many times you wanted to stay stopped but your mind never obliged. The chapter more about alcoholism in the book Alcoholics Anonymous is a great eye opener for many.

[LilyAnnepuppy Ambassador]

I’m sorry I can’t help you moderate. I tried that, but failed miserably. If you find you can't moderate, try Alcoholics Anonymous. It works for me.

[WilliamG]

If you can, try your best to moderate and do some controlled drinking. Maybe you can “drink like a gentleman.” If it works, my hat’s off to you (as they say). If you find you can’t moderate, you’ll at least have your answer.