Made a decision at 3 am this morning to do something about my drinking. Over the past 4 -5 years I've easily got through at least one bottle of wine each evening ( sometimes one & a half) My partner also drinks, but we only drink in the evenings, at home. Had a chat with my doctor 3 months ago - he didn't seem too worried and my liver functiontest came back normal.
BUT I don't like the way thjings are - I wake frequently during the night and feel so guilty. The worrying thing is: the drink doesn't seem to make me feel ill , just drowsy (relaxed???)

Anyway, I'm going to give it a shot and see how I get on.
Anyone got any tips / words of encouragement??

Thanks

I stumbled across your forum when I was looking for advice on how to stop drinking. I have been drinking heavily for many years now and I only stopped during when pregnant. I tend to drink once or twice a week but I will drink 1 or sometimes 2 bottles of wine in one night. I then smoke (which I hate) and always feel like crap the next day. I want to stop before it ruins my whole life. I look at other people who do not drink and dont need it to relax or have a good time and I want to be like them. I do not want to join AA but could do with some help -

I am a 39 year old woman whose mother has had a drink problem for 34 or more years.
Its NOT just you who drinking affects its the people near and dear to you.
So please please try to give it up i am living proof you dont need a drink to be happy as i gave it up 8 years ago i never was a binge drinker.
But now if i smell alchahol it makes me feel sick.
I so wish you well maybe you and your partner can do it together?

good luck

Hi marthasnan,

Well done for making this decision. I made the same deicsion last week. I had tried to give up drinking (or drink less) before, just by using my own willpower, and i couldn't make it work. I could stop for a couple of days, but over the longer term I just went back to my old habits.

Last week I bought a downloadable CD from David Allen's site: http://www.nlp-hypnotherapy.biz/Default.asp?Page=3-3

What a difference it has made. This has been the first week for many years when I have had less than the recommended 14 units of alcohol per week. I still enjoy the odd glass, but I have just not had the urge to drink more. It's been wonderful.

My advice? You've done the most difficult part, in decisind you want to do something different. Recognise that it's going to be tough to do it by your own willpower alone. I'd try hypnotherapy / NLP / EFT. They really are fast. No protracted counselling sessions, and you don't even have to go for totoal abstinence.

Good luck.
The Lovely

Thank You for letting me know about the cd I have downloaded it and your right alcohol just does not seem important anymore.many thanks again

Hi marthasnan,

During my years as a student I used to get through a fair bit of alcohol and one day decided that I was gonna stop putting my liver through its paces!

I found it really beneficial to go without alcohol for a couple of weeks then just have a few drinks one or two evenings. Then go again without it for a couple of weeks and so on. It really made a difference, I felt "cleansed" inside!

Good luck!