Croissant

Welcome Ms Tulip!

This part of your post stood out for me, personally. I think that was one of a few signs I had early on, about 10 years ago. The delicious feeling that I "deserved" to have a nice relaxing drink when my partner wasn't yet home from work.

Then that delicious feeling turned into, "oh, I've finished over half a bottle and it's a weeknight....oh, and didn't I drink last night as well?".....then it was, "well, I've had a drink nearly every night, but not much"...

Anyway....I wish I'd had stopped sooner. Nip it in the bud if it's worrying you.

Oh...I see what I did there..ha, no pun intended, Tulip! Lol.