Can't make a clean break
 

Trying to stop drinking ,best stretch so far was 4 days. I feel like I have cut back on the amount and I am more aware of how much I am drinking but I keep finding excuses.this past Friday had friends over for pizza ,drank one bottle of red wine. Felt awful the next day,but went out for dinner and had 2 beers and half a bottle of white wine on sat night.well Sunday comes and I am feeling really tired but committed to an Oktoberfest and drank again.i don't know how to not drink around people who drink.i don't want to not socialize,but it always involves alcohol. I do feel so much better when I don't drink. But I also enjoy those first few drinks. I do crave alcohol. Can I be a sometimes drinker?:thanks

I think only you know the answer to that question as to whether you can be a sometime drinker. I have been tracking my alcohol intake for a little over a year, and I was not happy with what I saw. My longest stretch was 27 days, and now I am on Day 1 again. My friends do not think I have an issue with alcohol, but I know that I have been abusing it and using it as a crutch. While I may not be an alcoholic yet, I never know when I might cross that line. I think you are wise in seeking out advice here, and I think you will get a lot of support regardless of what decisions you make.

And if you friends will only be friends with you because you drink or if you only have to do "drinking" activities, maybe it's time to find some new friends or find some new activities you can do together that don't involve alcohol.

I do think that being self-aware is the first step, so maybe quitting today isn't the answer, but start tracking and start journaling about when/why/how much you were drinking and see what it sparks in you.

I'm only on Day 5, so take this with a grain of salt, but I would suggest figuring out if you really want to stop drinking or not. If you're trying and keep finding excuses, maybe that tells you something...even if you want to stop, cut back, etc. you're not able to. And you feel better when you don't drink, yet you continue. I can completely relate to those feelings, but I'm an alcoholic. If you think you're an alcoholic too, you may want to consider taking a break from drinking events and making a decision about whether you're going to stop drinking or not. Take care.

You crave alcohol.....NO you cant be a sometimes drinker

there is no such thing as moderation

alcoholism is a progressive diesease it will kill you in end

sometimes drinker no thanks not even for a trillion pounds

Do a search for the word moderation if you have any doubt about the liklihood of it working for you

I am an alcoholic. More is always better. Always is better than sometimes. I will never stop at one. Or two. Or ten. So, I just don't start at all.

Bunnez

Bear I've struggled with that question for two years now, and for me the answer always comes up "no." And I've tried to force the answer to be "yes," believe me. And it's just exhausting. So, so much easier to just let the answer be "no" (and yet so difficult :)) Anyway, can't speak for you, but I agree with kristen from painful experience that there IS a line, it's very hard to see, and once you cross it, the game changes. Change the game first if you can my friend.

Hi bearbaby :)

I know I couldn't be a sometimes drinker...I couldn't even be a feel good...stop there drinker either.

Sounds like your life is pretty much wound up in social events involving alcohol right now?

To what extent are you prepared to change that? :dunno

D

Welcome to the Forum!! :wave:

For me I had to put socialising on hold for a few months, what was more important was having a clean break from alcohol, but that meant changing the activities I got involved in and the people I hung out with.

You gotta make some changes to make it happen!!