Help! I think I have a problem with alcohol . . .?

Question

I am 36 and have always been one to like to drink, never much to excess, except for the occasional party. I am a stay at home mom and my husband works many hours. I gave up a great career and am finding myself very lonely, bored and sometimes depressed. The past few months, I am finding myself drinking . . alot! I drink to the point that I am now blacking out and by the time I get the kids to bed, I cant remember parts of the evening. I do this once a week or so, and drink to get a good buzz about 3 other days of the week too now. I am finding myself thinking of alcohol all the time, yearning for that feeling. I am so embarrassed and do not want to tell anyone, but I know some might be suspecting tho too. I am not sure where to turn or what to do. I really want to stop, I am so sick today from all I drank last night, I can barely get off the couch! I hate this feeling . . . and feel so guilty, what am I doing to my children! I really feel I have no one to turn to too. Help!

Answer 1

Try AA and a therapist. They can give you Campral for the drinking. Also think what would happen to your kids if you were trashed and there was a fire or one of them got seriously hurt. How would you feel if one died while you were intoxicated and could have saved them? Also think about what type of example you are setting for them.

Answer 2

You need to fina a support group. maybe AA or some other kind of treatment program. Find someone who you can confide in, What is the underlying reason why you are finding your release in a bottle of booze. Lonliness, boredom, a feeling of loss over your not working, or having your career? If your dealing with all this with a bottle of booze you will only fail and it will make your life even worse. Stop now before you get someone hurt or you loose your family. You need to find someone to confide in about what is troublihng you. If you can't talk to your husband, who should be your best friend, then you need to find help. Most communities have programs that will help you. You really need to find some help. before it kills you. The first step in stopping is admitting that you have a problem and you have done the first step. now find the next step and stick with it. You can also go on line to a AA program, or RR which is Rational Recovery for those who Don't believe in AA.

Answer 3

If you think you have a problem, you do! Now the issue is to find the solution and live in it! A couple responses here have advocated moderation of your alcohol consumption, i feel that is a foolish endeavor because it just lets the evil genie out of the bottle again. I mean- lets face it, if you could control what you were doing you would not be miseable and seeking help here, would you?
Go to AA.org and find meetings in your area, get the booze out of your house asap (remove temptation) and get honest with your hubby too.
You will find that most folks in the AA meetings have been where you are, felt how you feel, and have been able to deal with the guilt and shame of being powerless over alcohol.

The best definition of an alcoholic is that they are an egomaniac with an inferiority complex. Working an honest program in AA helps balance that out and heal your wounded soul.

Answer 4

Hi Michelle,
I am kind of in your situation myself. I found that during the evening if I have a few drinks of wine, it makes the boring stuff you have to do with the kids tolerable. My husband was never around either, and sometimes I truly think that the wine was the only thing that got me through. I don't have any trouble with drinking during the day'; I only want to drink between the hours of 7-10pm. If you asked me if I wanted a drink now, I could easily say no. My liver is enlarged and I am supposed to stop drinking every night, and I have cut down to 7 0z of wine a night. But I understand what you are going through. You have found a coping tool, but it's not working like it used to; in fact, it's biting you in the butt now instead of helping 100%. Try to find something else you can do for just yourself, not anyone else. Check out either AA, Rational Recovery, or Moderation Management. Try to cut your drinks with soda or something, but use the same type of glass. Good luck, and watch your liver function. The liver is a major player, and without a functioning one , you are very sick.

Answer 5

Michelle, Admitting you have a problem is the first step. However you have gone to drinking to excess, blackouts and buzzes are to excess. My concern is for your children, what happens if one of them gets hurt and your drunk, and passed out or an accidental fire?

I'm not judging you.. just bring up the reality of things. AA would be a good place to start as well as with your physician. There is no embarassment in saying you need help. The small price you pay now would be so worth it if your children never get injured or worse. I hope you seek out the help you are calling out for. You will be in my thoughts

Answer 6

Don't be embarrassed to tell someone. Everyone has an addiction to something (even if they can't admit it). I won't begin to analyze your problem with alcohol, but it sounds to me like you started drinking mainly of boredom. First, get help so you can overcome this very unhealthy habit. Not only is it bad for your body, it's a danger for your kids. Once you feel you've gotten some control over the situation, start reaching out and making yourself busy doing things you enjoy and your kids enjoy (like a parenting group, pottery class, etc.) I think that you do need help with the alcohol addiction, but I also think that if you had more people to turn to, to talk to, and more activities to keep you busy, you won't need to resort to alcohol. Good luck.

Answer 7

Well I dont think that you really need to get professional help, all you need to do is pray to the almighty for he is the only one that can help you. I also had a drinking problem years ago and i found myself drinking early in the morning and always buying liquor bottles, but i never went to the AA meeting, all i did was admit that i had a problem and prayed to God that he change me and he did. You have to learn to pray from the heart for I am praying each and every day to hel me change and I can see the change. Only you can make this change but you really have to set your mind to it. Plus your kids should be more than enough to make you realize that there is more to life than just what you are doing. Snap back into reality you wouldnt want to end up hurting your kids over some alcohol, make the change before is to late.

Answer 8

You do have a drinking problem and it can kill you. You have taken the first step by reaching out to us for help. Tell your husband if he already does not know sometimes men can be so clueless. Call AA and go to a meeting you deserve better and so do your children.

Answer 9

yea me too--have since I was 12--I,m 59 now--I cant ingest booze like a normal person--Alcoholics --booze is a compulsion to drink combined with an allergy of the body.
We drink even when we don't want to--we drink for any reason. we drink when its cold-hot raining-sun out-baby birth-death-mad-happy---etc--best part --you are among 10 million Americans that have your disease-your disease wants you dead--OH just before it kills you ,it takes everything you have.
I disagree with AA being the cure all--AA says we are not the only way out--but-after you SURRENDER and that is the word--lay down all your excuses-all your rationalizations--justifications--and masturbation--because if you do any of the 3 you are just screwing yourself---yes AA will work--like it says (Rarely have we seen a person fail that has througly followd our path)

Answer 10

Don't be ashamed. There are many women out there with the same problem. Please go see your doctor or get involved with A.A. for your sake and that of your family. Alcohol abuse rips families apart. You can do it, but you have to be the first one to take the step and by reading your post, it seems to be going into the right direction. Stay strong.