Postby secondtimer » Tue Dec 03, 2013 2:38 pm
Well done on being brave enough to post here, to recognise that you need to change something and to begin to put those changes in motion.
I am an experienced addictions counsellor and would agree with the PP that many individuals 'self medicate' when they are trying to meet another need. (Freedom from Addiction, by the Human Givens Institute is a good self help text in this area) Next time you wish to drink consider HALT and ask yourself, Am I Hungry? Angry? Lonely? Tired?... you may still end up having a glass of wine but you will become more aware of your triggers.
I would agree with another PP that it can also be hard to cut back and you may find going 'cold turkey' an easier option. AA have a saying that you control the first drink but after that it controls you. That's not to say its impossible though... For example, if you abstained from heavy drinking whilst pregnant then you have personal evidence that you are able to cut back for a prolonged period of time if sufficiently motivated to do so. Writing out some STOP cards or wearing an elastic band that you snap when you go to pour that second glass may be helpful.
The drinks diary on the drinkaware website is a good tool to monitor how many units you are drinking each week and to set yourself goals for alcohol days or unit limits. There are also tips for cutting back on drinking evenings.. for example by alternating with water, drinking weaker wines or diluting using soda water.
Finally, if your GP is able to refer you to a counsellor then CBT (Cognitive Behavoural Therapy) is particularly useful in the field of addictions as it helps you link your thought patterns to your actions. There is a whole heap of CBT self help material on the internet too, I guess some people like to work with a third party and others prefer to do it independently.
I hope this is useful. Best of luck with the job changes and cutting back.