Thanks for posting Hudson. I've been sober for several years and believe it or not I still don't ever really know what to say, so say what you want, and just talk about your drinking problem, is what I would say.

My drinking problem was alcoholism. I was helped by AA, but found this site years ago, and have been using it for a while, even though it's not AA.

I drank for many reasons, physically I craved more when I did drink, so there is one reason, and mentally it was a brief escape from a world I felt was cold, unfriendly, and hard to manage in.

I found that being completely honest with others who problem drank as well, allowed me to accept it all, both my drinking and how hard it was to manage in this world, and that allowed me to receive the help I needed to have enough strength to accept that it doesn't have to be an option, especially if I decided it was a problem, going forward.

I would sit down with myself and ask myself why do I drink wine a few times a week? I know when I asked myself why do I obsess over drinking beer and whiskey so much, the answer I found was I liked to do it over living life, and for some reason that gave me enough clarity to see that not everybody thinks that way, and some people actually enjoy life, so that gave me hope that I might be a bit abnormal in wanting to be drunk more than wanting or realizing life can be lived sober.

Since I've stopped drinking I've found that this life usually has very simple solutions when we think are problems are so big, and addressing my alcoholism daily, has turned out to be a very simple solution to a life that once was unlivable and completely unmanageable being straight up total misery.

I personally would post a lot, and who cares how long or short it is, being all in on a solution, and giving an all out effort in my experience will take you a long way in becoming exactly the person you want to be in recovery.

Have a nice day.

Welcome to the group, MHudson!

Like Frederic said, it's hard sometimes to figure out what to say... but you reaching out for help and realizing a problem is a huge step.

For me, the admission to myself, to my loved ones and to this group that I am indeed an alcoholic made the difference. I quit drinking and I haven't looked back. I wasn't a daily drinker either, but I definitely had a problem.

I'm sure that some of the advice you will get is to start AA, go to meetings, etc. I personally didn't do that, but that system has helped so, so many people. I think it is an excellent option to consider. Take the path that you feel is right for you, and if I can be of any help whatsoever, feel free to ask - feel free to friend me - whatever you're comfortable with.

Thank you Frederick, for the quick response, and the suggestions. I am much quicker to pour a glass of wine than pause to think about why I'm doing it. I'll give it a try, and then add a post discussing what I came up with. Thanks again.

Thank you itsabouttime. Your profile name is inspirational. Never say never, but I don't think AA, is for me. I know it's helped many, many people though.

I'm not much of a social media user. How does friending work? Thanks again.

My dads dad, my grandfather moved to the us from Scandinavia in 1920’s. For centuries there was no booze in the blood because there was no wheat or barley or potato’s or grapes grown in that clime, they fished. Soooo long story short, in US, my grandad would drink more that his share and get in trouble when booze was in the equation... he told me a story about how he was drinking on a train and almost was run over upon exiting, he said the train knocked his briefcase out of his hand and spun him around narrowly escaping. He didn’t drink again, but he was still an ash ole. My dad was about 40 and was talking to my mom about the party they attended last night, he was so thankful they got a ride home ... but she’s said no we didn’t, you drove... he struggled and finally was able to quit.

Alcohol is a drug and 90 percent of the population can have one or ... none and be satisfied... 10 percent have one and this craving phenonon kicks in... we want more and more because our body’s are different.

How was/is your parents and family relationship with booze. It’s not my fault but I am an alcoholic, that simply put is booze and me are trouble.

It’s heavy thought, but wine is a drug and once addicted the effect is so alluring that it takes a train to get in between me and it. I decided I just better not start and that’s made my life longer by 9 years so far...

Best, but I have to say the 90 percent don’t ask if they have an issue, so if the wine is a problem I can say this, it will never be not an issue because the body and mind have begun to rely on it to survive

Wine is what took my mother's life at the young age of 52 from alcoholic liver sirosis. I was just a kid back then and being an adult child of an alcoholic parent, acoa for short,caused all kinds of mental health issues as an adult, culminating in my own addiction to drugs and alcohol. By the grace of God I am alive today and happier then I have ever been but it took alot of work to beat that addiction demon.. 3 weeks of outpatient treatment followed by 3 months of addiction counseling.Through all the therapy I had, regular attendance at AA meetings were a requirement.

When I want to feel the power and energy of an AA meeting, I will go to one. I highly recommend a beginner's meeting.

There are other ways to help you stay sober but outpatient treatment, and AA is what worked for me.

Addiction is triggerred by underlying mental health issues like depression, anxiety, ptsd, etc.

I highly recommend a visit to your doctor who can test you for those underlying issues. Treat them and it becomes much easier to stay sober. You will be glad you did.

God Bless

Welcome Hudson, keep posting, share your story & reach out to any of us whenever you need, we are all here to support you & completely understand what it is like to have a problem with drinking.
To friend someone, you click on their name, on their profile on the top there will be an orange box that says 'add friend', click on that & that will send them a friend request :)
The first step is to admit you have a problem, and then decide what you are going to do about it, make a plan, maybe start with a week without drinking anything at all & see how you go, then go longer and longer.
Keep reaching out and message us if you have any questions or need any advice !

Thank you all. I never really believed I was alone, but by choosing not to share my thoughts and concerns about alcohol, I might as well have been. Your responses and advice mean a great deal to me, and I think they'll be very helpful in my quest for abstinence from alcohol. I've got a lot to think about, and I'm glad I can now share my thoughts and questions. Thank you again.

Welcome! Shining a light on the issue is like dispelling a ghost for me. Dark things like the shadows and I discovered I had my share to deal with when I quit drinking. Creating a healthy lifestyle has been the most challenging and rewarding adventure. The best thing that I've done for myself that allowed my self esteem to grow. It feels really good. I didn't feel that I needed AA as I was inspired to quit. I did read through the 12 steps though and rewrote them to fit me. I used exercise, drinking lots of water and establishing a wholesome vegetarian diet as a direct means to feeling better right away. Honestly I felt so good that I never looked back at the alcohol. For the first year I didn't look at a television. I read a lot and the shift has been wonderful. Basically what I'm suggesting is shake it up. It's like that definition of insanity.... doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results... For me the complacency was so sneaky that I didn't notice it had stuck me in a deep rut. I wasn't happy. Now I am. It's that simple. Life IS enjoyable. Alcohol didn't allow me to see that.

I woke up at 4:20 this morning with a clear head, and light heart. I don't drink everyday of the week, and this feeling isn't totally foreign to me, but the thought that I'd be checking in on Daily Strength added to the good feelings.

I've read that making too many changes at once isn't a good idea, but along with not drinking, I'd like to adopt many positive life changes. My diet, exercise habits, and entertainment (staring at a computer instead of reading) choices can all use some serious work.

I've used the insanity definition many times, but somehow never applied it to me. Until today that is. I too have been in a deep, deep rut.

I also have to remember to view other member's posts. I have been reading them on and off for years, but since yesterday, I've been looking only at the kind responses to mine. I'll do that right now. Thanks so much to all of you.

Alcohol IS sugar, so when that “time” hits give your body some sugar. A coke or chocolate is helpful in those first tough times.

The other thing is personal contact, do you have a local charity that you can volunteer?

To have self esteem one needs to do esteemable acts

You are still in the early stages where your sobriety is still in a fragile state so be kind to yourself and be honest and open with yourself. and keep coming here and we'll cheer you up when you're feeling down!

~~~Cheers~~~

Thanks to Christmas, there are plenty of sugary treats around the house right now. It's interesting that I usually feel "guilty" about consuming those, but not wine.

Funny you should mention volunteering. I recently reconnected with a few people that I knew from an animal rescue that we all volunteered at. I realized that I missed the work, and the people, and was considering going back.

I hadn't given it much thought, but I guess I thought I was be honest with myself. I don't think I was though. I've got lots of thought shifting to do.

And yes, I will be coming back here - often! Thank you.