Hello everyone. Have read some of the stories here and it seems that the only thing in common is that we either want to quit drinking or want to moderate. I have been drinking on a daily basis for the past 10 years, I am now 37. Before that I used to binge drink occasionally. I also started my restaurant 10 years ago and I partly blame this for my drinking. The local media says that we have the best margaritias and mojitos in town and I have also been called the best "mixologist" in the area. Yes my job entails coming up with seasonal cocktails hence I love tasting all the new flavored vodkas, infused rums, fruit liquers etc. I also have to come up with the wine lists which involves meeting w/ the wine vendors and tasting about 12 kinds of wines each time. (can't bring myself to taste and spit, unless its bad) so of course after this I am usually very buzzed. I realize I have a problem because when I drink at work I normally drive home somewhat buzzed. Never had a problem, but I know that this can be a ticking time bomb and feel bad every time I do it. As many of you know drinking daily is very common among restaruant workers, it's cheaper and easier for us.
Everytime I have mentioned my drinking to my doctor (2 to 3 drinks on weekdays, 3-5 on weekends and on holidays) she does not think I have a problem. With my insistence she has sent me to 2 therapists, both who also dismissed my worries. One of them even told me that I was the first patient they saw that wasn't sent by the courts after a DUI. No one in my family thinks I have a problem, even when I ask them. I think that there is this stereotype of someone who has a problem, bad mood swings, aggressive behaviour, blackouts, etc. Normally people can't tell I am drunk, even my husband. O.K there is problem number two. I have managed to cut my days at the restarurant to 2 to 3 days a week. But my husband in a wine lover ( has a big wine cellar and everything) and we drink on average a bottle of wine a night with dinner. More on weekends when we might have a dessert wine or port especially when we go out. 100% of the people we know drink so every social gathering is cause for drinking as well. Also all of our holidays entail going to wine tasting regions or revolve around eating gourmet meals and drinking great wine. Sometimes I think if alcohol wern't so easily available to me I would not drink as much, but given my job and my wine loving husband it seems impossible. So I feel like my only realistic option is to seriously moderate and never drink and drive. I am healthy, I workout 4 times a week, eat really well and I feel that this is the only un-helathy thing I do. I thought that I could scare myself into not drinking by having my doctor test me for liver function, but is there anyway of knowing if there has been damage done to your body? Apparently liver tests only show damage when there is severe damage. Does anyone know if there is any way of knowing what kind of damage your body might have sustained from regular drinking? Thank you all for listening to my story. Ironcially I have known I have a problem for many years now and have even tried to seek help but I guess I have used other peoples perceptions about me to trump my inner instincts. ( and allow me to have a form of denial "hey they don't think I have a problem, so I probably don't") Other than that my life is pretty perfect.
Everytime I have mentioned my drinking to my doctor (2 to 3 drinks on weekdays, 3-5 on weekends and on holidays) she does not think I have a problem. With my insistence she has sent me to 2 therapists, both who also dismissed my worries. One of them even told me that I was the first patient they saw that wasn't sent by the courts after a DUI. No one in my family thinks I have a problem, even when I ask them. I think that there is this stereotype of someone who has a problem, bad mood swings, aggressive behaviour, blackouts, etc. Normally people can't tell I am drunk, even my husband. O.K there is problem number two. I have managed to cut my days at the restarurant to 2 to 3 days a week. But my husband in a wine lover ( has a big wine cellar and everything) and we drink on average a bottle of wine a night with dinner. More on weekends when we might have a dessert wine or port especially when we go out. 100% of the people we know drink so every social gathering is cause for drinking as well. Also all of our holidays entail going to wine tasting regions or revolve around eating gourmet meals and drinking great wine. Sometimes I think if alcohol wern't so easily available to me I would not drink as much, but given my job and my wine loving husband it seems impossible. So I feel like my only realistic option is to seriously moderate and never drink and drive. I am healthy, I workout 4 times a week, eat really well and I feel that this is the only un-helathy thing I do. I thought that I could scare myself into not drinking by having my doctor test me for liver function, but is there anyway of knowing if there has been damage done to your body? Apparently liver tests only show damage when there is severe damage. Does anyone know if there is any way of knowing what kind of damage your body might have sustained from regular drinking? Thank you all for listening to my story. Ironcially I have known I have a problem for many years now and have even tried to seek help but I guess I have used other peoples perceptions about me to trump my inner instincts. ( and allow me to have a form of denial "hey they don't think I have a problem, so I probably don't") Other than that my life is pretty perfect.
Suz 
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