Drinking problem?

[CiderMonkey]

Sometimes if I am angry/upset/peed off I have the urge to have a drink. Not get drunk - just have one or 2 alcoholic drinks and calm down.

Do you think there is a problem with this? Does anone else do something similar?

[Curiouscol]

I don't really get the urge if I am angry but I do sometimes want one straight after work esp if I have had a hard day! I do worry about it cause my dad's a recovered alcoholic and I don't ever want to be dependant on alcohol to cope! I usually try and have a glass of wine only a few times a week...

[rampart]

CiderMonkey,

I don't know, but here's something you could consider. Do you have to have a drink when angry/upset? I mean, is it possible on the next occasion that you simply do not have one? If you could refuse to have one, then I would think you have control over drinking.

I know after a frustrating day, nothing is more soothing to me than a glass of wine. So, yes, I do the same thing. I do not have to do it. If there is no wine in the house, I do not go to the store to purchase more. I simply do without. So I feel it is not something controlling me, it is something I do to relax.

[Englishbird]

I don't think there's anything wrong with that at all.  Everyone has things to help them wind down, alcohol, cigarettes, tai chi, exercise.  Of course somethings are better than others.  But if you're not going out getting blotto every night because you can't cope with your problems, i think that's perfectly natural.

[Champagne]

I don't think you have anything to worry about CiderMonkey. When you get to my level of alcohol abuse then you should start to worry. I open a bottle of bubbly and feel compelled to finish it. And we're talking methuselahs here...

[woofgang]

Rampart makes an excellent point. I too like a drink to wind down, so does Mr W. Periodically he has to be on call for a week and then he can't drink at all so I don't either. When the weeks is over we really enjoy a glass of wine, but do we rush home and foight over who is going to open the bottle? No. Periodically the next person can't take over or someone asks for a stand in and that's not a problem either. If you are scared to have one drink because of what it might lead to then you are probably better not having the one drink and getting some help.

[woofgang]

...typos look like I've been glugging already

[CiderMonkey]

ooh, all the AA adverts down the side...

Rampart - i don't have to have a drink when i am angry/upset, i just sometimes really feel like i want to. And that first mouthful is sooooo relaxing!

All of you - thanks for the answers. I think i just wanted to know other people do it too. When i get to the stage of needing drink each day to cope, then i'll worry. Or nip round to Champagne's with a case of bubbly!