Generally agree with most of the advice on here:
- You've done the hardest part by admitting you have a problem and deciding you genuinely want to do something about it
- Exercise is an excellent option, it will make you feel better, break your routine (including the habitual drinking) and save you the money. Plus the natural endorphins will give you that "uplifting" feeling you are getting from the booze at the moment.
- With the best will in the world, think about why you got into the habit of drinking so much. You've hinted at various people in your life causing you stress, and also at some childhood issues. Probably the most important thing I can say for both of them is COMMUNICATE.
- Firstly I would say find someone you can trust and talk to about your childhood issues (doesn't have to be a professional, but probably better if it is). Unless you do that I think you'll find it very hard to deal with them, they will still be there and will always put pressure on you to go back to the booze.
- Secondly, talk to the people who are driving you to drink, and explain to them that you really want to kick the habit, and every time they harass you it makes it that much harder. If they truly care about you they'll take that on board.
- I disagree that you have to go completely off the booze - I think mentally that can be a big hurdle - I would say cutting down to just weekends (in the first place) is not a bad starting point. Obviously if you try that and end up just getting bladdered then you will probably have to try complete teetotalism.
- Think about why you are drinking. Ask yourself out loud "why am I drinking" and write down the answers, that will help you understand what got you into the habit, and what can get you out of it.
- Try the AA, but if you are going to do it then do it properly and actually go to the meetings!!
- If you can't do that, a watered-down version is to keep an honest track of how much you drink each week (booze diary). Pick a good friend that you trust and who supports you, and at the end of the week see them face-to-face and tell them honestly how much you have drunk (you don't have to set a target, jsut be totally honest). That gets it out in the open and means that you have someone on your side. When I quit smoking it was great to be able to tell my GF that I'd been on a night out and not smoked at all, the flipside was I felt really bad when I had to admit that I'd had a smoke, which helped me to stop it.
- Finally just remember the biggest advantage you have: YOU are in control of what happens to you - if you truly want to give up the booze, then you will find a way to do it.
Best of Luck and Congratulations for taking the first (and by far the hardest) step, which is to put your hand up and admit the problem.
ps I used a lot of these techniques when I quit smoking - at first I smoked every day, then gradually cut it down to just evenings/weekends, then just when I was out having a few drinks on the weekends, and the final step was to quit completely. One of the best things I've ever done in my life, if you sort out your booze problem you will come to think of that achievement in the same terms.
pps good luck again!!!