I am drinking too much

[BCMtnHound]

Catholic whiskey - there's your first issue. Get rid of the guilt and drink Bushmills!

But seriously, does you job require you to be on call 24/7? If not, disconnect that damn phone and work email and take time for yourself. Mondays can suck regardless, no reason to begin that suck a day earlier. Focus time off on rest, or recreation, or some other personal pursuit that is just for you. You say the work money is great but if it compounds the stress of your personal self worth, then it's time to address that imbalance. Family, friends and other personal life sometimes can't be controlled, don't let some corporate overlord intrude more than absolutely necessary to meet the needs of your Now.

Positive vibes sent for your battle with your demons.

[My Pet Powder Goat]

Good advice here if you choose to Listen and follow it.

May you find peace, mtt

[leroy jenkins]

The things we think help us in the short term often hurt us in the long run. I have had a hard time getting my brain to understand that one. It always wants to choose the things that will make it feel better now, or five minutes from now, even though it knows those things often have a cumulative effect that is negative on my life and view of myself. Good luck.

[MTT]

A bottle of Jameson a day?! Yeah you should do every thing you can to stop now. That's gonna kill you quick.

At first read it sounds like you have depression and you probably do but you're likely gonna need medical help with quitting a fifth a day habit. Alcohol withdrawal is nothing to fuck around with. You will probably need some benzos to get through the detox.

That's very recent. It started becoming what I do with my evenings. And I liked it. It tuned the world out so I could pass out.

Today will not be the same. And then theirs tomorrow. we shall see.

[t-the-east]

If all else fail, get out of Dodge for a few days.

This! A new town, city, mountain, beach , experience, whatever. It's so important to step back and step away for a few days. Regroup. All of the advice in here is awesome, and it's so good to know that besides all the bitching and bickering in various threads, that so many have your back and offer support.

[KQ]

Or is it really more responsible to get some "Me Time" So I am my usual 110% on Monday when they will really need me.

You've got to give to yourself before you can give to others.

[guroo270]

Watch "It's Kind Of A Funny Story"... and maybe "Rad".

[4matic]

Golf is an excellent diversion and you don't have to go all in. Go to the course and putt around. Hit some balls. Just don't drive home drunk. I like the game more than booze and dope so you might end up with a win.

[MTT]

Golf is an excellent diversion and you don't have to go all in. Go to the course and putt around. Hit some balls. Just don't drive home drunk. I like the game more than booze and dope so you might end up with a win.

That is something I plan to start doing again.

Skiing and bad Golf are the things that make me, me.

[Buster Highmen]

Or is it really more responsible to get some "Me Time" So I am my usual 110% on Monday when they will really need me.

^^^^This^^^^.

Just do one little teaspoon of good stuff for you. Feel good about that. Increment as possible.
My brother killed himself drinking. He was unreachable. Figure out how to treat yourself right, even if it's just a little bit at a time.

[skiballs]

You've got to give to yourself before you can give to others.

Why do women love to say that? Biggest loud of crap ever.

Good luck MTT, booze is a bitch.

[old goat]

The first step is admitting you have a problem. You've done that. The second is understanding that your problem is not because of evil people in your life, or your job is too stressful, or where you live, or who your friends are. The reason that's important to understand is that there will always be evil people, stress, bad stuff happening where you live, bad friends. If you wait for everything to be perfect you will never quit. If everything is perfect and then something or someone bad happens you will use that as an excuse to start drinking again. Changing jobs, city, friends, partners will not cause you to stop drinking. Playing golf and skiing will not help you stop drinking--there are plenty of drunk people doing both.
BTW--while it doesn't sound like you are drunk around the clock, if you are or for anyone reading who is, quitting cold turkey is a very bad idea. You need to detox in a hospital. Sudden withdrawal of alcohol in someone who is habituated causes seizures, DT's, sometimes death.

[54-46]

I lost an old friend (since 6th grade) to alcohol less than a year ago.

Glad you're realizing it's interfering with your health and your life. So many people I know have this battle every day.

Consider whether there might be some accompanying mental health issue in addition to alcohol abuse. The alcohol abuse may be symptomatic of something else. Seek professional help

Rally your support system and let them in on your plans so they can help you

Do as others have said - do the little things that help your self-esteem and get you motivated.

Good luck and def keep skiing and get out on the course. Do it with people who will support a sober lifestyle while you're getting this under control

[MTT]

There it is.

Just got the invite to be on a bridge Starting tomorrow @ 07:30

no skiing no golf no bike riding. Just take pride in my work? As another day is pissed away. "I do get paid by the hour"

Anyway. I made coffee, it seems to take away that ancy feeling of needed to drink, do something.

[Vt-Freeheel]

Sounds like you need to talk to the boss. Too much work is not good for you, Work to live, not, live to work. I don't know what your problems are but I believe you can overcome them.

Stay Strong

[MTT]

The first step is admitting you have a problem. You've done that. The second is understanding that your problem is not because of evil people in your life, or your job is too stressful, or where you live, or who your friends are. The reason that's important to understand is that there will always be evil people, stress, bad stuff happening where you live, bad friends. If you wait for everything to be perfect you will never quit. If everything is perfect and then something or someone bad happens you will use that as an excuse to start drinking again. Changing jobs, city, friends, partners will not cause you to stop drinking. Playing golf and skiing will not help you stop drinking--there are plenty of drunk people doing both.
BTW--while it doesn't sound like you are drunk around the clock, if you are or for anyone reading who is, quitting cold turkey is a very bad idea. You need to detox in a hospital. Sudden withdrawal of alcohol in someone who is habituated causes seizures, DT's, sometimes death.

I appreciate the advice.
I am not physically addicted. But I have noticed that more and more often my default thing to do with the little free time I have is to get drunk.

And then after getting done with work, rather than go out or do something productive. I got really drunk and passed out on the couch.
Then this morning when my day might have been free. I could have dome many thing. But found myself looking at social media and downing the second shot.

And it hit me. I don't want to do this anymore.
And typed it here. where people care, and hold you at your word?

[MTT]

Sounds like you need to talk to the boss. Too much work is not good for you, Work to live, not, live to work. I don't know what your problems are but I believe you can overcome them.

Stay Strong

That project Manager is in the EST. So he is sending out this request @ 9PM his time. Monday is cut over day on a big project.
I am not gonna give him any grief.

But I reserve right to bitch about it here.

[Whiteroom_Guardian]

Just know that it is very possible that the drinking and the job and the whatever might not be the problem. The problem is almost certainly between your ears and connected to that empty feeling near the top of your sternum. It took me a long time to figure that out.

[KQ]

OP - I think it's great that you are taking this first step of recognizing and identifying that you want/need to make a change. In a sense you've already given to yourself with the self-awareness that a problem exists.

Keep talking to us, we're listening!

[MTT]

OP - I think it's great that you are taking this first step of recognizing and identifying that you want/need to make a change. In a sense you've already given to yourself with the self-awareness that a problem exists.

Keep talking to us, we're listening!

Thank You. yep that's what I am doing. I have isolated myself from the people and things that are important to me. I am fixing that.
Pitty you can't snap your fingers and it's all good. I got to step up my game before I lose myself "Again"

KQ you would love the YouTube vid I just shared on G+

[KQ]

Thank You. yep that's what I am doing. I have isolated myself from the people and things that are important to me. I am fixing that.
Pitty you can't snap your fingers and it's all good. I got to step up my game before I lose myself "Again"

KQ you would love the YouTube vid I just shared on G+

I too often think a snap of the fingers would be nice but then when I stop to think about whatever it is I'm trying to accomplish I realize the success is in the journey that it took to reach my goal.

What is this video you speak of?

[sfotex]

That project Manager is in the EST. So he is sending out this request @ 9PM his time. Monday is cut over day on a big project.
I am not gonna give him any grief.

But I reserve right to bitch about it here.

I understand the 24/7 work thing. When you sitting there on the 3rd Friday night in a row fixing shit that someone else fucked up it's easy to start pouring up drinks while you bang away at the keyboard. My boss is pretty good at letting me knock off and going skiing for a morning. etc. to balance stuff out. Try and make deals when you get shit done at work + take advantage of down time and leave way early.

[MTT]

I understand the 24/7 work thing. When you sitting there on the 3rd Friday night in a row fixing shit that someone else fucked up it's easy to start pouring up drinks while you bang away at the keyboard. My boss is pretty good at letting me knock off and going skiing for a morning. etc. to balance stuff out. Try and make deals when you get shit done at work + take advantage of down time and leave way early.

Yep. I try real hard to keep the two apart.

I was on a call last week. it was late on the EST. Anyway one of the managers on the trouble shooting call was obviously drunk. Others made comments about it. I don't think anything came of it. Late night, at home. ect.
But people talk.
I don't want to be that guy.

This project manager did call me once late Friday night as I was coming home from Town "Casino's And Pub" I was WASTED.

[4matic]

We had a weekend late night conference call where they allowed clients on. Developer came on the call drunk. He got fired. Not fair but be warned.

[MTT]

We had a weekend late night conference call where they allowed clients on. Developer came on the call drunk. He got fired. Not fair but be warned.

Have you noticed how common this is becoming. I hear it everywhere.
Project Plans that require the talent to work night and day, Always under the gun always behind. always attending call where PMO is telling you it has to be done, NOW By morning By Monday. Just constant pressure. And it show in the mediocre work. Thrown together un tested. ect ect. And that turn generates even more emergency conference calls. Where as you try to debug logs and look at code, they are hammering away in your ear ask questions. - I have gotten a bit snippety a few times.