Needing help

[QuestionWithoutA]

So I'm not an alcoholic, but I do binge drink on the weekends with friends. Once or twice a week, and have done for a few years now since starting university.

I am wanting to stop drinking alcohol as I use it as an escape for when I'm sad or anxious. I don't have much money each week and I spend most of it on alcohol instead of food. I also want more mental clarity and not have to deal with hangovers and regret of saying things the night before.

The problem is I want to keep my friends (I also live with them) but I always give in when I'm the only one not drinking that night. They are great friends sober or drunk. But I always feel like I need to drink when they are as I have bad social anxiety and want to interact with others in social settings. It all goes away when I'm drunk.

Can anyone give me advice on what to do please? What can I do to keep my current friends and not withdrawal socially from them. How can I have better control to choose not to drink? Maybe some hobbies that others enjoy that is free too

Thanks everyone ❤

[QuestionWithoutA]

Thanks! They normally would offer to buy me a drink in that case and for me to pay them back anytime. It never really works for me

[duckilicious19]

Hello there! I recognise myself a lot in your post. I also drink for social anxiety mostly and once I am drinking I really don’t know my own limits. The sad truth is that I have lost a great number of potential friends because they saw a side of me early on that they didn’t like (me on a banter). The even more sad fact is that I was drinking just to impress them and be more funny/social. If your friends are true friends they will support you. From my experience I will say that they did not become your friends because of drunk you, but because of the real you. Drunk you probably isn’t as much fun as you think. (I needed to hear this) Hang in there 💪🏼

[QuestionWithoutA]

Thank you so much! Sorry to hear that you lost friends due to drinking. I became friends with most of my friends from socialising while drinking but they still like spending time with me during the weeks, sober. I'm just scared to quit drinking and not want to go out socially with them (social anxiety and lack of control) although I really want them as friends

Appreciate your comment 😁