Alcohol to cope - it needs to stop

Hi everyone,

I've been reading for a while and have finally worked up the courage to post.

About 18 months ago, my husband announced one day that he was leaving me for another woman after 15 years together. Overnight I found myself trying to cope with the end of my marriage while raising my two school-aged children.

Around the same time I was diagnosed with diabetes, and I spent several months in crisis. Somewhere during all of that, alcohol quietly crept into my life as a way of coping, while my relationship with food went in the opposite direction. I'm receiving professional help for the eating disorder side of things.

Since then I've also been made redundant, although I start a new job in September, which I'm genuinely excited about. I've struggled with significant anxiety, particularly around stopping drinking and worrying about what will happen if I do. My GP has started me on medication, which has helped.

The positive is that I can now go for most of the day without alcohol and I don't experience withdrawal symptoms. That gives me hope that I can get on top of this before I start my new job. My goal isn't necessarily never drinking again, but I do want alcohol to stop being my way of coping.

Home life is also very stressful. One of my children has significant behavioural difficulties and can be physically aggressive towards me at times, which makes it harder not to reach for a drink at the end of the day.

I suppose I'm posting because I don't want this to be my future. I want to start my new job feeling like me again, not someone who feels they need alcohol to get through the day. I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who has been in a similar place or has any advice.

Thanks for reading.