Alcohol is ruining my life – how can I put down the bottle for good?

DEAR DEIDRE: ALCOHOL is ruining my life, but no matter what I do I can’t give it up.

I want so badly to be sober but quitting feels impossible and I can’t see a way out.

I’m a 65-year-old woman and I’ve been a drinker since I was a teen.

I started off drinking socially with my friends but as I grew older I began to lean on it for comfort.

When anything went wrong the first thing I would do was reach for alcohol. It made me feel better and helped me drown out my thoughts.

For years I didn’t realise I had a problem. I still managed to build a career, have a happy marriage and start a family.

But I’ve begun to realise the impact it’s having on me and it’s getting out of hand.

Now I struggle to start my day without a drink. It’s all I think about, and I can’t function without it.

My husband has been so supportive, but I feel terrible.

DEIDRE SAYS: The fact you have openly and honestly accepted that you have a problem with alcohol is the first step towards getting some help.

After decades of drinking, going cold turkey will understandably be difficult and could cause more harm.

Try to gradually cut down. Have one less drink a day, or try to go without for one day a week.

See a specialist counsellor who can help you work through this. Contact Alcoholics Anonymous (0800 917 7650, alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk).