The giving up/cutting down alcohol support thread! Part 2

barshamhillbilly

Needstochange wrote: »

You have obviously found your route to sobriety and well done you.:j Others on here will too and the support of this thread is helping loads

NIcely said ....... er written ...... er no .... typed :T

graemecarter

miamoo wrote: »

And I don't care what anyone says but buying just one can, and drinking just one can is amazing will power, infact its alot harder than not drinking at all.

Maybe, I know I find it v hard to stop at one can/one drink.
However, WHY buy one can? Why not refrain from purchasing any?

Having just one drink puts you in a comfort zone, and I GUARANTEE that it will turn into 2 cans, then a 4 pack, etc, sometime in the future. Better not to touch the stuff at all

I don't think anyone here should rely on their own willpower. Look at the mess it has got us all in. We have to look to something different

barshamhillbilly

graemecarter wrote: »

Maybe, I know I find it v hard to stop at one can/one drink.
However, WHY buy one can? Why not refrain from purchasing any?

Having just one drink puts you in a comfort zone, and I GUARANTEE that it will turn into 2 cans, then a 4 pack, etc, sometime in the future. Better not to touch the stuff at all

I don't think anyone here should rely on their own willpower. Look at the mess it has got us all in. We have to look to something different

I think the point is having the one (or two in my case yesterday) was enough to take the edge off the craving.

I am making a concious decision today to have a couple of bottles of beer.
I know if I buy 4 I will drink 4, but having a little is based on professional advice.

I know if I cut out all together then I will be back on it in 3-4 days time regardless, and will be drinking the same amount.

For some just stopping completely doesn't work. Hence my aim for 15/31 this month and a limit on the amount of units.

Best Wishes
BHB

graemecarter

Needstochange wrote: »

Thats an interesting opinion. I think that the people on here discussing the journey they are on are taking massive personal responsibility and the honesty on this thread is for me very humbling. What I do see is people identifying trigger points that for them make it more difficult, by identifying these trigger points we can look to change them as Bismark said (far more eloquently than I am) Its not about changing the world but changing your response to it (I think that was on Pollyanna:rotfl: )

You have obviously found your route to sobriety and well done you.:j Others on here will too and the support of this thread is helping loads

I agree that this thread helps people a great deal, and any route to sobriety is fantastic. Please don't misunderstand me on that one.

by identifying these trigger points we can look to change them

I don't think you can change having a bad day in the office, or a stressful day with the in-laws visiting etc.
What you need is some kind of inner peace where you don't even feel the need to drink, and you have appropriate tools to deal with life that does not involve alcohol, or any mood-altering substance or activity (nicotine, drugs, exercise, arguing, sex)

Of course support should be offered by this thread, and it is offered to a degree which lifts the human spirit.

I do think that sometimes some people are TOO nice, and this means when people do slip/relapse, they don't feel as bad about it as they should. It excuses a drink basically.

graemecarter

barshamhillbilly wrote: »

I think the point is having the one (or two in my case yesterday) was enough to take the edge off the craving.

I am making a concious decision today to have a couple of bottles of beer.
I know if I buy 4 I will drink 4, but having a little is based on professional advice.

I know if I cut out all together then I will be back on it in 3-4 days time regardless, and will be drinking the same amount.

For some just stopping completely doesn't work. Hence my aim for 15/31 this month and a limit on the amount of units.

Best Wishes
BHB

If that works for you, then go for it. You have my best wishes.

Don't you think it would be nice not to have the craving??

barshamhillbilly

graemecarter wrote: »

If that works for you, then go for it. You have my best wishes.

Don't you think it would be nice not to have the craving??

Obviously, but I have found that I don't have the willpower to just stop completely. If I did, I wouldn't be on this part of the forum at all. I find, when I do stop completely that the addiction takes over again on Day three, regardless of my weak willpower and I go straight back to drinking the same amount again, hence the need for professional help and advice.

But as I am cutting down slowly, the craving is getting less, so hopefully will diminish to nothing eventually.

BHB

Needstochange

graemecarter wrote: »

I don't think you can change having a bad day in the office, or a stressful day with the in-laws visiting etc.
What you need is some kind of inner peace where you don't even feel the need to drink, and you have appropriate tools to deal with life that does not involve alcohol, or any mood-altering substance or activity (nicotine, drugs, exercise, arguing, sex)

/QUOTE]

...and I said that its not about changing the world (because youre right we cant do that) its about changing our response to it but until you know your triggers I dont see how you can.

like I say I am glad you have found your inner peace and long may it last

barshamhillbilly

A thought just occurred .....

For a bunch of people that drink / drank rather a lot, we are a very civilized bunch aren't we ?

Needstochange

barshamhillbilly wrote: »

A thought just occurred .....

For a bunch of people that drink / drank rather a lot, we are a very civilized bunch aren't we ?

trying to be BHB trying to be:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Anyway so far so good here although I am now 2 litres of Dandelion and Burdock down. May buy a case tomorrow:rotfl:

budget_babe

Hi guys.

I apologise in advance if this post drags on.....

Just firstly wanted to say to Mari thankyou for your lovely comments.

To Yellow Monkey, well done and I will happily join you in a glass or two of vimto. :beer:

I am now on a/f day 4 and definitely don't intend to drink, none in the house which is the key thing for me. I am feeling alot more positive today but I can't help wondering if my enthusiasm will peter out? I hope not this is the first forum that I have ever posted on as I have always been too shy. I have got to say though that I am so grateful for all the support and knowing that other people are feeling just the same. It occured to me that how may of us are honest about our drinking to friends and loved ones? I know I am not and can be defensive etc if its mentioned.

Someone once said to me that people come into your life for a: reason, season or a lifetime. Finding this forum is my reason to stop drinking, so thankyou all.

I have been to the gym this afternoon and whilst I was there a George Michael track came on called: Keep the Faith, and so it occured to me thats what I/we need to do is to keep the faith that we can do this. Another line that stuck we me is: before this river becomes an ocean, which meant to me: Before this glass becomes a few bottles.

I vaguely remember I think it was an interview with Robbie Williams he was asked something like: if you had a daughter would you want her to go out with you? His reply was: not the person I am but the person I am going to be.

So I have discovered I want to be a better me, nothing else to say really......

God Bless xxxxxxx