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

Bismarck

right,

off the cuff stuff from me:

there was some stuff earlier about alcoholics etc....

my take on the thread is that we all have own own objectives and desired outcomes. It doesn't really matter to me if you lot drink or not. I'd like you to do what makes you happy and if you can have a pint a day and be fine then that's great.

I'd love to be able to have a medicinal glass of red for my heart and the odd tot of whisky to warm the bones but I know I can't. If you guys can have the odd one then that's great.

I don't begrudge anyone a drink you in the slightest.

I don't feel that labeling helps anyone. In groups you label yourself and that's that but it is more complicated than that. I don't drink, it's that simple and I don't see that calling myself anything would help me in any way. It was one of the reasons I stopped going. That and I didn't need to.

Lurkio : it's 7/7 now.

Take care everyone....eselt...where are you?

budget_babe

Hi everyone :hello:
Firstly HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO TRC :T (Sorry I am a little late).
Big welcome to maman and patchoulli and ranger 8:T

Trying hard to digest all the new posts which have gone on today.

I would just like to say that everyone has different levels of how much they drink, for me it is mostly at the weekend sometimes in the week if I have had a bad day but never have I drank everynight. I have joined this thread because I felt I had started to drink too much and it did not sit comfortably with me.
In fairness to posters such as Gc I believe that such comments are based on the their absolute knowledge of just how much alcohol can creep up on you and before you know it control your life. My heart goes out to anyone who has experienced this to such a degree. I thankfully have not and have been able to do without a drink with no devestating side effects, yes I do like a glass of red wine but feel I must do the afj to prove to myself that I can resist from using this alcoholic crutch. I have discovered that I have developed a bad habit I just want to recognise this before it developes into anything more. No matter who you are, or from what background alcohol can so easily be what we think is the answer to our problems. It is from concern that people try to warn us of this but sometimes it probably does not come out in the way they intend.

So please take care everyone, hugs to you all and I am so happy to have the support of this forum and the lovely people in it.

Special thanks to miamoo for your kind words last night. xxxxx

One last thing dearest Lurky please can you update my score to: 8/8.
Onwards and upwards gang :Txxxxxxxx

RecoveringAlcoholic

Ranger8 wrote: »

4yrs today (the day after my birthday) I`d just been admitted to hospital with my second esophageal bleed caused through liver cirrohsis and finally realised alcohol and me were finished because it had nearly finished me. :rolleyes:
My best wishes to everyone who is in the process of giving up or at least cutting down on alcohol, its not easy I know but please persevere :T

A very similar alcohol related story here.
Two months in hospital following an emergency admission and given a 50% change of survival.

Remember that we deal with alcohol,

cunning, baffling, powerful!

.

miamoo

I've had a great day today, been out shopping as I had a couple of MS's to do, passed a Tony and Guy salon and thought go on, spoil yourself! So I did!!! WOW my hair is lovely and all paid for with a weeks wine money lol! (It didn't cost as much as I thought either).
Ive not had a drink today (and I haven't even wanted one amazingly!) I went in the salad crisper draw before, and theres a mini bottle of wine in there, thats been there since xmas! I forgot all about it (but its rose, and im not keen so its safe!!) Hope everyone else is feeling o.k x

paybacktime2008

Interesting debate about the word alcoholic. It seems to have such a negative connotation about it still. people become indignant about even the merest suggestion they may be one.

I was wondering what peoples own definition of an alcoholic was? And why they consider themselves to either be or not be one.

I'm obese (another negative label) I think the point I'm trying to make is this.....The labels are kind of irrelevant. None of us would be here if we didn't consider our alcohol intake to be an issue in one way or another. If we din't consider it a problem why would we be here?


(Puts on flak jacket and waits for the bullets!!! lol)

GreyPilgrim

Lurkio wrote: »

Calm down, everyone

hahaha. One thing guaranteed to make me laugh that.

I'm not seeing any of this discussion as aggressive by the way, I hope none of my posts have come across like that. It's a great mini-community, and I'm really enjoying seeing everyones point of view, and their own personal take on the subject of alcohol.

Meh

I'm off to bed now cos I'm knackered. Sweet dreams everyone.

GP

Bismarck

to go back to the definition of alcoholic. whether I am or not doesn't matter.

what I do know is that I'd be more ready to wear the badge if it were better understood by society. To "come out" as an alcoholic can be needlessly devastating.

And this can itself cause denial. I can almost see it in my own words earlier.

Am I an alcoholic?

If I asked a stranger if I was they'd say no. Because I don't act or look like one.

Or at least, I don't look or act like they THINK an alcoholic would act.

I've forgotten a load of the stuff I used to know about defining an alcoholic. It simply doesn't matter. AA gave me some fantastic insights and simple things to remember. I choose to not drink. That's all folks!

graemecarter

maman wrote: »

Thanks for the welcome.

'but I would hate to see some of GCs broad comments putting people off posting here'.

And thanks NTC.

sorry, but there is no hiding from the truth.
The barrier to many people admitting they are alcoholic is the stigma attached to it, and the acceptance that they have an illness (not a weakness, but an illness). When people get over that, then recovery starts.

Alcoholic is difficult to define, and I use a broad definition of the term. It doesn't necessarily mean someone who drinks everyday, in the morning, etc....It does not mean you are addicted to alcohol either, more like you abused it.
It is more to do with escapism from the trials and the tribulations of real life, and the fact that MOST (but not all) the people who post on this thread have a troubled relationship with alcohol.

If calling yourself 'Alcoholic' is problematical, just use 'problem drinker' or 'liquid substance abuser' , but don't hide behind the semantics.
If you cannot stop drinking for a period of time and feel ok about it (not like your world is caving in) then your relationship with alcohol is/maybe unhealthy.

I applaud everyone's efforts on here for cutting down, and whatever method they choose has merit, but sometimes a bit of tough love is needed. I don't want to see people lose families, jobs, even health and lives, because they have issues with alcohol, so that's why I can come across more harshly compared to some others. It's only because I care.

graemecarter

shopaholictiedtheknot wrote: »

I can totally relate to all your comments GreyPilgrim - worryingly very much so in your second paragraph!!

I think that GC is just trying in his way to make us see that we all do have a problem with alcohol, he has obviously (and correct me if I am wrong GC) come to terms with his addiction but many of us on here can't (or don't want to) consider ourselves 'alcoholics' , me mainly because I think it is a very sweeping generalisation of a complicated problem!

GC - we all do know we have a problem, that is why we are on here, I do appreciate your input I just think you may sometimes be a little harsh with us softies!!:D ( we are in the huggy forum after all!!)

Great post, and very succinct. You convey what I want to say better than I do.

I hate those that are more articulate than myself :mad: :rotfl:

However, I wasn't addicted to alcohol, I did abuse it regularly. And am defo alcoholic (which is more mental than 'how many units you drink a week')

polaroid

please save me before i eat anymore kit kats ...please.. help!!!!!!

eselt - please let us know you are ok???

xxxx

AF for me xx