The giving up/cutting down alcohol support thread! Part 3

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10th day AF for me today.

I am going out tomorrow night and I'm already thinking that maybe I could have a few drinks and then start again afresh with giving up drinking the next day.:rolleyes: Why is it so hard!!!!!:mad:

:wave: to any new people.

ageing_biker

bb I had a drink on sat ( man utd winning title ) and will prob have another if they win champions league, other than that I feel good

barshamhillbilly

lillibet_dripping wrote: »

BHB - I may have to take offence here:rotfl:
x

Don't take a fence ...... the goats will get out

Glitzkiss

barshamhillbilly wrote: »

Don't take a fence ...... the goats will get out

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

annie_d

Oh well, the rain beat me, had to stop gardening.

Just taken my kudzu and 5 HTP so we will see how that goes.

Graheme - I struggle with the notion of alcoholism being a disease process. I can get the pre-disposition part of it, my dad died from it aged 54. I have run AA meetings in the past so i should "get it" I just don't. Why is that? I accept the "Alcoholics drink like alcoholics and normal drinkers....." but, the disease part? I just don't know.

Thumbs up to you all, we have lived to fight another day .

How u managing Jo?

London_guy_3

Hi guys and girls, have been looking for a forum like this for a while but couldn't find anything similar on any alcohol based websites. Stumbled across this one today!

I have decided to give up the booze for around a four month period which will be the longest I've not drank for over 23 years! Am hoping after this I can include alcohol in my life in more controlled manner - we'll see.

The reason? Same as many of you guys by the sound of it. I was drinking around 5 nights a week and over the years it went from a glass or two of wine to at least a bottle. That plus the fact I've always been someone who can't say no to another drink when out and about and at the age of 39 that was now beginning to mean a frightening number of mornings waking with blanks from the night before. Waking with that sense of dread that the phone would ring demanding some sort of apology is horrible - it never did ring but the dread was there EVERY time! Thanking my partner for getting me home and to bed was becoming shameful.

So, I just wanted to mention a couple of things I have found as I am now one month into the AF stage. Firstly I can go out or stay in without a drink! It's really not that difficult - what is difficult is not being able to look forward to a drink!! I do long 12 and half hour work shifts and on the consecutive ones it was always straight home to bed with no booze, easy. When I was due a few days off however I would spend the whole of the last shift looking forward to a bottle of chilled white when I got home and now I can't, the shifts are killing me! By the time I'm home I'm normally OK. I am finding you can ride any of these feelings through - I had it described to me as staying on that surf board until you reach the beach!

My second point is really a question - since stopping the booze I am absolutely exhausted and having to snooze during my work lunch hour and for up to three hours on my days off. I was never this tired when I was drinking. I had blood tests done before giving up so there are no obvious medical problems. Someone has suggested to me it is due to the lack of sugar as wine has a lot of sugar and my body is missing it. I just didn't think this would be the case as although I was drinking over the limits it wasn't exactly a bottle of spirits a day, probably more like 50 - 70 units a week.

Has anyone else who's given up completely for a month or more experienced this tiredness?

Would be good to hear from anyone on this.

Cheers.

annie_d

Hya London Guy,
Welcome aboard this rickety wagon.

I have been more tired in the day since being AF but i put that down to the fact that i am not sleeping as well at night as when i was drinking cos i am having bad dreams.

The 5 HTP which can help is half price at Holland and Barratt atm.

Good luck on your journey and remember to bob in here whenever you can for lots of support xx

fluffyb

When I tried giving up before but only managed a few days every few months I was absolutely exhausted and overwhelmingly tired on the days I didn't drink

I haven't felt that this time though

London_guy_3

Hi,

Thanks for that, will look into this 5 HTP thing, had not heard of it before.

Yep, I'll be popping in probably daily as despite the support of all my friends and my partner I don't think anyone quite understands how difficult it is for me not to be using alcohol as a life 'crutch'.
Everyone seems to come at it from how they would feel without booze and if they're not big drinkers they haven't a clue!

At least on here we all know what a struggle it is.

I wish everyone who is going for the 'cut down' option without first giving up lots of luck. It never worked for me as 'shouldn't drink tonight' always became 'deserve a drink tonight' by the end of the day!
I'm hoping after saying no to myself every night for a four month period I will be able to say no on many nights throughout each week.

Wanna_Bee_Free

London_guy wrote: »

Has anyone else who's given up completely for a month or more experienced this tiredness?

Would be good to hear from anyone on this.

Cheers.

Hi fellow Londoner and welcome to the forum. :wave:

I haven't managed to give up for more than a few days but I certainly experience the tiredness. I've been putting it down to my body finally starting to fix itself once the wine isn't interfering with everything. Interesting question and look forward to what the long-term not drinkers have to stay.

I made it to the gym earlier and am being taken out to Star Trek tonight so should be ok not drinking today.