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

Glitzkiss

London_guy wrote: »

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.

Hello London_guy and congratulations on your AF month :j Lots of luck for the other three.

I have to admit I'm struggling tonight as it's been a chaotic day at work and the weather's dreadful up here. I can picture that gin & tonic but I'm telling myself I'm not allowed. I'm even considering altering my route home so that I don't go past the supermarket. I like your surf board analogy and will try and use it to help me ride these feelings until I get home :T

mackeroo

Welcome London_guy:j im no longer the new girl now!


Evening everyone, thanks again for all your message of support and encouragement since i joined yesterday, it was lovely reading all the messgaes this morning, you are all so sweet. I am pleased my first AF day is in the bag and woke up feeling chuffed with myself and then its almost the start of day 2 and thinking about tonite and not having a glass of wine etc. Yesterday was also slightly easier as i wasnt at work = no stress, back today and i found myself thinking in the afternoon that i couldnt wait to get home and have a glass of vino. However going to my pals for dinner, i drive there and usually have a wine spirtzer (which i dont like anyway) so tonite i wont have anything....come home and straight to bed. If i manage 3 AF days this week (mon - fri) i will be pleased, however im a realist and if at first you dont succeed and all that. I feel so much stronger knowing you guys are so supportive, it means alot and i hope that i can offer support too to those in need
X

mackeroo

Welcome to Mackeroo and I have added you to our May Af Better Me list, well done on joining and good luck with what you want to achieve. What target are you setting? Sorry if I have missed it? Keep posting and hugs xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hey BB what a sterling job you do. No you havent missed my target, was thinking about it today so ive decided the following (hope this reads ok and makes sense)
I started yesterday, and from then on there are 14 days remaining in May so my target for the rest of the month is to have 8AF days til the end of May. 1 down, 7 to go!
Thank you
x

mackeroo

I have to admit I'm struggling tonight as it's been a chaotic day at work and the weather's dreadful up here. I can picture that gin & tonic but I'm telling myself I'm not allowed. I'm even considering altering my route home so that I don't go past the supermarket. I like your surf board analogy and will try and use it to help me ride these feelings until I get home :T
Hey Glitzkiss how you feeling now? Maybe its a good idea when you arent feeling so strong to change your route home, you are taking control and not letting the gin control you. Dont give yourself a hard time is you do have a gin, tomorrow is another day.
x

mackeroo

fluffybishop wrote: »

Morning

Thank you Budgie for another great update & for the encouragement :T

Well done Mackeroo on your first AFD :T
Well done to everyone else too....just for trying :T:j:D

I reckon, if there was a prize for the thread with the most lurkers this thread would win hands down I lurked for ages before posting.
I found myself reading it every day and then went into denial stage and asked myself why I was even reading it as it didn't apply to me :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: Then I reached the acceptance stage and realised it did apply to me so I carried on reading it. Then eventually I reached the 'doing something positive about it' stage and started posting :rolleyes::eek:

Best thing I did :j

I totally agree with everything you wrote there FB, i was a serial lurker (gosh that sounds a bit dramtic!) and like you dipped in, read loads and thought thats not me, i kept coming back every now and then and yesterday i just took the plunge. I agree that its the best thing i did, posting yesterday. I worry that i wont be around as much as other people are here, im kinda restricted at work to internet useage and in the evening im usually too shattered. I will be on as much as possible though, looking forward to getting to know people better
x

mackeroo

Ok thats enough posts from me for one night, you will be sick reding 'em all have a good night everyone, im away to get ready to go to friends for dinner
X

London_guy_3

Glitzkiss wrote: »

Hello London_guy and congratulations on your AF month :j Lots of luck for the other three.

I have to admit I'm struggling tonight as it's been a chaotic day at work and the weather's dreadful up here. I can picture that gin & tonic but I'm telling myself I'm not allowed. I'm even considering altering my route home so that I don't go past the supermarket. I like your surf board analogy and will try and use it to help me ride these feelings until I get home :T

Wow what a responsive forum, just great!

Yes the surfing/riding the wave thing helps me a lot as there are certain triggers such as a stressful moment at work or the working day coming to an end which really spark off such a strong desire it feels irresistible - it's not, don't be fooled. If you just keep allowing yourself to think about your favourite tipple but don't do anything about it you can ride it through. I find when it gets past a certain point in the evening, say an hour after dinner, the desire has reduced significantly if not gone altogther.

Good luck with your surfing!

Glitzkiss

London_guy wrote: »

Wow what a responsive forum, just great!

Yes the surfing/riding the wave thing helps me a lot as there are certain triggers such as a stressful moment at work or the working day coming to an end which really spark off such a strong desire it feels irresistible - it's not, don't be fooled. If you just keep allowing yourself to think about your favourite tipple but don't do anything about it you can ride it through. I find when it gets past a certain point in the evening, say an hour after dinner, the desire has reduced significantly if not gone altogther.

Good luck with your surfing!

Thanks London_guy. I'm heading for home now and I'm determined to not go via the supermarket. I'm also determined to go for a run tonight as I usually want water rather than alcohol when I get back. Sod the weather, that's what waterproofs were designed for :cool:

Night all :wave:

fluffyb

Good luck to everyone who wants to be AF tonight

I know I definitely will - I reach my target if I do :j:D

So, please Budgie, make it 10 AFD's for old fluffy, Thank you hun :j

Half term next week so hubby and I both at home and in holiday mode. I am planning on relaxing my drinking at weekends only a bit next week. We are away overnight on Tuesday and staying in a lovely old inn in a lovely quaint old village Champagne in with the price [but only half a bottle] and their best table booked for dinner so will have wine with that. Will do the best I can with the rest of the week next week, but it will be testing :eek::rolleyes:

fedupandskint

London_guy wrote: »

Yes the surfing/riding the wave thing helps me a lot as there are certain triggers such as a stressful moment at work or the working day coming to an end which really spark off such a strong desire it feels irresistible - it's not, don't be fooled. If you just keep allowing yourself to think about your favourite tipple but don't do anything about it you can ride it through. I find when it gets past a certain point in the evening, say an hour after dinner, the desire has reduced significantly if not gone altogther.

Good luck with your surfing!

Yes it's called urge surfing, when the urge to drink kicks in after a trigger kicks a craving up and about you can ride the urge and wait for the wave to break onto the beach and disperse and the urge, craving and desire all subside. An activity to distract is a good idea too and then you don't have to focus on the wave to break and you can realise later that the feelings have gone.

Where are my manners by the way? Welcome London_guy :hello:Hop on the AF bus we're ready to pick you up and have budged up to make room on the seats. Hang on!

Anyway not drinking tonight so makes number 14 today and tonight.

Onwards and upwards everyone hope you are all ok.

Fay - hope the meeting went well
Jo - hope you are ok too
BB - will check back later to see how the wonderful angel is