The giving up/cutting down alcohol support thread! Part 4

Pippilongstocking

Cazza take care

x kids insane so short post - hugs chaps x

maman

Budgie, great to hear from you, I was getting really worried. Good to know that you have found some help and support for DH. You speak very highly of the therapist - can she offer support to you too??? Looking forward to visit to London.:A

Pagan71

Bismarck wrote: »

what's done is done......most days I think of what may have been...if I'd not gone down the paths I went down..and yet, I'm a better person as a result.

Don't judge yourself too harshly...we know what a fantastic person you are. Sometimes you need to see bleak reality and
face the things that scare you the most to appreciate what you really have.

When you've been at the end and seen and thought the worst, EVERYTHING afterwards is better. You did it, you've learnt and you are actually a better person than you were before you started on your slip-up.

I am far more compassionate, sensitive and "there" than I would have been if I'd not gone as far as I did. With pain comes truth.

You are who you are. We are products of our experiences and every day is a blessing that we may not have had...

Wish I could make it easier for you...take care.

That is beautiful :T

I've been reading this thread for a while with interest, and I've been impressed with the wonderful support there is here.

I've had a cluster of tiny events happen to me recently, that has made me re-evaluate my drinking habits, AGAIN! For years I've had a suspicion that I have an alcohol problem, but always compared myself to the alcoholics portrayed by the media - well, I'm not 'that bad'!

A few years ago I unexpectedly suddenly discovered I could lose weight after years of thinking it was impossible! I lost 3 stone, which was partly by virtually eradicating alcohol (empty calories). I couldn't give up alcohol completely and it was extremely hard to keep it up, but the longer I stayed off drink, the better I felt and I no longer craved alcohol, I even started to despise the idea of it. If I slipped up, though and had a few drinks, I would allowed myself alcohol for a random-length binge to follow

During this time I also got to know Martin's website and forum when I was looking for inspiration for dramatically reducing mine and DH's debts. I sort of stumbled upon this thread today when I was getting updated to keep up our good money-saving ways.

I've recently had an upsetting episode in work where one of my adult learners was a victim of domestic abuse and was clearly an 'alcoholic' because she turned up each day under varying degrees of inebriation and when confronted with our concerns for her safety, point-blank refused she was drunk.
She would constantly cry and tell me she was useless and thick and no matter how I tried to reassure her and boost her confidence she refused to listen and just sobbed her self-deprecation. I felt so sorry for her I tried to get her help at Women's Aid for the domestic abuse, but when she made a fool of herself drunk one day, she refused to come back

I've been on holiday, away from the stress, this week and decided to finally read the chick-lit novel I got back in May. The novel covered alcoholism (and domestic abuse, bizarrely!) with a really sad insight into the power of alcohol cravings.

This has all coincided with me deciding to lose weight again, since I'd put on weight by eating and drinking excessively again. So again I'm trying to cut down on my drinking, but I think I've had a little light bulb call recently. I think I might have to resort to total abstinence of alcohol. For example, needing to argue in your own mind, not to pick up a bottle of something when I'm in the supermarket is not a normal compulsion - I can do it when I haven't had a drink in a while, but it is hugely difficult when I've been drinking in previous days. I think I'm treating myself or giving myself a reward if I give in which is a sad shame because I feel guilty at the same time!

As I've read through this thread it appears a minority of you consider yourself alcoholics even though your home-life, past aren't/weren't overly traumatic. I'm one of these people; I have no excuses for turning to drink - I need to shake hold of myself and take control of my life!

Sorry for the epic post, I wasn't even intending introducing myself tonight, but once I got started I couldn't stop! <gee, same old story it seems!>

Pagan

TarunTaru

Hei!
Mind if I join this thread too? :A
I've been thinking about this for a while now, and what better way than with some not-too-structured support

I don't have an alcohol problem per-se, but I do have an addictive personality and don't want to let that get the better of me :rolleyes:
And I usually end up making an !!!! out of myself when I'm tipsy (when I rule the world, all ex boyfriends and regretted hookups will be permanently deleted from all communication devices, and mobiles and laptops have breathalisers!)

Financially giving up the alcohols will be a huge help- after rent i have 25/week for everything else (I'm a student), so Food must come before Alcohol.

Also, where I live right now (Finland) alcohol is ridiculously expensive -
minimum 6 euros (£6 these days) for a bottle of wine from the shops, 5 euros for a pint of cider in a bar.
THAT'S A LOT OF APPLES I COULD BUY!

Anyway, I have just scheduled in my Ical 1 month without alcohol, so shall see how it goes.

I have a question, though- how do you, especially younger people, cope with bartenders/friends giving you that *weirdo* look when you order a pint of diet coke, not beer?

Anyway, saying *cheers* to a new start with a mug of coffee

-x-

jo1972

budget_babe wrote: »

And I so thought our Darling Jo was cooking the curry :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Ill cook you a curry anytime budge
hiya to newbies! :wave: on phone so no paragraphs

fedupandskint

welcome Tarun, good luck for you ideas and don't be worried what other people think about you

I'll have a cuppa with you too!

DEBTMONKEY1A

Morning all & the newbies! Well as expected sleep not great (+worried how gf would be 2day but she seems as good as yesterday!) but no booze ! AT LEAST I CAN'T TASTE BOOZE IN MY MOUTH (or have a dry mouth!) & have a clear head. feel much much calmer & I'm sure will sleep better today. Have a good day all!

barshamhillbilly

Miss_Piggy wrote: »

BHB - I'm keeping my eye on that figure in your signature you know! Think I may have to bring in MP with her whip!!!!

:o:o:o or :D:D:D .... not sure which

bhb
xx

barneydee_2

Hi I am back I have not been on since wednesday it has been a hard week, letters and phone calls as I have let my debt busting slip due to drink, I been getting letters because I have fallen behind with my payments and today I have got to sit down and write to the Bank, cc's and all others I owe money to.

I know I can do it and I know the money I spend on booze could go towards this.
Last night went to mil as she was having a bbq for my dh as it is his birthday today, my bil and sil were there, my sil has the same problem as me and looking at her dinking last night was like looking in the mirror IYKWIM.

We were talking about our drinking and how it was affecting our health, in the last couple of years I have had two health scares, I am 53years old and my appendix ruptured so I had emergancy surgery, but what they told me was that it was unusal for someone my age to have ruptured appendix. Then last year I had a lump removed from my boob, luckly it was not the big c, but it has made me think that it maybe my body trying to tell me something? She has also had a bit of a wake up call, She works in a doctors surgery and one of the doctors took her blood presure to test a new machine they had got, well he had to take it again as the reading was of the rictar scall:eek:
So what we ended up doing is saying that along with this site we are going to support each other to give up drinking.

I will be drinking today as DH birthday but I am putting myself down for, hopefully many af days

sorry for the long post

Dee

PRICE_IS_RIGHT_2

115K wrote: »

I am doing terribly, still only on 3 days. I feel like I should give up.

Me too, 115K, I'm doing very badly this month. I've given myself a low target cos of hols, but starting to feel less fit/mentally alert than I did the previous months now. So I'm going to be stricter with myself and will beat my target. We went on hols for 10 days, returned last Tuesday, so I've been in holiday mode until yesterday cos we normally go away for 2 weeks. That's my excuse anyway

Had a pleasant drink with Mr PIR last night in local trendy bar - 4 spritzers, not too bad. What benefits did I gain? Well, chatting in an adult way out of the house with Mr PIR, so beneficial for relationship. And people watching. So OK to do this every so often, but not every week.

Must go and clean the shower before getting DD2 up so I can continue stripping the wallpaper. Back to mundane routines now - but glad in a way.

FAY: YOU DIDN'T ANSWER BUDGIE'S QUESTION ABOUT THE DATES ... do we need to buy our hats??? The sales are still going on, and I'd rather get mine now ...

DEBTMONKEY: you sound such a sweet, selfless person - look after yourself as well as giving your poor GF so much love and support. You are doing really well.

Right, must get on

Have a great day everybody

xx