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

115K

eyeopener2 wrote: »

So, next task is to replace the coke that replaced the alcohol with something else.

But what will it be?;):D

I have plucked my eyebrows, shaved my legs, had a bath, watched two TV programmes, hoovered and I'm about to do my nails. Will this evening never end?!!!

It feels like I have been trying to distract myself for hours and hours.:rotfl:

Miss_Piggy_2

Cutting down/ Giving up August Challenge!

Days
115K 4/31(no target)
69Chick 5/14
Bluenose 4/20
Budget Babe 13/1
Debtmonkey1A 8/21
Different Corner 4/14
Fayjmck 7/31
Fedupandskint 8/30
Foreverhopeful 3/10
Gargrave50 0/10
Geranium72 7/20
Grey Pilgrim 6/30
Maman 5/10
Mari 0/16
Miss Piggy 15/31
Mollypolly 16/31
Mookyboy 2/16
Price is Right 4/11
Samandsheryl 2/22
Skintscottishgirl 2/24
Time2GrowUp 2/12 (left challenge but welcome back anytime!)
Wanna Bee Free 5/8
Winebox 5/10
Yellowmonkey 4/11

Units
40SM 13/62 3 days
BarshamHillbilly 89/125

Days Pledged : 422
Actual : 129

Units Pledged: 187
Actual : 102

Pippilongstocking

Evening all - been a bit touch and go here - got into pj's at 3ish after putting wine back on the shelf in supermarket (dull day, watching movies, of course alcohol - um NO NO NO)

I am with you there 115k - I have had a bath, pampered myself, tidied my room, the kitchen etc and just tried to keep busy - we even drove to the beach (yeah in Pj's - I am NOT proud) and had a saunter on the beach to while away an hour or so.

SHovvelled down Kudzu and keeping it close to hand - the lodger has an unopened bottle of champagne in the fridge which was singing - but I hope its drowned for the moment.

Waves to you all - Coke - ergh Caffine has been hard to give up - I am very wary of caffine things now - I do get hyper - I love fizzy water with cordials - lots of different ones ? Might help you experiment?

SO Miss P thats me one more AFD - am now on 8 xx - hope you are OK x

maman

:hello:

Hi all!!

fay, couldn't help laughing at the thought of you in pjs off to beach whilst avoiding alcohol aisles!:rotfl:You are obviously trying hard to get back into AF mode after holidays. I can see that two redheads might be a bit of a problem making decisions but am hopeful of an answer soon.

Bbeth, I do understand your problem of a choice between addictive medication and alcohol. When you speak to GP about 'itching' you should ask whether taking medication 'as and when' is OK. You seem to be trying so hard I don't want you to do anything 'worng'.

cazza, as eyeo says you should beware of full fat coke. You are probably a lovely, slim young thing (now) but if you are choosing something to have instead of alcohol go for water or Ribena Lite and only have full fat stuff as an occasional treat. Hope all went well tonight. Did you go to meeting?

YM good to have you back from holiday, you'll soon get back to AF habits.

115k and glasgowgirl, I so understand your cravings. I was drinking tonight and doing lots of clockwatching before 6 p.m. Abut 5.45pm some visitors came :eek: Quite a struggle to be sociable until they left an hour or so later. Ashamed to say I have caught up since:o.

BB can't help worrying about how you are. Hope you're lurking.

Jo, weather looking promising for your holiday. BHB obviously has everything in his neck of the woods...wildlife, home-grown food, pool, sun, the gorgeous Lady Wideload..what a life!!!

'night all :A

tangochick

Hello, I'm lurking here, keeping an eye on you lot. I'm so glad you're trying to beat this.

It was my husbands funeral on friday, loads of friends & family, all shocked & sad.
Many feeling guilty & going round & round in circles like i have wondering, what could we have done? when did it start? why did it start? why didnt he talk to them about it? His mum feels guilty cos she gave him money, his sibling cos she's a doctor & should've noticed, his mates cos they all drank together.... so many victims.
At 40, he was the first of his friends to die, so school & college friends came from all over, including Australia, Bali & Canada, what a shame he wasnt here to see them.
Many apologised to me for not taking me seriously when i'd asked for help, its nobodys fault, he told them i was just nagging & exaggerating & he had become an excellent liar.

My 2 little boys (age 2 & 4) were adorable, they placed some red roses on the coffin & asked lots of strange questions, where is daddy? Has he got a pillow? How did he get up there?
It shouldnt have happened, its such a waste. I want to shout it from the rooftops ! WHAT A WASTE !
I feel so angry, so sad, i can't quite believe it then i think of him laughing with the kids & its gut wrenching.
Good Luck to all of you, you've done the hardest bit acknowledging a problem. even the week before he went into hospital, he wouldnt admit it.
x

my previous post.......
My husband died last friday, aged 40 leaving me (his wife) and his 2 children under 5.
He was a kind & loving man, until last year he was a wonderful husband and daddy.
I dont know exactly when his drinking got out of hand, he hid it well. I would say only 18months to 2 years ago, although we've both always liked a drink.
He was unlucky, his body couldnt handle it, he was built like a rugby player & was strong, he never got ill, if anyone could handle it- people thought he could.

Alcoholism is a shocking illness & i am sorry it affects so many people.
I knew nothing about it until last year & was so ignorant, i didnt understand why my husband couldnt just stop.
His biggest problem was denial, he convinced himself that he was fine, not even taking notice of doctors. He hadnt really accepted that he had a problem, even tho blood tests & liver specialist had said he should stop.

He would be devastated if he had known this would happen, he loved his kids so much, his personality just went.
He went into hospital with alcoholic hepatitus 4 wks before his death,
he was walking & talking, and within a few wks he couldnt, he was extremely ill and jaundiced and scared.

if you know anyone who has a problem with drink, please tell them this from me and urge them to get help before its too late.
My husband will have so many people at his funeral who loved him, yet none of us could help him.
Be strong.
It is a terrible illness.
xx

115K

fayjmck wrote: »

I am with you there 115k - I have had a bath, pampered myself, tidied my room, the kitchen etc and just tried to keep busy - we even drove to the beach (yeah in Pj's - I am NOT proud) and had a saunter on the beach to while away an hour or so.

Lucky you being able to go to the beach in your PJ's. I don't have a car so I would look quite strange going anywhere dressed like that.:D

maman wrote: »

115k and glasgowgirl, I so understand your cravings. I was drinking tonight and doing lots of clockwatching before 6 p.m. Abut 5.45pm some visitors came :eek: Quite a struggle to be sociable until they left an hour or so later. Ashamed to say I have caught up since:o.

I know, what is it about 6pm. I always wait until that time to start drinking usually as well.

tangochick wrote: »

It shouldnt have happened, its such a waste. I want to shout it from the rooftops ! WHAT A WASTE !
I feel so angry, so sad, i can't quite believe it then i think of him laughing with the kids & its gut wrenching.

That is tragic Tangochick. I wish you and your children the best.xxxxx

changing_ways

eyeopener2 wrote: »

So, next task is to replace the coke that replaced the alcohol with something else.

Which exactly the opposite of what Allen Carr says. you should do. NO SUBSTITUTES TO ALCOHOL.......ho hum.

i'm off to bed before I confuse myself completely.

E

In my book, soft drinks like coke and cordials are not substitutes for alcohol but alternatives to alcohol. Substitutes are things like alcohol free wine and beer - I can see how these might help cutter downers, but as I am trying to reinvent myself as a nondrinker they would not be helpful for me.

changing_ways

Pagan71 wrote: »

I would recommend it definitely. It is a long novel, with lots of characters (all well developed personalities though). It took me a while to get used to the weird contracted narrative of one of the characters, but really glad I persevered.

Marnie's battle with alcohol is especially poignant and I was shocked by how much I could relate to it. It opened some very big questions for myself that I had been avoiding (head-in-sand), but the great thing is it made me realise that it can all be fixed with some willpower and determination :T

Just turned on Radio 5 and this is the very book being discussed and highly recommended. definitely on my "to read" list now.

changing_ways

Tangochick - thank you for posting. Such a sad day, and my heart goes out to you and your children. No one could read what you've written and not be moved by it.

barneydee_2

Tangochick just a short note to wish you and your family all the very best and my thoughts are with you at this sad time.

Did drink yesturday as it was my oh birthday but did not drink as much as would normaly today I want to be a af day so fingers crossed i'll pop back tonight to let you now how it's going.

Dee