The giving up/cutting down alcohol support thread! Part 5

Sea78

Hi Signs

Welcome!!

I was like you too - except it got a bit worse, and I ended up facing a series of horrendous potential events that thankfully I halted by stopping completely. I felt depressed, miserable and very restless and angry! Not good, but I also had great benefits - not being hungover and aware of mhy actions.

I had to go to AA to get my self sorted - loads of help and support and not just for the stereotypical 'drunk' - not for everyone, but might help you get off the drink and give extra support? Of course Honeybear's advice is great - just try to stay off the drink for one day only and remember tomorrow is a new day. Go to bed early if the craving starts - can't drink if in bed lol and it'll help you catch up on nsleep too, I found it hard to sleep for about 2 weeks but then got bac to sleeping.

Sea xxxxx

shaggydoo

signs_of_recovery wrote: »

Hi,
Can I come in here for a bit of support and advice, because I feel absolutely horrible just now!
I didn't drink at all, and I do mean at all, until I was 30, and from then have built up a bottle of red-a-day-every-day habit which has been going on for 10 years now.
I recently got made redundant, and it's climbed to a bottle and a half, and twice this week to two bottles. And i can only see it getting worse.
I don't know how to stop. I am terrified of withdrawal symptoms, and I'm so angry with myself for abusing my body and spending our money on s***ing wine. I keep scaring myself with liver pains and things like that. I feel bloated and grossly hung-over a lot. But nothing is helping. I still reach for the glass of wine at 6pm and don't get up again until bed time. What do I do? How do I stop? Is there any way to avoid withdrawal?

Hi

Have you ever thought about talking to your GP? He/she might be able to advise you best on how to cut down safely. Have you tried googling withdrawal symptoms and alcohol?

I do think you need to seek urgent help, that is an awful lot of units to be consuming. Please post again if you can't face seeking help from a GP.

You sound like you are having a dreadful time of it and I'm sending you a hug.

Shaggy

yellowmonkey

Hi and signs

I can only echo the excellent advice above and well done on posting. I am trying 1 day at a time as that is achievable for me at least.

Good luck and keep posting

Pippilongstocking

Marru - 9 for me - thanks hunny

Catch you all soon

Welcome to signs and take care of yourself - perhaps a trip to the docs is a good idea ofr if you don't think that's appropriate then there is alot of good sound adivce out there on UK health websites etc

And of course there are lots of lovely folks here to listen and lend an ear xx

Sea78

Btw Signs- obviously it's all individual and everyone is different with their withdrawal symptoms - however, the effects of continuing to drink the quantity you are is going to be much worse than any withdrawal symptoms- often there is an alcohol advisory service that can guide you throughcutting down in a manner you feel comfortable with. Again, it's a personal thing, and the recommendation to go to a doc is good for your medical health.

xxxx

signs_of_recovery

Thank you so much for the lovely welcome. I'm thinking it all through right now. It was with an odd feeling of relief that I posted, having read through a lot of the posts, and realising I'm not so unusual.
I am really reluctant to go to my doctor. He's a family friend, and, to be honest, likes a drink or two himself! I just wouldn't feel particularly comfortable. I did have liver function tests, and a scan a couple of years ago because I had suspected gall stones, but everything came back ok.
My pattern is that after my DH finishes work, we settle down, he with a can of beer, me with my glass of wine, and potter around on the computer, or whatever. One drink leads to another which leads to another. I can, and have just stopped after half a bottle, it's just that, after drink number two, more often than not, I just think "oh, I'll just have another one...." and suddenly the bottle's finished.
When I do stop at half a bottle, well, I certainly feel better on one level, but my sleeping is horrible. Scary scary vivid dreams, and such terrible anxiety. Now, I was an anxious person anyway, even before I started drinking, and I don't know whether it's normal for me, or whether it's alcohol.
If I can hang out here, with other people trying to do the same thing, I think I can stop at the half bottle mark, and if I do that for a couple of weeks and get my confidence up, then I can go AF which is what I want.
We don't have a lot of spare cash just now, and £50 a week on general alcohol is beyond the joke, particularly when I'm so good at being frugal about cooking!!!!
Anyway, that's how I stopped smoking (helped by Allan Carr) so I'm hoping the same tack will work with alcohol.
Thank you thank you thank you for your kind, non judgemental, accepting words. I have tears in my eyes.

Marru

Signs welcome here and do keep posting what ever happens. I would also say to go and see your GP.

I am rushing off my feet and have turned into monster mum as getting stressed due to all the stuff that need doing. I won't be at my home computer until Wednesday afternoon but will try my best to keep the online spreadsheet up to date. Might pop back bit later today thou as need to come back here to pack our stuff after getting DD dropped at her friend and dogs (4 of them) walked.

Must dash...

Edit: Signs cross posted - do keep reading and posting!!! We have had long discussion here about which soft drinks to use to replace alcohol. My favourite is ginger ale. In the beginning I also went throuh fair amount of rather nice chocolate.

Really must dash...

*Mari*

Hi, not been around for days as been feeling awful and not at all af :rolleyes: so no more days yet for me marru :mad:

Signs, welcome I know where you are comming from and am struggling myself to cut down my bottle of wine a night habit. I have recently been much better and have had some af days, however if I open a bottle I drink a bottle so have realised I must focus on day at a time and telling myself im not drinking today.

Take care

Mari xx

honeybear_2

Marru wrote: »

We have had long discussion here about which soft drinks to use to replace alcohol. My favourite is ginger ale. In the beginning I also went throuh fair amount of rather nice chocolate.

Lime cordial also seems to be quite a favourite!

I just tend to drink water or tea when I'm having an Af evening, works for me

Mari, hope you feel better soon *hugs* No more days for me either, including today as am drinking wine as I decorate the tree & the rest of Bear Towers :cool:

Not sure about 72hrs next week - it's possible but I think I'll take it 24hrs at a time

shaggydoo

Signs would it help to say start drinking later on in the evening to begin with - 7, 8 or 9? The sleep problems you are having are probably associated with alcohol - it stimulates the brain late in the sleep cycle. Hopefully as you achieve more AF days then you will begin to sleep better. I always sleep really badly when I drink. The anxiety maybe caused by the alcohol too. Alcohol is a depressant.

Maybe you could start a little spread sheet to show you how much money you are saving by not drinking? This is what I've done and I also record how many calories I've saved too.

Do you have a favorite drink that you can indulge yourself in instead of alcohol? For me it's hot chocolate! (oops sorry cross post!)

Edit Just out of interest did you start drinking more when you quit smoking?