The giving up/cutting down alcohol thread part VI

Lurkio

jo1972 wrote: »

Angie, so sorry to hear your news, I hope things start looking up soon xxx

Morning Lurks, I see you're lurking

Stalker!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek: :rotfl: :rotfl:

gien

Morning all.

Angie, that's tough news, sorry . I'm really impressed that you 're already looking for the silver lining - an opportunity to set up on your own.

I FAFFed with my husband last night, and it was a lovely experience. He was actually have a bit of a moan about work (a rare thing as he's usually very upbeat) and I was able to be fully focused and supportive.

So thats 4FAFFs for me please Faye, keep up your great posts - they are so encouraging and entertaining.

115k, good luck with being AF today, I know that when I'm having a bingey time there's comes a point when you jsut say , stop, no more. It's like your body just is fed up with you poisoning it.


have a good day everyone.

jo1972

Familygirl wrote: »

I can totally appreciate that it is really, really difficult for some people to go to their GP and discuss their drink issues, but your GP's are their to help, and they have confidentiality so whatever you say to your doctor, remains between you and your doctor, they are not their to judge. Also there are a lot of free drop in centres that offer confidential advice to people, that people could find on google.

Be easy on yourself, if you are used to a tipple on an evening just cut yourself down gradually, glass by glass. Then take a full break for a while, I know it will be hard, but think of it as your doing it for your health. I keep repeating myself, but lots and lots of water and think about taking liver friendly vitamins to help you back to a healthly new you! xx

Hello FG and welcome to the thread :wave: sorry I didn't have a chance to welcome you yesterday

Thank you so much for your supportive posts, we really are a non-judgemental bunch and will welcome your opinions, how ever good or bad they are!

I think from what you said in your post last night though, my experiences are slightly different where I live (in greater London!!). My doctors first comment to me when I told him about my drink problem was (and I do actually quote) "just don't buy it, then you can't drink it!" he was less than supportive, understanding or qualified in my opinion to treat an alcoholic (he has improved slightly since back then, maybe he's been on a CPD on alcohol *rolleyes*). I rang DrinkAware who gave me the phone number of my local drug and alcohol service, who back in 2006, where fantastic, I had 8 months of counselling, a detox etc. Since I've fallen back off the wagon and returned to them (referred by myself, didn't want to 'bother' my GP *rolleyes). I've found out that the budget for counselling and that sort of stuff isn't there anymore, they only have 2 alcohol key workers that can offer 4 ten minute sessions over 4 weeks, and that's it! I went last year and couldn't go to my last one as I was going on holiday and she said she'd ring me instead and didn't bother!

I can't believe what it going on at the moment, they are making a huge push to 'drink sensibily' etc and on the other hand taking the resources away from people that need help. My only option now is AA as the local drug and alcohol service weekly meetings don't happen anymore either (which I found a great support). So it's AA or nothing (and this is out of the mouth of a substance misuse keyworker at the councils drug and alcohol service!).

I would also say that for me, reducing is very difficult. I have done 2 community detoxes i.e. where you reduce by so many units per week until you are down to nothing. At first you don't really notice it but after a few weeks when the units are low it's difficult to know what to do. Do you drink it straight away and then have nothing left for the rest of the evening and panic all night (and I mean heart palpitation panic attack type stuff) or do you keep it till the end of the night but then think about it incessently and hear it singing to you from the fridge until you're 'allowed' to open it. Or do you open it straight away and sip it all night long and end up with a warm drink that you just want to knock back *confused*. It's a total mind f.eck and I personally would much rather not bother with any. Go through the withdrawal pangs and panic at the beginning but then get a grip and say, you're not doing it today rather than have to go through that all night.

Oh and one more thing *rolleyes* I do have a fatty liver which I can 'feel' after a night drinking. It doesn't hurt but as it's enlarged, I am aware that my liver is there without touching it, if that makes sense? Like it's pressing against my ribcage!

Right, very late for work.

Bye all :wave:

jo1972

gien wrote: »

I FAFFed with my husband last night, and it was a lovely experience

I love this sentence, I had to quote it!!

Pippilongstocking

Morning Faffers

I go to sleep for 6 hours and you lot put up over a page!

SSA - lovie - hugs to you - I was going to ask how you'd settled in....

Away to get sorted - will post an update later and then that;s me til Sunday night when I'm sure there will be lots of Weekend faffing

I'm anxious already as SIL has already texted saying wooo hoooo get the wine in - (its one of the reasons we're only staying one night - neither OH's really drink and she does (as much as I use to) so I need to figure something out - I don't want to make her uncomfortable but I don't want to drink either.

Constant vigilence - tonights OK as we've alot planned meal, cinema I just need to fathom something that will work for Sat night - sunday I'm home again which will be fine

Oh and of course ask for soft drinks on the plane - why is alcohol involved in so many things.?

Waves to the early birds xxxx

mollypolly

Good morning everyone and welcome Familygirl.

Angie ....I am sorry to read your bad news but very glad that your are sounding more positive now and Not drowning your sorrows;).I hope things improve very soon.....Take care:)

Well done to all who Faffed last night....Jo..did you???(shruggy shoulders)

I faffed with tea and toast and watched the soaps after work.....I was truly shouting at Peter Barlow.....Nooooooooooo dont do it!!!!!!!!
I think he is going to loose it all!!!!!

Fay...Have a lovely time...it seems like the snow is going...and I hope it stays gone for next weekend.It's a shame we will miss each other by 4 days....you going home Monday and me arriving Friday.We will have to plan it better next time we are visiting.

Off to Toys R Us now to buy boys toys for the 'new grandchildren'.We have all girls in our family so dont know much about boys toys and have never heard of 'Secret Saturdays'...which is what I am to look for LOL:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Have fun peeps
Catch you later
Love Mollypollyxxxx


ETA...sorry Fay crossed posts.....missing you by 5 days if you are going home Sunday LOL......Have fun.I am worried too about not drinking next weekend as I feel there is going to be lots of emotional stuff and 'things to celebrate 'As you say ...Constant Vigilence.......Take care and have fun.XXXX

honeybear_2

Morning all

Angie, big hugs, sweetie - so sorry you're having a bad time

Fay, have a lovely time. How about taking some nice bottle of lovely AF drink to help?

Jo, I dreamt & I met you last night & you were lovely

shellywinebelly

Morning all :wave:

Jo - shocking to realise just how little help there is out there. The government waste so much money on campaigns warning us not to drink more than a couple of units at a time (why bother, we know this already...its stopping at one or two thats the problem) yet they don't provide the cash or facility to actually help people stop or cut back. Surely the after effects of drinking must cost the NHS as much if not more than effects of smoking?

Angie - So sorry to hear you bad news, sending you a big hug. X

Faye- managed another FAFF last night so that 3 for me please!

Not sure I will manage to faff tonight as just know hubby will waltz through the door with his Friday night stash of wine....but will do my best.

Have a happy Friday everyone X

graemecarter

fedupandskint wrote: »

I've been super tired too for ages and I am sick and tired of waking up to go to work in the morning then snoozing for another 45mins and rushing around to get ready and go. Don't know what happened to the me that used to get up at that time and earlier and was ready for work in plenty of time.

Don't think it is this tiredness related to drinking as I have hardly drunk anything over the last couple of weeks.

I know when I stopped drinking I started to listening to my body. And it told me it was knackered. Thus I had to slow down and be kind to myself

graemecarter

DecemberBaby wrote: »

Hey 115K,
I haven't had a FAFF day yet either. Been out and that was Ok but got home and opened the bottle of wine. You did brilliantly in January!
Keep that in mind and go for it again. You CAN do it and you already have
done before.

Sometimes I wonder if trying to control it so much can be such a strain it can make us just give up trying and go for it big time. Not saying you are like that but i can understand that binge ifeeling you mentioned.
I think giving up completely might be better for some of us.

Anyway, take care and be good to yourself.

DB x

This is what my alcoholism told me. If I cannot be happy when trying to control, I may as well drink to excess.
So I needed to not drink at all and change myself to get happy.

If people can be happy and in control, then great. If they find it difficult to stay happy, or in control, then maybe stopping completely is the answer.