The giving up/cutting down alcohol thread part VI

graemecarter

mollypolly wrote: »

Thanks for the congrats Miss Piggy.Dont worry about being down.That's what this thread is all about......Come here Happy come here Sad.We are all here to support each other.
I am sorry you are having a bad time at the moment but you have done so well cutting back....maybe you do need to cut it out now.I seem to remember you did completely abstain a while back....maybe it would be a good idea to have a read of your old posts to see what place your head was in then.It could be helpful.

Right....must dash...DD2's here now.
Catch you later
Love Mollypollyxxxx

That's what I needed to do, and I am sure it was the right decision.
The fact that I needed to control my drinking meant it was out of control.

graemecarter

de1amo wrote: »

i gave up on my birthday back in january and am still feeling miles better and wealthier--i never realised how much i wasted on booze and how lethargic and 'under the weather' it made me feel--you know your worth it!! as the ad people are want to remind us-its your life and liver and you only get one of each of those!!

Thanks, and so very true.
I think a lot of the time alcohol affects our relationships with others, and especially our relationship with ourselves, before it manifests itself physically.
I don't know many people who are glad they drink a lot, or say it improves things....

Miss_Piggy_2

As always, thank you GC, my voice of reason.

Miss P
xx

graemecarter

yellowmonkey wrote: »

Congrats MP

Miss P . Put last night behind you and look ahead. There is nothing you can do about what has passed only what is to come

I have had 20 cans in the last 2 nights so its time to take control again. Will not be buying any beer for the house ( have said that before ) . My OH said to me last night "Why do you have to drink beer indoors" Do you know what. I did not have an answer so today is year 0 again.(Groundhog Day).

Suffice to say I will be AF today

Have a good one

Exactly - we should not regret the past, but also we should not wish to close the door on it. We can learn from it (if we are open, honest, and willing). I know for me that I could easily see the error of my ways, though doing something about it (and sticking to it) was far more difficult.

I kept on promising that I would never drink again (and I sincerely meant it when I said it) but I broke that promise time and time again. I let down my family and friends, but also myself.
I am human and we all screw up occasionally, however around alcohol I screwed up a lot. I couldn't be said to be doing the best for my children if I carried on drinking and didn't try every avenue to stop drinking. I had to get help - I didn't want to as my alcoholism didn't want me to stop drinking. However, somehow the better part of me reached out and accepted help from others.
I now try to keep things in today. I try to enjoy the now. Not regret the past nor fear the future.
It's not always easy, but by god is it worth it.

graemecarter

maman wrote: »

Morning MissP, I'm with YM on this. It's what I do with 'dangerous' foods like crisps, just don't buy them in. These days I just work out how much wine I plan to drink in a week and when it's gone it's gone. This helps me just drink on my planned evenings. Perhaps for you though you need to prove to yourself that you can not drink at all. Is Piglet still on a high from his weekend break?

Hello de1amo, I was just thinking this morning how much better I feel having AF days (and moderate drinking on most of my non-AF days which is probably my bigger achievement). Putting moisturiser on, my face felt 'alive' and not dehydrated and numb like it used to be.

That is very successful, controlled cutting down. And it seems to be working a treat for you. :T Lucky you and well done for putting the effort in

I never had that discipline around alcohol, and could rarely stick within safe guideline limits AND remain happy. I'd break my 'rules' around alcohol quite often. If I knew I was going to be able to drink in 24-48 hrs time, I didn't seem to miss it too badly.
Someone suggested that I should try and remove alcohol from my life for 2 months (to see what a crutch it was for me) - that horrified me:eek:

Pippilongstocking

MIss P - sweetie - hugs

Get that book - if you want I can send you a copy - I've mine covered in lovely purple posh paper - (so kids can't peak) and it travels with me always. Its tiny and so easy to dip into. Things in it just make sense.

A huge hug to you and a cup of cofee - I'm going for April AF - fancy joining me - I have daliances these days with the old vino - I don't enjoy them - its controlled and after I've ruined a perfectly good AFD with a couple of glasses of wine or even one - I wonder why I've bothered.

You were positivley boinging without the vino - can hold your hand if you like?

Hugs YM - groundhog day - too true.

Miss_Piggy_2

fayjmck wrote: »

MIss P - sweetie - hugs

Get that book - if you want I can send you a copy - I've mine covered in lovely purple posh paper - (so kids can't peak) and it travels with me always. Its tiny and so easy to dip into. Things in it just make sense.

A huge hug to you and a cup of cofee - I'm going for April AF - fancy joining me - I have daliances these days with the old vino - I don't enjoy them - its controlled and after I've ruined a perfectly good AFD with a couple of glasses of wine or even one - I wonder why I've bothered.

You were positivley boinging without the vino - can hold your hand if you like?

Fay, I will join you on that AF April. I'm so upset with myself. Like you say, I was on a natural high when I was alcohol free. Why did I have to go and ruin it?? I will definately need that hand-holding!!

So_Sad_Angel

graemecarter wrote: »

I now try to keep things in today. I try to enjoy the now. Not regret the past nor fear the future.
It's not always easy, but by god is it worth it.

Gosh GC that is a really powerful few lines & I thank for those words as it says exactly how have felt from day one of my AF-ness back in August.

I know that just one drink will set me off again so I live by the mantra that its easier to abstain from that one drink today than recover from the bottle a night addiction that one drink will lead to.

.

Pippilongstocking

maman wrote: »

Morning MissP, I'm with YM on this. It's what I do with 'dangerous' foods like crisps, just don't buy them in. These days I just work out how much wine I plan to drink in a week and when it's gone it's gone. This helps me just drink on my planned evenings. Perhaps for you though you need to prove to yourself that you can not drink at all. Is Piglet still on a high from his weekend break?

.

Hello Maman - I havent' forgotten the Edinburgh trip - I'm just going to get a copy of something called the List for you in a bit. As I am lurking quite near the fair city at the mo

I have to say I'm the same - don't have it in the house - we had a funny conversation here last night - OH talked about his downfall being crisps - funny as we have stacks of them at home - he never gorges himself on them - he says AH thats easy they aren't mine - they are the kids.

I had to confess about biscuits - I can't have the kinds I like in the house - there are only specific ones but once the packet it opened its gone (bit like Wine for me as well). He was very very surprised 7 years of being together and he's never seen me become the human cookie monster.

Why - cos I don't have them in the house. I can't. When I first left home for uni in my first flat I went upto 11 stone - I ate nothing but biscuits, went up a shoe size as well - it really was just not funny how my lack of willpower with biscuits affected me when I had free reign over them!

Now I also don't keep wine in the house - nor any ohter alcohol - if I 'want' some - I sabbotage every attempt to have some unless like Maman I've decided I 'can' drink tonight and then I'll buy one wee can (= 2 glasses - 2-3 units).

Which as much as its an adjustment - I cant see the point in even doing that anymore.

I normally struggle after the 3 day without alcohol bit - but have been getting better.

Will stop rambling now - YM I am painting the bathroom and the kitchen (both at same time on two different floors )

Pippilongstocking

Miss_Piggy wrote: »

Fay, I will join you on that AF April. I'm so upset with myself. Like you say, I was on a natural high when I was alcohol free. Why did I have to go and ruin it?? I will definately need that hand-holding!!

You haven't ruined it you silly monkey.

Its just that you/we let our guard down cos we are merely human.

As many would say we need 'constant vigilence'.

Waves hello to SSA - last August - wow well done you

GC morning - wise words as always.

Molls - yeah I'm in a better place heading to a good place - the new house - I dunno it just has an amazingly good feel to it - I love hte house I'm in right now but I've never really enjoyed it too much - because I think I can't garden there and I'm just 'looking after it'.

The new place is a blank canvas - looking straight out to sea and lighthouses and boats etc - is amazing - its so tranquil. - Congrats on the new baby - Its a 2-3 hour drive from Inverness to the ferry port - an hour from there to us. We may be travelling about in July anyway - so there might be an opportunity for a meet up in the big smoke (inverness) or at home xx