The cutting out/cutting down alcohol thread (part 7)

graemecarter

jo1972 wrote: »

Morning all,

Did drink last night but stopped half way through the evening and decided that I don't want to do this anymore. My mouth is so sore, I'm sick of not remembering my life as it's going by and I feel like I've aged so much in the last few years. I reckon if I don't drink then all these things will improve within time.

I made the decision last night that I will no longer drink alcohol as I think I'm allergic to it. I then had a kind of epiphany, everything seemed so clear. I was wondering last night if I only felt like that because I'd had a drink and would wake up today just feeling like crap and that's it, but no, I feel almost lightheaded with excitment that my life is about to improve.

This must be a light bulb moment.

38 years old and today is the first day of my life :T

ETA: love to stop and chat but have you seen the time :eek:

I am really glad you are thinking and feeling this way Jo. This could give you the impetus to change.

In my experience, if I didn't put action in and actually CHANGE something, then no benefit would come of my good thinking. Thoughts without actions are worthless.
I took many decisions to stop drinking - it only became a reality and not a fantasy when I actually did something different.

Good luck - we are all here for you

brokepaolo

Morning.

I had a drink last night, quite a lot in fact. I even went out to a nightclub and bumped into Bez from the Happy Mondays which was funny. I wasn't hammered though and I only stayed at the club til midnight because I realised that it really wasn't my scene anymore. I could see younger versions of myself all around me having the time of their lives and it made me reflect on how I got myself into the situation I'm in right now. Going out was the be all and end all for me all through my twenties, nothing would stop me going out, even if I didn't have any money, I would go to free clubs and drink whatever drink had been left unattended for longer than 10 minutes. Silly me, but it was good fun at the time.

And so was last night, despite leaving early because I didn't feel that I fit in, it was a laugh and I don't regret going out.

This morning I didn't feel too hungover, a little bit tired though because I got home at half past midnight and watched a couple of episodes of Twin Peaks that I have on dvd. Man that is one messed up TV series but I love it!

anyway, I had my appointment with the CAB this morning to discuss whether I could apply for a DRO or whatever other options I should take. The lady there was alright but she seemed in a hurry to get me out of the door and signing up for a DMP with payplan. I told her that I had tried a DMP already and that it was far too restricting and she looked at me blankly and just said 'well, what do you expect? you can't just borrow money and walk off without paying something back'.

Fair enough, she's right but I was a bit surprised by how annoyed she seemed, it's not like I haven't tried to sort my finances out and just want to have them all written off by some sort of magic wand.

Yes, of course I know that Iwork and have £600 odd after I've paid rent and bills, but £150 a week for food and other living expenses isn't exactly a fortune either. She told me that unemployed people live on less than half of that. Again, fair enough but quite unhelpful really, I've worked hard all my adult life to never be unemployed and I've never claimed benefits in my life.

oh well, I didn't really have high hopes for my appointment, I knew pretty much all the things we discussed already, I just feel a bit miffed that instead of being advised on what options I had, it felt more like yet another telling off followed by a push out of the door with orders to go on a DMP to the tune of £200 a month because after that I would still have enough money to live on, just like someone on benefits manages.

In all honesty, it's not even the money that bothers me, as in hopw much I would have to pay towards a DMP or whatever other solution is suitable for me, I just want an end to the 20 phone calls a day I still get from creditors who when I speak to them all say that they won't accept a DMP, or that they will accept it but it has to be more money, or that they're sorry they called but they have a computer which automatically dials their customers' numbers..

It's beyond a joke, I can't remember the last time my phone wasn't on silent.

Anyway, I'm due to speak to someone from payplan about setting up a new DMP or whatever other solution is feasible.

If it costs me in the region of £150 per month, I'll gladly sign up for it and stick to it, I've had enough of running now, it's time to bite the bullet and get on with things.

DecemberBaby_2

Mon-Thurs challenge this week

Scores received so far:-

Fay

Jo

DB

Sparkles

SSG

SOS

Lurkio

NRA

PenelopeDee

Gien and a half!

Mari

Maman

Challenge over. Well done folks!

Thanks for hugs and good wishes last night. Feeling slightly better and have just eaten a baked potato and tuna so hoping for no ill-effects from that!

Anyone up for a weekend challenge? Fri-Sun?

Jo - big hugs ((())). I really hope this works out for you and that you continue to feel so good about it.

DB x

fedupandskint

Dear Jo, my partner in crime.....

That is exactly how I came to view drinking - it feels like I am allergic to it too, then when I started on this new cream it made my skin react in a way I never could have imagined and when I had a couple of drinks on holiday it was a much much worse reaction.

I came home today and thought 'Oh I didn't buy any special fizzy AF to drink tonight' and realised the penny had dropped. I no longer view Fridays as a drinking night, the weekend nights are no different to any other night in the week, the bells no longer ring loudly in my ears as they would have done last year and all the years before. I enjoy going to bed sober in a way I could never have imagined.

I think I now view myself more as a non drinker than a drinker and that change in view has taken most of the year to achieve but I now believe it totally.

When I drank on holiday I realised I non longer enjoyed the feeling and I could tell straight away how much if affected me.

I don't have any plans to have another drink of alcohol and take it day by day or week by week to remain AF

penelopedee_2

Good luck Jo, you've a lot of support on here to back you up

69chick

Jo, just wanted to say am thinking of you and hope you are still in that good place hun xxx

fedupandskint

Where are you all tonight?

Out partying?

All on lonesome tonight watching the sun go down with lots of left over tea to work out what to do with and a cup of tea......oh well see you all tomorrow

DecemberBaby_2

No not out partying but had a gang of teenagers here doing just that. I feel old! And a bit lonely too!

AF tonight so 5 for me please Sparkles.

DB x

fedupandskint

Ok, off to update the list now

penelopedee_2

DS is away with family all weekend so we are having a much needed quiet evening together! Don't get many of them now-a-days.

Just persuaded DH to put the kettle on, compromise for letting him watch more of the cricket