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

DecemberBaby_2

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DB x

penelopedee_2

Cheers DB, I'd almost forgotten I wasn't drinking :j

Elvis, do what you fancy and what works for you. This thread is for support as and when you need it. Everyone has different levels of cutting down or giving up

Marru

Hello,

Busy day here - been hiking and clearing stables, visiting a puppy and baby horse, potential MIL managed to upset me but she did apologise so we are ok now

Lovely to see you back Mookie and PIR/SOS

Welcome Elvis

Jo - congratulations on hight achievement of getting into 7 thousands :T

Declaring 8 please DB - thank you!

graemecarter

elvis86 wrote: »

Please can I join?! I can't believe I've not seen this thread before.

Only read a little, but like others, I feel great when I'm out drinking, but awful the next day when I can't remember anything after 10pm, can't remember getting home, have bruises etc.:(:(:(

I hardly drink really, except these big binges, I guess you'd call them. I've considered starting to drink a little every day, to see if I can build up an immunity!:D

Latest misdemeanour was Saturday, don't remember anything after 11ish. Don't remember going to a club. Don't remember being refused re-entry after going out for a cigarette (I don't smoke!). Don't remember being put in a cab. Remember walking a fair way of the route home, but don't remember why I got out of/was ejected from the taxi. Don't remember borrowing and spending £30, in addition to the £35 I took out.:(:(:(

I just don't seem to be able to recognise when I've had too much and should move on to soft drinks. I think its maybe because I only go out every few weeks so its like a blow out?

Anyone had similar experience to me?

I was a binge drinker. I didn't drink everyday, but when I did drink, I regualrly drank to blackout (memory loss). I'd wake up with less money than I hoped, unidentified drinking injuries, and a sense of dread about what i had done the previous night.

After a while my binges got closer together, and while everyone was drinking less as they got older, I was still going out like a student and getting bladdered.
If I had just ONE drink, then I couldn't ever say if I would stop there or at 3am. All bets were off after I had just one drink. That is binge drinking which in my case was alcoholism. I couldn't and cannot drink safely.

http://www.brighteyecounselling.co.uk/alcohol-drugs/binge-drinking-is-alcoholism-too/

Good luck - if you find the methods you try are not effective, then change them.

graemecarter

elvis86 wrote: »

Yup, I get that. I've contemplated giving up alcohol altogether. Tried it earlier this year, on the basis that it was temporary so it wasn't so scary. It was ok, like I say, I don't drink all that regularly anyway, often not for 2 or 3 weeks at a time.

I just can't believe that there's no tactic I can use to manage my drinking and know when to stop?

Have you given up altogether?

Most normal drinkers know when they have had enough and rarely drink to excess. They use common sense and moderation, and have will power to say no.
I never could do that - all or nothing for me.

I don't seem to want to stop drinking when I start, and that's my alcoholism

The only way I don't get drunk is by not picking up the first drink. It's the first drink that gets me drunk

elvis86

graemecarter wrote: »

I was a binge drinker. I didn't drink everyday, but when I did drink, I regualrly drank to blackout (memory loss). I'd wake up with less money than I hoped, unidentified drinking injuries, and a sense of dread about what i had done the previous night.

After a while my binges got closer together, and while everyone was drinking less as they got older, I was still going out like a student and getting bladdered.
If I had just ONE drink, then I couldn't ever say if I would stop there or at 3am. All bets were off after I had just one drink. That is binge drinking which in my case was alcoholism. I couldn't and cannot drink safely.

http://www.brighteyecounselling.co.uk/alcohol-drugs/binge-drinking-is-alcoholism-too/

Good luck - if you find the methods you try are not effective, then change them.

My God that's scary.:(

I think I may try a couple of tactics. I'm going to try and go out more for a sociable couple of drinks, like on a work night. Just so that the odd Saturday night when I go out to town isn't like a huge blow out because its the first drink I've had in weeks.

I'm also going to try and start drinking lager when I'm out. Vodka lemonades are just like pop, I drink them so quickly, especially if I'm working up a thirst dancing! I think with lager I'll drink much slower.

The tip about not getting into rounds to make it easier to alternate between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks is another one I may try.

Its nice to have somewhere to put all this out there, and get responses from people who have had exactly the same experiences.:)

graemecarter

elvis86 wrote: »

Um, can I miss that out altogether? Don't mean to not get involved, but I don't really have a problem with drinking too regularly etc, I often go 2 or 3 weeks without a drink.

Then counting AF days would be a waste of time for you I guess.
The challenge for cutter downers or bingers could also be sticking within government daily recommended guidlines, which is only a few pints I think. If you can manage that and still be happy, then you're doing great.

Or the other thing to look at is why you drink to excess when you go out. I loved drinking, but then the problems overtook the fun. And yet I still got smashed when i went out.

I couldn't go out and enjoy myself without alcohol, and now I can see that was a problem

maman

Marru wrote: »

Hello,

Busy day here - been hiking and clearing stables, visiting a puppy and baby horse, potential MIL managed to upset me but she did apologise so we are ok now

Hi marru, Sorry to hear about MIL problems.

Did you and OH manage the romantic meal as promised?

I'm doing really badly on challenge so far. OK, so there's lots of month left for me to get to my target but I seem to have lots of social occasions cropping up. Too many mornings when I'm feeling a bit hungovered.

graemecarter

maman wrote: »

OK, so there's lots of month left for me to get to my target but I seem to have lots of social occasions cropping up. Too any mornings when I'm feeling a bit hungovered.

I used to feel like that. I would always be willing to try to hit my goals next time, tomorrow, etc but in reality I wasn't going to make these targets, however much I kidded myself. I'm an alcoholic so I would always think I could put down the drink. The denial was strong in me
I used social occasions as a big excuse to drink. There will always be birthdays, weddings, etc
The amazing thing is I can now do these things without drinking. And enjoy them!!
The fact that I thought I couldn't enjoy myself without drinking was a sign of my alcoholism, but I was blind to it.

Different_Corner

Morning,
Didn't take the face slapping personally lol !

Was AF Tue - Fri so that's a a big ol' 4

Two stellas last night, same old Saturday night thing going on in my head.

Sparkles, me and gardening, hmmm seeing those two words in the same sentence is scary. Just don't get on with it. Can cut the grass, but that's the limit. So I am in awe of your skills.