The giving up/cutting down alcohol support thread Part 8!

Pippilongstocking

One more day on all challenges please

I'm needing someone to tell me how to wake up when AF - I'm utterly useless - it was one of my excuses for drinking - as it woke me up early and I could actually get up.

Hello and goodluck GP.

Waves hello to all of you....................

Trasijocha

My names a combination of mine, the hubby`s and the 2 kids - Trasij xx

jo1972

gien wrote: »

Hello and Good Luck GP!

Have just caught up with thread and some of your posts made me think of a Susan Jeffer's quote. It's not about drinking per se but seems kind of relevant because a number of people have talked about the fear of not having alcohol available, of how will they cope, of how will they manage the feelings associated with that fear and lack.
'
'Pushing through fear is less frightening than living with the underlying fear that comes from a feeling of helplessness.'

She's saying that although it is frightening to change and go through the process of change it is ultimately far more painful and frightening to remain in the position we are currently in.

I have to say that I've found committing to the 100 challenge has stooped the bells almost dead for me - a decision has been made, a bit like Lurky's running.
I had the weirdest thought the other day - have been invited to a evening with the other parent's from my child's school year. My first though (and I am not kidding) was, oh dear, better be careful not to make an idiot of myself, don't want to be picking over the events of the previous evening to see if I was too loud or not'... Then of course, I remembered that I am not drinking and I felt the most enormous relief. And it made me realise that it isn't the first time I've had similar thought patterns about a night out.
How dumb is that really when you think about it - To get myself worried about events that hadn't yet happened in case I behaved in an inappropriate way because of drinks I hadn't yet drunk.

Anyway, Jillian Michaels arrived last night (well, her DVD, not the woman herself) so I am off to do my first shred!!! Don't have weights or mat yet but I do have a pair of lycra jogging shorts so I'm sure that'll compensate.

I'll report back later

A couple of things.....firstly, if Jillian Michaels does arrive on yours or any other peeps doorsteps, please send her round to me cos I shall tell her her fortune, flamin lunatic she is....!!

Secondly, Gien, I found your post really interesting. I've been ruminating on comments from since yesterday morning and have to say, how different we all are, although we all (most anyway) possess an attraction or obsession (depending how strong) to alcohol (otherwise we wouldn't be posting, so don't flame me ).

Lurky's original idea about the decision to run on a certain day of the week which then made it concrete frightened the life out of me. And Gien, your comment about joining the 100 day challenge and feeling relief that the decision had been made totally scared the bejezus out of me :eek: :eek: ......Just by you typing that, about your life and your feelings sent me into pure panic, actually physical tightness in the chest! This is why waking up and saying, no I won't drink today is just too much for me to contemplate.

I do, however, agree that breaking it down into bits can mean that I focus on it too much and I should be trying to take my mind off it rather than thinking about it all the time.

It's a very difficult one, one that I don't have the answer to yet.....

40somethingmum

Trasijocha wrote: »

My names a combination of mine, the hubby`s and the 2 kids - Trasij xx

Love it!.

Mine would be Eimisijolou:D

SimIsOnTheUp

maman wrote: »

Do tell us how it went sim and we'll all be rooting for you tomorrow.

Thank You so much for that maman!

Had a run through, as best we could (the advocate guy and I) this morning. Looked at how best to approach it, and the 'lines of questioning' the Judge / Doctor could take.

Can't believe I'm going to be grilled about my health (as it was last February, at the time of my original ESA Medical) by two strangers for an hour, whereby I'll have to almost prove that I was ill! Bonkers

Advocate guy thinks it's "in the balance". I think it could be borderline too, and it's not fair of me to ask him how he thinks it'll pan out really.

If I win my Appeal tomorrow, they'll 'award' me with a higher rate (Work Related Activity Group, it's called) Employment and Support Allowance (an extra £25 a week, which I could really do with at the moment), as well as backdating the difference since February (ie - about £800).

There will also be a lot less pressure to find work asap, so I can then concentrate on rehab.

If I fail, it'll be JSA / looking for work immediately. No more ESA, no backdated money, and no possibility of time out for rehab..

Can you see why I'm nervous?!

A lot of it apparently comes down to the personalities of the guys / ladies on the day..

Wish me luck. I'm quietly confident, but it's hard to prove how depressed / anxious / alcohol - dependent one was months back.. It's also especially hard to prove that just because I could go to the pub, I was far from 'ok'!

Trouble is, people can have rather polarised views of booze

Hope you're enjoying your day ladies and gents.

Cheers,

Sim x

maman

40somethingmum wrote: »

Love it!.

Mine would be Eimisijolou:D

We could have endless hours of fun with that!!! (Don't mean your name 40SM, just making them up)

maman

SimIsOnTheUp wrote: »

Can you see why I'm nervous?!


Trouble is, people can have rather polarised views of booze

Of course I understand why you're nervous. Might they take the view that as you've done so much yourself to stay off booze (and you have done exceptionally well:A) but have the occasional bender when life gets extra stressy that allowing you some time to go to rehab is best? I don't know about rehab: is it residential? do you need money when you're 'in'? Would JSA pay enough for your rent/utilities to be covered?

40somethingmum

maman wrote: »

We could have endless hours of fun with that!!! (Don't mean your name 40SM, just making them up)

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: I know what you mean;)

jo1972

Pippilongstocking

um Fadajaha

Um not a great name......................