The Giving Up/Cutting Down Alcohol Support Thread - Numero 9!

graemecarter

*jobags* wrote: »

Hi - can I join you?
I've been drinking a bottle of wine every night for a number of years (apart from when pregnant) and it's now crawling up to 2 bottles a night and I'm losing many things including my memory and self respect. Fortunatley I still have my family (OH and 3 children) and my job.
I'm sick of drinking myself into stupor every night and crashing into bed at night waking up unable to remember what happened the previous night.
I've seen so many films and I am unable to remember then ending of most of them
I didn't drink last night and I feel really rough today.
I had to take a sleeping tablet at around 5 this morning as I couldn't sleep, I eventually woke up at 11 and feel dreadful.
Has anyone got any idea how long this is likely to go on for?
I suppose I would feel better if I have a drink but I really don't want to or I will only feel worse later on.
I can't say I have given up drinking forever but I would like a week or two off just to prove to myself that I can do it and to give my liver a rest.
Anyone able to share their experiences?
Jo

While my drinking was different to yours, it shares some of the same characteristics.
It got worse over time (I was drinking more)
I started to feel very bad about myself and my drinking
It was costing me more than just money (self respect, reputation, memory etc)
The thought of giving up was quite scary (i.e. how will it be possible to have fun in life)

I needed help to stop drinking - I couldn't stop by myself for more than a week or two before starting to drink again.

My experience now is that my life is much better without alcohol in it. However, I had to change myself and realise I am an alcoholic. Alcohol had control over me, and not the other way around (as I thought).
Staying off the sauce is not always easy, but it's a hell of a lot easier than dealing with the consequences of my drinking (low self-esteem, feeling out of control, hangovers, guilty about not being the best dad I could be, etc)

People on this thread are all different and want different things.
I want no alcohol in my life, others want to cut down.
There is room for all - good luck in whatever you're trying to achieve.

bearacus

Welcome Jobags:wave:

Starting to feel better today :T But my appetite has come back with a vengence. Must stop eating haha

:EasterBun

thrifty_fifty

Hi Guys

Any room for a newbie? Whilst the amount I drink isn't that much, 1-2 glasses a night 2-3 nights a week, I have to say that I find it hard to go without when I'm feeling stressed or can't relax. So it's more about not letting it rule my life. I've noticed that when I drink and I'm not in a good place to start off with usually end up in tears. Last weekend I noticed my mood changed an hour after I had had a drink, I got out of the bath unable to scrape myself up off the floor and literally sobbed uncontrollably into the bath mat.

I need to relax in other ways, and I don't want to think that a drink can have a hold on me. I want to make myself happier, and not use drink to block things out. Mostly it has been to do with my debt (debt free this year hopefully), and at my worst I sat at 7 in the morning with a huge glass of undiluted archers, just wishing that I could drink it and never wake up again.

I haven't had anything to drink for three days now. I'm itching for just a glass of wine, and finding it hard to concentrate on anything.

I can beat this, I can.

penelopedee_2

Hi Thrifty and Jobags, do you want to join the weekly challenge?

bearacus

checking in early
6 AF for me please Shaggy
sunday done Pen thanx

bearacus x

penelopedee_2

:j:j Weekly Challenge (open Sunday to Thursday) :j:j

5 nights
Daisychain
Gien
Marru
Miss Piggy

4 nights

Bearacus
Lurkio
Maman
Pen

:j:j Anyone want to join me? :j:j

penelopedee_2

AF for me tonight please Shaggy.

Miss_Piggy_2

Evening everyone

Pen - sorry, I got confused. Please could you change me to 5 nights?:) One night done too ta...:)

Welcome to Thrifty and Jobags.

Miss P
xx

daisychain35

Sorry to hear about your car stressedoutsue !!
Welcome to thrify and jobags :wave: ........ hope everyone else is well.
had a fab weekend- went out for dinner with a (male) friend , was determined to be sensible. Had a lovely, (normal persons) night out, i.e didn't get wasted and wake up not remembering it !! .... shared a bottle of wine then we went on to a pub for a couple to watch a band.... got back and chatted on the sofa. Lots of water too during the meal.

Really quite proud of myself today, managed a night out and wasn't an idiot !! amazing....

Am AF tonight- packed, then un-packed a million times.... and still can't decide what to take !! Aching lots- did body balance at the gym, then came home and did Pilates dvd !! didn't go to fat club this week- but got on the scales this morning and have lost 9 pounds now ! woo hoo

Hope everyones well, Mondays looming....:mad::mad:

gien

Evening all.

I'll join in with the challenge please Pen, I'm AF tonight and I'll go until thursday please.

Not had any alcohol this month so far so I'm up to 6 in total

Welcome to Jobags and thrifty. As GC said, some here want to cut down, others stop altogether - just take it a day at a time and jump on in. I think we've all had similar thoughts to your own, and we have all decided that our relationship with alcohol is not what we want it to be - doesn't matter what or how much you drink, it's the fact that we are all uncomfortable with what we doing that 'unites' us here..