The Giving up/ Cutting down Alcohol support thread- number 10

kdenty

What a lovely post Lala. Glad you are doing so well. I'm a month behind you on being AF. I still get tempted. I can certainly agree with you on the benefits. I don't think my OH has realised yet that I'm doing this. He doesn't drink himself so not drinking is normal to him. I used to hit the wine of an evening and fall asleep. I still fall asleep lol just not drunkenly

beckseven

10 afds for me please shaggy and 3 for the snc please Bearacus. Well done on your weightloss shaggy. I lost 4 and a half pounds this week which i was pleased with because I have also been saintly! This has strenghtened my resolve to be alcohol free tonight as the first two weeks of the diet is meant to be af so you achieve weight loss of 7lbs in two weeks so it has to be done. To be honest I don't need a drink to talk to people as I'm a bit of a chatterbox so alcohol just makes me yabber on even more boring people. Going to go spinning at lunchtime to keep up the good work.

prettykitty

I used to post under a different username, a lot has changed but the drinking is getting worse again. I am off work today, was out last night and I'm not feeling hungover but extremely tired and depressed. I am sick and tired of it now, last night my friend went home but I stayed in the bar and finished our wine while speaking to random people. My boyfriend was in bed when I got home and obviously he wonders where I was until so late, I hate doing this to us. We are under a lot of stress, I have low self esteem so worry about our relationship constantly and he is out of work again so I am worrying about money, work is not going so well for me at the moment, not alcohol related but that's another excuse for drinking and obviously it is not good that I am off work today. I've tried getting help through the GP but I don't drink enough to get medical help. My friends and family say I drink too much but they keep inviting me out and then tell me off because I can't stop! I can tell that it is causing problems in my relationships with them though, and that's the last thing I want. My boyfriend is out at interviews this morning and will not be impressed that I haven't gone to work. Sorry for the stream of consciousness but I just needed to vent I think it is time to stop this now before it's too late and I lose my job/relationship/friends but I just feel so unsupported. I thought about calling drinkline or something but don't feel able to talk so here seemed the best place to get it off my chest.

darwins_mum

Good morning all, well done Lala, thanks for popping back to update us on your wonderful progress.
Welcome (back?) Pretty Kitty, a big hug to you, sounds as though you need it. I think there are a fair few of us who have drowned our woes in a bottle. Unfortunately, when the bottle is finished, the issues are still there to be dealt with. Feel free to rant on here as much as you like, we are quite a supportive bunch.

I am declaring June another af month. I am not going to set a target for July, not because I intend to start drinking again, but because I really have no desire to drink again. I am not being complacent or blase as I undertand the power that alcohol can have over me. July and August will be my testing months and I now intend to put into practice what I have learned. I know where to come if the battle becomes too much.
Thank you all for your support over the last few gruelling months, couldn't have done it without this board.
I shall periodically pop back to say hi, I feel as though some of you have become my virtual family and understood me in ways that my real family cant.
stay well
love to all
DM

lala1974

Hi Prettykitty, I'm sorry you're going through such a tough time. Try not to be hard on yourself, you're only human and we all use different coping mechanisms to handle difficult times. I read the "No More Hangovers" book by Allan Carr. Its quite a short book and it makes things really simple to understand. Small things like "if you don't have the first drink, you can't get drunk", I'll PM you a few if you like....(no pressure - whatever is right for you?! I found recalling them reguarly helped me when I first stopped drinking.

Using this thread to cut back is also a great tool. I used it initially for that and found even having a couple of days AF and feeding back made me feel better about myself - everyone is so supportive and great at cheering you on - Shaggy's little smilieys are a pleasure to look forward to every month and always an incentive if you see a particular smiley that appeals to you. We all have different ways of doing this, you'll find the best avenue for you with a little bit of soul searching.

You'll be ok Prettykitty (a username like that tells me you a cheerful soul). Chin up.

Lala x

maman

Just sending you a hug prettykitty and well done for posting (again). Hopefully your day off work will have given you time to think and perhaps make some resolutions. What about an AF day and then build on it? Hope your OH gets some good luck with the job search.

I'll go for my usual target of 10 please Shaggy but in July I'm going to exceed it! (June I will have just scraped in under the wire).

kdenty

Hi Prettykitty - I'm not so good at knowing what to say but just wanted to say hello and it's good that you have found the support of the wonderful AF thread people again.

Alcohol is such a bloody difficult addiction as I find unlike other addictions it seems so much more acceptable to drink/be encouraged to drink/advertising etc. At least the banned smoking adverts - I with they would ban booze adverts and sponsorship and putting bottles of wine on sale as you walk into Tescos (I felt a strong pull to buy alcohol today but resisted, not easy as I'm also on holiday for 8 days now, nothing planned just a break).

Does anyone have Rosacia? Why has mine got worse now I'm not drinking? I thought it was supposed to get better but my cheeks feel so hot and angry. I only have it mildly. My Mum has it very bad and drinks every day and it's part of my motivation for wanting to stop drinking as it is supposed to be related to alcohol.

Lala - any more alcohol antimotivional advice would be lovely.

bearacus

:ASchool Night Challenge:A

Beckseven :):)
Gien
Maman :)
Rachelww1 :):)
Shaggy :):)

:A3 nights:A

Bearacus
Mackeroo
May 2013 :)

Any last minute takers Welcome

prettykitty

Thank you all for your kind replies. I picked myself up at 10.30 and went to the office, because I felt that would be one less thing to feel guilty about. :A I felt OK and accomplished quite a lot.

I am certainly going to be AF today, and tomorrow, and I shall "worry" about the weekend on Saturday morning. One step at a time! I think the "school night" challenge is an excellent idea.

I agree kdenty about the way alcohol is constantly in your face, even if you avoid pubs etc. And if you smoke, or drink to excess, people's disapproval is really obvious but if you decide not to drink it seems to upset them too, like nobody's going to have a good time! Unfortunately some of us find it very hard to stop after "just the one"...

Lala thank you for the tip re Allan Carr. I already have the smoking book so I looked on Amazon and downloaded No More Hangovers to my Kindle. That will be my bedtime reading tonight!

I am just waiting for my boyfriend to come home. He had two interviews today and texted earlier to say he was really happy with the second one in particular so maybe there's a tiny sliver of light appearing at the end of this tunnel

Thanks again for taking the trouble to read and reply. I will be checking in regularly from now on.

mackeroo

Hi folks
Just a very quick hi :wave:as i wont be on the boards until early next week, heading off camping or 'galmping' as i call it, this weekend on the banks of Loch Lomond, weather looks good fingers crossed that it stays dry and hopfully we will be watching Murray in action on Sun, not at Wimbledon sadly but in his home town. Really hope he gets into the final.
Leaving June on 14 AF days please Shaggy and therefore a measly 1 for the SNC this week Bearacus. Shaggy can you put me down for 16 for July please
Have a great weekend everyone x