The Giving Up/ Cutting Down alcohol support thread - number 11

SimIsOnTheUp

gardenanna wrote: »

Hi to Sim and MarkMan - glad to meet you both and good luck!

Can anyone help? Since November (with the help of this thread) I've cut down from drinking daily for years to just 3 non-AF days so far this month. I used to suffer from depression and feeling jittery and anxious all the time and that has really improved. Earlier this week I had ONE small beer. It was 4% so 1.1 unit. I enjoyed it and said no to a second and thought GREAT that's the sort of drinking I want to do - little and occassional. The next day I was teary and low and got very anxious about a simple work task then this morning I've just been told that I made a complete mess of it and sent papers to all the wrong people.

Do you think it's coincidence or could 1 small drink really have such an effect?

Hi,

Keep things as simple as possible.

If you were feeling much better without the drink, then why risk having any?

Just a thought. It's up to you.

As for the extent to which the one beer affected you, I don't know. I'm no Doctor.
Maybe, it was purely psychological, in that you were annoyed with yourself. Maybe, your body wasn't used to having *any* booze in there.

Take care.

MarkMan

Thanks Gardenanna.

I'm no expert (or am I???) but I can't see how 1.1 units the previous day can have such a dramatic effect. I would think it was just one of those days to be honest - no-one could claim you were under the influence of alcohol at the time.

You've done so well (I'd love to me in your position in 3 months time:D) so don't beat yourself up about it.

Drinkers/tee-totallers, smokers/non-smokers all have bad days - that's life.:p

Mark

SimIsOnTheUp

Apparently, medical professionals advise complete abstinence for six - twelve months, before deciding on either sobriety, or controlled drinking.

evilsquid1603

last night was AF so one more for me please.

I'm off visiting this weekend but i'm going to have to keep it under control, running 3 miles on sunday for spot relief :eek: and i'm not doing it hungover. its going to be hell on earth as it is!

maman

:wave: sim and mark, good to see you both. I'm still here, still drinking in a controlled way, probably even more controlled than before. It's not easy getting the drinking habit under control but it does get easier with time. At least it has for me:D

And this thread is a huge help!!:T:A

MarkMan

Thanks Maman, it's good to know it can be done. I have been keeping an honest "units" log since before I was last here (v v scary:o) so I've got got a performance measure to work on and hopefully keep me motivated to persevere.

It's nice to be back and already feeling a little more positive.:)

Mark

heath480

Great to see mark and sim back.:T

I rarely post on this thread nowadays as I am an Alcoholic so no help at all to anybody just wanting to cut down,controlled drinking never worked for me in the long term.

Sober Recovery has a great forum for anyone interested.

beckseven

11 afds for me please shaggy. I've had an operation so there's not really any temptation for me to drink at all!

maman

beckseven wrote: »

11 afds for me please shaggy. I've had an operation so there's not really any temptation for me to drink at all!

Every cloud.....hope you're feeling ok?

Chloris

gardenanna wrote: »

Hi to Sim and MarkMan - glad to meet you both and good luck!

Can anyone help? Since November (with the help of this thread) I've cut down from drinking daily for years to just 3 non-AF days so far this month. I used to suffer from depression and feeling jittery and anxious all the time and that has really improved. Earlier this week I had ONE small beer. It was 4% so 1.1 unit. I enjoyed it and said no to a second and thought GREAT that's the sort of drinking I want to do - little and occassional. The next day I was teary and low and got very anxious about a simple work task then this morning I've just been told that I made a complete mess of it and sent papers to all the wrong people.

Do you think it's coincidence or could 1 small drink really have such an effect?

This is the reason I am not drinking at all at present. It is not a quantity issue for me. Just one drink rocks this boat...

23 AFD in March please Shaggy. x