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

PriceySOS

8 please, Shaggy, thanks

Bells have been chiming every evening this week - don't really know why, I've got used to not drinking during the week usually.

Lovely to have lots of new people here, and great to hear everybody's experiences.

Have a good evening everybody x

crazymum_2

Welcome H2O4Me

It's quite a tricky one with the old drinking too much thing being socially unacceptable.
I've just given up (hopefully forever....) and I was wondering quite what I would say to people. Close friends are ok because I'll just tell them.... but not sure at all what to say to other people when I'm out - I'm terrible because I've always thought of people who don't drink as rather boring (hang my head in shame), I guess when you're the very drunk idiot you want everyone else to be drunk idiots too (speaking for myself of course).
The office party for example (my OHs - I'm not grown up enough to work in an office ) where people know that I drink, expect people to drink as it's an occasion......tricky.

Anyway 8AFDs is brilliant :j

I'm definately going to have to try some tomato juice with worcestershire sauce loren83 ..... treat for tomorrow night methinks

H2O4ME

Lucky you, cheezypeas, to be able to talk it over with your OH. I think mine was oblivious to how much I was drinking and is unaware that I'm trying to cut down/give up - no help at all.

Why is it that AA seems such a big deal ? For me, it seems to have a lot of stigma attached. As I said, alcohol problems are just not socially accepted

idristhedragon

Bearacus- I have two AFDs this week please - can I have another smiley face?
I think Ill be alright tonight- had a clangy moment while sat by the fire having a fag but I did my nails and now have a coffee and a curly wurly to occupy me

CaramelCaron- HOW did you know what my fave Bugsy song is LOL

bearacus

Idris- Sorry I missed your post .

bearacus

365days

Cheezy - I know I;m not drinking now, but I would like to share my thoughts about AA. During my time of ...want to call it enlightenment (bit Naff) or my realisation...bit poncy...that time where I knew in my heart of hearts I should stop drinking all togetehr but couldn't quite get my head around it. I considered going to AA. What stopped me was fear, fear of admitting I was THAT bad, and fear of being recognised. I too looked up local ones, but never went. In October 2 years after I stopped I went to my first one. (In the hometown of a friend) still paranoid of being 'seen' I was incredibly scared. I was welcomed with a smile and offered a cup of tea. There were about 8 people there sat around a table, all with a cup of tea/coffee. A few housekeeping things were read out, hall rent etc....then one member told their story. Of how they had fought with the decision, why they had stopped, how their life had changed. It was very similar to a face to face version of this thread. There was one person there who clearly was still drinking but that person didnt speak and no one gave any pressure to. I left with a renewed enthusiasm ( I had been having a ...I've done 2 years surely I can have a drink now wobble) I would go back, but don't feel the need to rush back. I suppose what i'm trying to say is, I think you can stop without the AA but it would be worth looking at it before you deciede to do it without them or not. Most local areas have drug and alcohol advisory services which could be another alternative to AA.

I too would love to be a safe social drinker but I can't.

Good luck whatever you deciede.

RecoveringAlcoholic

H2O4ME wrote: »

Lucky you, cheezypeas, to be able to talk it over with your OH. I think mine was oblivious to how much I was drinking and is unaware that I'm trying to cut down/give up - no help at all.

Why is it that AA seems such a big deal ? For me, it seems to have a lot of stigma attached. As I said, alcohol problems are just not socially accepted

Naturally at this time of year my local A.A. groups will get lots of new visitors.
Many will drift away over the next few weeks, but some of those folks will retun in a couple of months time when they realise that they are unable to fight the battle on their own.
You will be guaranteed a warm and friendly welcome.

Good luck with whatever journey you chose.

P.S.
I don't go to meetings in the town where I live.

.

fakeplastictwee

Fail.

Came in from a bad day and my OH had put roast potatoes and a glass of red on the table. I drank it, just the one. Still, that's another day not totally AF.

Hope you're all well x

bigdrinker

H2O4ME wrote: »

NOT so cutting down on the vino. Admitting to drinking too much isn't on... you're alone.

First of all - welcome to the thread

Secondly, I've found that this time of year is quite a good time to be cutting back on the booze, because everyone around me seems to have some crazy new years resolution or other, and so I'm not really sticking out at all!

bigdrinker

fakeplastictwee - don't beat yourself up about it, just a civilised glass of wine with dinner and you stopped AF can start again tomorrow!