The Giving Up/ Cutting Down alcohol support thread - number 12

jess_the_cat

Good Morning all and happy Friday can i check in with 2 afd. i see loads of people going for the month af, please dont be put off if you have a drink or 2 its a whole life style change . My target has always been if i can get half the month or there abouts af. im verry pleased with my self ,
Good luck all.

new_year_new_start

jo1972 wrote: »

Hungry. Angry. Lonely. Tired.

Just looked it up

Yesterday about 4pm when I started really dwelling on the fact I wasn't going to drink last night the one totally over-riding emotion I kept feeling was self pity. Poor,poor me.

I went for a walk around the shops just to keep busy and I saw a couple pushing their handicapped child of about 8 in a wheel chair. The poor child had no hands and at the end of her arms where her hands should've been they just ended in a pointed bone.

That snapped me out of it and I really had a moment of clarity. I've got 2 beautiful grown up kids and a comfortable life. I gave myself a bloody good bollocking for feeling so sorry for myself and came home totally determined.

From now on if I start feeling sorry for myself because I want a drink I'm going to think about that poor kid and her mam and dad. I really have no right to feel sorry for myself at all.

graemecarter

jess_the_cat wrote: »

Good Morning all and happy Friday can i check in with 2 afd. i see loads of people going for the month af, please dont be put off if you have a drink or 2 its a whole life style change . My target has always been if i can get half the month or there abouts af. im verry pleased with my self ,
Good luck all.

It's a whole life change for me.
My problem (alcoholism) is centered in my head. It's the sober me that picks up the first drink, and it's the first drink that gets me drunk.

So I needed to change my insides, not the outsides. I previously changed my outsides (jobs, houses, relationships) but still felt ill at ease with life, and there was a lot of noise in my head (frequently negative).
For me, coping with my alcoholism means my insides needed to be changed and importantly, STAY changed.
I should never compare my insides (how I am feeling) with other peoples outsides (how they appear, what car they drive, etc) as that's a false comparison and the fastest route to unhappiness.

As has been said here, a sober life is beautiful. It's not always easy and real life will be a struggle at times, but it's worth the effort for me.

If this forum isn't enough to help people cut down more/give up, then please seek other types of help.
This forum is enough for some people, but may not be enough for everyone. It's not enough for me so I use this forum to supplement my recovery, but it's not the only thing I use.
Alcoholism will most likely take the lives of some people posting/reading on this forum, and I include myself in that, so it's the biggest priority in my life.

The only person I am saying who is definitely an alcoholic is myself. I had to decide myself, and was not ready for recovery until I had made the decision.

Happy New Year to all.

Doshwaster

2 days down 29 to go on my Dryathlon.

So far it has been very easy. I managed to trip to the pub on NYD to watch the football but was happy with drinking Coke - but that was because I was so hungover from NYE that I didn't fancy a drink anyway.

When I go dry after a run of drinking days (over the holidays it must have been 20 in a row) the biggest change is in my sleep patterns. For the first 2-3 nights, I find it hard to get to sleep as it is if my body forgets how to fall asleep naturally.

System

Hello folks - I hope you all had a great xmas and new year and are raring to go in 2014

Back again after a very boozy xmas and new year despite having the flu and a chest infection. Even feeling grim I did my usual guzzling of wine over this period - my attempt at reducing my alcohol intake per night just didnt happen, it increased

How do I feel? Flipping lousy, bloated and tired - I keep saying to myself, take responsibility for your health, you cant possibly keep up the running and exercise if you are going to drink like a fish. NYE flew past in a ridiculous blur, a great night among great friends but I can't remember most of it, which is ridiculous!!

I am going dry in January for Dryathlon (to raise funds for Cancer Research UK). To date I have had 2/31

I will beat the lack of control and learn when to stop in 2014 - I did it with smoking 30 years ago, I did it with over-eating 8 years ago, I will do it with alcohol!!

** Stay Excellent, Stay AF**

sukeyboo

Morning all,

Some very wise words on this forum - especially from graemecarter :T

I managed my first AFD for January yesterday so that is 1/15 for me please Shaggy.

I agree with Doshwaster - it takes a few days for my body to realise that I can sleep perfectly well without it being 'alcohol-induced' .

Have a good weekend everone

shaggydoo

Morning :hello:

2 AFDs to report.

I haven't been able to do any "urban walking" as it hasn't stopped raining - so I bought a new exercise bike in the new year and it's brill! 2 days of (Not all day of course - just half an hour after work!)

I have some xmas drinks left (Baileys & Tia Mia) so I will have some of that this weekend probs/maybe....Baileys has so many calories....

Friday already!



Shaggyx

shaggydoo

satchmo1 wrote: »

Is anyone else incredibly bored with Sherlock?

Oh yeah me! I feel asleep...

shaggydoo

judi24 wrote: »

Can i join in please? I am doing the Dryathlon for CRUK - it suddenly dawned on me that I can't remember when I last had an alcohol free day! and it started me panicking a bit if I'm honest! No idea if I will have any form of withdrawal symptoms!!! On day 2 of 31 today - very tired but appart from that I'm fine!

Doshwaster wrote: »

2 days down 29 to go on my Dryathlon.

Good Luck. I've put you on our list.

jak

Hello folks! I first came on this thread just over a year ago and it got me through some really hard times. I am an alcoholic and I have been in recovery for just over a year now. I want to thank everyone who has supported me on this forum. I just wanted to do an update really, because my life is so different now! I am happy, my son is happy and it is possible to change for the better and live a contented alcohol free life. I have had a lot of help, I go to meetings, I have a sponsor and I also do community therapy groups. Long may it continue. Good luck to everyone just starting out, I hope you find this thread as useful as I did and know that if you need help, its out there! For those of you struggling, keep going! For those of you who are/are not alcoholics I wish you all the best and hope and peace on your journey xxx