The Giving Up/ Cutting Down alcohol support thread - number 13

cathybird

fakeplastictwee wrote: »

I've had a realisation tonight. I've had a rare Saturday night to myself and have found that by 9pm I get quite bored with myself. I spent 2.5 years single up until a year ago, with the final year being almost totally alone as I had moved away from friends and family, and I thought I had learnt how to be alone in my own company. To an extent I did this, but I've realised this evening that a big part of that was due to drinking. Maybe it was because I was lonely. I knew I was lonely, but I had never made the link with alcohol. I'm not saying it's purely down to that, but my own company definitely felt more fun when I had a glass of wine in hand. This probably explains why I sometimes feel down when I'm alone and sober, especially at weekends.

I've lived alone for many years now and can identify with this absolutely, fakeplastictwee - though I don't get bored per se because I love solitude and I love to read or watch old movies, or just think, but I do find I rely on "comforting things" when I'm at home on my own and the dark evening has drawn in. I like to cook so I usually do have nice food around and have always got chocolate and cheese (both great picker-uppers in moderation, well I attempt moderation, anyway :rotfl:). In the winter I always have a roaring fire going as well and find mint tea strangely comforting at any time of year. I guess I do have a tendency to overeat a bit but at the moment I'm still carefully pacing the AFDs thing so I can live with it. Not offering any of this as a solution but talking about my own way of getting myself through the week Anyway, realisation of the sort you describe are always useful because it does mean you can start looking for alternatives.

cathybird

February is drawing to a close now and I confess I did find this month a bit tough, though with two days in hand I will make target. I've overspent on books and going out with friends, which is okay, because it is early in the year so I can probably pull it back under budget, if I can make myself but I'm quite sure that also had to do with the fact that it's a dark, cold time of year and everyone gets sick of waiting for the days to get warmer and longer. Looking forward to March now.

debjay

22/24 for tonight please.

fakeplastictwee

HB - I'm in a relationship now and, even though I still live alone, my time is more equally balanced between being with my BF, popping out to see my friends, and being alone, which I do enjoy most of the time now. I think it's just that for the final year of being single I was alone almost all the time. I work alone and was coming home and sitting in an empty house every night, which isn't very healthy.

cathybird.- thanks for the tips. I'm a bit of a sucker for cheese! I can give or take chocolate but cheese and crisps are my downfall :rotfl: I've picked up lots of books this winter and have enjoyed curling up with them.

Another AFD for me today, so that's 14 please.

I've also had a think about my March target and would like to aim for 20/31 please. It's a jump up, but I think having about two thirds of the month alcohol free is a healthy and sustainable (hopefully) balance. I'm away for 3 nights next weekend, which will most likely mean wine, so this target means I'll need to have some AF weekend days, which feels like a good challenge.

[Deleted User]

Evening everyone, hope you're all well, im 24/25 tonight, have had a long weekend working at my 2nd job and would love a glass of wine right now but will settle for a cup of tea instead

Dizzy_Imp

Three glasses of ginger wine down. Typing uding a Japanese keyboard, so excuse any spelling issues. Awful half-term.

Unrepentant.

Edited to add that I am now. Rubbish sleep and a headache.

Barny1979

Early call, but 21/21 AFDs today

CuppaTea

1 more for me please

Dizzy imp... hugs. I'm at work so will see how u are tonight

sukeyboo

Early call for me too & target day today - 12/12 please Shaggy & thanks again for all your hard work keeping track of us all :T

Honey_Bear

Deleted_User wrote: »

Evening everyone, hope you're all well, im 24/25 tonight, have had a long weekend working at my 2nd job and would love a glass of wine right now but will settle for a cup of tea instead

Good call, Frey's mum. I hope the cup of tea went down well. I can't think that there are many people who regret having a cup of tea the next day!

Dizzy_Imp wrote: »

Three glasses of ginger wine down. Typing uding a Japanese keyboard, so excuse any spelling issues. Awful half-term.

Unrepentant.

Edited to add that I am now. Rubbish sleep and a headache.

Sorry about the rubbish sleep, Dizzy. (((Hugs)))

Barny1979 wrote: »

Early call, but 21/21 AFDs today

Yay, Barny!

27/28 please, Shaggy, and 31 for March.