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

Honey_Bear

Well done, PSL, which sounds a bit weak compared to what I'm actually thinking, which is *admiration*. Changing a behaviour, particulary around alcohol, around work colleagues, and a habit takes a lot of thinking through before you even walked into the room, and to stick to your guns under pressure takes a huge amount of determination.

Poor_Single_lady wrote: »

I know it's just one event but it feels like a big deal to me.

It is a huge deal. That's the point. The first time you practice a new behaviour is very tough but the good news is - it gets a lot easier. There may always be people who feel the need to embarrass themselves by trying to bully you into joining in their 'thing' but you now know you can have lunch with them without alcohol. And you feel better for it, so as far as you're concerned it's a win:win situation.

I'm glad your boss was supportive. Is it only me that is shocked that people are being pressured into drinking at lunchtime - at work?!

Poor_Single_lady wrote: »

And also when I have a few drinks I've got this stupid habit of repeating myself and looking stupid but today completely escaped that which was great.

You're in great company PSL - hands up everyone who's done that! Sadly that'll be most of the women on this thread after a few drinks, and then after a few more - most of the men. Women metabalise alcohol more rapidly than men and as a feminist I find that sentence hard to type and accept but it's true, and we've got to suck (softies or alcohol-free beer) up if we want to leave at the end of a long evening or long lunch with our dignity intact.

As to virtual support - you absolutely have it, PSL, all the way. Without virtual support I'd never have made it to my 1,000 days last week. Go me!

fakeplastictwee wrote: »

The receptionist at the docs suggested there's a problem regarding my Iron and B12 levels. I'm hoping this isn't something I've ruined over time with drinking.

I'm slightly surprised that it was the Receptionist that gave you this information because at our surgery if there's nothing untoward on test results they can, but anything that requires intervention or is even slightly abnormal is given by health care professionals. I'm not knocking receptionists, I've always found them helpful and polite, but they're not qualified medically.

And I have absolutely no medical knowledge about this, but I'd hazard a guess it's probably got multiple causes and is also probably fairly easily reversible. What's important is that you follow this up and make an appointment at your surgery for, at the very least, health screening or with your GP to find out what the best course of action is. Either way please don't be so frightened or worried about it that you ignore it because that won't change anything for the better.

As to cutting down, you're here and you're doing it which is a massive step in the right direction. Giving up is a scary idea but once I got my head around it and the right support, wasn't anywhere near as bad as I'd been thinking it would be - for years.

25/30 please, Shaggy.

PriceySOS

12 please, Shaggy, thanks. And target of 24 for May please April was not a good month for me AFD-wise or units-wise, so will try to make up for it in May.

sukeyboo

Well done for remaining AF during your work lunch PSL :T

Target day for me today so 12/12 please Shaggy - hoping to get a couple more in as well so I can get my 14 day smiley too :j

Can I set a target of 12 again for May?

Arkers

Good afternoon everyone,
1 AFD please for last night, target for May 15 please Shaggy.

Thanks for keeping tabs and the lovely emojis.
Arkers x

ElusiveLucy

If I write my target in very small letters, will less people notice how small it is?


My target for May is 4 please Shaggy


Meanwhile I will finally make it into double figures tonight with 10/14 for April

fakeplastictwee

Honey_Bear wrote: »

I'm slightly surprised that it was the Receptionist that gave you this information because at our surgery if there's nothing untoward on test results they can, but anything that requires intervention or is even slightly abnormal is given by health care professionals. I'm not knocking receptionists, I've always found them helpful and polite, but they're not qualified medically.

And I have absolutely no medical knowledge about this, but I'd hazard a guess it's probably got multiple causes and is also probably fairly easily reversible. What's important is that you follow this up and make an appointment at your surgery for, at the very least, health screening or with your GP to find out what the best course of action is. Either way please don't be so frightened or worried about it that you ignore it because that won't change anything for the better.

As to cutting down, you're here and you're doing it which is a massive step in the right direction. Giving up is a scary idea but once I got my head around it and the right support, wasn't anywhere near as bad as I'd been thinking it would be - for years.

25/30 please, Shaggy.

She didn't reveal it explicitly, I had already been in to check my results a few days before, and they had all come back except for Ferritin and B12, and were all clear. Then when I went back again I explained there had been two missing and she said 'Oh yeah, iron and B12, the doctor has asked you make an appointment'. I've got one booked for 8th May, and I'm just assuming these two are low due to have rubbish I have been feeling on and off, for years really. There's a history of pernicious anaemia on my mums side of the family, so I wouldn't be suprised.

Another one tonight please, 5am start tomorrow 12/18 thank you

fakeplastictwee

I haven't had chance to go back through the thread properly and read everything, so I hope I'm not being rude on not commenting on peoples successes. Just spotted yours though PSL, well done

Barny1979

22/23 AFDs today

CuppaTea

I've had a waste of the last 2 days, drunk when I shouldn't have. For no reason either.
Definitely AF this eve. I need a few nights off. Not going to make target now either by a day or so.

May is going to be a better month.

17 for me for May please
1 more for April please Shaggy.

CuppaTea

Good news I also keep track on my calendar of AF days. Including today , which is AF declaring early as driving, I hv 14 please Shaggy. I might still make target.