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

Barny1979

November target I'm going to set at 23 AFDs as going to Riga for a few days and got another couple of events etc too.

aneres

6/13 please Shaggy.

Got an extra reason to be good today, I'll get my flying witch smiley tomorrow.

I've been mulling over next months challenge. There are two nights out where I may be tempted to drink. I'm worried if I set my target allowing for these days then I'll think I may as well go right ahead and have one. But if I set my target not allowing for them and I have a drink then I'll fail the challenge. WWYD?

Honey_Bear

Aneres, that's the $64 million question, isn't it? Graeme Carter's come up with some great reasons not to drink - and he's right. The one before the one you put in your mouth is the best one but he's already made the commitment not to drink. But if you're mulling over whether you'll be able to abstain for a whole month, you're not committed to doing so. If you want a No-Vember, set the target, have one, don't drink and then you won't fail. If you want to achieve a target of 28 Days and that's an improvement on where you used to be, you can set it, meet it and be proud of it. Only you know what's right for you.


StuPotStu, I hope you managed to avoid temptation. I was very tempted last night while I was in the kitchen. Very tempted indeed, and I know just how irritating and mind-sapping that feeling is.


24/31 please, Shaggy.

maman

aneres, I think you're mulling over whether you want to be a giver up or a cutter down. I do appreciate that there are people who can't trust themselves to have a drink because once they've started they can't stop. I'm not sure whether that comes down to will power or whether some people have an illness.


Personally I've never wanted to give up. I enjoy drinking as a pleasant social activity. What I don't enjoy is having too much, behaving badly, suffering afterwards etc. I'm also someone who likes to be in control of my own life. I couldn't live with the fact that I was letting alcohol control me. So I've cut down and I choose when I want to drink and how much.


If I were you I'd plan to drink on the social occasions and be AF the rest of the time. I'm not saying it'll be easy but it can be done (and we'll try to help;)).

aneres

Thank you HB and Maman you have both given me food for thought. I'm going to have a serious think over the next few days.

When I joined this thread my original thought was to not drink till the end of November but I set myself a mini challenge till the end of October.

HB - You are right I'm wavering on whether I want to commit to the whole month.

Maman - I'm definitely having trouble deciding if I want to give up or cut down.

This is why I think the challenge is good because you can take it in small chunks and it doesn't seem such a grand statement of "I'm giving up drinking forever".

Thank you both for your replies.

debjay

16/16 for tonight please.

aneres

7/13 please Shaggy.

Woo hoo a full week AF. :j

Up since 5, slept on the sofa as DH was snoring. I can a feel a nap coming on later.

Have a good Sunday everyone.

mobo1980

Good morning

yesterday was AF12thanks

Mobo xx

Honey_Bear

25/31 please, Shaggy.

Chardonnay

25/31 please Shaggy!

Have a good Sunday all!