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

365days

graemecarter wrote: »

If drinking alcohol most nights is a 'habit', then I'd have thought that that could be changed and stay changed after a few weeks.
Habit for me is having a cup of tea, not coffee, as my first drink of the day, or always flossing and then brushing my teeth (as opposed to other way round)

However, my drinking was no 'habit'. When it was costing me a lot more than just money, damaging relationships and jobs, etc I would have wanted to stop it if it was a mere habit.
But it took a lot for me to want to stop drinking, and I still have to put some so I don't feel the desire to dink.
My drinking was habitual, but no mere habit. Most habits don't destroy your health.

I call my condition 'alcoholism', but others would say 'addiction', 'dependency', etc - it's all semantics.
What matters is that I do the work so I no longer have the desire to drink. There would be no point me not drinking for a month and then picking up where I left off. I needed to change myself so I no longer had the desire to drink alcohol.
If I want a drink for a prolonged period of time, there is no doubt in my mind that I would eventually pick up a drink. I am no superman so do not have endless supplies of will power.

So changing myself is what works for me - and I have to make sure I stay changed and don't go back to the old me. There's no time limit on that.

Well done you - Always great to see your posts.

I have been thinking the same reading people saying 'What am I going to do in February'

Do whatever you WANT to do. If January has shown you that your life/health/wealth has improved without alcohol why on earth would you go back there if you didn't a) respect yourself b) crumble to peer/advertising pressure c) be addicted.

Just my thoughts.

crazymum_2

365 - I am so with you on the not drinking front but it takes a while to see through this idea that drinking 'is so much fun'. Everything in society seems to be wrapped up in it.
I hope your trip to the hospital is a good one (I've been reading your blog), sending positive vibes, beautiful rainbows and thoughts of hot sunny days. I'm sure you'll be looking wonderful. (((Hugs)))
I stand in complete admiration of your attitude to it all - I think you're brilliant.

Graeme Carter -you always speak such wise words....

For anyone who wonders about the implications of drinking on your families, I can tell you, whilst I was drinking - I would have told you it was all good - my children (bless them) held me up, stuck me back together and covered for me time and time again - they were and are wonderful.
Now that I've stopped drinking - life for my children is infinately better, their Mum is back and they can be children again - my family has seen such big changes in the past couple of years.

Well done everyone for such an inspirational thread.

Jo1972 - get back on here there's only space for one lurker - and that's me

365days

crazymum wrote: »

365 - I am so with you on the not drinking front but it takes a while to see through this idea that drinking 'is so much fun'. Everything in society seems to be wrapped up in it.
I hope your trip to the hospital is a good one (I've been reading your blog), sending positive vibes, beautiful rainbows and thoughts of hot sunny days. I'm sure you'll be looking wonderful. (((Hugs)))
I stand in complete admiration of your attitude to it all - I think you're brilliant.

Graeme Carter -you always speak such wise words....

For anyone who wonders about the implications of drinking on your families, I can tell you, whilst I was drinking - I would have told you it was all good - my children (bless them) held me up, stuck me back together and covered for me time and time again - they were and are wonderful.
Now that I've stopped drinking - life for my children is infinately better, their Mum is back and they can be children again - my family has seen such big changes in the past couple of years.

Well done everyone for such an inspirational thread.

Jo1972 - get back on here there's only space for one lurker - and that's me

Ah ...you've made a 'hard' woman wet in the eyes! What lovely words. my son loves the sober me. I'm sure your kids love their sober Mum too. Blog just updated.

xxx

365days

AlexLK wrote: »

Still failing here and rather miserably so.

But not failing enough to stop posting here. Keep on keeping on.

afoolwithmoney

GWITHBAG thank you
GRAEMECARTER 365days CRAZYMUM etc thank you for the wise words. Ive found once I had the LBM change has been relatively easy...although I am wondering how I will cope with not drinking once the exhilaration of completing the month has passed. OH has not had the LBM as of yet (or perhaps he has & is afraid of it) was asking me about my coping stratagies so far & we worked out that it boiled down to changing my habits surrounding the drink..As opposed to tackling the drink head on....hence my question. My thinking is that if ive broken the habits around the drink I can then concentrate more easily on the reasons why I drink. Not sure if that makes sense but if it works who cares?
23/31 please Shaggy

System

AlexLK wrote: »

Still failing here and rather miserably so.

Im with you!!

** Stay Excellent **

tiller_girl

365days wrote: »

I have been thinking the same reading people saying 'What am I going to do in February'

Do whatever you WANT to do. If January has shown you that your life/health/wealth has improved without alcohol why on earth would you go back there if you didn't a) respect yourself b) crumble to peer/advertising pressure c) be addicted.

Just my thoughts.

Thanks for this, it's really good food for thought.

I'm checking in early with 23/31 please Shaggy.

sukeyboo

Some very wise words on this forum :T.

Alex & 5-year - you have not failed - you are struggling - keep posting - we are all behind you .

I managed another AFD last night so that takes me to 11/15 please Shaggy.

Have a great day everyone

maman

I'm trying to salvage something AF from a very social week. No excessive drinking, last night I had a single (large:o) glass with a meal and then tea when I got home. I'm calling in early as I'm not having any tonight. I WILL make my target.


8/10 AFDs please Shaggy.

mummy2threeboys

another 1 af please shaggy, have a good day all xx