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

Honey_Bear

Welcome Desperadov. :wave:

It's a huge, huge thing even recognising that alcohol has crept up on us and now has more of a hold on us than we want it to have. I absolutely know that the one single most important part of stopping drinking is that first realisation, and the second one is knowing that it's time to deal with it. The only piece of advice I can suggest is that something needs to change, but only you can decide what that change needs to be.

I'll be very clear about one thing I know for certain though, and that is that no-one who gave up alcohol actually wanted to; they just knew they had to. I can honestly say it was the single most important decision of my life and the way I succeeded was by getting exactly the right support for me. If anything made me feel uncomfortable while I was tackling it in the early days, I walked away from it and that was the right choice for me. I didn't need to be told I was helpless because I'm not - I needed people to cheer me on from the sidelines while I researched my own solutions. Other people need a more structured approach and only you can decide what feels right for you.

Your local health services are all available through your GP, who is there for you and can point you in the direction of the support that's available in your area, you've got the internet, you've found this thread, and there are a lot of other options available, such as Soberistas and a blog called Tired of Thinking About Drinking, some of whichI used, and some I didn't. My personal choices have worked for me so far and I still avoid the things that I find unpleasant and uncomfortable. There is no 'One Size Fits All' for this.

ETA: Since posting that I've realised that there is quite a high likelihood that you might need a level of support that can only be provided by your GP in the first instance. Please, if you are going down this path, would you contact them in the first instance to discuss your options?

I hope some of that's helpful but if not say so, and ask again and keep asking until you find someone who says the thing that helps make the difference.

11/31 please, Shaggy.

Barny1979

11/25 AFDs today :-) Finish warfarin on Friday

AlexLK

8 for me, please. I've been 'good' but I think a lot of the reason is that I've not been well. Tonight I've got an awfully painful headache, which painkillers seem to be doing nothing for.

gien

Hello lovely folks - I'm back to join you if I may for the run up to Christmas? I've not been on MSE for a while and I haven't had a problem with alcohol over the pat few months but I know I tend to drink more as the winter approaches and I would like to avoid that this year.

Desperado, your honesty is amazing. I don't have any practical advice (I think Honey Bear has covered a lot) but I hope you get the help you need.

graemecarter

Hello Desperado

I have many still-abstinent friends who checked themselves into Rehab and took it from there. Then they could really concentrate on getting themselves better. It's expensive, but was better than dying.

We're all rooting for you. Knowing you have to make a change and then making that change is a very courageous thing to do. :T

Good luck

charmed1318

11/31 please and thank you shaggy

Honey_Bear

12/31 please, Shaggy.

Desperado_2015

Hello all...thank you so much for your supportive messages. I also have a thread running on the main forum, and some of the comments there have been incredibly eye opening and helpful too. Yesterday (Sunday) I woke up and decided I just could not live like this any more. I'm afraid I have been wallowing a bit these last couple of years. 'Poor me, poor me, pour me another drink'. How can I keep doing this to myself and my family after all we have been through. I'm ashamed of myself for still seeing alcohol in a positive light (ie, thinking it is doing something for me and carrying on drinking it) when all it has done has ruined me and had so many negative effects on my life. I don't enjoy getting drunk. I like the first wee 'hit' as it makes me feel 'ahhhh, who cares anymore'..but after that it's downhill all the way. What's to like.

By Sunday afternoon I had downloaded as many self help PDF's as I could find, joined Soberista's online, and I today I made an appointment with my GP to have a chat about it all. I have not had a drink since Saturday night binge. I know it won't be easy, but I am absolutely determined to quit alcohol for good.

Please, can I join you all on this thread? It might take me a while to catch up with everything and who you all are, but it would be wonderful to know that I am amongst friends.

Thank you for the supportive comments...especially Honey Bear....it means a lot x
Angela x

Dizzy_Imp

OK, back up in control of the wagon...two more AFDs to report taking me to 10/21 please Shaggy.

Hello to all newbies :wave: Desperado - fantastic first step. Honey Bear has given you some really good advice, but keep posting here as these lovely peeps really are supportive. Graeme, thank you for scraping me off the floor again :embarasse

shaggydoo

Afternoon :hello:

3 more ALDs for Thursday, Friday & Sunday.



Shaggyx