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

Honey_Bear

Dizzy_Imp wrote: »

My DH's in a delightful mood. He has just "wondered out loud" how long it will be before I get the shakes from alcohol withdrawal. !!!!!!? Seriously? Has he not noticed my consumption has decreased dramatically over the past few months. He's just waiting for me to fail on my dryathlon attempt.

Hmm. I'm not sure I understand why one's partner would not be supportive unless they're secretly a little concerned about their own drinking. Strange he hadn't noticed that you'd cut right back.

cathybird wrote: »

I think the interesting thing about the new govt. limits is they keep getting revised downward. I would expect that to keep happening in the future.

Anyway, sorry if I've caused any controversy :eek: - I just thought people might be interested to see it!

Well said, Satchmo. (I'm not quoting trolls. It makes them feel special.)

I'm working on the assumption that the poster in question was probably !!!!!! when the post was made. Goodness knows I did that myself enough times.

My problem with people who think the government shouldn't put out any guidance on alcohol consumption means that the massive excesses that overload A&E every single weekend and all highdays and holidays would carry on regardless with their tacit support. At least it's an attempt to remind people that what we're doing isn't harmless.

The health issues of overconsumption were a hugely helpful factor in my giving up, once I'd realised my behaviour wasn't okay and it had to stop.

3/31 please, Shaggy.

maman

Honey_Bear wrote: »

Hmm. I'm not sure I understand why one's partner would not be supportive unless they're secretly a little concerned about their own drinking. Strange he hadn't noticed that you'd cut right back.



Well said, Satchmo. (I'm not quoting trolls. It makes them feel special.)

I'm working on the assumption that the poster in question was probably !!!!!! when the post was made. Goodness knows I did that myself enough times.

My problem with people who think the government shouldn't put out any guidance on alcohol consumption means that the massive excesses that overload A&E every single weekend and all highdays and holidays would carry on regardless with their tacit support. At least it's an attempt to remind people that what we're doing isn't harmless.

The health issues of overconsumption were a hugely helpful factor in my giving up, once I'd realised my behaviour wasn't okay and it had to stop.

3/31 please, Shaggy.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:


I'm fortunate that my DH is supportive but I know it does make him question his own drinking habits. When I started having AF days he was in a phase where he was drinking beer (which I don't like at all) so him drinking that in front of me wasn't a problem. Now he has gone back to wine but it doesn't bother me any more. He doesn't drink to huge excess (about half a bottle a night) but I know he'd like to cut back. He does sometimes say he plans to have AF days but it rarely happens, he's the same with saying he plans to eat less sweet stuff but that doesn't happen either.


I don't have a problem with government guidelines in principle either but I do think they need to be put in context. If government chose to they could introduce a sugar tax or give clearer guidelines to prevent obesity but they choose not to although they're very happy to take huge revenues on booze and fags. Where's the logic in that?

piggles1

Hi all

I've done ok and not so good lately.

After my 8 days AF in december I ended up with a total of 23. Which is better than I thought, most of that was at the beginning of the month.

Since christmas though I've gone to every other day drinking to excess. I can't seem to do 2 days AF in a row.

I've had some terrible protracted news that has unsettled me a lot, and reminded me of a large and very good part of my past. Plus my housing situation is really unsettled, loads of form filling. And the mental health assessment, although giving me a significant diagnosis, has offered nothing except a place that has closed. I've called them and they can't find anything

I did type out a post about probably failing my january target and having to forgive myself, but deleted it. So I probably ought to post again and get some motivation. I'm about back where I was a few months ago, struggling to not drink for long and my tolerance has gone up.

I can't expect to be suddenly AF after such a long time since childhood using (a lot of) drink to cure everything. And to have an alcoholic type brain it doesn't go away even with no alcohol.

I got the cranberry juice out last night but put it away and drank the rest of a bottle of wine, then opened another bottle. Tonight I'm going to try cranberry again and hope it sticks. I do prefer not drinking, and it's not a willpower thing, it seems to be my current state of mind with too much going on.

It's good to see new/returning people posting and reading the busy thread has cheered me.

Cathybird your idea that even having 15 AFs each month equates to 6 months off is a good way of looking at it. So even if I can't do two AFDs in a row at least I'm only drinking half of the time.

So far I'm on 1/18 AFD for January please shaggy

satchmo1

Piggles, you've had a huge curveball thrown at you, so please be compassionate to yourself. In between form filling, how about giving yourself a manicure, or choose one drawer and declutter it? (I'm trying to think of distractions for you to try).


MH provision is woefully inadequate. Keep nagging to get some help. Last year, my DH went for a first appointment (after waiting 24 weeks) only to find they had sent him to the wrong type of practitioner. He then had to wait another 8 weeks. He didn't make a fuss, I couldn't believe it. DH is very supportive, and also great at "looking after". He's also fab at noticing/praising when I've lost a few lbs.


Cathybird & Dizzy, you didn't upset anyone. I know the 5 fruit & veg a day, and the recommended maximum units a day were fairly arbitrary, but there hadn't been any guidelines beforehand. There will always be exceptions to any norm, for example my 24-year-old niece was hospitalised with inflamed liver/pancreas last year and the consultant was convinced she had been binge drinking. She hadn't had a drink for over 4 years, due to having 3 babies under 4. She does have a very fatty diet, which was the biggest contributory factor, but didn't get much dietary advice.


Anyway, 3/31 AFDs for today. I've got a sugar hangover from eating too much chocolate yesterday. Does anyone else get that? No chocolate for me today. I don't eat it often, but like wine, once I start I have to finish. I'm obviously a binger.


The troll has slipped back into their hole. I was so angry when I read the post, I had to comment. Usually it's best to ignore them.

cathybird

Honey_Bear wrote: »

I'm working on the assumption that the poster in question was probably !!!!!! when the post was made. Goodness knows I did that myself enough times.

Ha ha, very likely It's weird though, one of my work colleagues had a similar reaction when I told him I was having a dry January - he said "oh that's all rubbish, just drink what you like"!! Ummm ...

My problem with people who think the government shouldn't put out any guidance on alcohol consumption means that the massive excesses that overload A&E every single weekend and all highdays and holidays would carry on regardless with their tacit support. At least it's an attempt to remind people that what we're doing isn't harmless.

Yes, and it works for me, I guess, in that every time I see a news story about it I think again about whether I'm overdoing it. But then I'm someone who needs reminding :rotfl:

I'm glad I haven't upset anyone, truly didn't mean to get off on the wrong foot joining this thread! I'm already finding it extremely useful as a way of being accountable.

cathybird

piggles1 wrote: »

Hi all

I've done ok and not so good lately.

I've had some terrible protracted news that has unsettled me a lot, and reminded me of a large and very good part of my past. Plus my housing situation is really unsettled, loads of form filling. And the mental health assessment, although giving me a significant diagnosis, has offered nothing except a place that has closed. I've called them and they can't find anything

I did type out a post about probably failing my january target and having to forgive myself, but deleted it. So I probably ought to post again and get some motivation. I'm about back where I was a few months ago, struggling to not drink for long and my tolerance has gone up.

I can't expect to be suddenly AF after such a long time since childhood using (a lot of) drink to cure everything. And to have an alcoholic type brain it doesn't go away even with no alcohol.

I got the cranberry juice out last night but put it away and drank the rest of a bottle of wine, then opened another bottle. Tonight I'm going to try cranberry again and hope it sticks. I do prefer not drinking, and it's not a willpower thing, it seems to be my current state of mind with too much going on.

Piggles, it sounds like you have so much on your plate to try to deal with - I do hope things get easier for you, especially with getting proper help with the mh issues. As satchmo1 says, provision can be absolutely terrible - I hope they get their act together for you.

maman

piggles, I'd echo what satchmo said and tell you to be more compassionate with yourself.


What you said about your December total doesn't really make sense. How can 23 out of 31 be mostly at the beginning of the month? Surely at a very generous estimate the beginning of the month stops at 15 or 16? You did a week more than that and got loads of smileys (inserts green face:D).


I do understand that you're cross with yourself that you seem to have got back into bad habits. But you haven't given up, you're still trying and you're still posting. They're all positives:).


Satchmo suggests distractions to keep you busy, that's good advice. I'm going to ask you why you choose to keep wine in the house if you don't want to drink it? I'd suggest that if you plan to have a drink you either go out and have a drink in a bar or restaurant or you buy a bottle in specially for your planned drinking night, look forward to it, enjoy it and when it's gone it's gone until the next time you choose to have an enjoyable, relaxing drink. I find that works with cakes and crisps. I'll go to a coffee shop and have a slice of cake and enjoy it but I won't have it in the house or I'll just eat all the rest. Similarly with crisps, I only buy them for special occasions like Christmas or if I'm making a packed lunch for flying. If I have a family pack in the cupboard, they just call to me. You may not think they're good analogies but you only have to look around at all the obese people to know that uncontrolled eating is very common indeed.

AlexLK

Not been on here in a while but am committed to my idea of only drinking for special occasions. Did drink on New Years Day but nothing yesterday and no intentions for this evening.

2/28, please.

cathybird

3/31 for me, please, shaggy

debjay

3/31 for tonight please.