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

Honey_Bear

cathybird wrote: »

The other thing I always think is that it helps to give up watching TV at the same time as you give up drinking. Everyone on TV dramas seems to drink like a fish - wine with meals at home, wine with meals out, spirits in bars etc. In fact I don't give up watching TV as it would make the evening even longer (perhaps a good thing?) but it is another trigger I could do without.

Totally agree with this. Twenty years ago characters would put the kettle on when they got in from work - now they all pour a glass of wine. When I stopped drinking I would go straight to bed and read rather than wander into the sitting room and sit down in front of the TV, as we used to do, together, and that's when most of my drinking happened. Removing myself from temptation was a huge help and I've read a lot of fabulous books, got a lot of early nights and never wanted to go back to vegging out in front of the tele since.

juliethemuse wrote: »

I used to drink a litre and a half of sherry at the weekends. up until I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I am absolutely 100% convinced excess alcohol caused this cancer.
All I have been through and i STILL drank a bottle of wine the other night. I am so angry with myself for being so weak.
I only drink a drop in the ocean now compared to before. but I want to stop completely as I'm terrified of getting cancer again, I may not be so lucky next time.

How very, very frightening for you Julie. Old habits, and all that. The only way I found of stopping myself having the second one, and then the rest of the bottle, was just not to have the first one. (((Hugs))) Good luck, and don't forget we're rooting for you all the way.

Well done on the 5 days achieved, Effy. New day, and all that, and now you've got us rooting for you, too, so that should help.

Welcome back Dansmum and Sandypan and well done New Me. Now you've discovered you are more than capable of going for a night out and enjyoing yourself without booze, you're up and away. Good for you!

Goodness me, Stupot, that's a truly saluatory story. Thank goodness no one was seriously hurt, your partner is supportive and you've realised how close you came to losing it all. When I went waaaaaay to far the last time I drank one of the things I had afterwards was a gash on my ankle. Whenever I was tempted to drink afterwards I looked at the gash and it was enough to remind me that I simply couldn't any more. Might it be worth salvaging something physically broken from that terrible night and keeping it where you can see it, so that you will be reminded when you're tempted by the idea of 'just one?' Just a thought.

It's great to see the thread so busy. Don't feel lonely Shaggy! If you do, you're in company with me around Christmas and New Year when the threads a bit like a ghost town! 9/31 please.

yellowmonkey

8/31 please Shaggy

cathybird

Honey_Bear wrote: »

Totally agree with this. Twenty years ago characters would put the kettle on when they got in from work - now they all pour a glass of wine. When I stopped drinking I would go straight to bed and read rather than wander into the sitting room and sit down in front of the TV, as we used to do, together, and that's when most of my drinking happened. Removing myself from temptation was a huge help and I've read a lot of fabulous books, got a lot of early nights and never wanted to go back to vegging out in front of the tele since.

Honey Bear, that sounds like a brilliant way to spend the evening and perhaps I should do that very thing. I could certainly do with earlier nights. It isn't even just dramas, actually - on programmes like Location, Location, Location and Grand Designs they always seem to have a glass of something whenever they sit down round a table to talk! It gives the impression that drinking is perfectly normal and innocent. Which of course it can be, if it is restrained.

Shaggy, could I be so bold as to ask whether there's a set limit on this thread for an ALD or whether the idea is that we set our own limits? ... I was thinking of including some ALDs every month from now on.

smallholdingsister

Shaggy please may I have 9/31?

Thank you.x

satchmo1

9/31 AFDs, and the challenge of a Saturday night mentally overcome. With me, on a Saturday evening "it's 5 o'clock somewhere" usually.

yellowmonkey

Declaring early, as I am at work in the morning at 06:30, so 9/31 please Shaggy.

Hopefully it will be my last day at work and I win the Lottery tonight

Good luck to anyone who has done the Lottery

debjay

9/31 for tonight please.

Dizzy_Imp

More AFDs to add - still going strong - I did make a pork and cider casserole for dinner this evening, but I'm assured that the alcohol all evaporates during cooking, so that takes me to 9/31 please Shaggy x

Don't feel lonesome Shaggy - I'm sure I'll be back in the low-day gang soon (when I fall off the wagon next month) :rotfl:

cathybird

9/31 for me please Shaggy!

New_Me

7/30 thanks Shaggy