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

gien

Dizzy, I am sorry you're feeling so sad and can only say well done to you for not reaching for the drink - it won't make anything better or make you feel any happier.

I'm calling tonight as a alcohol free again tonight - I'm on my own tonight and over the weekend as my DH is gone off for a boys weekend - I really hope he'll have a good time.

yellowmonkey

Flying visit as I am at work so 22/31 please Shaggy

cathybird

Dizzy, agree with Gien, well done you for not reaching for the wine. Is there anything you can do to distract yourself from feeling sad? ... It doesn't always work but sometimes it helps and the feeling passes.

cathybird

I watched the Channel 5 documentary on/about alcoholics, thought it was great, they were all very honest - it was interesting how impossible it was to tell how long they had been sober - they said at the end and I would have guessed completely differently. Some of them were quite lucky to be alive, they had been drinking so much, but they were all so personable and likeable and seemed so self-aware. It was really worth watching so thanks to the people who have mentioned it.

AlexLK

I've been having a terrible month and cannot remember where I got with my AF total. To cut a long story short my mother had a fall whilst out walking with her dog and I am currently staying at my parents' house to help them. Since I posted last, I've only had 2 AF days (one being tonight).

A few nights ago my drinking got completely out of control, was still a bit drunk the morning after and couldn't take my son to school (wife took him). Really rather disappointed with myself, to be honest.

Know I won't meet my target, or even get close, but I'd like to try to remain AF for the rest of the month.

New_Me

17/23 for me please Shaggy

satchmo1

21/31 AFDs for me tonight. It's been a madly busy week, and I'm glad I don't have to get up early tomorrow. DH will have to prise me out of bed mid-morning, I think!

Barny1979

19/25 AFDs today

smiley_77

Hello and happy weekend everyone. I have been doing better at not drinking during the week. I drank last weekend because it was my birthday but nothing too crazy.

Last night was the first weekend day I haven't drank. I am going to aim for a dry rest of January.

15/31 please Shaggy

Honey_Bear

piggles1 wrote: »

I didn't want to post such a miserable load of stuff so fell silent I was awake at 7am this morning and my garden was all white with frost, and the sun was rising and the sky red. It looked lovely small things I can appreciate in the middle of huge bothers!

I wanted two smileys but last night was another day I had wine. Tonight I hope not to be but I won't count it yet. Ergh, feel a bit better just typing this out.

Thanks for the sugar levels comments as well Honey Bear. I've got through no end of choccy biscuits and I never had a sweet tooth before! But each biccy must mean I haven't had sugar from alcohol so that's a nice reminder.

13/18 AFD please shaggy

Thanks for letting us know you're okay, Piggles, and well done on the numbers. They're impressive. Swapping the booze for chocci bix is a masterstroke and is an excellent idea! You've got a huge amount going on in your life and it could be very unsettling, so although I know it's a toughie - you are coping. Well done. Keep posting, because as you say, sometimes just thinking it through enough to get it down coherently actually helps to make you feel better, and that's what posting is all about.

Poppety wrote: »

I have just been looking at the nhs website about reducing alcohol consumption. I know the recommended number of units is 14 per week but spread over 3 or more days.

So have I made the wrong decision by saying I'll drink on two days a week, no more than 3 drinks per night?
As someone who finds it hard to stop once I've started, would this mean I am leaving myself open to overdoing it several nights a week instead of 2 if I spread over 3/4 nights.

I really don't know what to think. And I dislike this uncertainty that's creeping into my head.
Can anyone offer advice on this please?

Kind regards
Poppety:)

Poppety, you're going through a transition and keeping that transition going in a way that works for you. That's far more important than worrying about whether you comply with advice that is well meaning but very simplistic in order to get a message across that anyone and everyone understands. The key is that it's a great idea to cut our booze consumption and if you've found a way that works for you, the number of dry days at this stage is much less relevant.

Dizzy_Imp wrote: »

Feeling dangerously sad today. Really struggling to hold it together and normally this is when I'd reach for a glass of wine. However, luckily, or unluckily, depending on how you view things I've got to remain sober - DH was stuck at work, just left now, will throw dinner at him before he goes back out as needs to be at his cousin's ASAP....sigh...been home alone with dogs and kids for 12 hours and feeling low. 22/31 please Shaggy.

(((Hugs))) Dizzy. Your life sounds geographically and socially very isolated at the moment which isn't great in the cold, wet, grey months of the year.

I hopeyour son's 21st was a lot of fun, Effy. Did you do a Poppety and celebrate with bluebeery juice?

I'm impressed with everyone who's having a serious stab at Dry January and losing weight. That takes a lot of self-discipline. My target is to lose two inches off my waist this year so that I can get back to a shape I don't have to think about disguising. Rather heartening to know there are people managing some success in that regard.

Stupotstu, your honesty takes a huge amount of courage. I can't forget some of the things I said and did on my last drinking night, but I don't remember all of them. My partner probably does. I know that if I were ever to reach for a glass of booze again he'd be wondering if and when another event like that would occur. It's just not a pressure I want to put on the relationship. It's a very personal thing but I'd rather have him in my life than booze, and I know that not drinking at all means I'm not playing Russian roulette so it's easier. Good luck with it.

Hi Alex! :wave:

23/31 please, Shaggy.