The Cutting Down / Giving Up Booze Thread (Part 14)

Barny1979

December target of 21 AFDs

Honey_Bear

I've found it! Sorry it's taken so long Freedom Beckons, but this is the link to the self-test I did, having come across it in a book by a woman who gave up drinking.

If anyone is going to do it, please don't read anything about it first, and answer realistically. I think I've scored 13 in the past, but when I redid it just now when I found it, I scored 16. Maybe three and a half years on I'm willing to be a bit more honest.

After you've done it, it's important to read the notes on what the score indicates about your relationship with alcohol.

In my opinion it's the most carefully constructed, well-informed self-test available.

Paspatur

Checking in with 3/24 for tonight
Life went off the rails and I went with it but the issue is over and I want to get back on track
Early night with a hot water bottle and a book for me
December target 24/31 please

Freedom_beckons

Thanks Honey Bear, I will complete it..... Dreading the score...... But I will let you know!

Slowdown

11/20 please.

Slowdown

It's been very interesting reading about targets and hitting/missing them and setting them high/low.
I set mine too high this month. I'm likely to get 13 or 14/20. A miss for me. I had grand ideas about how good I was going to be in Nov and simply set the bar too high.

I am going to set myself a very realistic 10/31 for December please Shaggy. Then I might succeed.

What has happened is that I have definitely drunk less this month compared to October. There have been one or two mornings of grogginess but this is great compared to usual. And some nights I've only had one drink. I have been trying to have a cup of tea after a couple of drinks, telling myself I can have more later. This tends to stop me in my tracks and I don't go any further.

I am also getting into my hobbies again - making wooden candle holders for Christmas and doing jigsaw puzzles. This helps as I become absorbed and forget I wanted a drink.

You have all been quoting each other and giving advice and support which I think is wonderful. I'm reading every few days and can't remember all the individual posts I'd like to comment on so here is a general comment for all of you....
You're all brilliant, you're all doing the best you can at this moment in time, you're all sharing advice and home truths that help people an amazing amount and I'm very glad you are all here.
Happy Monday

cathybird

Morning all, 25/21 for me today please.

Honey_Bear

Freedom_beckons wrote: »

Thanks Honey Bear, I will complete it..... Dreading the score...... But I will let you know!

They've revamped the website considerably, or I found a great deal more information elsewhere on the self-test, Freedom Beckons. What I think is so useful about it is that for those of us whose drinking has gradually increased over the years it shows where the markers are when things change slightly. They mount up a bit.

Please don't dread doing it; the reality of the situation is that afterwards you'll have more information than you have now, but it won't mean you'll be drinking more, will it? It's an assessment, pure and simple, and I found it incredibly liberating and empowering - just knowing where I was on the scale gave me real impetus to do something about my drinking. Pretty much everyone I socialise/d with drinks just as much as I did, so although I knew I couldn't really handle the booze I thought what I was doing was normal, if that makes sense.

Slowdown wrote: »

I am also getting into my hobbies again - making wooden candle holders for Christmas and doing jigsaw puzzles. This helps as I become absorbed and forget I wanted a drink.

Jigsaws! I can't tell you how helpful I've found them! I bought a really good one of a local feature and lost a week of evenings doing it a few years ago. As a joke I then bought a few from charity shops to give to friends when we have our annual feast, when we always have a joke present swap, maximum cost £1 per person, Free is even better, tat, not treasure, but the story has to be good, kind of thing. One of them broke both her ankles the following year and it was one of the few things she found really absorbed her, so she's just as addicted as I am now and has found her whole family joins in. I went to a local Christmas Fair on Saturday, more of a fundraiser than a craft fair really, and came away with four brilliant puzzles, 50p each. Utterly absorbing, cheap entertainment, with no temptation to drink because it would mean that I couldn't concentrate. So glad you've found the same thing!

27/30 please, Shaggy.

sukeyboo

Morning all :hello:

I love jigsaw puzzles :j:j - I could spend hours on them and that is sometimes the problem - I don't end up getting any chores done once I start on one :eek:

Thanks for all encouragement about reducing my hours cathybird & HB - I will keep you posted.

13/14 for today please Shaggy

maman

Good to see you back paspatur. Shame life derailed you for a while but you're back. That's the important thing.:)


I like jigsaws too but I've never done one at home. MY SIL is a big fan and when we've shared a holiday home she always brings some. They're absolutely addictive!:)


No drinking today. I had far too much on Saturday (started at lunchtime instead of at wine o'clock) but an AF Friday and stopping after a couple yesterday balanced it off.


13 AFDs please Shaggy.