Giving up/ Cutting Down Alcohol Thread Part 16

CuppaTea

Enjoy your more special drinks tomorrow night. Sounds a lot more sensible than my opening and finishing a bottle of cheap plonk.

shaggydoo

CuppaTea 4/5
GreenKaren 3/5
Maggie 4/5
Shaggydoo 4/5

shaggydoo

May 2019


= 7 Days

= 14 Days

= 21 Days


= 28 Days


= 31 Days

= Target Reached
= Target Beaten



AnnieG

Arkers /TF

ArsenalBarnie 3/16
Barney 7/25

CathyBird 6/21
CuppaTea 9/17
Glenda 8/28
GreenKaren 7/26
Honey Bear 9/31

LoveASale /15

MaggieM 6/18

Maman 4/10

Marahouti 6/20

PollyAnna 3/16
Pricey 7/20

Rosy 6/28
Season of Mist 8/31

Shaggydoo 5/21

Sukeyboo 5/12

WannaBeeFree 4/16





Please let me know if I've made a mistake!

Everyone Welcome Anytime of the Month!

marahouti

8/20 please Shaggy. Thank you. X

maggiem

7/18 and 5SNC this morning but I do intend to have some wine with dinner tonight - homemade curry, yum.

Interesting post GK - I am a meat eater but thinking about it I am the same with chocolate as alcohol. I would really struggle to eat just 2 squares of a bar of chocolate for example although could possibly eat2 crisps and leave the rest. Is it substances that trigger the reward part of our brain I wonder? Off to ponder

cathybird

Morning all, 7/21 for me today please.

PriceySOS

8 please, thanks

Honey_Bear

Green_Karen wrote: »

It's a really good idea to have plans for evenings, especially for that first few days.

As for sleeping, I really struggled, but I have since realised it was anxiety and stress and not the giving up alcohol. I thought I had overcome the urge to drink then I had the house move and a cancer scare that tipped me over. Drinking again helped me get off to sleep, but this was only like sticking a plaster on a large open wound. All the issues were still there, alcohol really didn't help.

What has always worked for me (but this could just be me) is not aiming too high initially. I wasn't looking to do 50 days AF, I have always said I will drink again and have built in some days when I can drink, though have chosen not to take them.

I now have in my mind that I will drink on Friday this week so am aiming to make it special with a more expensive wine, maybe even a half bottle so I don't go OTT and don't dwell over there being some in the fridge the next day.

Alcohol is a strange beast. I went vegetarian 25 years ago and vegan 2 years ago and never once have I sat craving meat or eggs or cheese. Not saying it hasn't been without challenges sometimes to feed myself when out and about, but I never felt deprived or sat wishing I could just stop at once piece of meat!!! I have certainly never deliberated over will I/won't I tonight? It was easy because I wanted to do it, I also wanted to cut down or give up alcohol but have had many an internal debate over this.

Excellent post, and once again, hugely well done on your 50 days. It's a heck of an achievement. I honestly think going AF for any period of time is a mindset for most of us, as opposed to people who have significant withdrawal symptoms.

CuppaTea wrote: »

My thoughts are drawn to alcohol tonight. I can’t have any as I’m driving. But I’m missing it this afternoon, missing the anticipation, the first few sips, feeling it rushing through me. It seems a long time until I can enjoy that again. That seems like the wrong thing to say, but I’m being honest. It’s a good job I’m out tonight. Despite the AB’s. I have to hang on until the 21st when I have an appointment to ask for a blood test. Please excuse my waffling, it’s a distraction too.

It's absolutely the right thing to say if that's how you feel. There are people who think we should skim over stuff that feels uncomfortable and then gloss the reality of things that are difficult. I'm not of that mindset because I find it far more damaging than the truth. Reality can suck - who knew?!

10/31 please, Shaggy

Barny1979

8/25 AFDs today

Green_Karen

CuppaTea wrote: »

You’re right Karen, alcohol does affect us like nothing else.

My thoughts are drawn to alcohol tonight. I can’t have any as I’m driving. But I’m missing it this afternoon, missing the anticipation, the first few sips, feeling it rushing through me. It seems a long time until I can enjoy that again. That seems like the wrong thing to say, but I’m being honest. It’s a good job I’m out tonight. Despite the AB’s. I have to hang on until the 21st when I have an appointment to ask for a blood test. Please excuse my waffling, it’s a distraction too.

That really sums it up for me too, the first few sips and that feeling of the alcohol rushing through me. There is a certain sense of abandonment for me in it, like I am giving myself to it and also giving up any uncomfortable feelings at the same time.

But as we all know there can be a price to pay, all of those who want to cut down or give up feel like we should/must do so. We don't cut down for the fun of it!

You are doing great CuppaTea to keep going when you are having feelings like this. And expressing them (or rambling as you describe it) can only help. Pretending it's not there or ignoring it won't help you. Keep it up!

Not having the expensive wine night I had planned tonight as OH not well, so;
10/26 May
5/5 WDC
1/2 WEC