Giving Up/Cutting Down Alcohol Thread part 18

Cousin_Creditor

cathybird said:

@Cousin_Creditor if it helps, I can't tell you how many times I tried to cut down and failed back in the day - many many times. It was as it happens this thread that finally did the trick for me, but it did happen gradually. One thing I did find that helped was "putting off" the drinking, as in, telling myself I could have a drink if I liked, "but not yet", in another hour, or another couple of hours. Then when the time passed I'd either find the urge had passed, or, if it hadn't, I'd tell myself the same thing again. 

Do you know why you started? Is it just habit? Maybe there's something you could change about your day that might make it easier to stop?

Anyway tomorrow is a new day - the most important thing is to keep trying/showing up xx

Thank you.

I've made a few positive decisions lately. I joined in with the 1p Saving Challenge and I've made a head start on that.

On the down side. I did drink again today. It was 4 liters of cider again same as yesterday and I could scarcely afford it. I guess I'll try again today then. See if I can get 1/7. 

leftatthetrafficlights

@Cousin_Creditor - don't be disheartened, there are many 'false starts' on the road to sobriety. Personally, I've had more than I care to remember and have only recently fully embraced it. I was drinking at least half a litre of spirits a day; I retired early and my drinking could start as early as 7am and continue until I went to bed. Alcohol was a major feature in my life from when I was 11 years old - the only real decent periods of being totally sober were throughout my pregnancies - so over forty years of pretty much daily drinking to excess. This year has definitely been one of swings and roundabouts with periods of sobriety and ones of really heavy drinking but in October, I finally decided that I'd had enough, it really wasn't the way I wanted to live so I quit completely. The key for me was feeling absolutely ready mentally - it wasn't enough to just think I should quit, I had to genuinely feel that I wanted to quit and at that point, I did. The first month was tricky but my desire to stay sober was stronger than my need to drink; since then I have had several times that I've really wanted to drink but I know that if I do, it will be a slippery slope back to my previous consumption. I am not willing to risk that again so I know that sobriety is my new lifestyle. 

Stick around on this thread, you'll find encouragement and support here, take every day, hour or minute at a time and never give up hope that you can achieve what you want to achieve. Success is a journey, not a destination, so don't be afraid to accept when you 'fail' as a part of the journey of change, then move on.

18/24 for me today please 

Justcrackingonwithit

Hi everyone, can I join in please?
Long time lurker, first time poster!
I've just started a debt free diary to keep me accountable on the money front, so thought joining here would help me keep me accountable on my alcohol consumption.  I've been to the supermarket today and have managed to resist the temptation to buy a bottle of wine, better for the debt balance and my waist line.  I've not had a drink for 10 days, I don't have an off button when it comes to having a drink, I can't moderate very well, so I'm trying to abstain.....looking forward to joining this thread to keep me accountable!

maman

8/10 AFDs for yesterday and today please @cathybird

satchmo1

15/20 for me today please.

tiddles

14/24 AFDs for me please, Cathybird 

cathybird

hi Largs and Justcrackingonwithit and welcome to our lovely thread! I've added you to the list, best of luck with the challenge! Would either of you like to set a target for the rest of December at this point, or would you like to go target-free and see how you go?

cathybird

December AFD challenge

7 days =

14 days =

21 days =

28 days =

Target reached =

Target beaten =

Entire month =

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December targets

cathybird 16/21   

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Cousin Creditor 7 

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CuppaTea 16/24   

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Dryjan 14/22   

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dustydigger 20 

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Justcrackingonwithit 10/TF   

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lantanna 15  

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Largs TF  

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leftatthetrafficlights 18/24   

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maggiem 4/10  

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maman 8/10   

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marahouti 15/25   

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oceandreamer 12/12   

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PriceySOS 12/22   

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RobM99 16/30    

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satchmo1 15/20    

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Season of Mist 15/24    

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Shrewbie 1/18  

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sukeyboo 8/10    

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tiddles 14/24    

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Watty1 10/10    

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WBF 6/14  

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🌞 🌞  Newcomers welcome! 🌞 🌞

cathybird

December results updated here

Justcrackingonwithit

@cathybird ohhhh now, there's a question.... I'll go for 8 AF days I think.  Hopefully a target I should meet, it's just that I'm off work after the weekend, so won't have to get up and may partake of a baileys or two!