The giving up/cutting down alcohol support thread!

Bismarck

SamanthaA wrote: »

I wrote in my copy the day I brought it, the date of my last drink & I must have lasted 5/6 months, complacency/friends got me again.

This is the kind of thing that I'm afraid of! The friends bit is hard but I needed to prioritise....there is a group of people I spent a lot of time with from my early twenties right through my mid-thirties and the bar and beer is the unifying factor...to not drink is almost to be not one of them...at some point I'd like to change this but it's like being one against a tide and not much fun so I will do it on my terms when I'm ready, and when my armour is thick enough. It's not important really but I'd just like to do it and see my friends again and be confident that I wouldn't disappear down the slope and at the same time, I wouldn't want to preach either...it's a hard balance.

Bismarck

Alan Carr has got a lot of mentions so far so I thought I'd mention my favourite. Jason Vale is better known for books about fresh juice but I was surprised to see this book in the library - Mrs B may have seen it come to think of it.

It talks a lot of sense and I was impressed. Jason Vale has a previous history of overdoing the lager and he knows more about drinking beer than I'd have expected...well worth a read...


...Stop Drinking 4 Life...Easily!


One thing is for sure, you will never see alcohol in the same light ever again after reading this book. Jason Vale takes an honest and hard hitting look at people's conceptions of our most widely consumed drug, alcohol. Jason's major argument is there is no such thing as an 'alcoholic' and that we are conditioned to accept alcohol as a 'normal' substance in today's society despite the fact that it is the major cause of many of today's social problems and a wide range of health issues. Find out the truth and become alcohol free today.

"I read your book last summer and I haven't drank since, more importantly I haven't wanted to, much to the surprise and admiration of many. I feel more alive, more confident, happier, fitter and younger that I have for years." - Susanne

Bismarck

barshamhillbilly wrote: »

Morning All, :o

Thanks Guys....

New approach needed I think .... to quote Bismark :

"I hope to not drink tomorrow. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is beyond me and unknown and just focusing on today is enough."

Thank you Bismark - I like the approach. !

I just think that having my first counseling session that was scheduled for this morning canceled again for the 5th time !!!!! weakened the resolve and brought in the "sod it" factor yesterday.

Anyway - not feeling too bad about it this morning - just a little bit annoyed, but hey - today is a new day!

Another mental note:

• scary how strong the beer tasted at 5% ...seemed like whisky!
• Didn't sleep well - even having just the one -
• Was up all night drinking water and "pee-ing over 9 hedges" as they say in suffolk!

Jobs for today:

• GET MORE FIZZY WATER IN AND SOME LEMONS!!!!!!!!
• Throw the counseling attempt into touch completely as its causing me more stress than its worth :rolleyes:
• Give the wife a good talking too
• Look for a new slogan for my siggy. :rotfl:

Best wishes for a great day

Andy

You're welcome Andy.

A lot of my thoughts and quotes are just rehashes of good stuff I've heard elsewhere that I think are useful.

A technique I use is to reiterate all these thoughts until they become the protection for the moments when you could fall in the hole...I think of it as the delaying factor for a red alert situation which you're not prepared for...you need your instinct to kick in long enough to stop the other part of your brain saying "go on, you can handle it!"

The positive vibes and programming buys you time until your brain can get itself going and provide true resistance to the first drink. Once your thoughts are mobilised, you should be OK.

There was one story I read about a guy who'd not drunk for months and went on a business trip...on the way home he stopped off for a coffee and thought, "hmm, I wonder what it would be like to have a whisky in that, with some cream...make it into an Irish coffee...." He enjoyed it and order another to wash it down- "it can't do any harm"...

He was found 2 days later on the continent without any idea how he had got there. Simply a case of one thought leading to another and I suspect he had the brainwave that a beer in Belgium would be cool, so off he went....

ltm07

nearly-there wrote: »

Just about to take the big red hairy thing (red setter) out for a walk, but just wanted to say hi.

SamanthaA Hope life is a bit more settled for you...........welcome back. It was interesting to hear how you got on with the Allen Carr book. I'm kinda feeling I won't go back to drinking..................but guess you felt the same way to.....................I am a bit concerned that these lovely feelings I have of not wanting a drink will fizzle up and I'll be left exposed and wanting!! I like the way you count the alcohol free days in a month

Winebox Hiya. Hope you're back soon................hope life is treating you good.

Itmo7 Do you feel that you're heading in the right direction? Are you drinking less on your days on?

Hello to everyone who stumbles across here.....................it's a great group if you're thinking of joining in.:j

Right.......no more procrastination...........Moel Famau here we come !!

Hi NT. Compared to how I used to be I have headed in the right direction,but saying that I am still drinking too much. Had 6 cans last night whilst watching the footy & although I said that having the week off wouldn't be an excuse for drinking more I have done exactly that:o . Why does beer,bloke & footy on TV seem to be natural? :rolleyes: ! OH at work again tonight & there's 3 cans left in the fridge,so at least I won't drink anymore than that should I have a drink. Not making excuses but it does seem to be a vicious circle, we would rather a night out once a week but we get the beers in cos we can't afford to go out, but if we didn't buy the beer we could probably go out more often! Will definately have a couple of nights off it next week though.

barshamhillbilly

Back on the fizzy water again

Decided a new signature of ratio of non drinking days to number of days from start date was in order ... seemed better than ignoring the fact that I had a little slide yesterday.

I think that will have the effect of reminding me of the good days rather than the bad days.

Well - hows every one else doing?

BHB

SamanthaA

Bismarck wrote: »

This is the kind of thing that I'm afraid of! The friends bit is hard but I needed to prioritise....there is a group of people I spent a lot of time with from my early twenties right through my mid-thirties and the bar and beer is the unifying factor...to not drink is almost to be not one of them...at some point I'd like to change this but it's like being one against a tide and not much fun so I will do it on my terms when I'm ready, and when my armour is thick enough. It's not important really but I'd just like to do it and see my friends again and be confident that I wouldn't disappear down the slope and at the same time, I wouldn't want to preach either...it's a hard balance.

EXACTLY!
I have a group of friends like that, cant even say I`m skint, as one owns a `pub`!

16/31 dry days
stella - 20 since discovery!

jo1972

Morning all,

Well no sooner do I get my internet back and get on here with good news, do I then follow it up with bad the next day! Didn't have a very good night last night and succumbed again although didn't have too much and actually have some cans left which, as soon as I've typed this message, I shall tip down the sink.

Had a battle of the good/bad angels last night on the way home, I was meant to take a diazepam when I got to Tesco after work, that way I've found I'm relaxed by the time I get home so that when I walk into world war 3 I don't get too flustered. But for some reason I didn't take one, everything went pear and I went to the shop and bought beer :undecided

Even though I was only on day 3, I really didn't enjoy it.

There's a work do this evening after work which I was debating going to as it's local and only a cheap Wetherspoons night out and in my head last night I thought, well s0d it, if I'm gonna drink Friday night I might as well drink tonight!

I don't think I'd better go this evening, I think I'm safer indoors after taking a diazepam and staying calm and collected and having an early night. Plus it'll save me a fortune! I just can't do these normal things like normal people.

Hope you're all well today?

xx

nearly-there_4

[quote=barshamhillbilly;11127677

Decided a new signature of ratio of non drinking days to number of days from start date was in order ... seemed better than ignoring the fact that I had a little slide yesterday.
BHB[/quote]

That's more like it Mr BHB :T........................it's important to acknowledge those non-drinking days..............they've been a big part of your life recently..................and we on this board have been privileged to share them with you too. Enjoy the fizzy water.......................and if you can get a copy of the Allen Carr book it may put you in a different mindset altogether.

nearly-there_4

Jo: Maybe you can't do these 'normal' things for now. Don't beat yourself up. Just take some time out and look after yourself. Have you given the diazepam a proper go...............you sound a bit unsure about taking it. Take care. Is your daughter feeling better?

Itmo7: Glad to hear that you are heading in the right direction. Have a lovely weekend. Keep posting. Let us know how you get on.

Bismarck: Thankyou so much for posting on this forum. I am enjoying reading your posts...................you are wise and solid and consistent......................wisdom born from pain I am guessing...............but you are a source of comfort and hope. I will look up the Jason Vale book.

ageing_biker

just a quick hello to all, well done mufc, bh week end gonna try and stay dry wish me luck;)