The giving up/cutting down alcohol support thread!

In_Search_Of_Me

Evening all! Simon I agree with the others about getting advice...while you have best intentions its best to give up safely...plus you need to know whats coming and withdrawls can be pretty nasty if youve been drinking a fair bit...best safe than...
For those wh want a nice refreshing alternative to alch just made this & its yummy plus cheaper than buying cordial! I wasnt sure about the vineger but it actually tastes ovely. Elderflower cordial tomorrow!! To bottle it I got an ikea bottle (kitchen bit) with lid - old fasioned pop style but will have to go back for more - this was a pressie but its now mine lol!!! I sterilised it first using sterilising stuff from when I made wine (Wilkinsons sell it!!)!


Ginger SekanjabinSubmitted by: The Magpie Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 5 Minutes Ready In: 2 Hours 15 Minutes
Yields: 20 servings

"Sekanjabin is a refreshing Persian drink. This recipe makes a ginger-flavored syrup which, when stirred into water, makes a spicy, refreshing soft drink."
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]INGREDIENTS:[/FONT]
800 g white sugar
590 ml water
235 ml red or white wine
vinegar
45 g minced fresh ginger

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DIRECTIONS:[/FONT]
1.Boil the sugar and water together in a large saucepan over high heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat, and stir in the vinegar and minced ginger.2.Allow mixture to cool to room temperature, then strain out the minced ginger with a fine sieve. Store at room temperature in a sterile container.3.To use, stir 1 part syrup into 4 to 5 parts water; serve cold with ice if desired.

learning_to_drive

Nearly slipped into having a drink at home today, never done, I have a few tins of cider, wine and beer in the cupboard. I have never drunk at home and am against it, but after the day i've had today (money, etc etc) I really felt like a drink.

Happily I didnt, I dont have a problem or anything, I'd just rather stay drink free where possible, unlike some people on here who are actively seeking help, which is admirable! Keep up the good work...

jo1972

Hi Learning_to_drive, don't get into the drinking at home habit, that's where half of the problem is for the people on here. Why do you have drink indoors if you don't drink it then, is it just for guests?

Morning everyone else, how are we today?

Managed on the 3 okay last night, in fact didn't even have a panic like previous nights, I just made sure there was some ice cold squash in the fridge. This being made to drink lark reminds me of when I was a kid and my mates dad had found out he smoked.....he bought 20 fags and made him smoke them one after the other till he was sick, he's never smoked since! Amazing what people used to do to their kids back then, you'd probably be arrested if you did that now! All the excitement has gone out of drinking, I feel it's a chore and getting in the way of things I need to do. In the last 14 years since I began drinking alone I have never felt this way before, in half hour that counsellor guy somehow managed to say something that's turned the whole thing on it's head, amazing huh?! I just hope this plan works long term...

I think the warm weather has helped believe it or not, I realised I felt thirsty, squash quenches thirst whereas beer does the opposite.

All this being said, I'm going to be down to 2 cans tomorrow :eek:

xx

Bismarck

ZTD wrote: »

If it's less than 1% then legaly it's alchohol free. That's why shandy can be sold to kids. Even ripe fruit has alcohol in it.



Mouthwash is very poisonous because of the floride. However you're right - some people will stop at nothing.

thanks for the link ZTD...(is this a first post on here?)

did others read some of the comments...talk about covering a range of opinion!!

how's everyone today......had an interview yesterday and popped into Morrisons on the way home and was unusually dithery around the aisles of shadow....don't know if it was because of the Father's Day display showing big slabs of lager and litre bottles of whisky but I felt more at risk than normal and had to switch mental gears to get away....guess I was tired, a bit flat and that lowers the barriers. Anyway, no harm done!

beachbeth

Morning all! Im off to Sainsburys this morning to have a look at their pineapple and coconut drinks.

I really wanted a drink last night and kept craving Malibu but I realised that I was, in actual fact, just hungry so I had a cup of tea and some toast with marmalade! Yum! Ive realised that quite often when I crave a drink its because Im thirsty or hungry.

Jo1972, your story about making the kid smoke 20 cigs made me think of someone I know. She used to drink as a teenager and one night had far too much. She was being sick and very ill. She hasn't touched a drop since and she's nearly 50! Its a pity it doesn't have a similar effect on most people. Most people who are made ill by drink just get over it and make a mental note not to go so over the top next time they drink. Me included! The last time I was really ill with drink was New Years Day 2001 after drinking far too much the night before! It didn't stop me drinking, Im just careful not to have as much as I did that night.:rolleyes:

Have a good day everyone. Hope you get your docs appointment, Simon.

TNG

Hi all :wave:


hope we're all well today. (particularly you, Simon)

Double figures for me - day 10 Can't see me staying off at the weekend as I'm away, but I have proved to myself I can do it (without too much trouble, if I'm honest!) and will resolve to staying off drink on a school night and maybe odd weekends

Who knows, I may get to this weekend and just not fancy it! I can actually see it happening.....

Positive thoughts to all......

Simon_M_2

Morning all. Jo and others, thank you for your concern yesterday. I didn't go to the docs in the end as I thought I would ride it out, right or wrong this is what I did

Anyway, by around 3pm yesterday I felt a lot better. Didn't have a drink yesterday and didn't feel the need for one, no sweats or shakes. I know it's only been two days but I am amazed at what a difference not drinking can make, I suddenly seem to have 8 more hours in the day :rotfl:Mowed the lawn at 8 last night, up early today and have done half my days work already.

In the past few months drinking was basically a pain, something I had to do. I had the same feeling when I gave up smoking, Iwent cold turkey and never touched a fag for 6 years.

I am glad I have made this descision now as I am at a low point due to money worries and as you all know it is too easy to forget your problems with a few beers.

So here's looking onwards and upwards. Keep up the good work guys :T

Regards Simon

Bismarck

I did cold turkey too. I had no bad body effects at all but that didn't make it right for anyone else to do the same if you see what I mean! I just had gradual improvements in many areas - skin in particular...

Emotionally I hit an absolute brick wall as I had to deal with everything else that had happened in the meantime...and be sober while I did it...that was and is the toughest part.

Also money worries are easier to deal with sober....at least you can make fully-formed decisions. And you have more hours in the day!

good for you!

jo1972

Morning all,

Really disappointed in myself today, I had 4 cans last night. Had a row with
DD1 which didn't help, not saying it's her fault or that's the reason I did it but I just had an 'eff it' moment.

I knew I shouldn't have bought 4 cans but my local offy sell them £1.10 per can or 4 for £3.50 as the true DFW'er that I am, it's obviously a better deal to buy the 4 but, unfortunately, as I've proved I have absolutely no self control. I thought I was doing okay after chucking one down the sink and leaving one in the fridge the next night, but once again become complacent far far too quickly

Going to see counsellor tonight, s'posed to be dropping to 2 cans, this is like a slow painful torture. I don't think I'll be able to see him next week cos I've got a meeting to go to, so unless he can change the day, I will miss next week, then the following week he's away so won't see him that week either. It's just unfortunate that it's happened like that, but he said he'll be available on the phone all next week if I need him.

How's everyone else?

xx

barshamhillbilly

jo1972 wrote: »

Really disappointed in myself today, I had 4 cans last night.

Jo the downward TREND is still there however many you had last night. Thats the important thing.

Ooops I had a bottle too.
Only the one bottle of beer mind you.... but is was a beer that I shouldn't of had!

BIt of a 'dicky' tummy this morning .... don't know whether it was the beer of Mrs BHB's cooking :rotfl:

Chin up Jo ..... you are heading in the right direction

Andy