The giving up/cutting down alcohol support thread!

ageing_biker

mornin all ows it garn, day 4, molly's right we need to get positive again, got to cut the grass

ageing_biker

bhb, been on my hols motorbikin around west wales, had a great time

elantan

still lurking mostly... occasionally pop up to say something though

Poppies

Good afternoon all

Well I felt much better this morning when I woke up. Didn’t have anything to drink last night after feeling so rough from my session on Sunday night. I won’t actually feel myself though until tomorrow.

Got weighed this morning and I have put on 24lb since I got married 2 years ago which is entirely down to the wine!

I’m going to write a plan for this week, things to eat, exercise and things to do at night to try and distract me from the dreaded wobbly!

Hope everyone has a great day.

Much love Poppy

ageing_biker

hello poppies, I think wine is the worst for weight gain

blossomcat

Hi all

. i have been drinking a half liter of whisky everyday for the last year! i feel rotten every morning have a bad head every day.and the cost:eek: I did have a problem a few years back and got down to one drink a day :beer: but i dont seem to be able to get to that point at the mo. Im a nurse and see the effects alcohol has on people every day , who drink far less tham me:eek: . I know you should not 'just stop' as that is very dangerous and can cause fits, I have just found this thread .(rang in sick today, bad head)so TODAY I AM GOING TO CUT DOWN:T

thanks all xxxxbc

eselt

Hi MP, Jo and all
MP I'm really sorry you are feeling a bit low today. You ask why alcohol is such a demon- well its not like heroin where you have to furtively seek it out, afford it and sneak away in private to take it- its in your face, at the supermarket, in the local shop, at the local garage shop, at events, concerts, days out, weddings, birthdays,in soap operas, TV adverts, sports event sponsership, your house..... its everywhere!!! And not only is it everywhere its cheap, takes the edge off your anxiety and stress and (at the beginning anyway) can lighten your mood and help you be more confident. You are allowed to do it without any real restriction from the age of 18 and a great deal of your life is spent being exposed to alcohol. Imagine if you were a recovering heroin addict and everywhere you looked people were happily and openly taking the stuff, if it was buy a hit get a hit free at the supermarket, if people turned up at your house for a BBQ with a load of syringes....it just wouldn't happen, so although the battle with alcohol is no easier than any other drug, it is so much harder to avoid when you are trying to deal with cutting down or stopping.

Also along with drinking too much comes the depression and anxiety, I'm not sure which comes first but there is a strong link between depression and alcohol and drinking just makes this worse. One of my excuses for drinking was to relieve stress and anxiety whilst I was going through bankruptcy, I was having panic attacks and couldnt sleep- it wasn't until much later on that I realised all these sysmptoms were withdrawal symtoms from alcohol and they pretty much dissappeared when I stopped drinking, and reappeared when I started drinking heavily again. They finally went completely when I was made bankrupt in court and the terrible burden of debt was lifted and I could have a fresh start.

MP - you sound depressed to me, have a chat with your GP and see if this helps.
Jo- you are doing soo well, why not take the counsellors appointment on Weds- it might give you the resolve you need to have a go at Thursday. Stick to your plans about thursday- why? well it must be the right day or you wouldn't have chosen it and can you think of a better day? My advice would be to do something out of routine on Thursday so you don't go through your usual evening rituals and therefore miss a drink- get up really early on Thursday so you are knackered in the evening and can get to sleep. Best of luck with it, you can do this, its just a question of finding the way that suits you.

Am now battling the 40 fags a day addiction which I'm finding nearly impossible- I am down to 10 a day but can't seem to budge from this- any tips greatfully received!!

Eselt

jo1972

Hi AB & Elantan :wave:

Welcome BC :wave: I hope you find loads of support on this thread, they are all amazing! Keep us updated

eselt, you have so many wise words, thanks for posting on here

I think it's true what you say about depression, I'm not sure if I was depressed before I started drinking and that's the reason I drink or if the drinking is the reason I'm depressed!

Just had a call from the drug and alcohol place, I've been offered counselling from tomorrow night at 5pm which I'll definately be taking as I'm desperate, completely desperate for some help right now

jo1972

Oh eselt, join the giving up smoking thread, they are amazing on there too...

mollypolly

Thanks for the advice and support Eselt.I think I am just a bit fed up at the moment.DFD seems a long way off and it just gets me down sometimes and makes me wonder what lifes all about and why shoudnt I just have a few drinks to forget about it sometimes.

Good luck with the counselling Jo.Really hope this works for you this time.
keep us posted.

Love Mollypollyxxxx