The giving up/cutting down alcohol support thread!

staindude

Hey all, suprisingly just stumbled on this thread in this forum so I thought I'd join. I've had a few problems with drinking too much in the past, I'm not having them now but I want to stop drinking because I just hate it and I resent how society encourages it. It also does me no good at all, just 3 drinks last week had me feeling really sick.

For one term when I was at uni I didn't touch a drop and this was excellent.

shopaholictiedtheknot

I think it is becoming less acceptable, what with the adverts warning us of it and increasing the age to buy it, I know what you mean though, it is not looked down upon in the same way that smoking a drugs are.

barshamhillbilly

Evening All

Well I caved in again earlier as I came home past Somerfields. A bottle of Cobra beer for me and a 1/3 bottle of wine for Mrs BHB. Respectable amount on both counts I know, but still its the 'needed to have' one. If I had of bought two I would have drunk two! ... or possibly three. Still - at least I only bought the one!

Just realised reading back - when I'm not posting thats when I'm feeling guilty for having a couple!

I found out where "On the wagon" comes from last night on a TV programme..... It was apparently the people that were on the horse drawn cart (wagon) being taken to be hanged. If a beer was offered as they were passing an inn on the way to wthe gallows the chap was not allowed to have one.... hence on the wagon - no beer!

Shopaholic - hope everything went well at the docs.

MP - 11 weeks - Wish I was there with you .... bungled that one didn't I ?


Jo - :p:p - Don't know why - just felt like doing that :rotfl::rotfl:

Hope everyone is having a great evening

BHB

PS. Welcome aboard Staindude & siross2203 .... I just love the 'handles' on here ...... sorry - showing my age with some CB talk there:eek:

jo1972

barshamhillbilly wrote: »

I just love the 'handles' on here ...... sorry - showing my age with some CB talk there:eek:

Yeah you are just felt like doing that too :rotfl:

jo1972

Shoppy, how you go??

jo1972

Morning

This is the only time I get peace and quiet to post!

Right, craving factsheet pt 2...

3. Use a craving diary

This can assist you in identifying what causes the urges e.g. aniety, bad feelings, cash in hand, presence of other users, drugs/alcohol being offered, lonliness, boredom etc.

4. Do something about what causes the urges e.g.

Change or leave the situation immediately (you don't need an excuse, if you feel you do then think about it, you are an expert, an authority when it comes to excuses, so why not apply the same expertise around leaving situations when you feel pressure!!)
Do something you enjoy doing, push yourself!
Allow yourself to feel the feeling, tell yourself 'they are feelings, they won't kill me' and remind yourself too, they will pass.

5. Get help

Contact someone who is drug/alcohol free, strong and dependable
Be honest with them and listen to them
Act on the advice you have been given

Preventing a relapse

1. Give yourself time

Ending urges may take a year or more learning new responses to old situations, so be cfonsistent with healthy new activities, make them habits and be patient with yourself.

2. Associate with positive people

One valuable habit is always to lookfor people among those you meet, who have strength and good feelings. Make them your friends.

3. Plan in advance

Dont leave things up to change, plan activities with positive people who you can trust and have confidence in. Boredom is one of the biggest factors in relapse, but you can avoid it by keeping your schedule FULL.

4. Update review and pay attention to your list of dangerous situations

You know best what situations, places and people are the most dangerous for you and your goals. If you avoid relapse traps that are most powerful, you chances of a lapse are greatly reduced.

jo1972

Ten most common dangers...

1. Being in the presence of drugs/alcohol, drug and alcohol users, or places where you used to score/drink or get stoned.

2. Negative feelings, particularly anger, but also sadness, loneliness, fear, guilt and anxiety.

3. Positive feeligns that make you want to celebrate to have a reward.

4. Boredom.

5. Getting stone on any drug.

6. Physical/emotional pain.

7. Listening to negative drug/alcohol talk, and just dwelling on the thought of getting stoned/drunk.

8. Having a lot of money suddenly.

9. Using alternatives to produce the 'stoned/drunk feeling'

10. Not giving yourself enough time e.g. thinking that you will not crave or be vulnerable to craving if put in any of the above situations, or any other situations and therefore believing it is safe for you to use/drink occasionally.

There you have it, good luck for today

shopaholictiedtheknot

Good morning all

Well, appointment at docs went ok, he was really nice, a very young guy (I have only just changed docs after moving house so only met one other at the practice) who was very sympathetic, he asked me a few questions - how much I drink and when, if I have any physical symptoms associated with alcohol/withdrawal from alcohol, and if I knew why I drank and then said I wasn't an alcholic but it seemed like I had just got into a bad habit which it should not be too hard (with help) to break the cycle of.

He offered to give me the drug which can help you (can't remember it's name?) but when I told him I was trying to conceive he said it wasn't suitable.

I asked about counselling as an alternative but there is a 9 month waiting list:eek: so we discussed me just trying to abstain completely and using some of the websites/call centres as support and made appointments to go back and chat to him whenever I feel the need, he printed off some contact info for me so I am going to have a look through that tonight.

I feel really fed up today, I think I really wanted to be referred for counselling, but maybe one of the numbers he gave me will be useful in that respect, on the plus side I had an early night so Day one AFD for me!!

Hope everyone else is ok

beachbeth

Morning everyone!:wave:

Thanks for doing all that typing, Jo1972! Really helpful to read.

Im glad your doctor was nice, Shoppy. Shame that its a long wait for the counselling though. I would still put your name down for it though. Nine months will soon pass and if you don't need it when the time comes you can just cancel.

I fancied a drink last night - especially as hubby was drinking wine - but I managed not to and had a decaff coffee instead.:j

Ive got ironing to do and the dogs need a bath so I must get on!

shopaholictiedtheknot

jo1972 wrote: »

Ten most common dangers...

1. Being in the presence of drugs/alcohol, drug and alcohol users, or places where you used to score/drink or get stoned.

2. Negative feelings, particularly anger, but also sadness, loneliness, fear, guilt and anxiety.

3. Positive feeligns that make you want to celebrate to have a reward.

4. Boredom.

5. Getting stone on any drug.

6. Physical/emotional pain.



OMG I think these are nearly all triggers I can associate with!

7. Listening to negative drug/alcohol talk, and just dwelling on the thought of getting stoned/drunk.

8. Having a lot of money suddenly.

9. Using alternatives to produce the 'stoned/drunk feeling'

10. Not giving yourself enough time e.g. thinking that you will not crave or be vulnerable to craving if put in any of the above situations, or any other situations and therefore believing it is safe for you to use/drink occasionally.

There you have it, good luck for today

OMG I think these are all triggers I can relate to:eek: