The giving up/cutting down alcohol support thread!

Bismarck

I used to give up regularly for 3 or 4 days to prove to myself that I could...and physically I could...and I usually picked a time when this wasn't too difficult...I soon started again though....

here's a question, partly prompted by winebox's thoughts:

how does your OH feel about you cutting down? do they feel it makes you a bit...well...boring?

Bismarck

eselt wrote: »

BSB- I love the way you can stick to really low amounts and stop after one or two- I've been thinking about this-do you think people can go back to 'social drinking' after having a problem or is abstinance the only way? After relapsing, and going on a bender I always seemed to get back to being an out of control drunk so quickly (about three days) and have to go back to square one and start again- I think I will have to be an all or nothing drinker but I'd just love to be able to have one........

some can and some can't, I'm afraid! I'd like the odd one but I know too well that it wouldn't end that way and having the one is too risky in many ways. Not drinking is a welcome part of me that I can look on happily when other things aren't going as planned...

glad you survived the BBQ!

Bismarck

jo1972 wrote: »

Just a quickie...

I thought I had 2 cans in the kitchen but then I found another one hidden :eek:

I hope there's no more :undecided

They've been tipped away...

Operation 'sober' starts today

may the thoughts and best wishes of all of us be with you.

your answers in your head and your heart...stay strong....

TNG

Bismarck wrote: »

may the thoughts and best wishes of all of us be with you.

your answers in your head and your heart...stay strong....

:T :T :T :T :T :T :T

best wishes, jo......

eselt

Morning all- everyone bright eyed and bushy tailed I see!!

Bismark- OMG- how do you do it!!! I've just had a breakthrough moment- you say, 'Not drinking is a welcome part of me' in such a positive way that I want not drinking to be part of me too!!! Whenever I think about drinking I only have feelings of guilt, shame, hopelessness, depression, dreadful scenes and embarrassment etc, I can't even walk down the supermarket aisle I have had such a terrible relationship with the stuff- but yeah, I can see how you can still think about drink, but put that positive slant on it and work on becoming and being known as as 'a great non-drinker'. Brilliant. Now Dr Bismark...what can you tell me about losing 30lbs in three weeks before I meet up with an old school mate who I know will be a perfect size 8......

Jo- you sound pretty invincible this morning...I think if I were the cans in your house I'd hide too....slay that monster..this could be THE day

Interesting point about the reaction of OH's Bismark- theres a couple in our village who are both really alcoholic-quite young too-shes in a really bad way, but when people ask him about it he says that even though they are both alcoholics he is a 'functioning' one and she is not- two weeks after she came out of a long spell in detox/rehab, looking great and on the right road I saw them pushing a huge trolley full of booze around the supermarket, and she was with him in the pub again drinking anything he put in front of her-seems like he knew that if she got her life back he would have to tackle his own demons and as long as she is worse than him he can put off getting himself straight- it suits him to keep her drunk, I think he knows that if she ever sobered up she would realise the only thing they have in common is drinking. I suppose people do have to adjust to the fact that you are less likely to do the outrageous stuff, you are a little quieter, more self conscious...but I don't think thats boring, whats really boring is being a loud mouthed nightmare drunk who everyone expects to behave like a perfoming seal and be the life and soul of the party all the time...if people really love you they will support you and stick by you....I noticed this when I ended up in hospital detox, distinct lack of visits from any pub landlords or boozy drinking buddies!!!!

Thanks everyone-I'm completely fired up for a sober life (for today at least). Good luck

jo1972

Alcoholics always feel safe around other alcoholics, same as smokers....you don't have to justify yourself to anyone that way..

Thanks for all the good wishes for today, I shall take it all on board

TNG, knew you were lurking

mollypolly

Bismarck wrote: »

some can and some can't, I'm afraid! I'd like the odd one but I know too well that it wouldn't end that way and having the one is too risky in many ways. Not drinking is a welcome part of me that I can look on happily when other things aren't going as planned...

:T :T :T :T

sample_account

After finding this forum last week and reading too many familiar tales I decided to have a serious attempt at getting on the waggon and joining you good folk.

That was Friday afternoon.

Friday evening: 3 bottles of beer @ 5% and 5 joints.

Saturday: 6 bottles of beer @ 5%, 3/4 of a bottle of wine @ 14% and about 6 joints.

Sunday: Remainder of the wine and 1 joint.

So, all-in-all, a somewhat ignominious start!

Yesterday was an AFD but I'm not patting myself on the back just yet as the temptation to get hammered mainly (but not always. I often find one or two mid-week excuses) seems to knock on my door at about 6pm on Fridays.

I'm not going to find this easy. I'm mainly concerned about becoming boring (this seems to be a reoccurring theme here), I'm one of the most sociable people I know.

All my friends drink, one of them is definitely an alcoholic. I don't want to avoid any of them so does anyone have any advice?

Good luck to all of you!

yellowmonkey

Hi everyone :hello::hello: and good luck Jo

Have limited my intake to 4 dumpy bottles a night when not working. I know it is still supping but thinking I used to drink the equivilent of 20 dumpy's a night its a start

I wish you all well whatever path you are following.

Off to golf later and it is Hot,Hot ,Hot

Have a good one all

ym

shopaholictiedtheknot

jo1972 wrote: »

Just a quickie...

I thought I had 2 cans in the kitchen but then I found another one hidden :eek:

I hope there's no more :undecided

They've been tipped away...

Operation 'sober' starts today

:T good for you Jo :beer: