The giving up/cutting down alcohol support thread!

jo1972

eselt wrote: »

I found after getting sober I can deal with stress so much better- when I was drinking any little thing that went wrong meant I'd head straight for a bottle, I thought it made me feel better but it just stops you from dealing with stuff. When you are fuzzy headed or hungover you can't think, reason or problem solve and everything seems so much more difficult to cope with, you get tired and run down, feel guilty about drinking and all the money you've blown, so you drink more, get more unhappy/depressed, and it becomes a vicious circle.

Now I feel like I'm back in the land of the living, I'm sharp and full of life, more confident, proud of myself, healthier, a nicer person to be around- AND the things that used to stress me out don't anymore because I feel strong and happy. A great deal of the stress I thought I had disappeared when I stopped- the panic attacks, anxiety, depression- all seem to have gone- I'm off antidepressants and have an appetite again.

One thing I have noticed is that I was very 'emotional' for quite some time after giving up- I think I had dulled all my emotions with alcohol and just used it to put off dealing with stuff- I cry more now but realise this is all normal and human, and I accept it and live with it- its great to feel stuff again, even if those feelings aren't always happy.

So I suppose the thing I am trying to say is that stress is easier to manage when you are sober. Other things that help are getting fitter, eating properly, finding ways to fill your leisure time which don't revolve around drink, get a hobby (write that book or paint that picture), take vitamins, reward yourself, like yourself, get a goal that motivates you....and pat yourself on the back for recognising that you were heading towards having a problem with alcohol but you tackled it and won. And you won't have the 'stress' of hiding/worrying about your drinking. Best of luck with the battle.

eselt, this is a superb post, thank you

One thing I will say too, remember when something stressful happens, it was going to happen anyway whether you're drunk or sober, if you're drunk/drinking then you will be in a haze and either not deal with the problem at all or not normally deal with it properly. The problem will then still be there the next morning when you wake up. On the other hand, if it happens when you're sober, you can deal with it there and then and not prolong the agony and you have the benefit of knowing it was dealt with properly.

jo1972

Morning all :wave:

Well, I did it I drank diet coke and danced the night away. I was concerned that I wouldn't have the guts to get up there and have a dance with everyone that were blotto when I wasn't drinking, but I was actually okay. Had a great night, went to bed at 2am with no ringing in the ears and woke up un-hung-over'ed

Oh and another thing, I took £41.00 out with me, we got a lift so no cab fare, £6 to get in and I've still got a £20 and £10 note in my purse, not checked how much more but there's loads of coins too, so a DFW night to boot :money:

Having my hair cut at 1pm today, this is my treat for the last 10 days sober

How's everyone else this dark murky muggy morning?

xx

jo1972

Just worked it out, I spent a grand total of £8.25, which includes a drink for my mate as it was her hen night when I got there which cost me about £3-odd and then cokes for me. As I wasn't drinking alcohol I didn't seem to drink as much as I normally would. I was panicking yesterday that I would have enough money to go out last night, have my hair done today and get the shopping in for dinner tonight but instead I can probably feed my family for 4 days on what I didn't use for alcohol Oh, happy days

Plus I notice that 3 of the girls that went last night (including the one that's getting married) are not up yet, they live opposite me and the curtains/blinds are still pulled :rotfl:

Oh god it's great to be sober, try it out, I never would've believed it

beachbeth

Well done Jo!:T :j

I know what you mean about not having the courage to get up and dance when you're sober. I went to a party a few years ago and volunteered to drive so I wasn't drinking that night. I felt a bit shy about dancing and then I thought about how drunk everyone else was and it occurred to me that they wouldn't notice how I danced and wouldn't remember too much in the morning anyway! So, after that I wasn't too bothered! I really enjoyed the party and it was lovely knowing I wouldn't have a headache the next day!

alisong_2

Hi all, just popping in to say hello as haven't posted for a couple of days but I've been keeping an eye on you all;) !

Well done Jo:T , brilliant achievements, keep up the good work one day at a time as people are advising.

Eselte and Bismark, I find your posts very helpful, thanks. I feel like I'm coming out of my nightmare a bit (dangerous talk that I know!) and it's really good to hear how you've done it, what to expect and why it's worthwhile. I find it helps to keep me focussed so please keep up the good work! And Mollypolly, you're always there to help and encourage so thanks to you also (and to all you other guys and girls too numerous to mention!).

I've had 1 litre of lager in 9 days now:D and am starting to feel different in myself so I'm determineed to keep going.

See you all later and have a good evening everyone.

Ali x.

Bismarck

If you want to talk about triggers, I've just had an hour of them...children moaning about this that and the other - almost wanting to cause as much angst as possible and not listening...so I get all wound up and this is the bit where I'd crack open the bottle...

looking back, by the time the bottle's open and the mind hits the plateau, the argument's subsided but I'm on a roll....so the journey begins....

BUT...if I hold off from the first reaction, half an hour later the cause has usually gone, they've calmed down and I'm still sober.....kids are like it's never happened and now, thankfully, I'm pretty much as before.....

beachbeth

Morning everyone.

Had 3 very small vodkas last night (smaller than a pub measure), which is good for me at the weekend. Ive ran out of Malibu and may hold off from buying another bottle and see if I can just stick to coke and dandelion and burdock today.

Got a ton of ironing to do so I must get on.

mollypolly

beachbeth wrote: »

Morning everyone.

Had 3 very small vodkas last night (smaller than a pub measure), which is good for me at the weekend. Ive ran out of Malibu and may hold off from buying another bottle and see if I can just stick to coke and dandelion and burdock today.

Got a ton of ironing to do so I must get on.

Good luck today Beachbeth.....and with all the ironng(I hate that)LOL

Off to my mums caravan today for a BBQ .
Have a nice sunny day everyone.
Catch you all later
Love Mollypollyxxxx

jo1972

Morning all :wave:

In a HUGE rush, didn't wake up till 11.40am I don't think I've ever woken up later than 10.30am before let alone nearly midday

I was meant to be at me mums at 12pm :undecided, I'd better give her a quick ring cos we're running a 'bit' late!

Hope everyone's well, enjoy whatever you're doing today

xx

eselt

Hope everyones OK- its tipping down here, really miserable. Went to my local for lunch with my dad and my kids and had a sticky moment- someone I haven't seen in ages took the mickey because I ordered a grapefruit juice and soda with my lunch- everyone shuffled and looked down at their shoes, but I just said I was driving and they dropped it, thank goodness- my pensioner dad said something really sweet, he said I looked really well and it was nice to see his little girls pretty face back- I've just turned 40!!! and he doesn't say much, just sits in the background solid as a rock so it really meant a lot- I still can't believe what I've put everyone through, its going to take a long long time to make it up to them all..

Anyway, Jo brilliant news about your resilience, you must be so proud of yourself, and you had a great time...brilliant.

Thanks bis and others for the positive posts-like they say, if I knew then what I know now things would have been very different- good luck everyone.