The giving up/cutting down alcohol support thread!

Different_Corner

Morning
I'm here, still reading. Jo's post was very inspirational, makes a lot of sense. And Bismarks brick wall, that hit home too.
Winebox I hope you are okay.

Bismarck

thanks for letting us know you're OK.

was contemplating "what was different when I finally stopped" - because I'd been to that point before several/countless times previously in the cycle of "one last drink" as I'm stopping tomorrow...and then, come teatime...oh no I'm not....just one won't hurt....

So what was finally different? I knew I had to stop, I wanted to BUT I didn't know how to - I'd previously been able to stop for a few days but it was always carrying it on where it fell apart - I had to be able to keep on wanting to stop...that was where understanding the situation was so important - that was where AA was so useful for me.

The fact that I met people I knew (amazing and initially awkward!) suddenly helped me understand that I wasn't a failure or alone in this - and I certainly wasn't the first and wouldn't be the last.

And then all these strangers kept using words and phrases that had me saying "that's me!" "yes, I've done that" or "I've thought that...."...and day by day my understanding grew and as each day went on it became less likely that I wold slip back into bad habits.

Now? I simply don't want to. No one is saying I can't. I just don't want to.

take care everyone...have a good day.

hope you're OK winebox

jo1972

Morning all,

Just a quicky cos I'm getting ready for work..

WB, you ok??

xx

polaroid

thanks bis. hope you are ok WB and DC
have a good monday everyone
xx

eselt

Bismarck wrote: »

thanks for letting us know you're OK.

was contemplating "what was different when I finally stopped" - because I'd been to that point before several/countless times previously in the cycle of "one last drink" as I'm stopping tomorrow...and then, come teatime...oh no I'm not....just one won't hurt....

So what was finally different? I knew I had to stop, I wanted to BUT I didn't know how to - I'd previously been able to stop for a few days but it was always carrying it on where it fell apart - I had to be able to keep on wanting to stop...that was where understanding the situation was so important - that was where AA was so useful for me.

The fact that I met people I knew (amazing and initially awkward!) suddenly helped me understand that I wasn't a failure or alone in this - and I certainly wasn't the first and wouldn't be the last.

And then all these strangers kept using words and phrases that had me saying "that's me!" "yes, I've done that" or "I've thought that...."...and day by day my understanding grew and as each day went on it became less likely that I wold slip back into bad habits.

Now? I simply don't want to. No one is saying I can't. I just don't want to.

take care everyone...have a good day.

hope you're OK winebox

Bis- you are absolutely right here- although everyone has their own route to getting in a mess, and their own individual set of circumstances and experiences which lead to problem drinking, there are an amazing set of similarities too- I think everyone feels the guilt, shame, stigma, hopelessness, and being in a bad way physically affects your ability to motivate yourself to change. Going to group meetings made me realise that alcohol has no respect for class, age, gender, occupation, IQ etc- alcoholism can creep up on anyone, and destroy relationships, prospects, finances and health along the way. Unfortunately for a lot of us it takes nearly losing everything for us to finally realise things are seriously not right and need to change-when you hit that wall you have two options- try and scrabble over the top to oblivion or turn around and get the hell outta there!

Winebox- hope you are OK and things look a bit brighter this morning.

Take care everyone- Eselt

mollypolly

Good morning everyone.
Hope you are all ok.

Winebox.....special hugs(((((( ))))))to you this morning.Hope you are feeling a bit better.
Have a good day everybody.
Love Mollypollyxxxx

winebox

= me feeling very sheepish. thanks for your support last night & this morning guys, sorry i lost it there for a while - otherwise known as the self-pity mode of drunkeness
Took me no time at all to get up this morning - luckily I was already drssed from the night before :rotfl: - amazingly found some wine still in the bottle (passed out before I got to it) so have poured it away. Haven't gone to work today, not because of hangover - God knows i've been to work in that state often enough - but because I look like a gargoyle. I don't cry prettily & the after-effects are all too obvious.
OH rang this morning to apologise - well obviously he didn't say the S word, but "let's not fight any more" - funny that, I don't remember saying much, I was on the receiving end. Of all the times I've forgotten what happened the night before why do I have to remember all he said yesterday? Hadn't had that much to drink by then I spose. Wish I didn't remember, still hurts. I shouldn't have driven home - was safe enough to drive but def over the limit if someone else had caused an accident & I got breathalysed...:eek: very very very silly, & not something I ever take a chance on usually.
So, an uneasy truce at the mo. Back on the straight & narrow for me today, Saturday was OK but yesterday = disaster from alch point of view.
Hope you all OK out there & thanks again x

beachbeth

Hugs for you, Winebox. Most of us have had evenings like that and then realised the next day just how much alcohol played a part. I know what you mean about looking like a gargoyle - my face around my eyes completely swell up and it takes a couple of days to get back to normal after Ive been crying. Im not like these film stars who have a trickle of tears and look just the same after!

Perhaps you can think of last night the next time you're tempted to drink and use it in a positive way like that? Its awful to think of the things that get said at times like that but try not to brood too much. You can always come on here - plenty of sympathetic people around.

shopaholictiedtheknot

Hi there folks

Woke up nice and sober for a Monday morning! Feeling positive and quite cheerful today despite being rushed off my feet (started my new position along with my existing one!) and looking forward to a sober and relaxing week ahead.

WB - sorry to hear your trauma, hope you are bearing up today, try not to worry about water under the bridge alcohol-wise, we all (me especially) fall at the first hurdle sometimes but we can pick ourselves up and carry on with the race ((hugs)) Hope you and OH can sort things out

Good luck to everyone today :beer:

Bismarck

and then there are days when you come home from work and think !!!!!!!!! don't want to bore you but sheesh...it's lucky I know that having a drink won't help and being sober tomorrow when the mud flies will be very advantageous...