The giving up/cutting down alcohol support thread!

Bismarck

I get some very interesting dreams too - I probably had them before but could never remember them in the morning.

i don't get the scary ones like I used to - I think any bottled up fear and anxiety needs to come out and eventually your calmer self will find itself showing in your dreams too....it could be the last thing to be sorted in your own personal jigsaw but the end result is worth so much....

take care everyone...

eselt

Bis, its good to know things just keep getting better and better over time- this is the thing that keeps me going in spite of all the aftershock of coming out of a drunken haze. Hope everyone had a reasonable nights sleep, without too many unwanted dreams creeping in.

I suppose so many of the anxiety and panic I felt was rooted in the guilt, shame and regret of things that I had done when my drinking was out of control- it takes a long time to get things back in perspective and forgive yourself. Trying to get a grip on how to deal with stress and the carp that life throws at you also helps- if you can get some control back in other areas of your life it gives you the confidence to stop drinking too as it reduces the need to drink to avoid dealing with stuff that just isn't going to go away until you do!!! When all this starts to come together things like sleep improve I think.

Hope everyone is OK today- take care

polaroid

hi bis and eselt, morning everyone else,

more crazy dreams! but thanks for your posts, you make a lot of sense. i must admit i do feel quite proud that i have managed to do this. i always used to think that i didnt have any will power but i must have!
a lot of it is forgiving yourself. i am still wracked with guilt. i feel utterly ashamed about how i have let this thing take over me in recent years. i feel a hell of a lot of guilt over not been the best parent possible...best go getting weepy!
have a great day everyone xx

shopaholictiedtheknot

Morning folks!

Where IS everyone these days???

AFD again yest for me, going to a friends tonight but am driving so no temptation there! (usually get ratted when I go to hers so will be a nice change!)

OH and I are going out for dinner on Saturday night so will be having my usual tipple or five then but abstaining quite happily until then!

Polaroid please don't beat yourself up I am certain that your kids think you are the best mum in the world, you just have to (as you said) forgive yourself and do the best you can from now on,we have all done things we regret but time heals, we can't wind back the clock but we can AND WILL be better from here on in ((hugs))

Hope you are all ok, hurry back it is lonely on here these days!!

Bismarck

polaroid wrote: »

hi bis and eselt, morning everyone else,

more crazy dreams! but thanks for your posts, you make a lot of sense. i must admit i do feel quite proud that i have managed to do this. i always used to think that i didnt have any will power but i must have!
a lot of it is forgiving yourself. i am still wracked with guilt. i feel utterly ashamed about how i have let this thing take over me in recent years. i feel a hell of a lot of guilt over not been the best parent possible...best go getting weepy!
have a great day everyone xx

the guilt is actually a trigger so I'm afraid you've got to tough it out.

It's hard holding your hand up and saying "yup...that's what happened,,,," but it's not all over...what you're doing is making things better.....you can't re-write history but you can choose your future....that's got to be the best way of dealing with your guilt.

It was at one of the last meetings that I went to (about 4 months ago) when a wise regular said, almost in passing, "you've got to forgive yourself"...

takes practice but you're hurting too....but getting there....well done.

biscotte

Wise word Bis, we all can be very hard on ourselves for some things and yet very soft on others. i'm very soft when i award myself 'treats' because i deserve it, even when i know in my heart of hearts I don't.

Have been AF since i last posted and am feeling oK. i have to say i have had a sore throat and headache - a virus that is doing the rounds i think - so I haven't yet got that wow feeling so many of you talk about. tonght i had a small glass of wine with my dinner. the temptation s to go downstairs and have some more, sit and watch 'Brokeback Mountain' on film 4 whilst tippling and go to be disasterously late and feel carp all day tomorrow. Alternatively I could go and have a cup of tea, tidy up and get to bed at a reasonable hour.
thing is, choice is mine, no one forcing me, DH won't encourage me one way or t'other, time to make good choices but the temptation is strong.

Alcohol's a !!!!!! isn't it?

polaroid

alcohol is indeed a !!!!!!

today i feel that i have had a big breakthrough. i had some really rubbish news this afternoon, some thing that is really going to affect me. usually my first thought would be to cane a bottle of wine (or tourture myself with the thought of it since i ve been af). but for the first time today i didnt think that. it didnt really cross my mind. i took my daughter to the park and had hot chocolate and a diary milk then came home and drank water. really really strange. its like the penny has finally dropped in my head: problem + wine = problem still there in morning but with headache

thank you every one for all your posts and support. i dont really know what i would have done without this sight. you are all ace:A

eselt

time to make good choices but the temptation is strong.



Biscotte- you are doing so well, sending loads of 'good choice' vibes your way:j

Bismarck

each day, a little victory....well done..some days I still feel like "just the one" but I know it wouldn't be...I'd be barely putting the cork down and the bottle would have gone...."know your enemy" has never been so apt.

take care everyone...

eselt

polaroid wrote: »

alcohol is indeed a !!!!!!

today i feel that i have had a big breakthrough. i had some really rubbish news this afternoon, some thing that is really going to affect me. usually my first thought would be to cane a bottle of wine (or tourture myself with the thought of it since i ve been af). but for the first time today i didnt think that. it didnt really cross my mind. i took my daughter to the park and had hot chocolate and a diary milk then came home and drank water. really really strange. its like the penny has finally dropped in my head: problem + wine = problem still there in morning but with headache

thank you every one for all your posts and support. i dont really know what i would have done without this sight. you are all ace:A

Brilliant Polaroid, I don't know what it is but there is definately a 'eureka' moment for most of us when through neccessity (ie. we are in such a dreadful mess) or through choice the fear of living without alcohol seems to go-sounds like you had a lovely time with your little daughter too. Well done:T :T :T