The giving up/cutting down alcohol support thread!

jacktyler

i dunno guys.

it's desperation that's forced me to post.

i'm "pants" scared, and i'm wanting to join, and failing with every word i say.

i'm totally isolated in my drink,

but i want to get out of it.

i can't afford to keep it up much longer.

i'm afraid it's gonna kill me.

jacktyler

i know there's something wrong in my head. i know it's pretty fundamental.

i'm too scared, that's the whole problem.

i'm frieghtened, quite frankly.

i'm terrified.

and worst of all,

I'M EXPOSED.

jo1972

jacktyler wrote: »

i'm totally isolated in my drink

Hiya Jack,

On this thread, do not think of yourself as isolated. It definately feels like that when you've had a drink and alcoholism brings with it very isolated traits.

We have/are in the same boat at one time or another and understand how frustrated you must feel.

I know from my experience, that one glitch (ie your Friday night), feels like it's been wrecked forever and there is no way that you can get that 6 months good work back. But think about it from the outside view, it was only a couple of days, look how you feel today, probably hungover, self-esteem back down to zero, confidence gone, unhappy, frightened - (and that is what I can see just from your last 3 posts!).

We all slip up from time to time, you can't beat yourself up. We are human and we forget after a long abstinence why we've given up and it's not till we go down that path again that we remember. But once you're in that 'zone' it's hard to imagine ever getting out of it again.

Be strong, good luck with your support worker, take their advice because they 'do' know best, get back on the antabuse to give yourself some support whilst you're still ina paniky place about not drinking.

Come on here and vent as much as you like, we will all be around as much as possible to read and listen.

Take care

eselt

Hi All

Jack- good luck with the alcohol worker, you can get through this, and many of us have been in very similar shoes. No-one judges on here-just keep posting. Well done for the 6 months sobriety- brilliant.

Hope everyone is OK today- Eselt

beachbeth

Thats what I like about this thread - no one judges anyone. You won't get kicked out if you say you gave in and had a drink. We've all been there.

I think you need a pat on the back, Polaroid. Its one thing to abstain but I don't think I could start on a bottle and then tip the rest down the sink. Im not strong enough! Think of this as positive - glass half full rather than empty etc. Drink is very addictive and its hard to stop. I myself have cut down a lot rather than stopping altogether. However, I haven't been on here for a while because Ive just been away on holiday and have got into a habit of drinking again. Im also feeling a bit low today and a nice glass of red is stopping me from crying.

Enough about my problems. Big pat on the back for everyone who has managed to say no to drink and don't beat yourself up if you falter everyone else.

eselt

Welcome back Beachbeth- you are absolutely right about judging others, it serves no purpose as in my experience people with a drink problem are the harshest judges of themselves and their behaviour anyway. I think thats why I never got on with the group meeting stuff because abstaining and being completely sober were part of the 'rules' of being able to attend, and for me it wasn't as black and white as all that at the beginning- I only managed to get sober by reducing then abstaining for a day a week, then 2 days etc so it was a long process and I could have done with attending some support groups then, but couldn't as I wasn't abstaining 100%.

Jack how was your day? Please don't isolate yourself, you had a blip, you're human, dust yourself off and forgive yourself and think about rejoining the wagon- theres plenty of room and lots of helping hands to haul you back up if you do fall off.

Polaroid- well done for chucking the wine down the sink- don't think I could do that if I'd already started the bottle. Brilliant.

Good luck this evening everyone- eselt

Lilith1980

Hi,

I wanted to post on here but I feel really ashamed. Me and hubby don't have problems with alcohol as such, we go out on average twice a week but its what we spend that has shamed me

But I've just been jotting down where we could do with cutting back on spending and I have figured out that on average we jointly spend about £600 a month on drink - that is ridiculous! Its money for nothing.

I wouldnt mind us to keep going out the same amount but just limiting what we spend. Me and hubby have talked about this before and said we need to cut down, but its not happened. I'm a bit worried about talking to him though as I dont want to seem like a nag. I've really gotten a bee in my bonnet recently about reducing our debt. We could use some of this money to do that each month.

eselt

Welcome lilith- good on you that you're reflecting on all the money that could be saved by reducing alcohol- when you tot it up it is scary. What I would warn against is thinking that 'drinking in' as opposed to going out to drink is a solution- you might end up saving money but drinking a whole lot more...

Hope everyone is OK tonight- bit quiet? Hope no news is good news?!

alisong_2

Hi all, how's things?

Eselt, interesting to read your post about how you got sober, I was very much the same, reducing then increasing the number of dry days gradually. I don't think I could have done the sober in 2-3 weeks thing some places seem to suggest because although I might (very big might, massive, in fact:eek: !)have been physically dry I don't think the psychological stuff would have been in place that way.

Jack, give yourself a break if you can, you've done brilliantly well so take the help that's offered and hopefully you'll be back on track with a bit more knowledge about what you're facing very soon. Again, those posts were resonating with me, many of us seem to feel the same things about being frightened and alone but for some reason we think we're the only ones..

Do you mind me saying I've done 60 days now:T ?! If it's any help to others I can say that the first few weeks were really tough but it has been a little easier of late. So, hang in there!!

Don't get me wrong, I've know I've still got the issue to deal with and sometimes I can feel it lurking a lot closer than others and I know there'll be trouble ahead but I'm so grateful to be where I am now. The help from people on this thread, particularly, those evening posters/night owls like myself has helped me through quite a few sticky patches. I've posted a couple of times that I've been struggling and people have helped me out so..... thanks:A .

Take care all,
Ali x.

mollypolly

Hi.Just had ++++ day and even +++++++++ night at work.Really want to drink tonight and DH whisky is calling from the cupboard!!!!!
Hitting these keys very hard at the moment......
Why is it we feel the need for a drink when stressed.....It wont do any good...and how bad will I feel in the morning????