The giving up/cutting down alcohol support thread!

Bismarck

eselt wrote: »

Hi Polaroid and BHB (don't leave it so long next time!!!- you know we all worry!!!), and everyone else.

Polaroid- never feel ashamed, you are trying to tackle this and that is the important thing-you are not ignoring the difficulties you have with alcohol, you are trying hard and making a huge effort to change, you've admitted you are not happy with your drinking- don't get despondant, it takes a lot of guts to say hands up I think I've got a problem here, but you are tackling it head on and thats a huge acheivement even if you do have a few blips on the way. Just remember you are a human, alcohol is an addictive poison that creeps up on people when they are at their most vulnerable, and can control and shape your whole life and the happiness of those around you, and it is so powerful- keep at it, even if it just feels you are making tiny inroads, you are going in the right direction and that can only be a good thing.

Hope everyone is OK tonight-Shoppy can I join the diet club? Shifting the last stone would be the icing on the cake this year- oh, except the smoking.......

well said eselt....maybe it's just a simple "I WANT TO DO THIS NOW. IT MAKES SENSE and just doing it."

No need for any guilt or remorse about not doing it or taking a while to make the change.....I'm guilty as charged for stuff in the past but I won't let that drag me down...I can only make the future better...what's done is done. Live for tomorrow....when I feel fed up about this or that not being as I'd like it, I think about my life being better today than it was yesterday.....and whe nyou look back at all the mess you've been in, it 's amazing to think you can actually come so far!

simple pleasures.....

or as eselt said...waking up with a storming cold and feeling happy that you're not hungover too!

take care everyone....

polaroid

thanks so much eselt and bis. i know i ve said this before but this site has really saved me. i came on to try and sort my money problems but i never thought I would find such an amazing support network.
i am just going to keep going and like you say, tomorrow is another day, like your signiture bis.
i ve just re-read the posts and i was wondering if jacktyler is ok, come back.

its sunny here, have a great day everyone xxx

SiannieLaz

Hope you don't mind me jumping in on this thread. I'm pretty sure I have even posted before, but due to drinking so much for so long, I've got a terrible memory. Had my last drink on Sunday, so only my 3rd day so far.
I've tried numerous times to stop over the last 20 years, my longest being about 2 months in all that time. Its been taking a toll on me physically for a while, but things have come to a head as I've started having panic attacks (mainly whilst driving), which I've been informed are caused by me withdrawing every day.
I did drink everyday, anywhere up to 8 cans of cider and even more at the weekends.
My life appears ok on the surface, but the cracks have been there for a very long time. I'm not usually late for work more than twice a week, but by thurs/fri, I'm so exhausted from the hangovers/bad sleep patterns, I often leave early as I can't face the whole day.
I'm fed up feeling like carp ALL the time. I've also stopped smoking. Maybe I shouldn't be doing both at once, but I feel like I need to make changes right now, not keep putting things off. Found a book called Rational Recovery and the stuff in there makes sense so here goes.
Feet first off the cliff and towards a place where life is better!!!:T

eselt

Welcome aboard Siannie- 3 days- well done- that means your body should be alcohol free, and the withdrawal anxiety and panic attacks should be reducing too-good luck with the next few 'danger' days.

Hi to everyone else- hope you are all OK.

alisong_2

Welcome Siannie and good luck to you. You know it will be tough at times but it's so worth it. I've reached 10 weeks AF today and still can't believe it:D . It is difficult some days stilll but much easier than before when every day(and sometimes every minute:eek: ) was a real trial so hang in there if you can.

I've had a hectic but happy week so far and am looking forward to the future with anticipation rather than dread which has got to be good:T .

Glad others are doing well, take care all,

Ali x.

SiannieLaz

Cheers for the kind words guys :T
I don't even think about drinking during the day, it's the evenings that get me the most. I've got a slightly(!!) short fuse and my OH has been driving me up the wall the past few days. He also drinks every night, but thinks it's ok as he only does it for pleasure, not cos he has too! Last night he went out with the boys and came back stinking of booze and fags. I could have murdered a beer, although I'm not sure whether I'd have drunk it or just thrown it at him! I'm sure this will get better, but as this relationship started from a mutual appreciation of alcohol (drinking partners) will it work now I'm on the wagon? Anyone else been in a similar situation?

Bismarck

SiannieLaz wrote: »

Cheers for the kind words guys :T
I don't even think about drinking during the day, it's the evenings that get me the most. I've got a slightly(!!) short fuse and my OH has been driving me up the wall the past few days. He also drinks every night, but thinks it's ok as he only does it for pleasure, not cos he has too! Last night he went out with the boys and came back stinking of booze and fags. I could have murdered a beer, although I'm not sure whether I'd have drunk it or just thrown it at him! I'm sure this will get better, but as this relationship started from a mutual appreciation of alcohol (drinking partners) will it work now I'm on the wagon? Anyone else been in a similar situation?

you can but try!

I suspect many people met for the first time after a couple of "looseners"

Worked out that my short fuse was one of the reasons I drank...to try and take the edge of it sometimes...in hindsight it was like taking the wrong medicine with bad side effects.....but it was OK because it was a very popular, socially acceptable medicine that made you feel good for a while.

eselt

Hi all- quiet on the western front this evening? Hope everyone is OK.

Siann- its always a tricky one when one half of a relationship wants to change their lifestyle so drastically. I suppose I always thought that the alcohol problem I had was my own, and of my own making and therefore only I could solve the problem, so it was unfair to ask others to change their lifestyle- I think it would have been impossible for me to live with another heavy drinker as the temptation would have been too great, but thats just me. I suppose it depends on whether you both think its a big issue or not, or whether you can quietly beaver away working hard to address the problem and accept alcohol and drink will always be around you. Its a tough call, but I wish you the best of luck with it.

Catch you all later- eselt

Bismarck

don't think I could have managed with another heavy drinker. too scared to even meet those of my past in case they try and drag me back to where I don't want to go. I'm 95% sure I'd be OK to just say no but I fear there will always be the little devil inside...

Different_Corner

Morning
Admit to falling off the wagon on Wednesday night, 3 stellas after dinner.
Back on the AF track last night, even though there was one in the fridge. Actually in my fridge I have 4 bottles of wine, guiness and lager.

Last night I honestly slept for England, not a in drunken haze.