The giving up/cutting down alcohol support thread!

biscotte

morning all.

Rose, I remember reading you 'diary' about your oH and getting him to move out (at least I think it was you) IIRC you had to do a lot for him to get 'rid' of him but it sounds as if he has done a lot for himself too.
Winebox, don't feel as if you can't post - the downs are part of the ups too.

Eselt, I too wish I had become far more alcohol aware at a younger age - I thought that my relationship with alcohol was normal, what everyone felt but it's only now that I realise that most people don't feel anxiety and need around drinking.
Mollypolly, the 'just one won't harm' is really dangerous. i know from repeatedly quitting smoking and thinking just one puff won't matter. Many more people can drink 'just the one' than can smoke 'just the one' - addiction rates are quite different. However, you knw yourself well enough to know wether you can be the 'occasional drinker'. For myself, I'm really not sure that I can be and that worries and saddens me..

winebox

Lovely day again!
Huge thanks for all the feedback guys, it's really made me feel buoyed up, & will try harder not to be forever letting the side down! MP, Bis & Eselt you all seem a bit wobbly at the mo - hang on in there you're doing so great.

Biscotte I am STILL clinging to the notion that one day I will wake up as an "occasional drinker", but am starting to doubt I will be able to get there, but still can't face the total abstinence option. I suppose deep down I know I will never keep off it totally & therefore would give in & mega binge at regular intervals & therefore am better keeping on drinking regularly to demystify it. (Boy can I come up with excuses!!:rolleyes: ) Obvious problem is.....the level at which I'm demystifying .......is hitting me where it really hurts now.....my bank balance.

I always thought putting money-not-spent in a jar was naff - but when I stopped smoking it really helped. Somehow I always had a fiver for fags, but never seemed to have extra when I stopped, so to see the cash building up was a real boost. So am going to do that for the booze next week - have got my jar labelled ready!

Hope everyone has weather as good as here (though first icy windscreen this morning....)

Bismarck

not really wobbly...just a recognition of how easily I'm marketed to!

was out yesterday and remembered the story of a guy who had been dry for months and was on a solo works trip and thought he'd like a whisky in his coffee and this led to a 3 day bender where he crossed international boundaries on the basis of "it seemed like a good idea".

it's mind-blowing how dangerous this stuff really is.

Bismarck

mollypolly wrote: »

Me too Winebox...Still here...still alcohol free (but seem to be struggling more at the moment)
I am now six months into this and keep thinking...maybe just one wont hurt!!!!!!!!!
Good Luck Shoppy to giving up..its not easy but we will be here for you.
Well done to everyone else.
Hope you all get to where you want to be.
Love Mollypollyxxxx

hang in there, Molly....don't fantasise about how nice it would be to have the one....it isn't worth it.

eselt

Hope everyone is OK today- wobble has gone for me, seems to me it passes if I can just keep distracted long enough and then sleep on it, I like the feeling of acheiving another day- sometimes it seems like I can go for days without any cravings, then at other times I have to concentrate on getting through every hour...resigned to the fact that its always going to be there, I'm just going to have to live with this monkey on my back and accept that it will never leave me but it can be managed...I hope.

Nice day, my little sis has invited me over for her youngests birthday party...really pleased as two years ago she wouldn't have done this as I was such an embarrassment...I won't let her or my children down today, I feel nervous but I'm also confident...I like this 'getting your life back' stuff, I could get used to it!

Bismarck

eselt wrote: »

.I like this 'getting your life back' stuff, I could get used to it!

You should, you deserve it!

shopaholictiedtheknot

Well I have surpassed myself - drank two bottles of wine last night and missed my footing on the stairs and I have sprained my ankle :eek: AFD for me today needless to say feeling very sorry for myself at the moment:o

Hope everyone else is ok?

geoffky

hi all first time i have seen this thread..good luck...i had my last drink in nov 1999 and it was the best thing i ever did..i was a not very nice person when i had drink and it probably saved my marriage and i do not miss it one bit....

eselt

Bismarck wrote: »

You should, you deserve it!

Thanks bis, and well done on 500-you are an inspiration, you really are, and a real rock.

Shoppy, oh no!!!!:eek: Several years ago a nurse friend of mine told me that they have a doctors abbreviation in A and E called Pi**ed fell over (PFO)- and now you've actually done it!!!! Sprained my ankle once, it was bloody agony, and ten times worse when I sobered up too- took a good few weeks for all the swelling and pain to go- sending sympathy and hugs, take care.

Anyone seen Jo ? Winebox, how are you? Geoffky, you must be so proud, its peoples stories like yours which give me hope that I can get through this- I know I can because people like you and Bis and molly et. al. do, but its just so frustrating how long it takes, building up trust in yourself and other peoples trust of you I find the hardest-I let people I love down bigtime and I want to put it right now!!!!

Have a good sunday everyone- take care.

biscotte

Shoppy, OW, that must be really sore and I imagine the pain in your head matches the pain in your ankle now. Be really careful over the next few days when you are taking painkillers for your ankle not to mix them with alcohol - that really is a toxic combination.

I do feel tonight as if I would really like a drink - the associations with relaxing on a sunday evening i guess. We have none in the house though (wine I mean, we have lots of liquor but somehow that does not appeal at all -never been one for spirits unless already half p****d!)