The giving up/cutting down alcohol support thread!

Different_Corner

Sianne
Don't beat yourself up, that was yesterday. Can't change it. At least you are being honest with yourself and you know the signs.
At least OH is still there if you are expecting a lecture tonight

Have you watched channel 4's the family ? In one episode the Mum and Dad were putting awat a bottle of red between them (think it was the valentine episode) and they decided to bicker with the eldest daughter. I so saw myself there, picking a silly arguement with someone I love for no other reason than alcohol.

shopaholictiedtheknot

Sianne - been there done that much to my disgust with myself - I am sure your OH will forgive you ((hugs))

JO - glad you are back (well sort of you know what I mean) you can pick yourself up and start again (as I am AGAIN!) don't worry you will be fine ((hugs))

wannabefree - welcome to the thread:D

Differentcorner I must watch that programme what night is it on?

Polaroid :hello:

biscotte

Hi everyone.

Goodness, it's been a bloody weekend in the battle between the brave MSE-ers and the evil booze, hasn't it.
So long as we are all bloody but unbowed and will rise again with renewed strength to see another AF day (sounds like bad shakespeare)

Very interested about everyone's feeling depressed with booze - I wonder if it's one of the causes of my bouts of 'depression' (not really bad but still a black puppy if not a full grown dog).

German lesson tonight - normally a good incentive to stay sober (even if the disire for oblivion is high!)

biscotte

BtW, welcome to the thread Wanna bee free

eselt

Hi all- nice to see you back Jo, please don't ever think you can't come on here for some support- remember we've got a wagonload of it and its yours if you need it.

Welcome wannabeefree-great news that you have decided to tackle this.

Shoppy- hope you are not in too much pain today, sending more hugs, but I think some decent painkillers would be better!

Well, its the start of another week, can't wait to see what this week brings-although I don't like surprises, not even nice ones, I know if I stay on track this week can be a good one- and I never used to have too many of those a couple of years ago.

Felt really sad and had to bite my tongue down my local pub last night- popped out for a fag and got talking to some young people who were all bragging about how much they had drunk this weekend. They were all fit, healthy and happy- they asked me why I was drinking coke and I just said I don't drink, and they all looked at me as if I was mad- they were drinking 4 pint jugs of beer, and wine- I had a think and decided not to say anything much about drinking, but in my head I was screaming 'you don't know where this might lead, you could be at the start of a dangerous and life destroying habit' but I just kept quiet, it was so hard to do as I wanted to tell them why I don't drink anymore, but its such a long story and I'm sick of it, and I don't think they would have believed they could be vulnerable anyway, you don't when your young- if only we could have hindsight without having to go through the events that lead to it eh?

Pippilongstocking

Delurking - I love it!!

time for me to delurk as well then, I read this and often wonder where you all get your strength from.

I have just had a pal up for a week, having been really good lately (i might even have not drunk on a couple of days the week before - which is good for me)

Having not drunk for two or three days, she turned up armed with wine, which I did dread a wee bit, then did the oh one glass wont hurt.

Found myself drinking a bit of the bottle she bought (she drank the rest) and the bottle I got in cos she was coming, and half of the bottle of wine that was my brothers in the fridge. Day 1 - lol its been like that all week. After 6 days I think my average has been at least a bottle and a bit a night - am terrible if there is anything in the house I tend to drink it - or drink alot of it.

So I have been sabotaging myself by not having any alcohol in, I don't go out much cos of kids and find myself waiting til late and they are settled and I start drinking tonnes if its here.

Stress starts me off, having a laugh starts me off, work related things start me off - if theres an A in the weekday it starts me off it seems.

Why is this? I dont understand it at all. Yesterday my pal left, so I finished the glass of wine that was in the fridge, and the can of gin and tonic and then battled with self to not go out and get some more.

So today woke up relatively positive ish - and am hoping to try and have a few AF days, to be honest it seems once I have one drink I have ten.

How do you all do it, not being glib, my father was an alcoholic, its scary, he died when he was 53 - be nice to think I might be able to never drink again or just have one drink but - there's always something, for instance I have my close pal coming up for my sons bday at end of month, it will be awash with gin and wine, how do i say no or keep strong??? I do sound very feeble.

Sorry - major brain dump, I am not being very productive and suddenly seeing oh maybe its really this, I get myself into such pickles with my partner etc that I think maybe its really more to do with drinking or anything else - how do I keep strong??

This past week have phoned my partner really late about stupid stuff and ended up arguing - then I feel terrible in the mornnigs and very stupid.

Why can't I seem to just drink just a drink or two - its a mystery to me

Much love sorry for the delurk brain dump

mollypolly

YeeeeeeeeeeeeeeHaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
I'm back.
Just got through my very first 'alcohol free holiday' and feel absolutely brilliant.
Last week I was really worried..kept thinking..maybe just one on holiday wont hurt..even though I knew it wouldnt be just the one.
Anyway, been away with DH,DD2 and her OH who all like to drink and DD2 also abstained (I think for my benefit)as she can take it or leave it.She is so proud of my giving up and said so at every opportunity.She now tells all and sundry that her mum is teetotal...:rolleyes:
How could I possibly let her down.It also helped knowing you were all on here for me to come back to.
Welcome to the new peeps and Jo..its so good to know you are ok.
Well done to everyone else trying/cutting down/giving up.Hope you all get to where you want to be.
Well Done Bismarck...500 days ....you are my hero!!!!!!!!!!!:cool:
Love Mollypollyxxxx:happylove

eselt

Hi all- Molly welcome back...you are one fantastic women...you are brill...no wander your family all came out and supported you. I agree with you...Bis is the business..if he'd been my alcohol worker I might have got where I want to be far quicker.

Hope everyone is OK tonight- am going back to GP tomorrow for some more campral...I can just feel the cravings starting to niggle and I want to nip them in the bud quick... I am loving this sober life, and so are my kids, I will just grab anything that will help keep me on track....I want this so much

Bismarck

Morning all!

Bright and early...so much has happened since I last posted.

Back to basics:

"God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference. "

The physical part is relatively easy. You just stop and take control of what you consume. It's the rebuilding your life afterwards that's hard. That takes real effort.

But it is definitely worth it. I look back at random behaviour and the number of rows we had for no particular reason, the little things that used to really wind me up and the unimportant things that I panicked about because I couldn't sort it right now.

It really is a half-life and if someone said you must take a pill that does this to you every day, you'd object.

The depressive aspects are alarming and unfortunately, so deeply ingrained in so many people that if you try and explain they just don't understand- or want to understand because to not drink is so life-changing in many ways.

I will always try to avoid telling others to not drink - that choice and decision needs to be arrived at by the individual. I spent so long avoiding "are you drinking too much?" questionnaires because I knew I was. I wanted to stop most days but couldn't break the cycle and that made me annoyed and I suppose, depressed, so I drank....

I don't feel any resentment towards those that do drink. That's their choice - their money, their body, their life expectancy - in the end, no one forces you to drink the stuff...it's all down to you and what you want to do with the rest of your life.

Take care.

mollypolly

Good Morning everyone
Hope you are all ok.

Eselt..Good luck at the doctors today...I agree that we should use every means possible to stay sober..it feels so good...like you are living a different life in a different body.
Bismarck..Spot on as always.When I think back to the rows/the anger etc I used to feel I cant believe it was me.
As for telling other people not to drink...I am waiting for the day my DH decides to stop..but I know he wont do so until HE is ready.But it is so much easier for me to diffuse arguements these sober days when he starts talking carp under the influence.:rolleyes:
Hope you all have a lovely day
Love Mollypollyxxxx:happylove