The giving up/cutting down alcohol support thread!

winebox

Enough's enough. If I can't get through today AF I am going to go & see my GP, something I never thought I'd have to contemplate.

Every Wed OH & I have a pub lunch as I don't work that day & I tried yesterday to not drink, said I would drive, but then he picked me up & as we won't be doing it for the next 2 wks due to half-term I caved. And had more at home. One teeny weeny step in the right direction last night....sat contemplating empty glass for a long time, there was an unopened bottle of red on the radiator, & for once instead of opening it on autopilot I thought long & hard about how much I'd already had, about how I would feel this morning if I had any more, & put it away again. Phew. I also considered the fact that there would be an opened bottle there today saying "finish me"....but there isn't.

I was due to meet an old friend "for a beer" at lunchtime today but I have cancelled (postponed :rolleyes: ).

Now is the best chance I'm gonna have for ages to get serious cutting down underway.....due to half-term....no Monday dinner & Wed lunch (both with a glass, which leads on to....) with OH for 2 weeks, & have to collect DD on way home from work so no "lull" when I get home to open a bottle.......

Give me strength!

Pippilongstocking

Hi Guys
Just as I think ha!! to the beast someone comes to the door - drops off two bottles wine for cat sitting and some apples - its a joke, I don't buy the stuff and so folk deliver it to the door (god I am such a baby - no one makes me open the bottle) - did I drink some yeah - did I open the second bottle - yup - think I had a moment then and thought - oh come on, you will feel rubbish today (and I do) and you certainly dont need anymore - one bottle of red down the sink.

I guess I underperform - but thus far I think they all reckon I am just a bit ditzy - go me - what an idiot. Am stressed by the lack of work I acheive and therefore it just carries on.

Asked for some help via the community project here, got an email response and a link to a website - had a look but its all gobbly gook, I kinda want to speak to folk about it (thank you here) but also we live in a small community - the nurse responsible for this is someone I just gave freecycle stuff too - had a lovely chat on the door step. Gawd. Scared to go to doctor as I have been off and on in bad custody battle with husband and dont feel as if I want to acknowledge on record I have a problem - no idea what to do.. Money in jar is good motive, well it was until two bottles were delivered free of charge last night. Tipped out the red after being stupid enough to drink the white - cos like Winebox said it would sit there, needing finished today.

So 2 AF days this week so far - not great eh? Pub quiz tonight, need to just have coke -

Originally Posted by eselt
Its a vicious circle though, being hungover means you underperform at work, which makes you panic and anxious, you have trouble sleeping so you drink more.........

This is so true of me, I panic, I can't switch off and then its a vicous circle.

shopaholictiedtheknot

hanging my head today, had a bottle and a half last night why oh why????

Aiming for AFD today wish me luck!!

Winebox I am hearing you re: half term, lets do this!!

115K

winebox wrote: »

One teeny weeny step in the right direction last night....sat contemplating empty glass for a long time, there was an unopened bottle of red on the radiator, & for once instead of opening it on autopilot I thought long & hard about how much I'd already had, about how I would feel this morning if I had any more, & put it away again. Phew. I also considered the fact that there would be an opened bottle there today saying "finish me"....but there isn't.

That is good progress that you are thinking about it first rather than just drinking and then regretting it the next day, it shows something is changing in your mindset.:T

Good luck on your AFD Shopaholic.

winebox

Fay - I know what you mean re small community, but if I am still failing after half-term I'm going to do it, for two reasons....(1) I'm not ashamed of it as such, more scared that I can't control it (2) I'd be more ashamed to be caught out p!ssed on my own - it's all a secret till someone comes to the door unexpectedly or rings & you're sloshed...than it getting out I was seeking help. Quite a while ago now (4 yrs or so) I'd had an awful awful morning in work, went home & downed a bottle of wine & smoked 15 fags in about an hour.......then went to meet the school bus. My neighbour still tells people about it & we have a laugh but....if it happened again.....

Good luck for tonight - a pub quiz is, er, challenging.

Shoppy - one day at a time - nothing today, deal??

I'm gonna put that £7 in my jar tonight - have even made sure I've got the change (the most stoopid little things put me off at the beginning).

jo1972

Things are going downhill fast here, feel I'm losing motivation to do anything

I'm very disappointed in myself..

I hope you can all make today the day and are on AFD 2 tomorrow

shopaholictiedtheknot

Winebox - promise

Jo - chin up chick and try your best to be optimistic - I thought of a plus for you - it is half term next week :T

eselt

Hi All- winebox, shoppy, fay and jo-best of luck with AF today- you can do it, you really really can. Know what you mean too about small communities- but actually have you thought that every knows anyway? People gossip in the pub and shop and talk about everyone else's business all the time, but let em I say, hold your head up and congratulate yourself that you are solving this problem. Everyone knew I was seeing the alcohol counsellor at the surgery, everyone in the shop knew how much booze I bought, everyone in the pub saw me getting sloshed, all my friends had been having conversations about how worried they were about me, people in the chemist saw me picking up antabuse/campral/librium prescriptions-and all the time I thought I had kept it so well hidden- even now complete strangers come up to me and say 'you're looking better, well done for sorting yourself out'- on the whole people have been really positive and congratulate me. So I suppose my point is everyone already knows about your drinking so please don't let it stop you tackling this.

Best of luck everyone, specially Jo.

Pippilongstocking

Oddly enough I don't actually much like drinking in public, I always feel very paranoid and the control freak in me, doesnt like it much. Generally it ends very badly - very late and I spend the next week feeling humilated at my behaviour and paranoid about what on earth I have said to people. The situations I have got myself in are pretty stupid.

What are all these meds, etc that you are all talkng about, do they help very much? Funny I wont take tablets incase I get addicted - money for today is still in jar, I will take the car and I will take only enough money for a coke - the others are a couple so they can see to themselves - last week though I had 3 pints and then polished off some wine when I came home - what an idiot!!

Goodluck to you all - maybe I should visit my doc, have a conference with work to go to soon, big hotel, huge bash big meal, I just can't face it - lots of socailising with folk I hardly know a free bar and 5 days away from home, in faceless hotels either end of the conference - too much of a temptation.

Hope to report in later with a clear head - told myself my jar money is my money - I dont spend anything on myself at all (unless you count the wine) so hoping if I think hey I can buy something just for me, no matter how ridiculus then it might motivate me more, put in 5.99 this morning - so thus far I have 3 bottles of wine saved. Its sitting on my desk looking at me, willing me well. If I only had the faith it does......

Thanks for all the listening and the replies.

Pippilongstocking

Jo I hope you feel better xx If its any consolation I spend most of my life feeling like I am a failure, disappointed in myself and worthless - enough folk tell you - you start to beleive.

Hope you feel more up later x