The giving up/cutting down alcohol support thread!

Leigh73

lewt wrote: »

Hi, Quick question , what happens if you don't aviod the physical addiction ? it's a pretty big gamble aint it ? sorry if that seems obtuse, i just thought i'd ask...

Hiya lewt,

I think you may have misinterpreted what I wrote, or perhaps my grammar is a little ambiguous there sorry...

I meant that, yes I am 'psychologically addicted' but I was also saying that I think I'll stop now, rather than just leave it to fate and run the risk of becoming 'physically addicted' too!

I didn't mean, I'd just carry on regardless, and see what happened! :rotfl:

All the best,

Leigh x :beer: (they're drinking de-caff coffee, so it's allowed ;-) )

lewt

barshamhillbilly wrote: »

Going on from what Jo has said, I myself am a bit social phobic, meaning I am not comfortable in being in a croud of people especially in a meeting or group work, so the AA route is not for me. It would make me have a drink before I went. (But then I'm an unsociable old git anyway )

maybe for the first time, who's to say what'll happen after that, saying it would make you drink before you went is kinda closing a door that could in fact help you as much or more than 1 hour a week at the local drug and alcohol place. some times we need to get out of our comfort zone in order to recover/get well.

Leigh73

lewt wrote: »

Hi, Quick question , what happens if you don't aviod the physical addiction ? it's a pretty big gamble aint it ? sorry if that seems obtuse, i just thought i'd ask...

..and lewt, it's avoid, and not aviod you pedantic sod..

Just teasing! :T

lewt

Leigh73 wrote: »

Hiya lewt,

I think you may have misinterpreted what I wrote, or perhaps my grammar is a little ambiguous there sorry...

I meant that, yes I am 'psychologically addicted' but I was also saying that I think I'll stop now, rather than just leave it to fate and run the risk of becoming 'physically addicted' too!

I didn't mean, I'd just carry on regardless, and see what happened! :rotfl:

All the best,

Leigh x :beer: (they're drinking de-caff coffee, so it's allowed ;-) )

i undetstood that, however what i was saying, and please dont get upset was that the addict "illness" is a progressive one so it's not really up to fate, if you are like me in the drink then there is one place it will take you and thats physically addicted and behond. its not really a might happen situation, more a will happen. you could have a completely different sort of addiction/alcoholism to me though ( if there is one ). i know it's prob uncomfortable reading my replys i just see in your posts that your maybe leaving the back door open for one day picking up again. you know what i mean ?

lewt

Quick question Leigh, how many AA meets you go to, its concerning you think AA dont look at the reasons behind the drink... have you read the big book ?

Leigh73

In_Search_Of_Me wrote: »

Evening all! Its my pleasure starting the post and its a priveledge to be part of such a supportive group! Welcome leigh! Found this and thought it may help all:
"Definition
The essential feature of alcohol abuse is the maladaptive use of alcohol with recurrent and significant adverse consequences related to its repeated use. Alcoholism is the popular term for two disorders, alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence. The hallmarks of both these disorders involve repeated life problems that can be directly attributed to the use of alcohol. Both these disorders can have serious consequences, affecting an individual's health and personal life, as well as having an impact on society at large.
Description
The effects of alcoholism are quite far-reaching. Alcohol affects every body system, causing a wide range of health problems. Some such problems include poor nutrition, memory disorders, difficulty with balance and walking, liver disease (including cirrhosis and hepatitis), high blood pressure, muscle weakness (including the heart), heart rhythm disturbances, anemia, clotting disorders, decreased immunity to infections, gastrointestinal inflammation and irritation, acute and chronic problems with the pancreas, low blood sugar, high blood fat content, interference with reproductive fertility, and weakened bones.
On a personal level, alcoholism results in marital and other relationship difficulties, depression, unemployment, child abuse, and general family dysfunction.
Alcoholism causes or contributes to a variety of severe social problems including homelessness, murder, suicide, injury, and violent crime. Alcohol is a contributing factor in at least 50% of all deaths from motor vehicle accidents. In fact, about 100, 000 deaths occur each year due to the effects of alcohol, of which 50% are due to injuries of some sort. According to a recent special report prepared for the U.S. Congress by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the impact of alcohol on society, including violence, traffic accidents, lost work productivity, and premature death, costs our nation an estimated $185 billion annually. In addition, it is estimated that approximately one in four children (19 million children or 29 percent of children up to 17 years of age) is exposed at some time to familial alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, or both. Furthermore, it has been estimated that approximately 18 percent of adults experience an episode of alcohol abuse or dependence a some time during their lives."

Thought this may help people struggling with whether they are dependant! Leigh noone else can have your "lightbulb" moment for you and if you CAN just have one then fine but I suspet from what you have said about the impact of alcohol so far is that you may struggle with this. To be "healthy" you wil need to learn to cope with social situations, relationships etc without the drink blanket and its hard when you find meeting peope hard! Anyway, we are here for you without judgement and hope you'll stick around.
Last night I finished my red & had a glass of white - should have stopped at the red TBH but lesson learned. It will take a while to just stop I think but the more time goes on the more I realise that I enjoy it less..not quite at the stage where I want to NOT drink but being at a stage where I can just enjoy one would be great!
Great that people are sharing so mant strategies...AA will work for some and not others! My experience of it (from family member) is that it can be a life saver but it cal also be somehwre where people use group to excuse themselves almost and it can be destructive if people arent gentuinely getting better & being honest...BB your 1-1 sounds great & fab that they sound so supportive! I love acupuncture & find it very relaxing! Needles are minute so dont hurt that much IMO!! Sitting here with my ginger beer & chilling this eve. How about everyone else?

Hiya ISOM,

Thanks for the welcome, and thanks for setting this up.

I have already had my lightbulb moment however, as that's why I'm already getting professional help, and that's why I'm not drinking today :T

Many Thanks,
Take Care,

Leigh x

Leigh73

lewt wrote: »

i undetstood that, however what i was saying, and please dont get upset was that the addict "illness" is a progressive one so it's not really up to fate, if you are like me in the drink then there is one place it will take you and thats physically addicted and behond. its not really a might happen situation, more a will happen. you could have a completely different sort of addiction/alcoholism to me though ( if there is one ). i know it's prob uncomfortable reading my replys i just see in your posts that your maybe leaving the back door open for one day picking up again. you know what i mean ?

You make a very good point.

The tough part is, how the devil do you get back you confidence without the drink?!

lewt

It really depends which route you take mate, i tried and quite spectacuarly failed in all routes money and local health authroity could offer. that process took five years, and the rest.....
i went to 12 step fellowships followed what the book said, not what the people said and recovered in little over three months. i still have stuff to do daily and have learnt to live with who i am. what i did the reasons i did some of the things i did.
Some people say you cant recover from addiction/alcoholism. i say thats bollox. you can never be cured as the under laying stuff will always be there, but this can be fought and won on a daily basis. and we do recover from what, in active addiction can seem like a pretty hopeless state of mind and body.

I post what i do on here that one day just one person may avoid going to the places i did. i know i come across harsh sometimes, however i belive that the challeging i do promoats thinking and that can only be a good thing. evn if i do get slated for it at the time.

Little_Chicken

ltm07 wrote: »

I think you've hit the nail on the head there ISOM about not enjoying alcohol as time goes on. Only been drunk about 3 times since Xmas & it is great to wake up on a Sunday morning & not have a hangover! Don't really know what to do about next week. One of my mate's birthdays & would like to catch up with him & a few other friend's who will be out. I will have £40 set aside should I go out but it will be an all day session! OH says it will do me good to go out & catch up with friends but I KNOW that i will end up getting hammered!! Going to spend the next week pondering what to do. I will enjoy the day if I go out but it's the after effects!!

Sounds similar to me. I have not been going out so much recently - and getting just a tad squiffy rather than hammered. Went out this week, got totally hammered, can't remember anything, am sure I made an absolute idiot of myself. Now I'm totally depressed. I just cannot be sensible - especially when i'm out with certain people.

barshamhillbilly

nearly-there wrote: »

Positives
No manic munching ...........lost 2 lbs so far .................... must be good incentive
No blank moments !!
No sleep walking !!
No sheer exhaustion ........................ which tended to last a couple of days.
No highs and lows
More energy - had more quality times with the kids this week / more home cooking / more umphhh!
Taking makeup off at night.... well spotted FunBrum
Weekly treats: :j this week it's gonna be a face mask.

Negatives - or do I mean precautions!!
Off work this week so less stressed and less tired therefore more in control and planning with style! - need to ensure I stay that way......... gently, gently methinks. Jacks I feel sooooooooooooo like you when I get back from work.................that's my vulnerable time to.
Not out of the woods yet ......................... not by a long chalk ..................... but the path is pleasant at the moment.....................and so very glad I stumbled across this website.

Nearly-there! :T:T:T Nice observations

ISOM Very useful definition and descriptions. I am sure that will help some people realize that they DO have a problem. No the needles don't hurt really. These are all just in the ears. Funnily enough the only ones that were uncomfortable were the ones in the liver line. That says something doesn't it!

ltm07 If you are having trouble when going out with certain mates, why not offer to be the designated driver - that way you won't be able to drink! (Sorry that assumes you drive - of course). Just a thought.

Little Chicken - Avoid those people.

Hope everyone is having a dry one. 250 Hours now and feeling much much better. Can't wait for 250 days!

Best wishes
BHB