The giving up/cutting down alcohol support thread!

Pippilongstocking

will read through stuff in a mo, x

Bismarck

jo1972 wrote: »

What did you say to her Bis? I am a bit cruel and would've said no thanks, I'm an alcoholic. I know it's not her fault she's stood there trying to push booze but this sort of marketing really riles me :mad:

Thanks for the heads up thou bis, I shall be extra vigiliant when shopping now around this time of year!

Day 1 under my belt which wasn't too bad as I wasn't feeling too well anyway, mustn't let complacency hit, I know that when I'm feeling better either today or tomorrow the cravings will strike :eek:

xxx

didn't speak just pulled right away and gave it a wide berth. Not sure that I could have said anything that was in proportion.

did look at the bottles today it was port...the other day it had been Baileys)...and thought hmmm...exactly how long WOULD a bottle last.....I'd have been back tomorrow......

But that's irrelevant...of all the things I've finally absorbed in all this, I know that knowing yourself is so important...the old saying used to be "know your enemy"...now I know it's more know yourself...even if it means sometimes having a silent conversation while the side of reason wins....just so you all know...I was tempted but from their point of view that was the point. From mine it was unnecessary and unwelcome...as a hating spending, loving consuming type of person, walking away from free stuff was hard!!

How are we all today....?

take care.

Bis

Bismarck

graemecarter wrote: »

I have been going to AA for over 14 months now, and have not had a drink since my first meeting.

~I went 3 days after my last drink and for about the first 2 to 3 months at a rate of about one a week

I know people say that they are not religious, and cannot abide by this surrender control to god/a higher power.
I can understand that - for my first few months I felt like that all the time.

I didn't get a lot of the formal bits...the important bit to me was that I was taking myslef away from domestic life to fix things and I was able to listen to others and get my head round the issue on my own terms. There were many times when you'd be daydreaming and then someone woud say something that just summed it up and you'd feel like getting up and blurting "yeah! me too!" It was also intersting to see people I recognised from my past life at the meetings....it dawned on me that I was far from the only one who had done this...and if my friends could do this why couldn't I?

However, the higher power can be anything of your understanding. Many people make it the other people in the group. So when they ask for strength from their higher powers, or advice, they are seeking out the wisdom of many.
Higher power just means 'something that isn't me' and can mean a tree, god, or a group of fellow alcoholics.

I made it my life, my family, my future....it put everything in perspective and helped me treat the problem seriously

I have found that most people in AA are very much in control of their feelings, emotions, and ultimately their lives.
You come to understand what you as an individual are not in control of, be it the weather, the stock market, or your boss at work. When you give those things over to the higher power, then your life gets easier.
For example, why worry about the stock market, for there is nothing you can do to change it? Why get stressed if your colleague is a back-stabbing cow? You cannot change that person. You can change your reaction to these events however.
It means you accept things out of your control, and get control of the things you can. This makes life far easier.

People in AA still have crap days, but they don't drink on them. And they know that crap days usually pass, and things get better.

AS I remember, one guy said ...it still rains outside whether I drink or not.

If you get support from this forum, you will probably get support from AA too. Don't dismiss it without understanding it.

It has helped millions of people.

And I'm one of them - although I've not been for about 6 months now and the one before that was about 6 months too...if I'd not got my family I'd go much more often...because I'd need to(despite how they exasperate me sometimes!).

graeme...as I said yesterday...it's not everyone's cup of tea BUT it's a huge step in the right direction and helped clear my head enormously.

I'm really pleased it's working for you.

jo1972

Obviously all went wrong last night, I just did not allow myself to fight the temptation.

I think I need to buy another copy of John Coats' book 'No Big Deal' which I found immensly inspiring, it outlines the AA steps and helps you learn to justify what's what in your head. It didn't work for me when I read it although I found it an amazing book, but I don't think I was ready then....this is a couple of years later and I think I'm ready. I need to have a couple of weeks AF before xmas comes cos that's gonna be hard!

shopaholictiedtheknot

Jo - ((hugs)) keep on trying you will get there in the end (as will we all hopefully:rolleyes: )

AFD three for me today but am notorious for having a mid-week lapse so will no doubt succumb to a drop or five later - still as long as I keep on having some AFD's each week I am happy as it is a major achievement for me!

My exercise plan is still going well, actually am enjoying it for the first time ever - thanks to Angela Griffin and Claire Sweeney!!

On a MS (but definitely not AF) note, I have been sent a 40% off voucher for Wine Rack/Thresher which is valid till 2nd December - TOOOO TEMPTING:eek:

115K

I started Sunday so 2 AFD's and then definitely not an AFD last night, one whole bottle of wine and a couple of vodkas and tomato juice (which I did not need!) but at least I went up to bed even though the duvet on the sofa was very hard to leave.:o

I find this thread very helpful as well. I think I know myself quite well and I know that I cannot drink many days in a row as it makes me depressed but I think I am doing better than I used to. I find it too difficult to abstain completely as it makes my mind focus on alcohol so much. I assume that is a bad sign. I have given up for months at a time but I don't want a completely alcohol free life. At the moment I am trying to restrict myself and have a few AFDs each week and I'm hoping that will be okay. There is a part of me that feels I'm kidding myself though.

On a lighter note, the glass recycling guys forgot my box last week and so there are lots of bottles in it and it will only be worse by next week. I wonder if the neighbours talk about me.:p

I hope that everyone is okay.:)

graemecarter

jo1972 wrote: »

Obviously all went wrong last night, I just did not allow myself to fight the temptation.

I think I need to buy another copy of John Coats' book 'No Big Deal' which I found immensly inspiring, it outlines the AA steps and helps you learn to justify what's what in your head. It didn't work for me when I read it although I found it an amazing book, but I don't think I was ready then....this is a couple of years later and I think I'm ready. I need to have a couple of weeks AF before xmas comes cos that's gonna be hard!

Well done for getting back on the wagon so quickly again.

Somehow (don't ask me how) you need to get to a place where there is NO temptation, and so you don't feel like a drink.
Having an obsession is horrid when there is nothing you can do about it.All the best

jo1972

graemecarter wrote: »

Well done for getting back on the wagon so quickly again.

Somehow (don't ask me how) you need to get to a place where there is NO temptation, and so you don't feel like a drink.
Having an obsession is horrid when there is nothing you can do about it.All the best

I agree, being a dry drunk is the worst drunk to be, might as well drink and not have the misery!

Wanna_Bee_Free

I managed a second AFD yesterday and I'm definitely planning on today taking me up to number 3. I didn't miss the booze yesterday but I really am today. Feeling pathetic, sorry for myself and listless. Sure it will pass. Actually I'm not but was feeling guilty for sounding negative! All this healthy living must be an improvement but right now I can't stop thinking about getting a bottle of wine, some crackers and cheese with loads of butter on and then scoffing the lot. Will be trying to distract myself. A fortnight seems like it's going to be a long time! Not sure whether dieting at the same time is making it easier or harder.

Hope everyone else is having a good day today.

115K

I hope you resisted temptation Wanna Bee Free. I am finding sticking to healthy eating very difficult, I think it is the cold weather also, it makes me want to stuff my face with chocolate, crisps and chip sandwiches!

Not an AFD day for me, my brother in law just dropped over and we had a pint of cider each, I'm not doing very well am I, this thread is making me see that. Why do people keep coming round and bringing me food and booze, it's unfair.:rolleyes:

I read that having an addiction is constantly telling yourself that something is more powerful than you.