The giving up/cutting down alcohol support thread!

Wanna_Bee_Free

Managed to resist temptation so far! Know what you mean about food in cold weather!

At least nobody's given me cider, think that would be sooo tempting.Well done for having 1 pint, that's an achievement in itself. Maybe everyone you know will run out of generosity and become scrooges soon! I was surprised how many wines friends are happy to buy, as was taking less cash as skint and to drink less.

Funny how this thread makes you much more aware of the day to day drinking tempations. It's only been by counting AFDs that I've realised I was drifting from week to week with none of them. Think that is the biggest thing it's doing to help me at the mo, making me think about it.

Pippilongstocking

hiya
feel exhausted and drained and also bit oddly proud - quiz at my local college (the intercollege final) and 7 bottles wine on the table - wrestled with brain all through the quiz - managed to drink enough fizzy water to sink a ship. Just kept saying yup you can't just have one..WBF I know what you mean - thnking about things is so helpful and making me very aware about afd's

Will read thread and catch up. Coffee and toast when I got home, now trying to do a bit work before bed.

hope everyone is good - xx

mollypolly

WELL DONE FAY.
Wine on the table and you drank water.!!!!:T :T :T

Bismarck

fayjmck wrote: »

hiya
feel exhausted and drained and also bit oddly proud - quiz at my local college (the intercollege final) and 7 bottles wine on the table - wrestled with brain all through the quiz - managed to drink enough fizzy water to sink a ship. Just kept saying yup you can't just have one..WBF I know what you mean - thnking about things is so helpful and making me very aware about afd's

Will read thread and catch up. Coffee and toast when I got home, now trying to do a bit work before bed.

hope everyone is good - xx

well done indeed...wouldn't have fancied that challenge myself..as for thinking about what you're doing - it's unfortunate that a lot of problem drinking can occur just because you were "relaxed" and switched off...a real skill I'm still learning is to relax without the kick....

eselt

Hi all- just checking in- lots of AFD's at the moment, well done Fay, nothing like facing your fear and winning.

I have been thinking about all the anxiety about facing christmas, and I know the temptation is nearly impossible at this time- but fronting it last year I realised the world doesnt stop if I don't drink-yeah, I'm quieter, less of a performing clown, people are a bit disappointed because I'm not the alcohol fuelled centre of attention anymore, but actually thats a good thing, I can just live my life in reality and not worry about other people- after all the sort of people who try to ply you with drink when they know you are struggling can't care that much about you really- but you can care about yourself and respect yourself and think that you are worth saving, and you can make a contribution without being a drunk, and thats what motivates me- and we all need to get a grip on what motivates us to make these changes, otherwise its hard to keep it up.

Keep going everyone, you are all doing brilliantly- like Bis says constant vigilance!!!

biscotte

Fay, well done , that was a really big achievement - I hope you are proud of yoursefl.

Eselt - love that last post, so true for me too. I sometimes feel I would lose my personality if I weren't out drinking and laughing on a night out, but my sober personality is just as nice really if I would only stop to appreciate it. At the moment other people's opinions seem to be very important to me and much as I don't want them to know the lushy party girl (I've recently moved to a new place and am getting to know people) I also don't want to be a misery mouse. I really have to work on my inner self too (if that doesn't sound too new agey).

Have a good day

Pippilongstocking

Hi all
I know I should feel proud, I feel more annoyed than anything - why can't I just have a couple.

Has been very helpful to have all the wee voices from here in my head tellingn me it won't jsut be the one drink. Last quiz a couple months ago we sank a bottle of wine each, then went to the pub, then I went home and finished off another half bottle myself.

No feeling ashamed today, just bizarrely cross at life and I am not really sure why. Yeah understand the posts above about being life and soul of the party - I was a wee shy mouse last night, they did that classic guess your star sign and no one would believe I was my sign cos they said oh but you're so quiet etc. - seemingly I keep myself very well hidden. But then again, when you do drink a fair bit, alot of that part of you is pretty hidden as well.

Hope everyone good today. x

Oh yeah and guess what the prize is for winning - a case of wine between us - great.

Bismarck

fayjmck wrote: »

I know I should feel proud, I feel more annoyed than anything - why can't I just have a couple.

the one or two drinks feed the little demon in your head and give him power...once that happens, where you'll end up is a far more risky proposition.

If I had to, I could imagine the first drink and I'm sure I would feel utterly fantastic for a few seconds and would no doubt have the thought "cor, this is great, life's wonderful with a beer etc...." but I'd also feel guilty as hell at the same time that I'd made everything less certain just through that one action....and stopping for the rest of the day would be so much harder once I'd fed the demon. I could probably do it BUT the effort of stopping after one would make the first one unenjoyable....

That's my best analysis of the dilemma...nd each day that demon inside goes without, he diminishes a little bit more.

take care everyone

graemecarter

Bismarck wrote: »

the one or two drinks feed the little demon in your head and give him power...once that happens, where you'll end up is a far more risky proposition.

If I had to, I could imagine the first drink and I'm sure I would feel utterly fantastic for a few seconds and would no doubt have the thought "cor, this is great, life's wonderful with a beer etc...." but I'd also feel guilty as hell at the same time that I'd made everything less certain just through that one action....and stopping for the rest of the day would be so much harder once I'd fed the demon. I could probably do it BUT the effort of stopping after one would make the first one unenjoyable....

That's my best analysis of the dilemma...nd each day that demon inside goes without, he diminishes a little bit more.

take care everyone

Good advice. However, I feel that alcohol reveals the demon, but does not create the demon.
One drink is too many, and one thousand is not enough
Just stay away from that first drink and you won't get drunk
Sounds obvious, but a very true mantra

eselt

Hi all

Not sure about the cause and effect of the 'demon' within- I just know it lives inside me and even if I never get to the bottom of why it lives inside me, I need to manage it- every day, constantly- I need to plan with military precision ways of not letting it emerge or have any power or control- it doesn't deserve it, I hate it, it nearly killed me once and I pretty much lost everything I love and hold dear- why the hell would I feed it anymore? It doesn't make any sense, but when you're 'in it' you dont think rationally like that- theres a paradox around alcohol that I don't think I will ever be able to rationalise, I just hope I will one day.

Keep going everyone- I know I sound like a broken record, but you can do this, you will get through.