The giving up/cutting down alcohol support thread!

Seaxwyn

Well done !!!!!

jo1972

Sea78 wrote: »

Hey all

Feeling so proud of myself - went out last night and didn't drink, remember everything and had a top night!!! Just very tired as sat gassing with friend til about 5.30am!

Sea xxx

OMG that's really good!

I've not been quite so good, felt so carp all day that I ended up succumbing to a hair of the dog at 7pm. I do feel better though :undecided

Day 1 will start tomorrow I promise!

Wol2

Hi Everyone

It's so nice to see so many people on this thread....and thanks ISOM/Sea78 for starting it...it has provided a real focus and turning point for me and I hope for others judging by the contents of the posts.

Have just spent the last 15 minutes writing a post responding to several of the posters on here and have lost it:mad: so will now do abbreviated version for tonight and post a longer one tomorrow.

Friday after I posted did not go well I'm afraid...I finished the bottle that night :mad: . I stayed up too late...should have gone to bed earlier.

However Saturday...no vino...just a small cointreau/decaff coffee :j
Next time..hot chocolate instead!!


Tally for last week then is
2 days where I drank a whole bottle in one sitting
2 days where I drank half a bottle each evening
3 days vino-free...(apart from the one cointreau coffee)

Compared to 5 bottles the week before over 6 days!! So Im feeling pretty chuffed this week...and have started to recognise some of the things that "ping" my habit. Now have to take steps to reduce my exposure to those "pings".

Tonight....(first day of new week) ....well I was on the first (but now second since I lost the post) glass of wine..but this will be my last as going to bed soon. I have a 3 day course lined up for end of the week which is meant to be residential but I have elected to drive home each night after dinner rather than stay over...(need to feed my piggies!!) ... which means I won't have anything to drink for wed and thurs. So looking to take it easy over the next few days.....

So whatever method you have elected to use...good luck all of you for the coming week.

Chuffed and Sober hugs
Wol2
xxx

Wol2

Sea78 wrote: »

Hey all

Feeling so proud of myself - went out last night and didn't drink, remember everything and had a top night!!! Just very tired as sat gassing with friend til about 5.30am!

Sea xxx

Have to say...well done Sea!! Fantastic effort :j

Hugs
Wol2
xx

mollypolly

Hello everyone.I have just found this thread and have also just finished my last drink EVER, after reading a little book by Allen carr called 'No More Hangovers' bought from WH Smiths for £4.99.
My husband read his 'Easy way to give up Smoking' and gave up after 40 years as a heavy smoker.My daughter also gave up, so when I saw this book I thought I would have a read as I drink every day.
It makes a lot of sense to me so after just finishing my Mothers day bottle ,as of now, I am a non drinker.
When anyone offers me a drink my reply will be 'No thanks, I dont drink when I'm sober.'
Really hope this works.Wish me luck., as could do with saving the money as well as my health.
Sorry for the ramble.Good luck everbody.

Sue-UU

All the very best HC! If you're border line then don't cross over, pull back instead!

I wish you luck at getting the very best of health, soon.

Brilliant news Sea!!!!

All the very best Mollypolly keep going with those words!

Best wishes to everyone.

Sue

Superheavy

Hey HC,

I've often thought that I was in the same boat as you, and have considered myself borderline for a few years now, but haven't managed to abstain for more than a few months since before I started drinking in my late teens.

Even reducing the amount you drink makes big differences to the way you feel, not only the things like not having a hangover, but less tangible things like better stamina and less headaches (caused for me certainly by frequent dehydration following drinking). And long term cutting down is good too!

FrugalJo

Morning
Today is day one after having poured a lot of alcohol down my throat on Mother's Day, sat gassing with my Mum while DH and children cooked a very pleasant meal.

Looking forward to this

spring_watch_girl

Well, I have gone the whole week without touching a drop but I nearly gave in last night, but didn't due to my very stubborn nature, but it wasn't easy. I feel like part of my life is missing (anyone else feel that way?) I have got booze in the house which seems to make a difference, I know its there and I am choosing not to touch it, I'm sure if there was none I would pine for it. Am feeling a bit stressed at the moment not sure what its down to, could be my body reacting to being booze free, hope it wears off soon. I'm glad I can post on here as you can put things on here that you dont want to tell anyone else (through what?) shame, embarrassment, dont want everyone to know what you've let your self become. Well good luck everyone hope you all achieve what you want.

Wol2

Hi Guys

Didn;t get home from work til 8.15 and caught the end of the ITV programme "mother please stop drinking"...was an eye opener!! and glad to feel I;m not alone...and pleased to hear the Govt is putting aside £10m aimed at women between 30 and 50 to reduce their alcohol intake although what that will mean in practice who knows!! (funnily enough everyone was on wine in the ITV programme!!)


Would like to clarify something from one of my earlier posts about depenedency.....by this I mean the body has a physical dependency. If any one has a physical dependency.(i.e. real cravings, no guilt and physical symptoms if no consumption)..then abstinence/cutting down really should be started only after following consultation with GP.
There is then any psychological dependency to deal with and as ISOM quite rightly points out, there is a fine line to be drawn between psychological addiction and psychological habit. We do need to be honest with oursleves and ascertain (with the help of experienced professionals if necessary) ...where we ourselves fit in the spectrum so we can take the appropriate steps. I myself have talked this through with my therapist and the conclusion drawn is that I have a habit, am not physiologically dependent but am at risk of future psychological addiction owing to my current circumstances.(not for public consumption) ..hence my reason to act now!!

So to all who have posted...well done. I will continue post my consumption details here..as like spring watch girl...I feel comfortable with you guys and gals. (Second glass tonight as I write..but won;t/can't drink a bottle as only half bottle in fridge....phew!!)

Well done swg...and yes I understand what you mean..if I went cold turkey it would probabaly feel like a part of me is missing..because it has become a habit and part of my day to day living over the last year or so. You are doing really well abstaining and i wish you continued success!

To Suzie...what courage for your post..well done hon and stick with the thread..we're all here to support you...and hope you got some good input form you GP.

To those who have sent good wishes (Merlot, talleyho, ltm07, SueUU and Superheavy) some of whom have managed to crack it.....thank you, well done..and please let us know if there is anything we are missing that may be pertinent to our individual situations.


To ms_london: I had a slightly underactive thyroid and was put on thyroxine.....very low dose. The info in my meds pack doesn;t say you shouldn't drink with the meds...but this will depend with what meds (Plus any others including any short term antibiotics) you are/may be taking and the dosage/frequency. However underactive thryoids per se means upset in your metabolism including other hormones/organs inc pancreas and liver...which could also affect how you metabolise alochol and therefore how you feel as a result. I do know that my reaction to alcohol has drastically changed since my metabolism decided to go west..(not taking anything for thyroid now and haven't been for last 7 months) and also the increase in consumption has contributed.


To Jacks...Hugs......really hope this week is not too distressing for you and hope to see you back next weekend......but earlier if you wish...we will all be here!!

And to all those trying... ..in whichever way is best for them...(particularly ISOM and Sea78 who started this thread......and inc recent additions mollypolly, HC and frugal JO).......good luck all.....thinking positive thoughts for you all.....and the guinea pigs paws are now thoroughly crossed for "tout le monde" in the foreseeable future!!

Love to all
Wol2
xxxx