Relationship with alcohol

[OldieMama]

What are your drinking habits? How much alcohol is too much? Unfortunately, I can never stop at one glass of wine, and end up having a bottle or two. I mainly drink at the weekend, but I am seriously thinking of becoming teetotal. Has anyone else given up alcohol, and how did you do it? What motivated you to stop drinking, and how did you manage to kick the habit?

I stopped drinking at the beginning of last march and haven't had any since. I was drinking 1- 1/2 bottles every evening, sometimes more at the weekend. I'd tried a few times to stop or moderate. It didn't work, then one day I felt so ruff I didn't have any, and after about four days, I realised I hadn't gone four days without for about 2 years, and I was scared to started drinking again. So I didn't. It was hard at first, but then about four months in, something switched, I'm not sure what bit after that there was no going back. I had alot of distraction techniques in the beginning. Especially between 5-8 in the evening. Baths, yoga, games on my phone to keep me busy that's type of thing, until the moment passed. Feel 100 times better. So glad I stopped

Hi oldiemama

I have been alcohol free now for nearly 9 months and loving it (not pregnancy related) Similarly to you I used to have no off switch.

There is a great series of threads in alcohol support where we have all decided to stop drinking for good. It's a wonderful supportive thread where there are people with years and years behind them and others on day 1.

Anyone who is willing to make a commitment to stopping drinking is welcome. There are also many threads on stopping for a while or moderating.

Might see you there.

Honestly, it's the best thing I have ever done for my physical and mental health. I have done many dry Januarys and had one longer period of not drinking but I always went back thinking I could or would moderate but then couldn't or didn't. It would creep up again. So, this time I made the commitment to myself that the good feeling I get from being free from alcohol can be permanent.
I have let go of that tricky relationship with alcohol that I seem to have acquired in life.

It is so freeing.

I think there are many people who can moderate but for some it is harder, so for me, it's right for me to just to let go of it.

The best part? I don't have that internal dialogue anymore "I'll just have one! I shouldn't really because i had some last night. I'll have a night off. Well, I've had a bad day. I'll just have one! It's a celebration. I'll treat myself. I shouldn't really....." on and on ad infinitum. All gone!

And as we have been talking recently on the thread it also gives us space to work on sorting out other areas of our life. Letting go of other negative habits and filling our lives with much more positive things. And contrary to belief, we can still have fun and have a laugh. And can even still be the life and soul of a party if that's your thing.

Go for it!

OP I only drank once or twice a week but would drink too much in those times. I stopped drinking like the pp, at the beginning of the first lockdown last year and haven't drunk since.

I gave up alcohol 2 years ago and my life has never been better. I also have no off switch and it was impacting my health. I thoroughly recommend Alcohol Lied to Me by Craig Beck. It turned me off booze overnight. Seriously! I'm amazed a simple book got rid of a habit I'd been trying to control for a decade

Thanks so much for your positive comments everyone. Hopefully I'll be joining you in your sobriety very soon x