Less wets, more dry, sometimes damp. We are tryers to be dryers. Thread 3!

[Frouby]

New thread for those wanting to reduce alcohol. Always supportive and friendly. No judgements, just support to get to where we feel comfortable with our relationship with alcohol. All welcome.

Am a bit rubbish with clicky links but there are previous threads.

I feel ridiculous. One minute in reading Flossie's heartbreaking account of her Christmas wish and think we'll, I have that, at least this year, and should concentrate on counting my blessings.

The next minute i am having a little cry in the office loo following a row with DH about dynamics with my mum and her partner.

Bloody hate Christmas. Bah humbug.

Feeling better now after drinks with old work friends, even though it's a stark reminder of the passage of time and everyone overtaking me career wise. Had to get my drinking in early before tag team with dh who is off to the pub now. So front weirdly squiffy putting kids to bed but will have early night and hope to be ok tomorrow.

Argh, Longest. Yes. Career people. I have a decent career in that it’s interesting and works for me, but it’s always played second fiddle to my family.
Most of my friends (the ones with supportive husbands or one NT child) have made great strides.
I still claim tax credits. I’m a bit ashamed.

I’ve bitten the bullet and emailed a hypnotherapist this morning. I need to face up to the fact that I’m not in control when I drink. I just keep going.
First job in the new year. If I can quit fags, I can do this. I’m fed up of feeling ashamed of myself.

NC4 if you can give up fags I'm sure you can take control of your drinking. You have to really want to. I saw a hypnotherapist when I realised that drink was controlling me rather than me controlling it. During the first session she told me to do three drawings of things I wanted to change in my life, where I was then and where I wanted to be. I wasn't overweight but wanted to lose a few kilos to help me run faster, I wanted to stop the anxiety and shouting at the kids because I was tired due to lack of sleep, and have clear eyes and skin. All were alcohol related. I managed to do all of them by moderating - I think the hypnotherapy gave me a kick start, although it didn't seem to work for Dion so it isn't for everyone.
2 AF nights so far this week, I enjoy them, wine doesn't taste as good as it used to for some reason.

That’s interesting Anglaise. Moderating is what Id like to do.
I think with smoking it was 90% sheer determination that worked but the hypnosis filled the 10% that would have caved in, and I think that’s what I need now.
I am overweight, and quite appalled at how it’s piled on this last year. I should be kind to myself - it’s been a huge year, but still. I want to be back to a size 12/14 rather than a chubby 16.
I looked at my face this morning and thought ‘that’s a drinker’s face.’ I don’t want to look like that.
You do seem to have cracked it, so I’ll keep that in mind.

Evening all, just back from holidays, which was soaking wet. Didn't get pissed pissed but was definetly tipsy most nights.

Am really looking forward to getting Christmas and the New Year out of the way and getting back into moderating and AF nights.

Will catch up properly tomorrow xx

Hi guys I've been reading this char for a few days and decided to finally say something I'm 5 days AF only because my mother in law is staying with us. I'd rather not let her see me drunk and tell all my inlaws. Hope everyone is well

I've decided to throw everything at this so doctors for sleeping tablets. Take every other night and no alcohol. So Wednesday took one and af last night had a large glass of wine. Tonight will be tablet and at and so on. Also seeing a counsellor, acupuncture and hypnotherapy. Think they are all sorting out why I drink rather than just this is how you stop. It is costing a fortune but I guess that is part of valuing myself which I hadn't before which definitely led me to drink

Wrongwayup it is money well invested. And being in control of your alcohol intake will increase your self value even more

This is simple:

Thursday: totally pissed!! Dh work do..lost count of the drinks I had!!
Friday: Af. First time in about 10weeks!!
Sat: dh made me 3 gins. I’m guessing they were mahoosive measures because my lips have gone numb and I’m feeling fuzzy!!

All ok?? Frouby..how was the hols? Dh behave?? All good fun?? Dion - how you doing hunny?? Anglais....got any races over Christmas??

Sounds like my december Flossie. Have been slightly pissed, quite pissed or lissed as a fart every day I think. Even my AF sundays have gone out the window.

Am ok with it though. I knew december would be wet. As long as we have a plan for January it's OK I think. When I say January I obviously mean the 7th when everyone is back at school and work.

Holiday was fab, dh did actually behave. He has been his usual undomesticated self now we are back but I have stopped stressing about it and give him other jobs instead. He was out all day yesterday on his Christmas works do so is feeling very fragile this morning.

Off to see my mam with dcs for an hour then coming home, settling down to watch darts and planning on eating my bodyweight in pringles, dips and whatever else I can get my hands on. Though have a feeling dh will need a recovery curry .

Same over here. A tipsy month indeed. Today will be AF for the first day in a long time. Roll on January!!

Oh god. We are here. It's just as terrible as I knew it would be. Have already drunk half a bottle of champagne to get through. Am also not well. Dh's scan is now booked for 30th. Let's hope we last till then. Festive hugs all round x

Welcome Gracey

3 af days this week. Not bad in the run up to Christmas

That's great wrongway. Argh I am so stressed. Kids are totally feral and DD1 is kicking off like an animal if she's told off. Mil is reacting badly and making things worse. DM and MIL in some sort of weird competition over DC affection and keep complaining about stupid stuff like who gets which homemade school gift and where different presents are opened. DH in feud with DM's DP, who is on usual controlling tip. DM keeps making inappropriate suggestions like DD1 stays overnight on her own with her and controlling DP when they will be dangerously pissed so am having to police them the whole time. Am convinced it's all going to blow. Keep having to retreat for deep breathing exercises. Genuinely quite worried about my blood pressure in context of fatty food no exercise. One benefit is I feel less insane for having worried so much about it, but am also sleep deprived after fretting nightly. Please let me get through in one piece!

Oh god longest. Totally against the spirit of this thread, I’m sending you gin

Aw thanks NC4. Today has actually gone much better. Various people were late for lunch which meant the most toxic combos only overlapped momentarily. We went to church of all places to kill some time and mil has taken the kids back to her place so DH and I are about to escape to the pub. So day 2 is survived. Just the big one to go! How is everyone else? X

3 double gins down in the pub ....one glass of wine down at home.....now I MUST put the kettle on.....

In time for fucking, horrible, hideous Christmas... I am back online!!!!!!!! Have not read, but wanted to let you know (from the bottom of a bottle of red). Will read all. Have been desperate to know what's going on...

All calm here. Had a lovely evening round the next door neighbours who are more dysfunctional than us so it always cheers me up. Ndn is lovely and a good friend. Her dp of 2 years is ok but grumpy which we take the piss out of. Her ds is 15 and a typical teen ds, who doesn't get on with her dp so bitching galore. Add to that her dps df who is even more grumpy than her dp, and her lovely mum who is a bloody queen. 1 mishmash of buffet food from both houses, an overexcited just 5 year old and my painfully polite in company dd AND a karoke machine and it was hilarious if slightly surreal. A proper Peter Kay/Phoenix Nights do. The multiple bottles of bud/desperado and 2 large rhubarb and ginger gins helped to see the funny side. I may have done a duet with lovely NDN, it may have been Gloria Gaynor/I will survive and suspect we got more points for passion than technical performance but it was very funny 😂😂😂. But very bizarre.

Santas been anyway so that's good. Merry Christmas to my little motley crew of tryers to be dryers, old and new and heres to moderations and dryness into 2019. But don't worry if Christmas is soaking bloody wet because we would go mad without it. I would anyway. .

Am feeling more festive after escaping to the pub with my cousin and an old school friend. Going to be bloody knackered tomorrow but at least I got a reprieve. Considered escaping to see my auntie tomorrow teatime but would involve diner Christmas dinner which i am not sure I can face. Am hoping to escape DM and her DP when things get messy and retreat to MIL's for zog and home alone 2. Will see how we get on.Either way, love to all of you. Thank you so much for welcoming me to the motley crew. I will do better after 7 jan. I actually quite like January. Is dreary but not stressful- is a whole year till Christmas for a start.

Merry Christmas. All

Merry Christmas lovely tryers!! It’s 9.30am and my house is silent. I’m going to have to wake them up, aren’t I?!!
Polished off a bottle of Prosecco last night. Will no doubt do the same today!
Let the festivities begin 😀