Where to start

[Minesalargeginplease]

Well, as the title says, I don't know where to start stopping. Been unhappy and depressed a while and sought solace at the bottom of the bottle. It's every night now, I can't remember the last time I didn't have a drink in the evening. Seemed normal for a while, working mum having wine at the end of the day but it's not. A glass became a bottle, or 2. More recently its spirits, by the pint, sometimes half a litre. I get up for work fine, I excel in my career but it's not ok. Where do I start? Going cold turkey freaks me out. Thank you in advance x

I'm doing ok thanks didn't have anything last night and won't tonight but it's our anniversary tomorrow so will be having a few prosecco . Hoping to keep it to half the bottle 😬

Well Done!!

Thank you 🙂I'm on a diet and tracking on my fitness pal so that will hopefully help me be more aware. How are you getting on?

Well I had half a bottle of whisky last night so that's no good. Haven't had anything yet and don't intend to but it's bloody ingrained. Fingers crossed for my 1st dry day in a long long time.

I like the group name suggestion and keep trying ladies, we can do this x

I was at an event last night and refused the first 2 rounds of drinks, then caved in and had a few glasses of wine, I did use the magic word of just a small glass!!!! Unheard of from me so at least that’s an improvement if only a little one. Love the name sobriety priority.
How’s everyone else doing?

Well Done IvyandStan!! So proud of you.
Dogswalk2 - Good Start
I am still struggling if I m honest because just being home watching tv and DH and I both drink so not good for each other:( when we are trying to address this issue.! Had four G&Sodas and two glasses of white wine.
Tonight should be ok going out in company that don't drink.

@Minesalargeginplease

How did last night go?

After drinking every night for AGES, I was doing great with support from MN.

Two weeks ago, I started drinking every night again
I want to get back on track and tonight will hopefully be my first AF night of June.

I found a good bedtime routine helped me allot on the AF nights. I'm planning ahead for tonight

Just read reviews on Jason Vale's book Kick the Drink habit - over 300 reviews - worked for all of them - though a bit repetitive- all saying but perverse it does help. Going to buy it .

I only bloody did it! First day with no alcohol at all in ages, went to bed early and feel great today. Going to allow myself something tonight but I think I can do it. Keep it up all x

@Minesalargeginplease

Well bloody done you!

It's an amazing feeling isn't it ?

The good news is you feel better each day and my self esteem soared. I was so proud of myself.

Well Done!!!

Thank you, posting has really spurred me on and made me realise it's not just me x

Hello, can I join you too. I am concerned about my drinking and definitely want to cut back. I started drinking too much on a a frequent basis about 15 years ago which began due to stress / grief (with breaks during pregnancy's / small babies) and then became a habit.

For probably the last 2 years I have been aware that it is an issue and will consiously have 1 to 3 AF days a week. However on the days I have a drink it is never 1 or 2 and more likely adds up to nearly 10 units per night - maybe more on 2 of the days. I am now starting to feel anxious the following day and any ache and pain think it is due to drinking too much.

I want to be in the position where I can enjoy a couple of glasses of wine a few times a week at the pub but then stop when I come home and then enjoy the odd blow out when I have a girls night out etc which isn't very often. Or just have AF days without putting any thought into it.

I'm not sure how possible this is but worth a go.

I haven't got much on for the next 3 to 4 weeks and really want to see if I can start to reset these bad habits during this time. After this I have holiday, party etc and want to see if I can control it by then.

One problem is my husband has a issue with alcohol. He will drink every night, I can't remember when he last had a AF day and probably drinks about 10 units a night at a guess. He doesn't seem bothered by this however I feel that I can't really address this properly with him until I sort myself out. However it does make my will power difficult as I will not buy wine etc for the house but I know he will have some in.

So could do with some hand holding from you ladies. Sorry about the essay.

Can I join? I started cutting back a couple of years ago. I've always loved booze and the fuzzyhead, and I've got quite the reputation for being a party animal. However my DP doesn't drink and he has shone a light on my drinking that has made me re evaluate.

I don't get hangovers and can easily get through half a bottle of gin on my own. I get really cheery and affectionate when I'm drunk and people often don't notice until i suddenly go totally sloppy drunk. I have really made a fool of myself in the past.

I gave up for 3 months last year and went straight back to my old habits. I've only been drinking at the weekend for the last year which worked pretty well, but I'd still drink too much.

Now we're trying to conceive and I switched to only drinking on my period - on sunday i had half a bottle of gin and hid it from my partner - we had a massive row. To be honest I've been worried - I just can't seem to stop once I've started. I'm worried I won't have enough. I'd started sneaking plastic bottles with gin in my handbag to the pub so I could drink in moderation in public but get "enough". That is really mad. I don't know what problem I'm trying to fix with booze.

I'm giving up completely for a year (at least) on the advice of an NHS stop drinking service - I can't remember what it's called but I google NHS advice on stopping drinking and there's a free, confidential helpline. I had a appointment with this great counsellor about 6 months ago and he said give up for a year to change habits - show yourself you can get through christmas, birthdays etc and still have fun. I wasn't ready to do it then, but I am now.

I started with 2 booze free days, then 5. Then I was only allowed 2 drinks - easier to buy prepackaged g&ts then you can't accidentally have too much. It really gave me confidence I could do it.

I've always thought something would come along like pregnancy to make me change but I have to do it myself. I'm going to give up now for at least a year, and if we conceive then until I've finished breastfeeding I think.

I could really do with some support - I haven't been honest with my DP about how out of control I have felt.

Yes of course Tigerjoy.

We can help each other.

Join in Shakitoff too

My first night tonight going out in company that don't drink - keeping my fingers crossed I can stay off the Gin & Soda tonight.

Thanks, it feels really good to actually write it down and get it out there. I seem to manage one AF night ok but find it hard to do more then two in a row. Then when I have one drink I think 'what the heck' and carry on.

I also really have had enough of always being the one that drinks too much on a night out and having The Fear the following day that I have made an idiot of myself.

We can all do it together.

Oh god shakeitoff I know what you mean! And it was always me. I have almost always been the most drunk one on a night out and I don't want to do it anymore.

A trick my sister gave me (which worked when I gave up smoking too) was just to think - I'm not going to drink today. Not think about tomorrow. If that's too much, just think I'm not going to drink til say 9pm. Then try another hour and so on until you go to bed

Glowy do you mean that no-one else will be drinking tonight either?

Yes but perhaps my DH will do though :(

I am going to try your truck see if works not to drink TIL 9 and keep pushing myself.

Thanks for the idea.

Good luck! If you like beers some of the non-alcoholic ones are pretty good and feel like a treat.

I have a stinking cold and cough and just want to drink whisky to make myself feel better - tucking into a massive box of celebrations instead, which is a different problem...!

Being ill is the worst time. Though you sure it's not Hay Fever at this time of year

Thanks for the tips everyone. AF today and should be tomorrow as well. Hope everyone else is doing well.

Hi love reading all your posts, sounds like everyone is being so supportive. I was at a business meal that normally I would down at least a half bottle but managed on 1 glass and instead of carrying on afterwards I am back in my hotel room, going to get an early night before my flight home. Good luck to everyone.

Thank you Dogswalk2

I have managed so far with pushing myself but feel like I deserve a drink now