This is it, my day 1

[Stopthisshit]

I drink too much
I need to stop
This is my day 1
Join me

[ElsaCragg]

This is the first Sunday in a while where I am feeling positive.

Went to the pub last night and was quite happy drinking soft drinks. It's quite a revelation to realise that you can be sociable and good company when sober. And no-one commented on why I wasn't having wine, so maybe I've been mistakenly assuming that it would be an issue.

Today, I'm up and about much earlier than usual, have emptied the dishwasher, put on a load of washing and am going to cook a proper Sunday lunch.

Still early days, but I'm going to re-read my Jason Vale book later. Have some lovely cordial, which I bought yesterday. And a busy week ahead, which is a good diversion.

I've also loaded the Daylio app to my phone. It's not one of the 'quit drinking' ones, more of a mood tracker, but you can tailor it to include activities and diary notes and I've found it so helpful.

Hope everyone enjoys a sober Sunday .

[rupertpenryswife]

Well done elsacragg that is an achievement, I agree about seeing how you can socialize without drink, it is quite a nice surprise. Your day sounds lovely.

Have a lovely sober day all.

[ElsaCragg]

Thank you rupertpenryswife. Hope everyone is having a good day .

[Candleabra]

Hi, hope everyone's been ok today. Agree it's a revelation how nice it is to be sober socialising. And also how much other people have a problem with it!

[rupertpenryswife]

How has everyone been today?

I am feeling really lethargic but I think it's down to my excessive tea drinking really need to cut down, oh and also my apparent chocolate addiction. Anyone got any difficult days/situations coming up?

What sort of alternatives is everyone drinking? I am not keen on cokes quite like the alcohol free ciders. Don't really want to drink the alcohol free wine or beer. Aside from caffeine and water but stuck, lots of the drinks I have look d at are loaded with sugar. Was moaning to DH about the sugar content of alternatives but then chuckled when I realised I didn't ever worry about the amount of sugar in wine 🤣 now that's ironic.

[user1483387154]

I'm doing ok. but really struggling to sleep and my anxiety is quite high.
drink wise my diet coke intake is through the roof so now working on swapping that with cordial. I dare not touch alcohol free beers etc yet as I think that would tip me into real alcohol. I'm still only in my first week (second attempt as had 1 bad night last week)

[rupertpenryswife]

I agree regarding the alcohol free beers. I think the sleep does take a while to reset but, when my sleep was poor initially and I woke up feeling shattered I kept telling myself it's better than waking up hungover, I know it feels awful but it does improve mine took about 2 weeks, now unless I am stressed is fantastic.

Re the anxiety I was quite lucky I didn't really suffer from this again I think it's a time thing, I guess it's these symptoms that make people start drinking again but, once you get through this you will feel amazing. I have been on anti depressants for a few years and finally feel I can come off of them so that's my next goal. Keep going you can do this.

Have a lovely day.

[ElsaCragg]

Morning all!

I have started drinking elderflower cordial, but diluted with sparkling water, and I add lots of ice. It's a very grown up alternative to a g&t or prosecco .

[ElsaCragg]

user, your sleep will get better. Please try not to stress about it.

rupertpenryswife, you sound so determined, you are an inspiration to us all.

[AlwaysSunshine81]

I’m still lurking on here and not done anything about it but I’m starting today. I want to lose weight too. I just find being a single parent it’s so boring in the evenings x

[rupertpenryswife]

alwayssunshine being a single parent must make it tougher being bored can be a trigger.

So I guess you need to find something to fill your evening. How old are your DC? Do you have any free time at all anyone who takes DC for a bit.

I read alot, listen to audio books and have just started running again but, if I am honest I could not have done all of this whilst drinking.

When drinking I actually hated myself, I had no self confidence was lethargic and overweight and couldn't be bothered. Since stopping drinking I have naturally lost weight and that awful face bloating because of this, I now enjoy cooking and care about what I eat. Chocolate everyday though!!!

What I am trying to say is that lots of things spiral in a good way when sober.

You know you want to quit and it can take a few false starts just keep trying, I failed many times and whilst I am nearly 4 weeks sober I know it can easily be lost. Just keep posting the good and the bad. We can help.

[20poppy14]

Hi Everyone.....but Always in particular! I’ve been wanting to sort out my drinking for ages and reading that you’re 1st day is today Always thought maybe we could be sober buddies?! Anyone else want to join us??? Wine is my thing....love cooking and enjoying a nice meal at the end of the day with my husband if he’s around and whoever else is staying with us. Grown up kids have left home now tho come back often;) I have no good reason to drink- I’ve a (too busy) but happy life. Wine used to be a nice treat but I crossed a line a long time ago & drink at least half a bottle of wine every night. It’s creeping up to a bottle now and I’ll drink on my own tho stop at 3 glasses. I just don’t want to drink like this, want to sleep better and could use the money rather than drinking it away! Off on a family holiday at the end of the week so maybe a stupid time to stop but if I can do next week......?!

[AlwaysSunshine81]

Thank you ladies for taking the time to reply to me, it means a lot. Rupertswife I could have written that!

[user1483387154]

hope everyone is doing ok. day 6 for me and not too bad . a few flashes of cravings but not given in. 1 week tomorrow and it will be my longest time sober in about a year

[exWifebeginsat40]

i just wanted to say that AA saved my life, and that if anyone is really struggling maybe give it a go. it isn’t religious, you don’t have to stand up and declare yourself an alcoholic; it’s not like it’s portrayed in tv and film.

i was a rock-bottom, lost everything, mouthwash-drinking alcoholic. i was raised by alcoholics, first got pass-out drunk aged 8 and finally stopped at 41.

that’s 5 and-a-half years ago now, and i just wanted to say that if i can quit, so can you. there’s no shame at all in admitting to a problem. better that people know you as a sober alcoholic than a life spent obsessed with the next drink.

it’s not for everyone, but it’s worth a try if you’re struggling. everyone there totally understands how it is to have a brain that insists on just having that one little drink, even though rationally it would be disastrous.

everyone in this thread has already been incredibly brave by admitting there’s a problem. take that pride and turn it into a life better spent.

each and every one of you is worth more than the next drink. i know it doesn’t feel that way, but you are. my life is far from perfect but even my worst day sober is better than my best day drunk.

[rupertpenryswife]

user well done it does get easier I don't really get the cravings at all now. ex-wife thanks for sharing that, you have clearly come along way you must be so proud of yourself as you should be.

Your last sentence really resonated with me, I completely agree about any bad day sober is still a million times better than a bad drunk day.

Hope everyone else is doing well it's nice people check in, I do worry when I don't hear from people.

[StarGOLD]

24.08.19 - 00:08am
This is my Day 1. I'm in.

I bought a bottle of red with the groceries this afternoon - I was in the wine aisle before I knew it. I opened it without a second thought and drank a large glass before making any tea. I did some jobs around the house, glass nearby. I fell asleep and forgot to eat. It's 00:15 and I'm tired, hungry and moody. This is how it is at least 3 nights a week. 3 glasses between 4pm and 7pm most nights. I never finish a bottle so there's always one open for the next day.....Friday night is Fizz night..I've made that my treat. Sometimes a G & T with specialist gin, fancy tonic and cucumber in it...that's sophisticated, right?🤔.

I know it's not good. I've never written this down before.

[rupertpenryswife]

Welcome star hope you don't feel too bad today. It's a good day to start. So do you generally follow the same pattern with your drinking? If so you will need to find something else to do or drink during your trigger time.

[StarGOLD]

Yes, I get to tea time and as there's always a bottle open I'll have a glass whilst making tea...It's habit, pure and simple...but it's every day. I watched a TED talk a while ago about how drinking is normalised these days, especially for women..stress reliever/treat/sophistication etc etc...

[StarGOLD]

I'm even thinking now that I could ditch the wine and just have a Gin & Tonic on a Friday or Saturday instead as a treat for a weekend wind down..that's just nonsense isn't it. I'm trying to normalise alcohol yet again..and it's not even 10:30am. My Mum was alcohol dependent for a while when I was growing up..I see in me what I experienced with her....

[ElsaCragg]

Hello everyone.

I had a couple of slip ups this week, totally due to socialising and not wanting to feel left out, which is stupid. It's harder to say no to close family, as then you are admitting you have a problem. And I don't feel able to do that, which is another issue to deal with.

So, today is Day1 yet again.

[StarGOLD]

This is my Day 1 too....we've got this..😊

[user1483387154]

day 1 again for me. I can't seem to get through weekends. stupidly told myself I could have just one ....... it ended very badly and I'm so fed up of giving myself excuses as reasons I should drink and thinking I can only have one when I know that's complete rubbish.
I need to do this
I have to do this
step by step day by day I will do this

[rupertpenryswife]

Ok guys you really can do this it's not will power it's just making the decision to say no. The first few days are the hardest and you will be at your most vulnerable.

Here is a plan:

Buy a good sober book I recommend Allan Carr on audiobook and play it continuously, the one aimed at women is the best I was nodding along as it is so relatable.


Get a few lovely treats in whatever you fancy, for me it was a few bars of chocolate hidden in my bed side table so it was just mine, also alcohol alternatives such as kopperberg, flavoured soda water special tea bags, iced coffee.


When that trigger time comes get out one of your alcohol free drinks and know that later you can have something nice, chocolate etc.

I often just took myself off for a bath and read.

I spent time doing my nails hair treatment etc anything to take my mind off alcohol.

Waking up sober is amazing I highly recommend it. I did use herbal sleeping tablets initially as my sleep was horrible.

1 day soon becomes 30 and so on. Good luck with day 1.

If I can do it you can I don't think I ever would. Now to crack my chocolate addiction 😁.

[Candleabra]

Hope everyone is ok this morning. I am still cheering you on. Well done for recognising the problem. You can do this. Keep going, one day at a time. Don't overthink it, don't project, just don't drink today. And distract, distract, distract! Do anything else. After a while, it's great how productive you become, rediscovering all those little pleasures and big hobbies that have been sidelined over the years in favour alcohol.

But for today, don't drink.