I'm giving up drinking.

[WeAreAllAdults]

I'm writing this so I can come back and remind myself why I'm doing this when I feel weak.

I don't want to drink anymore. I don't want hang overs. I don't like how irresponsible I am drunk. I hate waking up and wondering what I did last night. I hate feeling guilt and remorse the next day. I hate that if I don't get to have a drink on a Friday night I get annoyed. I hate that I can't just have one without wanting more. I hate that my friends buy me alcohol for my birthday because they know I like a drink. I don't want to end up like my dad.

I don't want it. I don't need it.

It's great to read everyone's positive stories, it sounds like you are all doing the right things to make sobriety work, all the tricks.

I found the first four weeks the hardest as I was still being exposed to all the things that would trigger my drinking. I am now coming into my 4th sober month. It does get easier as time goes on but, that voice is around when you least expect it, I have had several dreams recently when I have started drinking it was horrible.

I cannot ever just have one drink and I feel a bit sad at times as I cannot be 'normal' but there it is. Christmas worries me a little bit I need a plan.

However, it is still without a doubt the best decision I have made, I don't miss drinking or the guilt/anxiety and hangovers.

Hope you all have a restful hangover free Sunday. Well done to you all you can do it.

Well Sunday morning and I have been AWOL from this thread.
I have had a few drinks Friday and at a wedding yesterday. Happy to have been AF all week, and going AF again today.

Might not be on the right thread, but I'm happy that I had no weekday wine. Aiming for the same or better this week.

Hope you're all doing yourselves proud too x

Happy Sunday everyone hope you have all had a lovely weekend!

AF for me although I missed a glass of wine with Sunday lunch I didn't feel tempted at all. Although I did feel myself questioning my decision when I thought of some of the events I've got coming up! I think in November alone not drinking will save me £300 so I'm sticking with that reason for now

Hi All. Welcome Rupert 4 months is super impressive, congratulations!
I’m on AF day 6 here. Cannot believe I’ve managed a weekend without beer, gin, vodka, white wine, Prosecco......I feel great physically. I felt a bit wobbly after my mother visited, but resisted a strong recovery-from-the-stress-of-it-vodka. Now sitting calmly with an alcohol free lager, which is definitely proving to be my early-days AF crutch. I tried AF sparkling Sauvignon blanc last night but was disappointed- far too sweet and the smell was rank! How is everyone else this evening? I’m back at work tomorrow so but worried about that but will take each day at a time. Have a nice weekend all.

Ps. If anyone can recommend a nice dry AF wine please please do!

@iamyourequal

Oooh would you recommend AF beer? I am thinking of nice flavoured tonics (I don't think I'll miss the gin) but if there is a half decent AF wine I'd be all over that! Not sure it exists does it...?

Hope everyone has had a good weekend. Day 5 here, just been to the pub and resisted all temptation. AF lager all the way, DH said to me ( quite loudly), 'really?!' His expression of surprise was priceless .

Good on you Nomore. I’m due in a pub next Saturday and hope I can stay strong too! jelly79 I have been drinking Becks Blue (as I like Becks anyway). I won’t order it when I go out though, as I put them in the freezer until almost slush-puppy cold. I’ve been having 2 a night. I can completely fool myself with the first one that it’s the real deal but by the time I’ve finished the second I’ve had enough of it. The irony is that part of the reason I’ve given up is to set my kids a good example, but I’ve had an (AF) wine glass or beer bottle on hand all weekend anyway so still look a complete lush!

Day 15 here. Can't believe it is actually

My emotions have been swinging from being really happy to never drinking again to 'oh god why can't I just be normal and be able to have a few'. (It never is a few, I drink until I pass out or run out of drink.)

Every time I have a weak moment I run to my bed and read my sober books or listen to sober podcasts. I still giving myself treats as and when I feel like it. No diets going on in this house for the time being.

My sleep is bloody fabulous and I feel so much less bloated and sluggish.

My drinking voice hasn't quite stopped yet but I heard that gets better and better so I'm just going to keep going and see where I end up..

Well done to all of you. I'm loving reading all your posts it keeps me from giving up as I feel like we are all in this together.
The long term AF ladies are my inspiration to keep going.

Becks blue is the best AF drink I think.

All the AF wine is horrible though I've done plenty of testing of it.

There are really nice juice/tonics that I've had loads of times by Belvoir. All of them are really tasty. I've seen them in all the major supermarkets.

amazing to read people's progress we can do this! i'm on day 5 now and so far so good. I know it's a 1 day at a time thing for me and I've downloaded the "I am sober" app which makes me pledge each morning that I won't drink and reminds me of the reasons why I won't. I think it's helping me and as someone mentioned earlier on the thread it's nice to see that counter go up by the second as to the time it's been since my last drink. I already feel like I have more energy and I'm sleeping better too. my face and tummy are less bloated and im cooking more as i have more inclination rather than thinking sod it let's get some fast food.
I treated myself to some j20s and was tutting to myself at the cost of them and had to give my head a shake as I'd normally spend 3x that amount on a bottle of wine and not think anything of it
I've had an active weekend but haven't really had any proper tests yet as I've been spending time with my family outdoors and having early nights. also been eating a lot of sweet things but I'll tackle that later on in my journey as it's helping me beat my cravings for wine thus far

Day 7, sorely tempted last night things haven't been great between DH and I for a while ( separated last year for a few months ) and this year has been emotional to say the least, often I would crack open a bottle of wine to drown my sorrows. Eldest DS had bought some lager last night and I nearly caved ( had the can and glass in hand ready to pour ) I didn't in the end, stuffed my face with chocolate brownies and went to bed. But it was a close call!

Evening all! Day 17 here (or thereabouts - I've stopped counting as I feel like I'm tempting fate). It's been OK so far. The hardest moment was definitely last Friday when I was out for dinner with a friend. I really had to focus on the food and conversation and just ignore her wine glass. (I even had to excuse myself and disappear to the bathroom to hide at one point ). But as a reward I got to drive myself home at the end of the night and had a clear head on Saturday morning. Yeah!

Yesterday I had a day where I didn't even think about alcohol once (and was highly pleased with myself when I realised). Today, of course, I was brought back down with a bump when my thoughts turned that way at a mere 2 p.m. Sigh. There's just no letting your guard down, even for a moment.

Keep on keeping on, everyone. We're all doing so well.

Hi All. AF Day9 here. Longest I’ve been without a drink since last time pregnant- many years ago! I was chuffed with myself for taking the car to a night out we had last night as we got home late and it would have been much worse on a bus etc!
Keep strong everyone. I know we are all having wobbles. Mine seem to strike when a. My family stress me out or B. We are having a dinner that pairs with wine! Still looking for nice soft drinks. I had a 7up last night and it was disgusting....

Hi everyone, we're doing so well. Last two days have been very wobbly, found myself in the sod it mindset last night and very nearly bought a bottle of wine.
Has anyone found a decent AF wine? All the ones I've tried have been a bit grim. AF lager seems to be the better option. Did try Gordons v low % ready mixed G&T's a while ago and that was pretty good for those of you who like a Gin! Hope everyone is having a good day so far.

@MacavityTheDentistsCat well done for resisting wine at dinner. That's going to be my toughest test. I plan on driving everywhere. I have 4 events coming up and I will save a fortune with no taxis and cocktails. I'll feel brilliant when I get through them all with no booze

Wish AF wine was nice

Been off here for a few days, as a few ups and downs and have really been digging deep and getting into my sobriety books and podcasts. A week sober tomorrow. That’s not any sort of record - it’s a quite normal thing for me to get there - and the challenge is staying with it and not caving.

Glad to see so many people doing well.

I'd like to join you. I did 4 months (up until a few weeks ago) and I honestly don't know why I started again. I felt so much better without it. I'm starting again tomorrow. I'm going to do a year and then decide what I want to do longer term.

Hi All. Day 13 here. I was fed up with it last night though- it just doesn’t seem right on a Saturday night, but with AF beers I made it through! Whiskerychinsrock do you mind me asking why you started again and why you want to give up again? Did you set yourself rules and not stick to them? Or did you just take a drink without planning too? Don’t wish to be nosy but I am just wondering what is achievable long term for me! I’m 100% certain AF is right for me Sun-Thursday, but miss white wine with my fish on Friday and red wine with my steak/pizza Saturday! I feel fine about ditching the gin vodka and beer for ever more but I miss the wine with nice meals!

@Whiskerychinsrock can I ask what was the deciding factor to have a drink after 4 months?

I've just done the weekend AF and no bother at all but first test at an event today with lots of prosecco. I listened to a podcast that was saying moderation is harder work than abstaining so I'm happy to continue with that. Not sure whether I want to do forever or a time period. I think till at least xmas for me?

I think I just forgot why I stopped in the first place. I was drinking too much and always drank more than I meant to. I felt so much better (healthier and happier) not drinking and the past few weeks have reminded me why I stopped in the first place. Unfortunately I don't just have that one glass with a nice meal - i keep going until it's all gone and then feel like crap in the morning after a terrible nights sleep. It's just easier for me not to drink at all. I just need to not forget that!

How are you all doing...?

I haven't had a drop of alcohol and feel good in someways but have had waves of anxiety and tiredness. I'm not convinced I drank enough for it to be related but I'm sad that this was one of the main reasons I decided to stop drinking yet I have still felt it...

just checking in, I'm on day 9 after I had a blip (I would have been on day 17 otherwise). I still feel tired by the end of the day and early wake ups with my children. however it's a different kind of tired and my head feels much clearer. I have to say my anxiety is better at the moment as it was mostly centred around being worried about my health, what would happen to the children if I were to be ill etc. I have had days when I've been quite snappy and not sure why.
after my blip I realised (with hindsight, naturally!) it wasn't worth it and my resolve had disappeared after the first class of wine. It reminded me on reflection the next day that actually I can't even have that first drink. it's a day by day thing though.
I am sober app and making the daily pledge does seem to help.

Hi All, just checking in too. I’m on Day 19. My DH can’t believe I’m still going-he tells me it’s my sheer stubbornness. I have had a couple of wobbles where I have really wanted wine with dinner but I knew I would be so cross with myself I’ve resisted. Anyway enjoy the rest of the weekend all. Tell you what though, I’ve not lost any weight! Perhaps too soon, or the increased chocolate/fudge /ice-cream consumption! I will need to stop as I definitely cannot face the thought of dieting and being Teetotal at the same time!

Went out last night which I knew would be the first (all be it the least) test of 3 in the next few weeks. In the Dayton I was back and two between not drinking and just having a couple.
Went for a really lovely meal and drank lots of water (from a wine glass)
Then to a cocktail bar and had some lovely non alcoholic cocktails so didn't really miss it! Was home handy but had a headache, anxiety and couldn't sleep which was so annoying as this is what I want to avoid :(

Well done @iamyourequal