Day 4 of giving up alcohol

[Saltypotato]

Hi all,

I am on another thread that started in Jan and is still running. We all started together and the support was immense, it was the only thing that got me through the first month. At the end of Jan/beginning of Feb I started having 'just the one' and we all know how that goes if you have a problem. The group are now at 100 days and whilst I love checking in they aren't at the starting stage I am at the moment.

Lockdown has meant I am out of routine and haven't had a reason to keep my drinking under control (no work, not driving etc) so after drinking every night since it began I ended up passing my last full bottle of booze to a friend a few days ago and making an attempt to give up.

That was a few days ago, I am just starting my day 4. It's been easier than I thought as there isnt the option of just popping out to the shop so I'm not taunting myself. I have got a bottle of vodka and one of gin in my amazon cart that I keep hovering over buying but its on a few days lead time so I don't want it to arrive when I'm a week in and undo my hard work. That thought is stopping me.

But we have to go out today for essentials and tonight I have a zoom call with friends in the "pub". I am really tempted to get something whilst I'm out and my brain is doing the 'oh you deserve it, its a stressful time' and 'you can just have two to join in' (from experience, I can't)

If anyone else is feeling similar or just started their journey into the wonderful world of tonic water please join me. Strength in numbers, right?

Don’t beat yourself up Haggis. Tomorrow is a new day. I’m very much in the ‘struggling n slipping’ category at the moment. Managed Sober October and Dry January but can’t seem to go 3 days in lockdown. I’m too stressed and I feel sobriety, like dieting (the other millstone around my neck) is a scale of diminishing returns. The more times I try to go sober the worse I get at it.

Anyway, well done to everyone who is managing to stay strong, and best of luck to these who aren’t.

'Struggling and slipping' is a good description.
I'm forgetting that I've stopped sometimes. Which is good as it means it isn't on my mind so much. So find myself looking forward to that deliicious, chilled glass of white wine - in the garden as it's still sunny here (best spring for decades weather wise). Then have to pull myself up with a jolt when I realise I can't do that.
Fortunately I do like fizzy drinks so I'm having American Cream Soda which I liked when I was young. It does have calories but as I have one glass, as opposed to several if it was wine, it is not sooo bad.
I am actually doing stuff in my evenings which was one reason I wanted to stop drinking, unpicked a blouse to alter, or try to alter, last night, sudoko, cleaned the inside of the car.

The worst thing about drinking is the beating yourself up about it the next morning!

I have managed a whole week!
Day 8 today and I am so thrilled because this is probably the first time since I had babies 20 years ago _wow, how bad does that sound? Longest run was 6 days in January. Happy start to the day.

I do hope the suggestion that pub gardens might open does not happen, as the temptation of cold white wine in the sun would be hard to resist.One day at a time.

Thank you for letting me share my news- I read many threads, sometimes join, but have not managed a week before.🥰

Well done to all of those who are clocking up the days on their sober-meter!

I'm still going, but it's been a tough week - had to take my little cat to the vets to be pts this morning. It was time, she was very elderly, but god did I howl on the way home.

Anyway, I am more determined than ever to carry on with this. I realised that I'd be feeling more rough and wouldn't have handled saying goodbye to her if I'd woken up this morning with a hangover and anxiety.

Have a good day all - enjoy the sunshine whilst it lasts.
Sx

Koppenberg (I think) non alcohol fruit cider is nice - especially cold with lots of ice (for those who are thinking of picnics and stuff outside, for when BoJo lets us out more).

Sorry to hear about your cat. It is so hard. Well done on staying sober and to everyone else-you’re doing brilliantly.

Thankyou @Haggisfish

Really sorry to hear that SophieB100 it’s dreadfully sad to lose a dear pet.
Enjoy your cream soda Edwina!

Afternoon all.

Well done to those staying on the wagon and to those struggling & slipping. Keep going. It’s not easy, but we can do it a day at a time.

I’m on booze free day 25. Desire too drink not too strong, but desire to stuff my face is HUGE. Really hard not to replace booze with something else...food or some other vice/crutch. Trying to be kind to myself and not expect perfection, but also stay conscious of my inclination to use something, anything, to cure boredom and ease stress.

I was doing really well with exercise until this week, when I’ve gotten lazy again. Must get back on it, as it was keeping me positive.

Sorry about your car @SophieB100

CAT!

God I wish MN would let us edit our posts.

I did 55 days alcohol free until last Saturday May 2nd which was my birthday. Had wine in the house for all that time and didn't touch it!
I've been trying to lose a bit of weight and was eating carefully and exercising regularly throughout that time, never felt so good - healthy, my mood was great, got loads done.

It was my birthday on Saturday, and had a lovely day, went for a long walk with my grown up kids - felt really good and happy. For some crazy reason I decided to sit in the garden and have a drink with my dinner when we got home, and that was it. I felt completely out of sorts next day and completely regretted it, but still drank again on Monday evening and again last night - to finish off the wine that was left.

Now there is no wine in the house and I am determined to get back on the wagon. I just felt so much better for it - the difference between drinking and not drinking is like night and day for me.

Can't speak for anyone else but wine seems to affect everything for me - my sleep, I feel lethargic and out of sorts next day. Even a couple of glasses. I can't say 'hungover' (unless I've drunk loads) but just a bit 'meh' and very irritable for some reason. I'm a much 'nicer' person when I don't drink. Plus all the lovely energy I had for those weeks I wasn't drinking disappeared and it was a struggle to get anything done.

I don't feel too bad today as there was only half a bottle left which I polished off last night with my dinner, but now there's not a drop of wine in the house, and I don't intend buying any either. My son has beers and he likes an occasional scotch and coke, but I don't like either so they aren't a temptation. I'm a wino - it's the only thing I drink, but I can so easily slip into it being a regular habit as the past few days have proved.

So I'm back on the wagon as from today - day one!

Just realised I'm 2 days to 500 days sober never thought i would reach that. Just get used to it.

Forgot to put read the naked mind. It makes total sense.

Sorry to hear about your cat @SophieB100
It will be 8 weeks this weekend since our beloved boy disappeared. There has been no trace of him.

Well done to everyone still going, and to everyone who has slipped up, don’t worry. I think most of us have the potential to.

I’ve come out the back with a cold glass of 0% Sauvignon blanc. Pleasantly surprised as I’ve not heard one good thing about alcohol free vino

I’ve got 0% ‘Prosecco’ in the fridge which DH bought a while ago. Might try it this evening. Not holding out much hope for it

Ooooo let me know @avoidingthewineaisle

Good on you avoiding and nitgel those are impressive milestones. (And do report back on the AF Prosecco).

FannyFernackerpan. I have a similar track record to you but I’ve never made it as far as you AF. Several times I’ve thought I would have a drink as a ‘one off’ after a good dry spell, but it’s then led straight back to me drinking almost every night, for weeks! And I don’t even drink much and don’t drink to get drunk or anything. I guess it really is the addictive nature of it. I need to get back to Annie Grace!

Thank you everyone, it has been a sad day, but I still managed to avoid wine, so that's good.
Some of you have such impressive stories, I admire you all.
I know I've said it before, but I think quitting at this time is really some achievement. And if we fall, so what, we just pick ourselves up and carry on. All those weeks and days that we managed sober still count. Asda Nosecco is nice by the way - I drank it before I fell off the wagon last Christmas. It's the nicest non alcohol fizz I've had. I'm on the Blue Becks at the moment and it's fine.
Night night everyone. Take care.

SophieB so sorry to hear about your cat. You really have had a tough week this week

Fanny your story is so familiar. I too have fallen into that trap of thinking I could just have the one on special occasions. Before you know it, Friday is a special occasion.

Got home from work to find 0% larger in the fridge Quite like the sound of your 0% sauvignon blanc though, Ghost.

What do you all drink at the pub? I usually have a 0% larger because it's that or a coke/lemonade, but I'd love the option of something else.

iamyourequal you're right, it's easy to forget how addictive it is, and how brainwashed we all are. It's not surprising we find it difficult to stop and stay stopped.

Morning all

I can report that M&S Nosecco is disgusting. Looks like real ale - dark, cloudy - and tastes like extremely sweet Appletise. Ah, well! I’ve got tonic water and lemons in the fridge for later.

Feeling a bit spaced out this morning, as found out last night an old friend of mine in his 40s died from coronavirus. I would absolutely have had a big drink tonight on that news, but instead I’m about to go for a morning walk in the sunshine to clear my head and think about what a lovely guy he was.

Avoiding so sorry to hear that It's such a shock to lose someone unexpectedly. Look after yourself

That’s terribly sad news Avoiding. It’s an awfully cruel disease. Take care.