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?

@Threeflying ducks

I’m definitely getting up earlier most days and feeling fresher, but I also need about an hour of not talking to anyone and two coffees before I’m human. I don’t think I’ll ever be a 5am yoga person!

I'll never be a 5am yoga person either!

Just thought I'd check in. I'm still going, not struggling with cravings, just feeling a bit meh with the whole sobriety thing. The novelty has worn off and I have to keep reminding myself why I can't have the occasional glass of wine or g&t. My rational brain knows why but I miss a drink now and then. Except it wouldn't be now and then. I'm hoping this passes soon because I'm boring myself with thinking about it. It helps to read posts on here though, so thanks for posting everyone. It really does help.

Reading that back I can see I am craving. It's just an emotional craving rather than a physical one if you see what I mean. I need to finish This Naked Mind. Hopefully that will help.

Thanks avoiding, that’s an inspiration. And yes, it’s brilliant to have people to share with.Very appreciated as I failed again tonight - 2 glasses were left in a bottle. Guess it could be a been worse -didn’t drink anything else, so well done me!
Day 56 is amazing! Don’t know how you manage to do it. Well done 👍

34 years sober but I was a raging alcoholic 😱

I’ve failed tonight as well, however, it’s half a bottle and I stopped. And I’ve been listening to a frankly marvellous radio 1 nineties house/rave show and it’s been fab. I didn’t need the wine-I chose to have it. I fully intend to not have any tomorrow and am looking forward to it. Ive had more energy because I’m not hungover this weekend.

The show is called stay home, rave safe and it’s bloody BRILLIANT!

Hi all. Just checking in too. My goodness the weekends are tricky aren’t they? I’m on day 7 here. One more down. Sorry you are feeling flat totally how long have you been AF now? Haggis your radio show sounds great but I think rave music would break me at the moment. I’d be thinking I was young again, throwing some shapes and popping open the real beer!

I’ve just finished reading This Naked Mind @Teetotallyimperfect. I thought it was very good. I enjoy reading about the science behind addiction.

Day 56 for me today. 🙂

Tomorrow is another day @GulpMore and @Haggisfish.

Thanks! Am sure it’s better to be forgiving rather than beat ourselves up.no booze in house now, so that’s a plus x

Hi everyone checking in still sober, pain started later tonight so that’s why now in agony going to get hot water bottle.

Oh holo that sounds rubbish. Hope the hot water bottle helped. I love a hot water bottle.

Day 9 dry here. Struggled a bit over the weekend, feeling like it's so unfair, one drink wouldn't hurt, etc etc. Mostly due to boredom, hunger etc. Luckily I managed to resist and distracted myself with TV and popcorn. I think some people call it the wine witch which is a bloody good name! Mine is like the wine siren luring my sober boat onto the rocks.

Brilliant imagery! Well done for ignoring the siren call.

@Teetotallyimperfect how are you doing?

I can't remember if it's in This Naked Mind or the Alcohol Experiment, but Annie Grace timed how long the initial eurphoria lasts from the first drink and she found it to be around 20mins. And because of the way the body tries to counter the effect of the alcohol, by the time we've sobered up (even if only after one or two drinks) chemically speaking we feel lower in mood than when we started. I keep that in mind any time I think that a drink might be nice - in that way ive started to think of it like smoking (which I gave up a few years ago) - the first few drags might be nice but the lingering taste/smell and the effect on my throat means overall it's not something I want. I find that easier than thinking it's not worth it because of the hangover, or the long term goals, because if I'm having a bad day today, I care about today not tomorrow. If it makes today worse than I'm out!

Day 49 for me!!!
It is getting easier because I don't think about booze so often - but if I am tired or grumpy, or both, I really could do with a large vino! and feel grumpier still because I can't have one.
I have been feeling under the weather - not too sure why, and the tiredness makes me feel like sitting back with a glass in one hand. Just have to remind myself that I'd feel more under the weather after a few glasses.
Struggled a bit over the weekend, feeling like it's so unfair, one drink wouldn't hurt, etc etc
@ChiaraRimini - we all know that feeling. But well done folks, we've got to page 12 on the thread and kept it going since the 18th April. Keep up the good work.

Rejoining on day 1.... again after drinking every night for a month and last week getting myself in a stupid, dangerous situation. Even after that I drank another week. Feeling pretty low but hoping that will spur me to do something about it.... will catch up on thread but wanted to mark a place again. Well done to all those achieving so many AF days - amazing

Welcome back @qwertyl

Hello qwerty! Welcome back. I’ve joined many threads like this and posted once and never come back. I’m doing better in this one. We can do it.

Thank you, @Threeflyingducks, I found reading that really helpful. I'm definitely going to try that technique, because I often feel like a drink would be a quick fix, when actually it wouldn't be at all. I've also just seen a post by Catherine Gray on Instagram talking about how our brains romanticize drinking memories. That has been helpful too - I'm not missing anything! The whole thing is a bloody big con.

@heatseeker14 I'm enjoying it too, although it's taking ages because I fall asleep as soon as I get into bed. The emotional dependency stuff is fascinating.

Well done for coming back, @qwertyl

@Bluemoooon, I could have written your post. If I'm tired or grumpy I almost feel like having a strop and pouring a drink in defiance! I can see what the problem is afterwards (that it's being tired and grumpy) but at the time a drink seems like a magical elixir that will make me feel better. I read somewhere (might have been TJOBS) that we have to treat ourselves like toddlers, get a snack, have a nap, go for a walk, at times like these. I need to get better at that. Sorry you're a bit under the weather - feel better soon.

I've also just seen a post by Catherine Gray on Instagram talking about how our brains romanticize drinking memories. That has been helpful too - I'm not missing anything! The whole thing is a bloody big con

So true Teetotallyimperfect - but British society is brainwashed to think otherwise. How do other countries survive without all the booze?

Yes I agree. If I have my wine, I go to bed and have often sobered up by the time I go to sleep-my drinking is concentrated into a two hour period between 7-9 usually. I kick myself because I’m like ‘well, what was the point in that?’ And feel a bit crappy.

Hi All,
Mind if I join in here, I'm only on day 2 but am so happy to see this forum.
I've always loved wine, living for my Saturday and Sunday night bottles. But this year I've lost control, it was becoming a nightly need with saturdays extending to 2 bottles and I just hated myself for it. This sunday I had enough of the self hate , the bulging belly, the hair loss and the shame so decided enough was enough.
Last night was horrible and I know its going to get worse before it gets better.
I'm sorry for the TMI but I had the most horrendous night sweats and ended up having to change pyjamas and sheets twice. It makes me worry now that my dependence was worse that I feared and I'm going all out withdrawal.
I'm glad to have this forum to check in on when I'm struggling and hope we can all support each other.
Thanks x

Welcome Aisleseat, I could've written your post! Day 15 here and finally starting to actually sleep, so hopefully the side effects will be short lived. X