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?

Thank you
@iamyourequal I'm in bed, having drunk pots and pots of decaf tea!

You're right it's a blip, but it has brought home to me how it affects my mood, felt low all day, anxious and flat. And I'd forgotten the horrible dry mouth and low level headache - why do we do it?! Anyway, tomorrow is another day, and I've managed day 1 sober!
Love to all x

@iamyourequal, I’ve lost 5 pounds over nearly 9 weeks. I don’t particularly need to lose weight it’s just I absolutely hate my tummy. It’s made quite a bit of difference already. Most of my extra calories came from beer and crisps. I have been eating healthy as well over the last few weeks. That’s helped in a way because I allow a food treat occasionally. I give in to a craving, just not the one for beer. It tricks my brain a bit.😄

Well done on day 1, Sophie B. Use the way you feel as ammunition to spur you on. x

Hugs everyone, feel utter crap today all day today the hormones have been horrific Dh has had bad days too, no drink wanted but fed up of bleeding even if only slight, period pains, now calmed down I just want to scream, but will curl up in bed early with dh.

Sorry to hear you've had a bad day @Holothane hope you get a good night's sleep. Well done @SophieB100 for getting back on it, two months is amazing! @randomer hope you managed ok too and @mummyof4kids hope you wake up refreshed at 5... that's hard work! Day 5 here for me which is the longest in months I have done. Really struggle with Friday - Sunday and once I start can't stop so feel so pleased to get through tonight. Have a lovely weekend gang, thank you all for your support

I know this is an established thread now bit can I join? I'm on day 5 as well, can't remember the last time I've ever lasted that long! Finding it really tough as the days go on, despite day 3 being horrendous. Name changed just due to anything outing. Well done to everyone here going through the same thing.

Welcome on board, Freechurro. Well done for getting to day 5. Lots of friendly people on here. You have come to the right place.x

If there are any lurkers out there wondering whether or not to join the thread, please do join in if you want to. Whether you are on day 1 or 101 you are welcome here.

I am back under control and tbh in the midst of this pandemic, that will do me.

Hello everyone, I’m sober but thatS enough for me today, black clouds again, please join newbies everyone is welcome here.

It's so hard isn't it? With the world as it is, we are doing so well for even attempting this.
Well done all.
Day 2 for me, and the wine witch is beckoning, but I have no wine in the house, had a bath in my PJs and I'm absolutely not going to get changed and go to the Co Op. And I've given my son my debit card to keep until Monday. So I'll grit my teeth and stick to tea. Thanks to you all, you are so supportive.

Sx

Thanks Heatseeker14 and thanks everyone. You are all doing so well.
Sophie B you are doing great, if it's worth anything I did similar and it helped stopped me going for a quick run to the local on the nights I did it. X

So I fell off the wagon since I was last on this thread, but I started listening religiously to Annie grace's podcasts, read "the naked mind" on kindle and the joined the alcohol experiment online. I'm now on day 5 and feel really positive. Currently at my parents house (single parent so they are my support bubble) about to eat a curry and I'm drinking kombucha while they drink wine and beer.

I've put it in a wine glass and it actually looks like Chardonnay!

How lovely to see your parents @TwistinMyMelon.

Thanks @FreeChurro, it helps to know I'm not the only one, it really does.

I'm watching an old Midsomer Murders and drinking decaf tea, in my PJs. Whilst catching up on MN in the ad breaks. Living the dream!

@SophieB100 and @randomer, you're both doing great. As you said, doing this bloody hard thing in the middle of a pandemic is pretty amazing really. Onwards and upwards....

@Threeflyingducks, the time thing is brilliant isn't it. I literally can't believe how much more time I have - partly due to lockdown but mostly not drinking. The HOURS I've wasted slumped on the sofa makes me feel quite sad.

@heatseeker14 I've lost a few pounds too but I stopped smoking yesterday so no doubt it will all go back on soon. I keep threatening to start running (slow jogging) again - maybe I should actually do it!

Well done Teetotally for taking on quitting cigs too. Have you tried quitting before? I stopped smoking nearly 20 years ago using willpower initially for a few weeks then Allen Carr’s book to strengthen my resolve. I read on here somewhere that someone started smoking after 16 years. Was that you? I still have bad dreams that I’ve started again. No craving though, thank goodness.

Quitting alcohol has given me loads more energy. I spent yesterday afternoon cleaning my kitchen cupboards out. Sad I know!! 😄 No chance I would have done that a few months back.

I will be having a few days break from here, I’m sick of my gyne stuff, very low dh had mh issues, feel as if I contribute nothing here, take care hugs and 💐💐💐

Oh holo don’t feel you contribute nothing. Do come back if you’d like to. We can all have blips-doesn’t mean we have to leave. I’ve had a total blip this week but back on it tomorrow. Onwards and upwards...

@hol, you contribute your good self! Dont go.

Bless you both feel very low at the moment, at least I’m sober.

At least?! That’s a bloody marvellous thing. Be as lavish with praise as if you we’re talking to one of us for that achievement.

@Holothane
Sorry you are going through such a rough time, please stay if you can, but understand if you want a break - do whatever helps you - but you do contribute, and staying sober whilst battling everything else is such an achievement.

I'm sober. Treated myself to a new little teapot (Alice in Wonderland) and it arrived today. I drink so much tea and decided I'd spend some of the money I have saved on the wine on a nice teapot!

@Teetotallyimperfect well done on quitting the cigs!

Hope you're all ok.

Sx

Hi All. Stay with us Holothane It’s awful you are feeling so low but company might help.
heatseeker14 good on you, i would be over the moon to lose 5lbs. I’m going to start eating more healthily tomorrow and start a little cardio. I think a fortnight has been long enough to go wild on the sugar before reining it in. It’s been a lovely afternoon here and I got some gardening done. Feeling calm and telling the wine witch to shove off, she’s not going to get the better of me today.

I’ll stay and try not to feel useless, am I sad for looking at what to, pack for a hysterectomy bag, to cheer me up to try and hope one day the medics will realise I can’t live like this.

@heatseeker14, I gave up for over 20 years and then started having the occasional sneaky puff about 5 years ago, and before I knew it I was buying them again. How stupid am I?

@Holothane take a break if you need to, but please don't feel like you don't contribute anything. You absolutely do!

@SophieB100 what a lovely idea to treat yourself to a beautiful teapot. Well deserved!

Oops, missed your last post @Holothane. Glad you're staying, and no, not sad if it helps you to feel positive

Still here, 🤗💐💐💐to all of you, spoke to in-laws who are a godsend, stomach at long last behaving long may it last.