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?

So pleased to hear you're feeling better @Holothane

Thankyou stomach much better today I’m getting there, dh epilepsy been touch and go today,

Only through the door to this but read your posts there @holothane and glad you are here and feeling a little better.

@Teetotallyimperfect, you aren’t stupid at all. I know if I had one cigarette, I’d be totally hooked again. How are you getting on? Hope you’re okay.
@Holothane, glad to hear you have decided to stay and are feeling a bit better.
How are the rest of you doing?

I’m sober-huzzah! Met some friends for socially distanced drink and had nosecco-it was really nice actually and I felt a bit giddy by placebo effect! I’ll definitely take it if i go to a party or event as it looks real and I would feel less stand outish if that makes sense! Hope everyone else is ok.

And I know I could totally start smoking again as well-I’ve fought so hard to give that up.

Hey all! Not posted for a while. Had a bad couple of weeks and hit the wine. It was a struggle to get back on track but I did it so day 8 here.

Day 57 for me - that's nearly 2 months. Oh I did have a glass and a half of champagne at a distance meet up with neighbours.
I think I might allow drinks when I'm out. I don't socialise at night much - but it was the home drinking that was the problem and that is 57 days for that.
Still regularly feel I could really do with a drink. Going on MN and getting distracted helps with that. I have a distance get together on the 26th and might have a glass then.
Well done all who are keeping up the battle. It would be so easy to go back to the old ways.
Well done Holothane for getting this far. It's when I'm feeling down that it's sooooo hard not to just have the one to make me feel better
But I'm so glad I stopped , with the isolation what used to control my few drinks in the evening was the worry that someone might happen by and find me drunk. With lock down no one calls in, it could have got worse. But thanks to this thread I am feeling better, look better, skin clearer and a few lbs lighter and best of all no constant castigation of myself ...... Thanks All!

Hugs everyone, just to say well done in keeping sober, 💐💐💐💐💐

Afternoon all.

I haven’t checked in for a while, as I’ve been doing pretty well and didn’t want to come on just to go on endlessly about how fabulous sober life is yadda yadda. Also, I’m doing AA and don’t ever want to come across as preachy about how powerful it’s been for me, as I know it’s not for everyone.

Anyway, I’m on day 65 today and I’ve been sailing along for the past few weeks feeling pretty on top of things, but today has been a bit shit, so that’s put me back in my box and I’m back.

I’ve got a very dear old friend who is terminally ill and shielding, and it’s just so, so hard to see her go through this pretty much alone. I’m just so sad about it today, but then feel worse for making it all about me and my sadness when she is the one who is going to die. It’s all so shit.

Sorry for the whinge. I still don’t want to drink, so that’s good I suppose, but I just had a massive cry and then ate a family sized bar of chocolate, so I’m still finding crap ways to deal with my feelings. Life isn’t easy, is it?

to everyone back after a slip or struggling in general. Sorry that post was all about me!

@AvoidingTheWineAisle, that is totally shit, and you're absolutely allowed to feel sad about it. And I think that crying and chocolate are totally appropriate at times like these. Please feel free to whinge away all you like if it helps (not that I thought you were whinging). That's what we're here for

Thank you, @heatseeker14, I'm doing well. Day 4 and it's been fine so far (mostly) so I'm waiting for the cravings to hit hard soon.

That must be absolutely shite @AvoidingTheWineAisle. chocolate and tears allowed and well done on not turning to booze. I e done two af nights in a row this week so far. I’m definitely getting there...

@AvoidingTheWineAisle
Bless you and your dear friend
I lost my best friend 9 years ago, and still miss her terribly. I drank then to try and cope. It didn't help really, only time did. You're amazing for avoiding drinking, you really are.

How is everyone? I'm still not drinking, after my slip up last week - it took me two days to feel completely better, just shows how we long we take to recover after a time sober.

Have a good day all - remember to keep at least 2 metres away from the bottle
Sx

Hugs everyone I’ve had 24 hours with no pain, at last I hope things are finally getting better.

Welcome back @Peaches2222 and hi to all those staying af as much as possible. Some impressive days on here!! I'm day 10 and feel so much better, longest I've been at since Jan 2019.... 😬 stay strong ladies and thank you for all your continued support and advices

Niggles this evening but cannabis oil and painkillers soon sorted that out, hugs to all keep safe and sober🤗

@Peaches2222 welcome back. I saw a post yesterday on instagram that said 'don't be a prisoner of your past, it was a lesson, not a life sentence'. I really like that.

@Haggisfish - 2 nights in a row is great. The small steps will soon add up.

@SophieB100 spot on with the public health message again!

@qwertyl I'm glad you're feeling great!

@Holothane

I'm on day 60 today of no alcohol and day 6 of no smoking. I'm feeling really good although yesterday evening j struggled a bit. I was a bit grouchy and irritable and couldn't snap out of it (tried my usual tricks) so I just went to bed. I think I was tired. That thing about treating yourself like a toddler is so true. Usually when I'm in a funk I drown it out with alcohol.

Hope everyone is doing ok.

Thank you @qwertyl and @teetotallyimperfect. That’s a great quote and someone said that you learn something with every day one and that’s so true. Feel very positive at the moment. I took photographs of myself in the morning when I had a couple of weeks sober under my belt and I looked alert and fresh. When I had my two week binge, I also took photographs in the morning and the difference was shocking. Bloated face, hooded eyes, inflamed face- just awful. I keep looking back at those photographs to deter me and keep me on track.
Day 11.

I'm day 11 too @Peaches2222 and also notice the difference in my face. Work zoom calls were awful, looked puffy, red and bloated, yesterday I looked so much better. That's got to be incentive for keeping going. Good luck to all

Oh and DH was off to supermarket today and said Wednesday have a lot of wine so I won't get more' when will you be drinking again... I honestly couldn't answer, I cannot moderate which makes me sad as we used to enjoy a drink together..... I suppose one day at a time but it does make me panic when I think about what may happen if I had 'just one'....

Hi how’s everyone doing today?
I’ve just got back from taking the dog out in the pouring rain. Was quite refreshing in the end. Day 68 today and feeling okay. Have felt a bit weak the last couple of days but think it’s due to reducing my calorie intake. Think I might treat myself to some chips later. 😊
I like the quote about not remaining a prisoner @Teetotallyimperfect.👍🏻 I have been dealing with unpleasant memories that have laid buried for sometime. No alcohol off switch means I have to face these. Just something I have to work through.

Sorry to hear about your friend @AvoidingTheWineAisle 💓 Well done for staying AF. Hope you’re okay.

@qwertyl @Peaches2222 well done on day 11 (or is it day 12 now?). Take it one day at a time @qwertyl. Don’t make a firm decision. At this stage it would probably be best to set manageable targets to hit e.g. 30 days. Our minds struggle with processing constant decision making - Can I have one? When can I have more? What are the rules? Set days? Special occasions? No drinking at home? I think setting goals is less scary than saying it’s forever.
Hope everyone has a lovely chilled AF weekend.

Life is so challenging at the moment, I can't face starting the day with a hangover. This motivates me. Plodding on. Not worth risking feeling abysmal.

Oh god well
Done all of you. I’m doing pretty rubbish in terms of booze this week although only half a bottle of wine a night so not too bad for me. I’m not giving up though. I can so do this. Tomorrow...

@heatseeker14 it's really difficult when you can't block things out with alcohol isn't it. Especially when that's how you've dealt with things for years. Hope you're ok

@Haggisfish one step at a time. You will get there!