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?

Right I’m trying again! I poured some dregs away last night but really wanted to drink them. I thought to myself ‘what do you love more? Wine or dc?’ No brainier. I’m going to ask myself that every time I go to pick up a drink for a while.

Hello again....survived another week and weekend. Friday and sunday were easy as I was driving. Saturday I was also driving early evening but the rest of the night was just chilling at home with boyfriend. When I'd usually have a bottle of wine. I've ended up trying an af lager which was quite nice, and focusing on waking up feeling ok on Sunday morning! It's definitely a bit of a trigger to drink at weekends when my boyfriend's around as he expects me to be his drinking companion too...and just about all his weekend leisure time involved drink somewhere/somehow.

The good weather is making me want to sit outside with a drink in the evenings...stocked up on "posh" soft drinks and making myself read more. But I've had a decent spell of waking up without that groggy, not slept well, feeling and I'm clinging to that.

Our gym has reopened, so that also helps me get back into a routine that has been lost through lockdown. Membership is up for renewal soon so I'm thinking of upgrading from off peak, so I can go at weekends too (which means I can use it as a reason not to spend all day in the pub watching football next season).

Sticking to thinking ahead and making sure I dont buy any alcohol, so I cant be tempted at home. And trying to set myself up with new habits, socially and just around the house.

Well done very proud of you.

Well done both! I’m on my second night af. Feeling chuffed.

It helps to read through threads like this and know that others are looking for and suggesting alternatives and distractions! And new thought patterns or learning to question myself more, like do I really want to spend a day or morning feeling sluggish? So being on here has helped keep me focused!

Checking in with you lovely lot. I’ve reached day 109. Mentally I feel a lot stronger. Have had a tough few weeks and managed to get by without hitting the beer to block it all out. I have so much more energy. Wondering if alcohol reduced the effectiveness of my thyroid medication because I used to be so fatigued and snappy.

I think alcohol drains energy full stop but cant comment on it affecting meds. I've been enjoying waking naturally and not feeling groggy, although I wasnt expecting good sleep with the current heat. So today, I was up, showered and drive to town to do a supermarket shop, getting there just before 8am (try doing that happily if I'd had a bottle of wine the previous night!).
Had a message from bf asking what is like him to bring over drinks-wise (f a cup on tv tomorrow). Told him I'd hot some af drinks in (supermarket shop result there!) as didnt want to drink much in the heat etc.

Enjoy your weekends, everyone.

Yippee two days of no pain, I’m thrilled long may it last hugs.

In agony again I’ve had two blissful days with no pain tonight like a hammer it’s back two codeine dr knows this, I’ve picked a nightdress from Argos it’s going into my hysterectomy case, got slippers dressing gown it keeps me going to think one day this will be over, hugs and love to all of you, sober at least bitter lemon in short supply this year, but at least I’ve got zero coke. Sorry to be such a downer again.

Well done Holothane on keeping sober. It's so easy to give up when life throws tough times at you.
Day 104 for me.
One thing I feel is a bit more confident and happier in myself.
I no longer 'drink too much' or 'can never stop at one' which were things that made me feel a bit of a failure at life. Especially when everyone else seemed able to take or leave it. Alcohol is no longer an important item in my life

Thankyou feeling better today long may it last just tried Robinson’s creations lovely so more flavours of that I think.

Hope things are still going well for you all (funnily enough I've got 5 bottles of Robinsons creations in my countertop wine rack! The 6th space is taken up with son's ribena).
I did the FA cup with soft drinks and some af ciders. Got a lunch out tomorrow, but the thought of the hot weather and extra grogginess if I drink is keeping me focussing on soft drinks. If I'm honest, I'd love a glass of wine with the meal, but dont think it would be refreshing, so pretty sure it's the idea of a glass and not the reality that's appealing...another habit maybe?

Take care everyone, enjoy your weekends.

Hows everybody doing? Epic fail from me, this gets all my attention from here on in.

Hello everyone well things have improved no end, very little pain now at last I am free, also finally got some bitter lemon yesterday, Robinson’s creations we keep loads in now, dh only likes shandy now the kids stuff I don’t have that but love cold pop, this heat has been terrible, glad it will end soon I hope, hugs everyone. @randomer, hugs go back to basics one day or one hour, we’ve all had slips.

Thanks @Holothane, I'm digging deep and trying for a good run at it.

Hang in there tiny steps for now, you’ll get there.

Glad things are going better Holothane - I agree about the cold pop, I think a cold fizzy drink with sugar in it decreases the 'need' for a glass of wine. Part of my 5 o'clock wine time was due to low blood sugar, I think.

If I have a nice refreshing drink it fills me up and gets rid of hunger pangs.
I wonder how everyone else is doing. I lapsed a bit but am doing better now though being stuck at home so much doesn't help.
I was Bluemooon before I changed username.

I haven't visited here for a while, but I posted in may (was Threeflyingducks)
Not long after that my DH found some notes/diary entries I'd made about wanting to quit - nothing dramatic, but I was mortified. He didn't say anything, but he stopped offering me drinks at home. Somehow that flicked the switch for me. I haven't drank anything since. I counted days for a while and then stopped, though I do have an automatic day counter on my phone which I nosy at occasionally and recently hit 150 days!

For anyone still struggling, remember it doesn't matter how many times you have fallen down as long as you get back up again. For me abstinence wasn't necessarily the goal but I'm developed new routines and habits in lockdown and there's no room for boozing. It holds no appeal, I don't even like the smell of it anymore.