Day 1 for anyone just starting out

[Justdonthavethefirstone]

Hi all. This is my day 1. I have joined some other threads for support but thought I would start a new one for anyone just starting out on this journey. I have a drink problem. It got worse over lockdown.i have had day 1 before and failed but this time I am starting off prepared. I have books to read. I have joined Mumsnet for support and have told my family and friends.

Hope everyone has had a good day.
I have felt so much better for the sleep last night.
I'm going to log into another AA zoom meeting I think, a woman there has really taken me under her wing.
I am so thankful to her, and all the other support I've been given by AA.
I'm craving ben and Jerry's cookie dough ice cream rather than alcohol at the moment, I was told I'd crave sugar though
Day 8 for me now.
Well done to everyone btw!

Right I've now read the full thread and got up to speed with everyone's journeys. There isn't as many on here as it first felt. I'm in awe of all of you as everyone has other battles they're fighting as well as kicking the booze habit.

It was good (in a way) to read that a couple of people have slipped up and not been judged. Hopefully I won't but anything might happen at this early stage.

@Ynwa1234 much sympathy for tooth problems. I have had a ton of treatment over the past year, prolonged due to the break from corona. Most recent one was the first part of a root canal and I gave to have the second treatment in a few weeks followed by a(nother) crown. All SO expensive and horrible. Your experience in the dentist chair sounds horrific. Is it feeling better now?

Also sorry to hear a few have marital woes and/or unsupportive husbands. That's so hard. I am very lucky with mine, he's taking a break also so we're in it together. He's my second husband though so I can fully empathise with being with someone much less nice. It's awful and very stressful.

Children are a big trigger for alcohol for me too. I have 3 (7, 12, 14) and it's so hard at times. My eldest is autistic albeit high functioning, can be challenging. There have been harder periods in the past when I heavily relied on boozing to get me through. Hang in there everyone who is having a tough time with kids.

@Newernewist I haven't really considered AA but was having a bit of a google about them earlier as people keep mentioning the 12 steps and stuff so I just looked to see what the 12 steps were. I was really surprised to see that the steps were so religious. I didn't realise that. Every days a school day.

I need to find a decent alcohol free alternative. The AF prosecco I bought tastes like appletise. I've put some of the raspberry fever tree on my next shopping list. One other drink I've found that's really nice is the Bottlegreen ginger and lemongrass cordial. It is SO NICE, and has. a bit of a 'kick' to it that kind of feels like booze (!)

@writingsonthewall the god bit has always put me off.

I am 100% not religious at all (most people I have spoken to in AA arent either)

But the "God" thing is referred to as a higher power, the way I'm interpreting that, is that some higher power (within me) has made this decision, for me its certaintly not God.
Something is giving me strength to do this who knows what it is?
But the welcome and support from AA is amazing.
I dont think I could have just stopped and got 7/8 days in without this group of people.
Just do what works for you x

That makes sense. I was thinking surely not everyone that goes to AA can be religious! You're absolutely right, need to do whatever works for you.

I imagine my tooth problems also stem from smoking and drinking. I started smoking at 14 or 15, gave up at 34 so yeah 20 years or so Plus wine and Prosecco I think is high in sugar.

Yeah I was wfh full time and home schooling, DH also working from home full time so was a fairly stressful few months to say the least. I drank A LOT. Keeping everything crossed they go back to school on the 7th and doesn't shut again.

You don't have to justify saying anything about your husband. All free speech here and nobody will tell you to LTB (unless you want to of course). Tempers and emotions are bound to be running high and some people will have more support than others but nothing is black or white, it's a thousand shades or grey so would never assume anything about anyone else's life just from what they write here in a few words.

Another day over anyway, always a relief to make it to the end!

Ps I literally heard about greggs sausage rolls in Iceland today! Could be dangerous

Yay NEW, delighted you got sleep. Drugs are amazing lol.

I'll catch up later, I'm also on ADs, bene on and off them for years and years. Very very low dose but anytime I wean off I cant even get off the sofa to peel a potato so I'm sticking with it.

The cravings honestly honestly lessen. Re a friday night, yep it can be more of a killer but as I was drinking every day there was little difference.

Going to set up an old Nescafe jar and drop a few quid I'd normally spend on wine into it. If I could scrap up money for wine every day I can do that!

Lashing down here and a ramp up in C19 cases, everyone is bricking a lick down again yet a lot I know are still out in pubs and dos. I have the couldn't be arsed as I'm not drinking thing going on

Lock.down not lick. No one wants a lick down

Doesn't sound like the time to tackle anti-ds @OrchidJewel. Friday today which will be hard for me, although I often drank every day, I always drank lots and lots and lots on Friday and Saturday. It was like the green light to have as much as I wanted. Saturdays have been all but ruined for a while now, so will be good to feel normal assuming I make it through the day.

Good idea re the savings. I'm going to do the same so I can have a treat when I reach a milestone

@writingsonthewall I love the Bottlegreen cordial too! Have you tried kombucha? It has that grown up feel to it somehow, and some of them can almost be like a wheat beer (only not quite) and you get fruity ones too....

I have tried alcohol free beer with CBD on my normal drinking nights and really like it... it may be mostly psychological but it does seem to relax me slightly. I don't really care if it is a placebo effect if it helps me avoid wanting wine!

I hope that everyone has a relaxing Friday night. Day 15 for me and I will be celebrating with a bath and early night!

@Ynwa1234 The schools have been back a couple of weeks where I am and sadly yes there are lots of colds doing the rounds already and yes we are being encouraged to keep them home with even a sniffle... there have also been positive covid tests in schools and a nursery locally so I can imagine it won't be long before the kids might be at home again, at least temporarily.... it will be an interesting winter once norovirus and flu season hit as well :-(

@OrchidJewel I love the coffee jar idea, although to start with I may need to reward myself every Friday with an alternative treat... I am also trying to view weekends as a brilliant way to save some calories, as I'm sure weekends full of booze and overeating played a bit role in me gaining weight... I am attempting to see them as a great opportunity to get skinny and hydrated instead of wobbly and dehydrated :-D Fingers crossed!

I only posted once quite near the start of the thread but have been reading along, everyone’s doing brilliantly!

Having had 27 days completely off it I decided tonight I’d like wine. No particular trigger and I’d gone from a good 4+ bottles a week to nothing without any problem.

I’m hoping I can have a good few long breaks in between an occasional drink at an event or just fancying one.

If anything I think this will be the more difficult test, to try and now see not drinking as my default in between occasional drinks and doing it moderately when I do.

These last 4 weeks have seen my skin/sleep/mood all improve immensely. I haven’t lose any weight though which has definitely pissed me off, not just for the booze consumption but all the pringles and cheese on toast that go with it!

Writings yeh your right, not going to tackle the ad's. its mad ymna and cosmo I see a tiny bit of a snotty nose and I'm in a heap NO NO blow it, wipe it, don't let anyone see it. My daughter coughed the night before school and I had many expletives in my head.
Yes Cosmo definitely need regular little treats and things to look forward to on a regular basis. I'm looking forward to my cup of tea and Kimberley biscuits (probably most of the pack)
Fair play to you Downton, I absolutely know I cant do that sadly but in a weird way I dont mind now.

New and anyone else with the ole sleep issues, there is an interesting thread on AIIBU 'is this acceptable' antihistamines to knock you out, other things too.

I have my first tenner in my jar :)

Happy sober/will be fresh as a daisy in the morning and delighted with ourselves friday night

Good to hear everyone is doing well and still feeling positive about it too. I am day 26 today and still eating my weight in chocolate but I am not worried about that yet. orchid does not sound like w should stop your ads as you know you need to be ready as it is a battle. I was ready and for me it is the right decision last week on them, I have no worries about going back if I have to.

I have been drinking monster!! Need to find a more grown up drink although I quite like it, any suggestions?

My favourite drinks are:

Kombucha

Posh tonic water

Ginger beer

Bottle green cordial with ginger... I drink it neat in a shot glass!

AF beer, especially the type with added CBD

Elderflower cordial. I have loved this since I was about 10 years old...I remember trying some for the first time and being completely amazed by it, and thinking "if only I could drink this every day..." Well now I have the perfect excuse! 10 year old me can't believe I ever bothered with wine :-D

I also want to learn how to make a really good virgin mojito... next challenge!

Thanks cosmofluff I will try some of your suggestions, yes a virgin mojito sounds lovely. I have realised it's it the alcohol it's just really good tasting drinks, will look at the af beer with CBD sound interesting.

Ooooo interesting list Cosmo. My DH wanted me to pick up kombucha, couldn't find any. Whays it like?

Fair play rupert 26 days. It's one thing at a time isn't it

Hope you a had good friday. Bank holiday in UK isn't it?

Day 27 for me. I can hardly believe it. I've never made it this far. My plan now is to do another few weeks and think about what I want to do moving forward.

Oh I get that ymna, my daughter is nearly 11 and it's like a new lease of life for me she can run down to the shop, she brings two of the boys for a cycle. She helps me round the house. It's all ahead of you that bit of growing up and independence. I'm working hard on the 7 and 4 year old now doing jobs (was too lazy before)

Sorry about your ankle. Hope the tooth (or lack thereof) sion the mend

There are so many different kombuchas out there and they all taste quite different... I'm never I'm whether we are allowed to mention brand names on here! But there are loads of different fruity ones if you like that, and also some posh ones made with just tea and no other flavourings... one sells itself as a prosecco alternative and is nice although not cheap. The taste is kind of hard to describe and there is a slight vinegary edge or similar, but not in an unpleasant way (at least I don't mind it!) Maybe like a non-alcoholic wheat beer with a subtle hint of vinegar and whatever other flavours they use. Hmm, I may not be really selling it :-D I have ordered various different types online. I'm never totally sure about storage as some of them just say a cool place but I think most of them need to be kept in a fridge, which does make it tricky as we have quite limited fridge space.

I have been interested in trying CBD for a while and wondered whether it might help me quit booze...I have got some CBD gummies as well as AF lager with it in and have tried eating a gummy or two if I get a wine craving. I am still sitting on the fence a bit.... I do feel as it if helps me stop having cravings and this is certainly the easiest time of quitting I have had so far (out of many attempts!) but I honestly don't know whether it is a bit of a placebo or psychological effect. Although maybe it doesn't matter... if my brain tells me it will help me stop and it does perhaps that is all that matters! The gummies and oils are not cheap though and you do have to be careful if on any prescribed medication as it can interact with things in a similar way to the way grapefruit juice does apparently. I think I will carry on keeping them for when cravings hit... day 16 now with only fleeting and easily squashed thoughts of wine so far so even if it is a placebo effect I will take it!

By the way I don't work for either the kombucha or CBD industries:-D I have just tried everything out there (or it feels like it!) on previous attempts to quit so have found a couple of preferred substitutes now... I've also tried quite a few of the alcohol-free "spirits " that Facebook keeps marketing to me now.. some are nice but they all seem to be pretty expensive and in all honestly I think a posh tonic water is just as nice!

Have a lovely and non-hungover Saturday all :-)

Morning all, so day 27 today, still in bed last to days of leave back on BH Monday 😟. I was looking on the Sainsbury website they had loads of kombucha and seems reasonable price wise, reviews look good so gonna try those. I have tried lots of alcohol free spirits too - seedlip, three spirits, everleaf, Lyres and of course good old BB.

I don't think the spirits really hit the spot if I had to pick one, I would say seedlip, they are so expensive though, I know I spent a fortune on wine so what's the difference? I am just reluctant to spend loads now.
I really need to stop the chocolate though I am sure it is giving me spots,my skin was looking really good. What is everyone up to today?