Stopping drinking for a while - part 2

[Patbutcherismyhero]

Hi all, a new thread as requested. Hope to see you all here shortly x

@fluckityfluckfluck

I was the same, and I remember something I read really hitting home for me and it sounds so simple - it had stopped being fun. I was not having fun. I was anxious waiting to have one, I then was anxious I had more than one, then I slept crap and woke worrying about it, then I was tired and couldn't concentrate and repeat and repeat and repeat. There was no joy in that and I feel free now.

Omg that’s exactly how I feel!

I did it! Day 1! Mainly by thinking of you all - if you can do it...

Congratulations @Magicsprinkles!

Thank you!😀😀😀😀😀😀

Well done @Magicsprinkles it may sound silly but every day at the start I added a love heart emoji to my calendar to say I hadn't had a drink. It was such a lovely way to remind myself it was a good thing I was doing for myself - and it helped me stick to it as I didn't want to break the pattern

That's a great idea @fluckityfluckfluck . I've put the Try Dry app on my phone and like how the little teacups are starting to stack up.

11 days for me today. This is the longest I have gone without alcohol in this millenium. Feeling much better for it, in a quiet and calm way. It really was interfering with my hrt. Talked to dh about continuing to abstain into December and beyond and he was very supportive - I don't think he'd realised that drinking was not really doing me any favours. I am thinking hard about making this a permanent change - will see how Christmas and New Year go.

Nope. Dh v stressed and bought wine..wolfed it down while cooking. ☹️Whyyyyy! All logic flies out the window.
It’s a great idea fluckity I already do this with smileys. have an awful lot of sad faces on my calendar. blackberry that’s incredible. Well done x

Ahh @Magicsprinkles if it was going to be easy we'd all have done it ages ago. I found last Friday night really long. Do you have any lovely alcohol free Plan B drinks?

Onwards and upwards @Magicsprinkles 😀

I really felt like getting wine on the way back from work today. I didn't and I won't. But I'm a bit bored and it's been a busy week and my default would be to reach for the wine. I've had a cranberry and soda and going to encourage the family to eat early to dampen my cravings!

Oh cranberry and soda! Yum! The irony is that that’s way nicer the the crap from the coop I’m knocking back now. I know. It’s just that hubby v stressed and I’m tired and...thanks both of you! That’s a good idea snoopy, harder to drink after dinner. Hope it’s worked! Onwards....and total respect guys 🙏

Well here I am at 100 days! I began on this brilliant thread day 1.
Just want to say to the new starters that the first part was bloody incessantly hard, up until about day 40, then time started to fly by and I didn't even notice I wasn't drinking most of the time. Daily walking got me through the first months.

I don't feel fantastic, mentally. But I really feel my physical self repairing. I had liver pain before, it is gone. Itchy palms, gone. Insomnia, gone. Puffy face and red eyes, gone. The feeling of pure self hatred for the damage I was doing, is gone.

I celebrated with a whole box of chocolates, which was not what I wanted to do. Three weeks of looking after 2 small children and a baby, no partner, ground me down to nothing and I ate the chocolates without enjoyment.

However he has taken them for tonight. My first child free night in 2 years. I am sitting here stunned, not sure what to do next. I will have to start cleaning soon though. The place is like a crime scene.

So to the new starters, keep going, you are doing fantastically. Before you know it you will not be even bothered by the thought of drinking, it definitely goes away!
If you are anything like me your while life could change in dramatic ways. The desire to scoff chocolate though is a whole nother thing! I have got to stop buying it.

The wise bartender is a great site you have there for non alcoholic drinks. There seems to be far more range of AF drinks in UK than in Australia. Still a massively boozy country here.

Have a great weekend sisters !

That’s v encouraging! Had another sleepless night and hangover. It’s almost like the feeling is familiar and reassuring even tho it feels like crap. Which is worrying. Am also not getting anything done - too tired/I’ll to do washing etc. Not good. A lot going on, but this does not help. But I feel like I need to cling on to a bottle, like a life raft. Today will be day 1. For sure .

@HotelRoomforOne you are amazing....amazing! I am so so so happy for you and proud of you. 100 days is huge, and considering everything you are dealing with it's a fantastic thing. You have really done yourself such a huge favour, imagine how endlessly worse all of it would be while drinking. And I agree re not even considering having a drink now, it's weird isn't it? Congratulations

Magic you need to stop seeing the bottle as a raft and realise it's what is making you sink. Because it is. Start with the quit lit....it will help you see

@Magicsprinkles try not to be disheartened. I never thought I could ever stop for what is so far 17 days. Everything you said in this latest post rings SO true for me. That's exactly how I was feeling. My decision to stop for lockdown was like the flick of a switch (only a few days before, after hearing Chris Evans in his breakfast show say he might do it) and I was scared and excited at the same time. I didn't tell anyone, for fear of failing, but now I've told a few of my best friends. It helps that we are in lockdown and can't socialise, and my husband doesn't really drink so there's no external temptation at home.

@Magicsprinkles you CAN break this cycle. There's 13 days left of lockdown - join me in those 13 days! I'll hold your hand. Honestly, if I can stop for a few weeks, anyone can 🤣

@HotelRoomforOne huge congratulations to you. That's an amazing achievement 👏👏👏

Congratulations @HotelRoomforOne ! That’s brilliant, 100 days sounds like such a long time. It’s so encouraging to read of your success. Thank you for the wise bartender recommendation too - lots there for me!

Thank you for the encouragement too, @SnoopyMcLoopy and @fluckityfluckfluck I really appreciate it. I started a few days into lockdown and have just realised that there is now only one Friday left in lockdown. It’s the Fridays that are the biggest challenge for me. I ran myself a big bath last night and had a mug of tea. Day 13 here.

Stay strong @Magicsprinkles . I can pass you virtual cups of while @SnoopyMcLoopy holds your hand.

Oh the irony of me holding someone else's hand in an alcohol reduction thread 🤣

Snoopy that is how I feel

@fluckityfluckfluck it's just all a bit Monty Python.

I joined this thread in the back of another which is for dry November, so I'm an imposter here really and may have to leave by the back door on Dec 4th. Having said that, I will hopefully have broken this god damn stupid habit and be more moderate (famous last words).

Thanks for all the support here it really helps 👏👏👏

Day 1! Thank you pythons! You made me laugh, and, I finally got another day 1 thinking of you all. You are doing so well, it’s an inspiration 💐

Woo hoo! Well done @Magicsprinkles!

@Magicsprinkles that's great news! Well done 😀

Thank you for your kind words @fluckityfluckfluck. I couldn't have done it without you and this thread!

You go @Magicsprinkles the start can be so exhilarating! Keep going! Thank you for your encouragement @Magicsprinkles and @SnoopyMcLoopy, it means a lot. No one in real life knows about my 100 days, so it's nice to be here.for a little celebration.

Is anyone else worried about Christmas drinking? I'm pretty worried about my resistance levels dropping at xmas. Not sure if it will be just me with kids or ex partner will come over, two scenarios with very different stress levels!
How do you manage xmas with ex and kids @fluckityfluckfluck? Are you over virus and quarantine now?

How's you @ImMoana? All good?

Thank you too @Blackberryblossom.. how is it going today?