Alcohol Explained. Day one

[onedayiwillflyaway1]

Hello,
I'm a long time lurker and long time drinker. I've had the day off work today and after another boozy night and my anxiety this morning this lead me to have a beer for hair of the dog. I suddenly realised this is heading only one way, so I downloaded Alcohol Explained and spent the afternoon listening to it whilst sipping my last bottle of wine. Even though I know my own journey of how I got here, it was truly an eye opener and is one of those books that once read, denial is now not an option.
I'm now wide awake with one beer left but I've decided that tomorrow is my day one of quitting alcohol altogether. I've tried moderation, occasional abstinence etc but it always sucks me back in and now I know why. I'm not looking forward to tomorrow but I know I can get through it hopefully now fully armed with the knowledge I've just heard. My plan is to use this thread to track my journey and share my experience. Lastly I would like to thank each and everyone of you who have shared your experience over the years.

Good luck op, let us know how it goes. And congratulations on making the decision to make changes.

@ladygindiva Thank you, i'm feeling a bit scared and lonely to be honest. I've made a list of all the positive things to look forward to. I started drinking quite young about 14 because of social anxiety but it always made me sick so it was only occasionally. Then i was pretty much teetotal until a messy divorce seven years ago where i escaped one bad relationship and fell into another with alcohol. It has escalated recently I've got some work to do I suppose but drowning my sorrows is not the answer.

If it makes you feel less lonely, post here when you need encouragement. I love mumsnet for that sort of support.

I haven’t touched alcohol since I read that book. It literally cured me of my addiction. Years of alcohol abuse and feeling like there was no hope for me cured just like that. I can’t even stomach the thought of drinking alcohol now, even when I’m stressed or excited … any of the triggers - don’t work anymore. I’ll never give in to them.

Just last night DH and I were discussing booking a restaurant for Valentines and I cheerfully said “we can go anywhere! I’ll be driving ☺️“ … feels so good not having to worry about taxis etc

Keep posting. You’ve done the best thing reading that book. I’m on day 27.

Well done @onedayiwillflyaway1 for making the decision. I'm on day 26 and I'm feeling so much better. I used to drink every night, wake up with my heart hammering and full on anxiety. My work suffered and worst of all my relationship with my ds suffered (tired and bad tempered and impatient all the time). Between giving up drink and HRT finally kicking in I feel like me again.

One day at a time and keep posting if it helps

I’ve just bought it and the follow up on these recommendations- on offer at the moment. I’ve also downloaded the audible version.
It’s time to quit for my health and I just can’t moderate.
I have to find something to replace alcohol though- a long bath and some interesting flavoured tea just doesn’t have the same lure. Still I am open minded and would really like to hear how others have managed to quit. Best of luck everyone

Morning, i woke up a couple of hours ago with the usual crippling anxiety. Just lay under my duvet praying for it to go. I've just got myself a glass of cordial to sip on not my usual coffee. I feel really strung out and a bit spacey. The plan today is to just completely rest and eat something later maybe have a bath. @SnotRags and @GiveMyHeadPeaceffs thank you for your support it really helps im so glad I listened to that audio book it gave information I just can't ignore and helped me get rid of the shame I've been feeling which triggered me to reach for the wine. @JenTree3000 take some timeout and give them a listen I hope they have the same affect for you. Will post again later.

@JenTree3000

I’ve just bought it and the follow up on these recommendations- on offer at the moment. I’ve also downloaded the audible version. It’s time to quit for my health and I just can’t moderate. I have to find something to replace alcohol though- a long bath and some interesting flavoured tea just doesn’t have the same lure. Still I am open minded and would really like to hear how others have managed to quit. Best of luck everyone

I used to binge on beer. So when I quit I switched to alcohol free beer - it helped with the habitual side of things. I then switched to sparkling water, I don’t know why but it had an addictive side to it and I could drink as much as I wanted knowing I wasn’t doing anything bad.

Do you like cooking or baking? Go for a walk, doesn’t matter what the weather is like, embrace it. You’ll feel better once you’ve read the book, it makes you realise the psychology behind drinking and you will realise you don’t actually want it, you’ve just been brainwashed into thinking that you do

@onedayiwillflyaway1

Morning, i woke up a couple of hours ago with the usual crippling anxiety. Just lay under my duvet praying for it to go. I've just got myself a glass of cordial to sip on not my usual coffee. I feel really strung out and a bit spacey. The plan today is to just completely rest and eat something later maybe have a bath. *@SnotRags and @GiveMyHeadPeaceffs thank you for your support it really helps im so glad I listened to that audio book it gave information I just can't ignore and helped me get rid of the shame I've been feeling which triggered me to reach for the wine. @JenTree3000* take some timeout and give them a listen I hope they have the same affect for you. Will post again later.

Why didn’t you have your normal coffee? When I first stopped drinking I tried to cut caffeine out at the same time, big mistake! Ended up with the migraine from hell that required prescription drugs to get rid of. I’m not back on the caffeine - I was never born to be a saint 😁 Drink tons of water, do you like sparkling water?

That should say I’m now back on the caffeine!

I'm aso wondering why you have cut the coffee. I think you should treat yourself to coffee in whatever is its lovliest form for you.

Also wanted to say, re the anxiety, that I have certainly noticed that alcohol does increase my anxiety several hours after consumption. I don't get physial hangovers, but I've learned to regard alevated anxiety as a psychological hangover.

Cutting out alcohol will probably squash the pose-alcohol anxir=ety quite quickly. But of course you will still be left with whatever anxiety is part of your normal self and like. And of course it is massively tempting to use alcohol to temporarily supress it. But just remember that the temporary relief WILL bring an intensification of anxiety in a few hours.

It might be worth making a list of alternative ways of soothing anxiety. The first step might be to really notice the anxiety, observe how it feels.An unexamined or supressed feeling can be more tyrannical than one that we are able to sit with and truly feel.

Billion typos. Should have previewed.
Meant to say: 'normal self and life'

Today is the first day of the rest of your life

I have no advice but you can do this!

@SnotRags thought it best not to have a caffine rush just yet with feeling so jittery. I don't plan on quitting caffine completely I only have one or two coffees a day normally. Im feeling a bit more relaxed now just signed up for the alcohol experiment with Annie Grace. My house could do with a good clean and clear out but I'm not going to push myself to soon. That used to one of my things have a good clean up and treat myself to wine. That was until I thought oh wine first then clean of course the cleaning never got done.

As someone who is a few days off 2 years alcohol free...

You are making the best decision you will ever make. In two years time you will look back and be SOOOOO thankful you did this. It's the greatest gift you are able to give yourself.

it does get easier. It's ok to struggle. Talk about your struggles. Keep going xox

Omg I think I have to read the book! What is so good about the book? I just promised myself 100 days off the booze. I miss the ceremony of it more than anything else. Well done op.

@Random789 thank you that's sound advice. I will spend some time today thinking of other strategies to deal with anxiety and stress. @Sunshineandrainbow thank you I really do feel I've been given a fresh start just got to ride out the next few days.

I'm reducing because of going on keto but think I need to for health reasons and quite a few family members who are/sadly were alcoholics. Has anyone tried kombucha which is fermented tea - sounds horrible- but fruit flavoured, slightly fizzy and nice. Also like Vichy Catalan sparkling mineral water with ice and lemon to relax with watching tv - another habit - instead of wine. Anyway just wanted to let you know that many many people are cutting back especially as covid hasn't helped..so you're not alone and I'll be watching your thread and wishing everyone success.

@NotInMyFrontGardenYouDont I drink kombucha usually on a Friday night when I want that end-of-the-week feeling of not just drinking tea or water. I really love it. There's a lemon and elderflower one that is lovely, really refreshing, not too sweet and feels quite grown up. Oh and very low cal too!

@onedayiwillflyaway1 I honestly was very kind to myself at the start; I drank the coffee, ate the cake and the sweets, went for long walks and did early nights and it really helped. I read The Naked Mind and found it really helped me. I can't emphasise enough how much better I'm feeling after only a few weeks. You can do this!

@MrsYan thank you, well done on two years I am looking forward to getting my life back to how it used to be.
@coodawoodashooda I listened to it on audible it sank in better I did try and read it a while back but was drinking so heavily I just wasn't concentrating so it was less effective. He basically strips all the myths surrounding alcohol and the alleged benefits. Why not give it a listen with an open mind regardless of how much you drink and what your goal is.

Please join soberistas.com for support and lots of people in the same situation. It's amazing! X

Also Alcohol Explained has its own Facebook support group if you fancy joining ☺️

Welcome to the journey oneday it's tough but you can do it. Loads of support on here. I highly recommend Craig Beck also, personally I like audio books as for me it has more impact and I can't always concentrate. I am day 20 today and am finally seeing some benefits.

If you can identify your triggers that will help. For me it was wine whilst making dinner, now I prep earlier in the day when I can so I removed that association. I am not saying it will be easy as it literally can be hour by hour. Keep posting on here and we can help support you.

What are your plans for today? I like to go into a coffee shop and treat myself to a nice coffee, I take an non quit lit book and just sit peacefully for a while.

@NotInMyFrontGardenYouDont yes I've tried kombucha, it is nice there is a kombucha bar near me I will try. I've got some pink grapefruit juice in and sparkling water which i like and some fresh oranges.

@Rupertpenrysmistress In the past few months I have developed a daily drinking habit, but before that my triggers would be getting home from work or rewarding myself a treat for completing something. My plan today is to just rest I've been watching some Annie Grace podcasts but im feeling at of quitlit fatigue. Tomorrow I might take a walk to the village have some breakfast at the cafe as a treat instead.

The anxiety has lifted, im now dwelling on how badly my daily drinking habit has affected my family relationships and friendships but also reflecting on their unhealthy drinking habits. Whenever we meet up their is always lots of drink involved. I can't control what they do so I intend to just focus on my early recovery. I'm going to get up now and make myself some boiled egg and soilders (alcohol usually stops my appetite). Then once that is settled take a walk around the block. I'm prepared to probably have a restless night but I'm reminding myself it is part of the healing process.

You absolutely will not regret getting sober. I'm almost 16 months AF and genuinely will never go back. It just doesn't do what you think it does, when you think you're relaxing with a drink you're just storing up future anxiety.
One day at a time and keep going ❤