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.

@Cleanbedlinen12 I've got an app called Balance. I just log on each night and log my symptoms, diet and activity each day. Takes 5 minutes took a while to get in the habit but I'm now starting to see patterns.
@Nouveaunew I've definitely been a slave to my hormones. I'm on a mission to try and understand the affect they have on my moods etc during my cycle. It might help me understand my impulses and urges for alcohol to self medicate. Starflower oil, I will look into that I'm just starting seed cycling (nothing to do with bicycles) but I do love a tootle out on my bicycle 😂.

Can’t sleep, anxiety!

@Cleanbedlinen12 I hope you managed to drift off to sleep eventually. I still have restless nights occasionally they are frustrating and normally occur when I need am early start.

@onedayiwillflyaway1
i’ve never heard of seed cycling. I must look it up. the starflower oil has definitely helped me in terms of the insane hormonal fluctuations.

day 11 here. I can’t wait to actually feel better. I’m still feeling sluggish and sick to the stomach from fake gin - I thought it was the answer to everything as I like the taste but it really turns my stomach whatever the hell is in it!

Day 4 ( again) well done nouvexnew agh, can’t spell!
sorry to hear about the fake gin. It does sound like the answer. I’m too tight to buy it! But I’ve always wondered what you could do with herb teas and lemon and ice.

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/gin-free-gt You’ve got me googling. This sounds nice. Needs juniper to be proper Ginny.

@Nouveaunew i like appltizer or grapefruit juice with sparkling water in a champagne glass. For a warm soothing tea I steep lemon, ginger and basil in a tea pot. You will start feeling better soon, your body and brain are doing lots of repairs behind the scenes. Remember to stay hydrated and take a multi vitamin.
@Cleanbedlinen12 hope you get a sound sleep tonight if the anxiety is caused by mild withdrawal it should pass soon. Thanks for sharing the link, finding different tea blends and mocktail recipes has become a bit of an obsession since being sober.

this isn't a flounce, but I thought it was respectful to let you know that I'm no longer going to participate in mumsnet. I wish all you lovely people the best but I'm signing out to get back to real life something I've been avoiding for a while.

If you are still here oneday may I just say what an inspiration and top banana you are, I wish you all the best and strength to deal with it. Thank you for letting us know. Really appreciate it. You have been very influential! Should i ( and I’m sure everyone else too) ever be able to help in any way, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Thank you and very best wishes 💐💐💐💐💐

Thanks @Cleanbedlinen12

Thanks for the words and best of luck @onedayiwillflyaway1

Day 6!

I feel I could have written the exact post OP!

I'm on day 3 after nearly 30 years of abusing my system with too much booze. I have health issues and after learning what I've learned, the thought of drinking makes my throat feel funny like I'll be sick.

Thank so much for starting the thread, I'll jjoin in.

Day 7..

And welcome three cups of tea!

Hi @threecupsofteaminimum
Day 21 here. It has flown by and dragged by all at once.
Biggest boost is adding up how much money I have "saved."
In reality most of the £105 I've not spent on booze these past three weeks has been spent on others things I enjoy, that are good for me
Hope everyone is doing well xx

I should maybe say the money was for booze for two. I don't have that expensive taste!

That’s super well done! I used to know people that would spend that on one bottle. Those were the days!
I’ve slipped again recently. Don’t know why I can’t just stop. At least it’s gone down. Also realised it’s to do with Dp. He gets very stressed and I realised - finally - he puts it onto me, I drink to self medicate. Thank you you tube and mn!
there’s no booze in the house now. Thank goodness. And I am going to copy you and put the cash in a piggy bank so that I can see it with my little avaricious eyes, and dream of treats.
well done all! And anyone that’s slipped, well done for not giving up giving up! Nasty stuff, just need to remember that!

@Cleanbedlinen12 slipping will maybe get less now you know what's triggering it?
I pick up on my dh mood so it's like I'm dealing with his emotions and mine. I'm getting better at ignoring him
No booze in the house is good. Being tempted and having to go all the way to the shops and buy something you know you don't really want is much harder than a walk to the kitchen.

Well done for drinking less even though you had a wee blip. It's a wee victory.
I've been adding up on my (iPad) calendar. Jotting down when I would spend and how much, and adding it up week by week. I write on my calendar 7 days, 14 days and 21 days. Looking forward to 30 days. I think seeing it written down helps me. I tried apps but they don't write it down the way I want, not that I'm picky or anything.

Well done Jesus! Thanks for the encouragement, I’d been too ashamed to come back on here! I think you’re right, now I know what’s triggering it, I can think logically. It’s hard when you pick up on their moods isn’t it? I know people say you’re not responsible, but you are still in the room, or on your way out of it pronto!😄
I know what you mean about an app. some just aren’t right. It’s like calendars! I’m now on day..who knows. not much anyway. Well done you!

@Cleanbedlinen12
Never be ashamed. You're still here and still trying.

I suppose picking up on other peoples moods means we are the sensitive sort? I know I need to learn to stop giving so much of a shit about situations I can't control. I pick up other peoples anxiety in zoom calls ffs. I join the group call, all chilled and calm and by the end of it I can be a jittery wreck because of one persons mood
Hope you rack up a few more af days again and you can feel the fog lifting.

Thanks Jesus. That’s another night drinking half a bottle. All sense goes out the window at wine o clock. I am sooo fed up with myself. Others on mn seem to manage it. I guess I need to plan more, and be really aware that cooking time is deadly.

ok, am inspired by you and crunchymum on another thread. You are all rocking it over there and I’m still sitting in a puddle of self loathing and hopelessness. Crunchymum said about 90 days in she didn’t want to drink at all any more.
soo.. 90 days is my new specific goal. I realised I’ve been trying or hoping to give up for years. My parents always thought booze was cool, my brother struggles and my mum ended up addicted, though it was just a civilised drink each night, it wasn’t really. I’m ashamed I can’t even make it into the other thread. That’s my initial goal! Here is my day 1. And I will stick to it.

Day 1. Dh complaining about work. Luckily he’s drunk the wine😀

Day 2 went for pizza.

I hope no one minds, it seems this thread has finished really, but I’d like to keep it in the sprit of OP as notes/ a record to keep me accountable me - and anyone else who wants to join in obvs. I owe a lot to the people here who have given me a reason, and the encouragement, to keep giving up giving up. Especially cleanbedlinen I hope you are doing what you need to do successfully!
jesus thanks - I know the feeling on zoom. It’s mad isn’t it!
There’s a thread somewhere about what helped people most in life, and a LOT of people posted ‘ giving up alcohol’ . I’m also educating myself about the effects, which i somehow I couldn’t find last time I looked, but goodness, how is this stuff even legal?
So, woke having slept intermittently but very heavily feeling fuzzy headed. Taking multi and b vits. Reading about lack of b vits is scary. So obviously nutrition and excersise will need to be looked at next. Day 3 begins! Or, counting down, day 86. I’ll see which works better! Like everyone else whose done so well, so can I/ we!