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.

Hi borrowbox. I hope the weather is good in Scotland!
Day 15 is immense, well done for not caving at day 11, 12! Social occasion also immense! Well done!
Yes, it was a very moving post. Certainly struck me, made me cry and the 2 days later I was drinking again. Alcohol is really nasty in that respect.
I’m glad visualising an unhealthy liver helps! I’m trying to make it as yucky as possible! I’m going to aim for my own day 15. A wee challenge to me 😀

Good morning, hope you are all safe during this latest storm. It's had me awake since 5am it definitely sounds worse than the last one. @borrowbox I really do hope it settles down before your holiday.
Reading the weather reports it should settle near me around midday if so i plan to go the local coffee shop with a book and do some people watching.
One of the earlier posters recommended this and it really has helped. Isolation and loneliness were one of my triggers. It feels so nice to face the world sober and not anxious thinking people can tell I'm a drinker. Plus going to the same coffee shop regularly ive slowly started to get to know people and not be such a hermit. Starting to realise the substance I was drinking to alleviate my social anxiety actually made it worse in the long run. Day 24 here

Thank you all for the lovely welcome. Day 1 done. Day 2 today! It's so refreshing not to wake up feeling groggy and hungover.

Totally agree! Woke up at 2 as usual..and it was 6! I’d had a good sleep! So lovely not to feel blurgh.

One day that’s a really good idea. I worked at a coffee shop and chatting to customers was definitely the best part!

Also a tip…try a posh hotel! The one near us has big sofas by a fire and yes it’s £10 for scone and tea, but…you get a massive pot of lovely tea and two sones with masses of jam and cream…and did I mention the fire?!
Compared to a fiver for chips in Nando’s I call that a bargain! ( I know they’re not comparable! Good nights sleep is making me mad)

@Cleanbedlinen12 oohh i love that idea. Going to do some research on trip advisor.
@catrice it's so nice waking up hangover free. Hold onto that feeling it's one of the first gifts of many you are giving yourself.

@onedayiwillflyaway1 @Cleanbedlinen12
@borrowbox @Rupertpenrysmistress @catrice. Thank you for all your kind words of encouragement. Also long time lurker, but rarely post. Was kind to myself yesterday, licking my wounds, literally, with witch hazel, and generally hiding away. DH out at work all day until gone midnight b/c of the storms. Spoke briefly when he got home and he’s very sympathetic towards my injuries and said he’s drinking too much as well, so maybe we’ll double team on stopping? Apologised again to our daughters about me being so drunk again.

I listened to the first 3 chapters of alcohol explained, but need to go back as was dozing, but didn’t sleep at all last night, so anxiety massive this morning and back to work following a week off. Had to cancel going swimming this morning as feel too self conscious about my bruises, which is usually my space to gather my thoughts, so will definitely return when feeling less pained.

Really hoping that the health benefits I will have when the anxiety passes spur me on, I have got 2 social occasions coming up over the next couple of weeks and worrying about how to explain not drinking, especially as one is at a BYOB restaurant, but in equal measures I am looking forward to more productive weekends and more restorative sleep when it comes.

So Day 2 - hope everyone on the same journey has a wonderful day, sounds like a great plan for coffee and people watching @onedayiwillflyaway1

Hello all! I can’t believe it! Another night with a cuppa tea! Day 4!
Glad you like the hotel idea, hope it works!
Icanseeyoursoul..I’ve found that Dp stopping as well is definitely helping.100%. In fact he stopped a week earlier, which helped throw a spotlight onto what a twit I was being.
Also I have found just to drink plain tonic, or #ay you have a lot on the next day, or the old classic, say you are taking antibiotics.
Here’s to a hangover free morning!

Hi @Cleanbedlinen12 - well done for day 4 onwards and upwards, amazing work!

That’s interesting about your DP - have hardly seen my DH due to him having to work on storm damage, but from our brief conversation yesterday he might have a break, which is good for him, but I said it’s only me who can control me, and that’s all fine. Thought this morning that I could just say I’m trying a few lifestyle changes due to big 50 this year, and am hoping to offer to drive, although car currently in the garage as making some odd noises, so will see, but very much looking forward to another hangover free morning

Hi icanseeyoursoul. Hangover free mornings are amazing! What have we been missing all these years?!
As long as it’s the car making odd noises and not you. I reckon if you say all confident and cheery ,’ I’m trying out this amazing health kick due to being 50’ they’ll all be jealous.
50! How did that happen? ( happy birthday) I’m 57. It suddenly goes really fast.
Dp caved today and opened a posh splosh..and I had just half a glass, go me! Sipped it slowly..and it made me feel crap almost instantly! Normally I’d just neck more to hide the crap feeling. What WAS I thinking?
Was brilliant to think of this tread, and the books you have all recommended. Dp necked the rest then regretted it. Ha ha I am VERY smug😇😇😇😇😇😇😇

Evening, it has been another politics ridden day at work, but because I'm well rested and not riddled with hangxiety im better able to cope my emotional resilience is a lot better.
It is nice to hear your DP's are supporting you, I have a dear friend who I can be honest with and she has been a massive support.
@Cleanbedlinen12 four days is brilliant glad you were able to stop at the half a drink its reminded me of how felt when I had the G&Ts some how i was able to press the stop button. Really don't want to risk it again we all know how it creeps up.
@icanseeyoursoul hope the car isn't too much of an expense and sorted soon.
Im 50 in two years that has given me the same sense of wanting to make changes with my bad habits.
I went for my coffee and cake yesterday I really look forwards to that treat.
Going to listen to some headspace meditations to switch my brain off hopefully.
Looking forwards to another hangover free morning tomorrow.

Witching hour! Good luck everyone! Ethanol. Destroys the brain, causes cancers…..

Yay! Another night down. Ate my body weight in crisps and mash! How did you all do? How was your coffee and cake onedayiwillflyaway

Hello all, checking in! I have been absolutely exhausted this week, but plodding on. Nice to catch up on the chat. Just hit 18 days here, love seeing the app counting up the days, calories and savings.

It is DH's birthday on Friday and I was worrying about it, but think I am going to be OK. I am currently eating more chocolate than I have ever eaten though! I can tackle that addiction later

How is everyone else doing?

Yey another day done for me too. I love my weekend coffee and cake treat it is replacing cravings for wine. I nipped into some homeware shop near me on my way home and did some browsing didn't buy just looking at ideas. Would normally dash home for wine o'clock felt nice to have a leisurely stroll rather than being in such a hurry to get on the sofa with a bottle. Had an assignment to do tonight which ive completed with ease. @Cleanbedlinen12 crips and mash in the same sitting? I'm currently on my third bag of salt n shake washed down with Ginger cordial and sparkling water.
@borrowbox what plans do you have for your DH birthday? I'm sure you will be ok, and enjoy it just as much without alcohol just play the tape forward to the next morning. I took a selfie of myself on one of my worst hangover mornings it is horrific. I look at that every time I have a craving. Its working up to now.

@onedayiwillflyaway1 I love that tip about playing the tape forward. I have read that elsewhere and it really works. I am looking forward to tomorrow now. I seem to be replacing alcohol with nice food atm so lots of options available for a good evening We are probably going to go out for a nice lunch, then pick the kids up and have presents, cake, dinner. I agree about not having to rush home. I nearly went to the supermarket at 8pm last night, not for wine, but for cake, yummy things for tomorrow. My evenings have totally freed up and I love it.

I really need to steal the posh coffee and cake idea. My dry app tells me I have currently saved £170 so I can afford it (not sure I could afford the wine habit though!) I read someone else say that giving up wine was like taking on a second job where you don't have to do anything to get paid!

Come on here for witching hour Inspo. Thanks! That’s an amazing amount to save, a good way of looking at it. Mind you am eating my way thru another MASSIVE bag of crisps. Lidls deluxe, very nice! Better than kettle crisps I think

Cripes ! Roughly £100 a month just for me. When Dh joins in we must have been getting through close on £200 a month!😳😳😳😳😳

That’s a lot of crisps!😁

A lot of crisps @Cleanbedlinen12

I am about to go out to the shops, later than I would like, as it means hitting the wine aisle at peak craving time, like old times.

I will just have to browse the crisps instead!

You’ve got this! Crisps are great! Fill you up too much to drink anything 😅
Think ethanol, liver disease waking exhausted..all wrapped up in a bottle with a skull and crossbones on. It’s sour nasty poison.
You can do it !

Think CAKE!

Crisp shortage, so many brands missing!! Did you get there first @Cleanbedlinen12 ?? Actually, I remember noticing the crisp shortage before anyone else. I was moaning to people and they didn't know what I was talking about. I was way too invested! I went months without chipsticks which have gone again.

I bought cake but that is reserved for tomorrow. I was very good and hurried past the alcohol. It was like the old days when a whole section wasn't relevant, like the pet food aisle.

Aw well done you! That’s super immense and brilliant!
😂to the crisp thing, it may well have been me! I seem to have eaten my way round the local co op. Now you mention it though, I haven’t seen chipsticks in an age…hmmm.
Here’s to us both..and everyone else! Another night! 💐👍