How do I stop drinking? Or cut down at the very least?

[confusedlots]

I've got myself into awful habits with alcohol and it sounds ridiculous but I just can't stop. I know it's easy to say just don't have it In the house so you have no choice, but I always convince myself there's some reason to buy another few bottles. My skin is awful, i'm feeling really low and irritable and just have a constant brain fog.

I have a professional job and somehow manage to hold it down ok, and young children who are well fed, clean etc.

I've had a really difficult and stressful year and it's all just got so out of control. I'm often on my own in the evenings once the kids are in bed (this is a temporary thing due to DH's work but likely to last a few more months) and I just get so bored. I'm also worn down by the monotony of life, work, young kids, thinking about what to make for dinner etc. A glass of wine gives me a little lift, but once I've had that first one I just take it too far. One or one and a half bottles is my norm.

I'm going to give myself a target of getting to the weekend without a drink, this is something I probably haven't done in about a year. I really need to do this, and any encouragement or tips are very welcome.

Hi @nobblybob I've been awake since half three so just going to copy and paste from the day one thread I'm on. I'm back in bed now, hoping for an hour before the kids are up

it's tough. I struggled yesterday. I didn't want to drink but my family started the Easter celebrations early and I felt really edgy and almost vulnerable. Hence I'm wide awake now as I had 2 cans of cold coke out of the fridge and slunk off to bed at 8.30 but I stayed with the uncomfortable feelings, had plans ready, a film with the kids or a long bath, i had a massive early tea. The worst of my anxiousness had gone within about an hour, and that's pretty good going for me. Is it bad that I hope they're all hungover today so they won't want to drink later?

This weekend is going to be tough I think for a lot. Oh well, can't change it, accept it. I've previously gone out at Easter, never ends well. One year a broken ankle from a drunk fall, another year being carried to someone's house and driven home because I was so pissed. Oh the shame!! Well, that's really put me off now.
Ooh I was brave earlier aswell, haven't turned my phone on for 20 days after I got so drunk and I was so scared incase loads of people had messaged me saying I was a dick. There was nothing, just a friend asking me to watch her play (sorry, I've missed it now 😣😂).
I'm gonna get up now I think, my backs hurting lying here. Time for a cup of decaf. If I make it through today (I will) I'll be 21 days sober.

@confusedlots OK so it's good you're aware of the amount. You asked for tips in your initial post. My first is to not call this 'hideous'. It's 60 or 70 units a week. Just a number. The moment you call it hideous you're having a go at yourself. Why not instead see that you're on this thread, you want to make changes. That is very good.

Second tip: don't try to go from 60/70 units a week to nothing. You'll end up using willpower. And willpower simply doesn't last over the long haul.

Instead set a 'doable' target. Decide that now for this evening. How about half a glass less than what you drank yesterday? Is that achievable?

How do you think you'll feel if you set this target and achieve it on purpose?

Oh @Haveatakeaway sorry you've had such a rough eve. However tired and anxious you feel today, it would be 100% worse if you had a hangover too! Well done, it surely can't be like this forever- the craving and anxiety. Hope you conquer today, and if not, we try, try and try again. This isn't my first sober stint!

Ps. Your drunk stories are similar to mine. I actually got 2 of my fingers checked out yesterday after I broke them on a bender 2 years ago. Fell down the stairs on a bus! Turns out I need surgery. Drunk me is an idiot. I need to hop onto the Day 1 thread..

thank you @NobblyBob oh no! The things we've put our poor bodies through. Surgery! Will they ask you how you did it? You're so right, we keep on trying. Still motivated. I really didn't want a drink at all, if they'd have put one infront of me I wouldn't have touched it. I almost felt like they were in a club that I wasn't allowed in. But I don't want to be in that club anymore lol.
Everyone keeps saying how proud they are of me which is nice, but I warned my mum that if my inner Gollum craving voice came out I could absolutely lie through my teeth to get a drink. I feel like I'm giving away all our drinking secrets 😂 I'm still happily in smeagle mode.

Do you have any Easter plans?

Everyone here (except for me) is hungover so I shall be making the bacon sandwiches shortly. Think I'll do some weeding, it looks nice today. I still need to get my eldest an Easter egg and the smaller two want to do an egg hunt on Sunday. I looked if there were any local ones happening and the only one I've seen is in...the grottiest pub in our town I haven't been in there since new years eve and I can't go near a bar yet, so that's a no.
Got a leg of lamb for Sunday and I think there are some good films on, then Monday mum wants to do a buffet.
I've asked her to drive me to the shop later to try and find Easter eggs but hopefully I can get in the bloody door! If not she's fab and will get what she can for me.

Join us on day one thread!

Anyone struggling today in this beautiful weather?

@Screenaddict87 how unnecessary. If you're an alcoholic why are you judging others? Some empathy goes a long way.

Yes @Guardsman18 very. I relapsed, I was mindful and didn't get stupid but I drank yesterday. But we keep going

I'd love to know what Screenaddict87 posted. Not that I have loads of time on my hands!

How are you today @Haveatakeaway?

I'm ok, I was pretty sensible and in bed early. It's a bump in my journey but I'm not beating myself up about it.
Regarding the deleted post, we're not alcoholics, they are so we should get off this thread

Good for you. As you say, just a bump in your journey.

Thanks for info on deleted post. I wonder what he/she constitutes as a 'real' alcoholic?!