Today I said it out loud

[Iriseup]

For the first time I said aloud that I have a problem with alcohol. I didn't go into detail. I didn't share that I was getting through a few bottles of vodka a week and it was my crutch to get through everything life has thrown at me in the past few years. I didn't say I've been through periods of weekends only or months of abstinence. But I said it aloud. Today I am one week alcohol free and today I admitted to myself I need to get a handle on it. Putting it in writing is making it real to myself too. One day at a time and despite a horrendous day I am not going to drink. But I'm going to quietly celebrate that today I am making that change permanently

Thank you. It’s the evenings I really struggle with. I spend all day chanting to myself “I won’t have a drink tonight” but it’s like I’m possessed and put the bottle of wine in the fridge regardless.
I’m going to work really hard to break that pattern. I need to change.

How are you getting on @ImTheFuckOffCar? I'm over 2 weeks now and very proud of myself. I'm definitely thinking about alcohol less, more hydrated and not missing the way I feel in the mornings or the panic that someone will smell alcohol on me but I know there is still a long road ahead

Two weeks is amazing @Iriseup ! Well done.
I haven’t been as successful but I still want to stop. It’s the first of the month so I will try again and see how I go.
I always name change on the first of the month but I will come back and update in a couple of weeks.

@Iriseup just wanted to say well done for stopping. I'm on a thread with others who have stopped drinking which is really supportive- you are more than welcome to join us. I'm not able to link to it and can't remember the name but has Freedom in the title and is in Alcohol Support topic.

Any success is something. Focus on just one day for now and imagine how proud you will feel the next day. The temptation is real and I can feel myself thinking about future events and the drink I would have before hand to "steady the nerves". When I do I grab a cold drink and that seems to help. I can feel alight changes in my weight too so that's an added bonus and it's making me want to lose weight too. You can do this

Hi @Iriseup and all others who are getting their lives back in this thread. I hope it’s ok if I post here too?

I’ve said it out loud myself in the last couple of weeks, but today is my first Day completely AF.

I had my last drink yesterday morning; a bottle of red wine that I had left from Saturday. I finished it by midday and spent rest of day on this forum and reading Quit Lit. Woke up this morning and it would have been so easy to order a delivery of more (I won’t go into shops) but I’m trying to take it one day at a time.

I either drank 2 to 3 bottles of wine a night or half a bottle whisky. My sister also battled awfully with alcoholism like your DH. You’d think that would have stopped me, but it was the opposite as she ended up taking her life, and I turned to alcohol as I believed it helped me cope with the grief.

I started reading Alcohol Explained today and that is helping me understand more about the logic of addiction. I’ve read good reviews so, fingers crossed.

Cold squash has helped today, but I’ve feel so lethargic and just flat. Hoping I sleep well tomorrow and wake up to another AF day tomorrow.

Good luck luck to all 💐

Apologies, I missed off @SadLittleLife ’s name when I referred to “..like your DH”

I was also like you @Iriseup in that I always would worry about people smelling alcohol on me in work, and I would try and WFH as much as I could to avoid that.

It’s such an exhausting element to it, on top of the weight gain (I snacked loads with booze too and have put on so much weight), health risks and drain on my bank.

Hi @Sureen you're absolutely welcome to join here. A couple of weeks in and it's still not coming naturally especially as I went out to the pub last night. The will power required was intense. Like you I was putting away empty calories in alcohol but so much in food as well. Really pleased to have knocked that on the head - alcohol and chocolate free currently.

I've found atomic habits to be useful (James clear book) in reframing my thinking. I identify as someone that doesn't drink, so what choice would someone who doesn't drink make in this situation etc. Its helping me make the right choices and focus on the process, not the goal.

I'm sorry to hear about your sister and experiences. I hope somehow it gives you motivation now even if it hasn't before x

Thank you @Iriseup. I’ve just taken a look at Atomic Habits, it looks intriguing. And I like the thought of the focusing on the process and reframing how you think of yourself as a non-drinker.

I know you said you were a reader, but did you read or listen to it on audio?

While so difficult, you must be feeling incredibly proud of being in the pub last night and not drinking; that would have given me such a buzz and feeling of accomplishment.

Hope everyone has good days today.

Just reading this thread and cheering you brave women on. You really have done the hardest bit now, keep going! Have a look at podcasts - I listed to one of Janey Lee Grace's podcasts every single day for my first 100 days and I swear it's what kept me going. Good luck.

aw OP well done!!