I need to abstain for two nights - handholds welcome

[JustTwoNights]

I have a long drive early on Sunday with a carful of teenagers and so I can't be getting tipsy on Saturday. And my house and garden are a complete state and I need to get a grip this weekend - even if just momentarily just to reset things back to normal. So I am going to try to have two nights alcohol free. I literally can't recall the last time that would have been outside of pregnancy 12 years ago... I drink far too much, to the point it barely affects me, only in evenings and I'm a fairly benign person after a drink so I have never reached that crisis point but I'm constantly aware how unhealthy my life has become.

Hoping if I can manage two days off the sauce I might have the courage to make more positive changes. I might just log here how it's going just to keep me on track... Hope that is OK.

I hope you awoke with a clear head and feeling refreshed today op, it will make thoughts of abstaining again tonight easier.

One day at a time.

Hello OP!

Good job on the decision to do two days, it's a great start. There's loads of evidence to suggest that many dependant drinkers give up by stringing together longer and longer periods of sobriety, rather than just giving up all at once.

Here's a tip; if you've drunk heavily for a long time far from feeling refreshed in the mornings the first few days (in my case about ten days) of giving up you may feel like you've been thrown down a flight of stairs.

Alcohol rinses your body of it's vital B vitamins so make sure you get vitamins down you every day. Water and naps are you friends too.

How you feeling at the moment?

Keep checking in! I'll be reading.

Well my house has never been so clean! I stayed strong and just launched myself into tipping out every cupboard in my room and having a bloody good sort out. Today I've got a bag of old uniform to foodbank, my old stuff to charity shop and a waste removal company took a load of garden waste away. I didnt sleep particularly well and feel quite manic but I think I'll be ok tonight. It's rewarding seeing my home getting back on track and I feel less anxious about our trip tomorrow. Thanks for the check in x

Focus on how nice you will feel in the morning.

Keep it going! Sounds like you are off to a flying start!

Just worked a sweat strumming the lawn and omg the neighbours are in full party BBQ mode. I am very very thirsty!! But on lime soda for now. Next three hours I think will be a challenge!!!😅

Strimming!!!

You will feel so good in the morning.

Don’t stop. Keep a ready supply of soft drink and snacks to hand. Well done.

Well done OP, keep it up !

An hour past wine o clock and have stuffed my face with home made burgers and crinkle cut chips from the deep fat fryer. Hoping for a carbohydrate induced coma come bedtime 😂 going to aggressively mow the grass next. I am reminded how much more you get done when you don't just slip into the wine. Who knew an evening could be so damn long?

Keep going OP you've got this!

I hope you awoke with a clear head and feeling refreshed today op, it will make thoughts of abstaining again tonight easier

You will feel so good in the morning

unfortunately alcohol dependence doesn’t work like this. The body is so used to having alcohol on board you feel utterly awful without it. Which is one of the reasons it’s so hard to give up, it’s a physical dependence and only alcohol will make you feel functional again.

keep going o/p. You can do it.

Good for you op.keep on going ! The chips sound great 😁

Keep going!! Think about how much safer the drive will be tomorrow.

Once you've got that far, perhaps time to think about stretching out the abstinence to next weekend?

Doing really well OP, keep up the great work (plus I'm impressed with how productive you're being 🥳)

The safety of the drive is my main motivation. I work from home and don't have much of a social life outside of walkable local things so I hardly ever have to drive let alone early. The thought of being a bit fuzzy on the road with kids to be responsible for is sickening. That's why I wanted a good run up of being clear headed. I've done the packed lunches, filled the tank and checked the map. I think I'm over the wine o clock slump but still feeling a bit flat as after tea lots of my tidying up needs doing again!

Encouragement is fab thank you x I honestly wouldn't have thought I could do this a week ago.

I stayed strong and just launched myself into tipping out every cupboard in my room and having a bloody good sort out.

Haha how many seconds later did you regret that? Why is proper cleaning out so damn hard? Wardrobes/cupboards of doom are THE worst.

Well done for being strong, enjoy your road trip tomorrow.

This could be your turning point where you get a handle on the beast and find other ways of keeping yourself happy. You really sound like you're nailing it.

For a good non-alcoholic drink I recommend tonic with Belvoir's ginger cordial - it has a proper bite to it.

That does sound good..

@TheCanyon 😂 oh god absolutely yes! But omg they needed doing , I'd got to the point of picking my clean clothes out of a massive pile on the blanket box because every drawer was filled with clothes from years ago I never wear any more. Now my clothes are in their rightful drawers like a functioning adults clothing! I've got to stay sensible til 6pm tomorrow but I wonder if I will carry on. It's fine until 5-8 ish which was my bingey sort of time but once out the other side it's tolerable. Keeping mad busy has helped not sure that's sustainable. Perhaps calm thoughts yoga and more camomile tea would be sensible counterbalance... Sorry still a bit manic!

You need a teen dd. I've learnt that's the secret, I tell her to fire through my wardrobe and then it's easy! I just chuck it all in the bin then moan I have nowt to wear. donotdothiswithpants

I think sparkling/fizzy juice is a good alternative. Ime, non alcoholic peroni and I think koppaberg taste the same, what do you normally drink?

If you can't sleep listen to podcasts.

I'm normally a spirits plus tonic or lemonade type but I like posh flavoured beers too. Also wine but the quantity I have to drink to feel tipsy is quite a lot and then I get horrible sugar crashes overnight so I prefer a g with a splash of t. Anything really. The only thing I swerve is anything strong flavoured like ouzo or tequila and red wine doesn't agree with me.

During the day and night I gorge on fizzy water from my beloved soda stream, my saving grace probably as I am usually plenty hydrated. I love a lime soda. I gave up caffeine last year but like Yorkshire tea decaff and most herbal teas.

I do like those desperado flavoured beers and I tried their 0% one and it was indistinguishable, really very good but tbh I drink to get fuzzy not to enjoy the taste so I haven't found a lookalikey that does it for me.

You've reminded me thinking about what I like Virgin Mary's are good with lots of Tabasco for a clean drink with a kick. I might get some tomato juice in. I think the virgin version is better than the alcoholic one weirdly.

Hey OP - sounds like you’re smashing this!!

Mmm I love a Virgin Mary too, loads of tobacco sauce & pepper, wish I had some tomato juice in now!!