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Alcohol support

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Original poster

I need to abstain for two nights - handholds welcome

43 replies

JustTwoNights · 08/07/2022 15:21

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.

OP posts:

3luckystars · 09/07/2022 21:48

Well done. You can do this!

pointythings · 09/07/2022 22:23

If you're drinking to get fuzzy, you need to start asking yourself why you feel that need. You know drinking daily isn't good - if you can get a handle on why you feel the need to do it and then address that, you're on a winner.

Original poster

JustTwoNights · 09/07/2022 22:31

You're right of course @pointythings There were reasons once but those reasons aren't necessarily still at play but then you have got stuck into the habit I suppose. I smoked for years and gave up completely 15 years ago. I wish I could remember how I reshaped my thinking on that one. It's good to know it's possible I suppose.

In other news just had a nightcap of strawberry milk.

OP posts:

coodawoodashooda · 09/07/2022 22:36

JustTwoNights · 09/07/2022 21:40

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.

Look up before and after alcohol free photos. It is always a bit of a shocker.

pointythings · 09/07/2022 22:52

@JustTwoNights I used to drink close to 50 units a week. It was just habit, and my late husband drank a hell of a lot more than that.

Then I got a really bad cold - one that stops you from actually tasting things properly - and I realised I couldn't taste the nice white wine I was drinking and it was just what I always did.

So I decided to do a dry month, with two aims: 1) to see if I could, and 2) to stop drinking altogether if I found it hard.

I didn't find it hard at all, the benefits were massive and 7 years on I drink very moderately and never get fussy. Meanwhile my husband is no longer alive, due to his alcohol habit.

If you have managed to stop smoking, you can also sort out your drinking.

Sittingonabench · 09/07/2022 22:57

Its great that you’re doing it - I agree that it’s likely habit rather than a dependence but habits can be really hard to break. Maybe not helpful for this time around but when I was giving up alcohol for lent a while back I bought some rum flavouring from sainsburys (for cakes really) and would put a couple of drops into some coke. It tasted really good. We’ll done for your abstinence.

Calphurnia · 09/07/2022 23:00

Listen to or read The Alcohol Experiment by Annie Grace.
Presents lots of information, and sets a challenge to stay Alcohol free for 30 days, checking in with how you feel.
It's eye opening!

SquishyGloopyBum · 09/07/2022 23:07

Do you think you will carry on after this op? I hope so.

Original poster

JustTwoNights · 09/07/2022 23:07

I have got it on my Kindle but the first half just seemed to be a litany of all the terrible effects alcohol has on your body, and it just scared me off! Maybe it gets better...

OP posts:

Ariela · 09/07/2022 23:10

Just chipping in (as I have an early start, and just off to bed) to say well done on all the house sorting! Sounds great.
Just think a) how much £ you'll save by not drinking and b) how much nicer your house will be.

Hope the journey goes well.

Original poster

JustTwoNights · 09/07/2022 23:49

Thank you everyone for the support and gentle words. It's over 48 hours since my last drink and I reckon I'll be fine, calm and in control for tomorrow certainly til I'm off duty at 6pm, which is what I wanted. Whether I keep it going is something to think about. But I'll keep lurking on the board and hopefully able to offer support to others in due course!!!

OP posts:

ladydoris · 10/07/2022 04:35

Well hello morning, well done OP, you've made it !

numberthirtytwowindsorgardens · 10/07/2022 05:40

Go OP, you superstar! 🌟

Hope you have a good day today - you've earned it!

LetMeInYourWindow · 10/07/2022 08:20

@Reallyreallyborednow I’m 2 years sober thanks.
I was just trying to give a little light positivity to op, she does feel good, and rightly so, for abstaining.

Well done @JustTwoNights I hope you are blessed with light traffic for your trip.

pointythings · 10/07/2022 09:19

@JustTwoNights I wish you empty roads and no roadworks!

coodawoodashooda · 10/07/2022 22:03

How did you get on op?

Original poster

JustTwoNights · 10/07/2022 22:16

I did the two nights booze free and got the teenagers there and back safely with a clear head and good humour and concentration, and was calm and in control, they had great if hot day - I can't claim any sort of major epiphany but I am fortified by knowing I am not as much in the grip of it all as perhaps I might have thought.

OP posts:

coodawoodashooda · 10/07/2022 23:01

Well done op. I don't think it needs to be a major epiphany. Over the last 4 years I've had times of total abstinence, cutting back and the odd big night. Take it slowly. I have found insta and tik tok filled with helpful information.

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