Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have medical concerns, please seek medical attention; if you think your problem could be acute, do so immediately. Even qualified doctors can't diagnose over the internet, so do bear that in mind when seeking or giving advice.
Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have medical concerns, please seek medical attention; if you think your problem could be acute, do so immediately. Even qualified doctors can't diagnose over the internet, so do bear that in mind when seeking or giving advice.
Alcohol support
Bloody hell — 10 days AF!
LMBoston · 27/11/2022 07:25
Morning (awake at 6.15 on a Sunday)!
I’ve been lurking on this board on and off for a couple of years, it’s been so helpful in respect of thinking about (not) drinking. I’ve drunk daily for 30 years; a bottle of red a night through uni and my twenties, more during a marriage to a VERY heavy drinker that ended in divorce, 2 disastrous relationships with drinkers… during the bad times, I definitely used alcohol (and drugs) to numb myself. During good times, well it’s fun innit? 🙄
Done a month AF a couple of times which has certainly changed the way I drink. The last year I’ve cut right down to 1 or 2 glasses of white wine with ice every night, but it has crept up and I’m fed up. I’m worried about the damage I might have already done after being a booze hound for so long, can’t afford it, hate my dry skin and puffy eyes and just need to change. I live alone so there’s no one to monitor me, although my current partner hardly drinks at all so he’s very useful :)
I’ve made some huge life-changing decisions over the past year and this is another: I’ve stopped drinking. Not saying never again but definitely want to change my whole mindset about this stupid habit. I don’t want to mindlessly drink alone any longer just as a full stop to the day. Day 10 today!! Sleep isn’t great but I’ve always had problems there (Zopiclone was my best friend at some points… washed down with a glass of wine) and I’m starting to suspect that alcohol was actually part of the issue. Who knew?!
Anyway, posting this morning because my partner has had some great news recently (before I stopped!) and has bought a lovely bottle of posh champagne for us to have with dinner tonight. Special occasions are the only time he drinks, and even then not in large amounts, and I don’t know what to do! Tell him I don’t want it? Seems churlish! Have a glass each and pour the rest down the sink like very expensive drain cleaner?! Or just drink it? Done a lot of quit lit and it’s working — I actually don’t really want to drink tonight!
Sorry for the essay. Some family members are very drinky so I haven’t really told anyone else what I’m doing because they’ll think it’s daft (“Oh, you hardly drink these days anyway!”). Just wanted to put it out there. Thanks for reading :)
RememberedForAllTheWrongReasons · 27/11/2022 08:28
Congratulations!
I’d probably speak to him this morning and say you’d rather celebrate the occasion staying alcohol free but that you are happy for him to have a glass or two. My own DH understood that, for me, it would be too tempting for one glass to turn into more or to tempt me back into regular drinking. It’s not churlish to not have the champagne, a celebration doesn’t need alcohol, he may decide not to open it to support you in your lifestyle change, is he happy you are wanting to tackle your alcohol intake and focus on your health?
ThroughThickAndThin01 · 27/11/2022 08:41
I’d give it a month before having any. You’re doing really well, keep going.
Branleuse · 27/11/2022 08:43
Get a bottle of posh tonic water or appletise and celebrate with that.
LMBoston · 27/11/2022 09:25
I’ll do that @RememberedForAllTheWrongReasons — suggest we save it for Christmas because as @ThroughThickAndThin01 rightly says, I’d much rather get another few weeks under my belt and then see what my thinking is. Tbh, I can even envisage a dry (or mainly dry) festive season for the first time in decades!
His mother and brother are active alcoholics and it’s caused so much trouble — even prison sentences — so he is very on board with me wanting to change my ways, although he does see me as a light drinker in comparison to them so perhaps doesn’t quite understand why I think it’s a problem! Super-supportive though and will probably be fine about tonight :)
@Branleuse I’ve got a real thing for Fevertree ginger beer with lemon juice and tons of ice so will have that instead! Mind you, it’s costing me a fortune… I’m thinking of making a fermented ginger starter (like kombucha) and “brewing” my own. If anyone has tried doing it I’d love some tips!
PosiePerkinPootleFlump · 28/11/2022 16:42
Well done on 10 days!
If you have a decent blender, this is amazing diluted with sparkling water. Keeps in the fridge for a couple of weeks. It uses loads of ginger so I ideally do it when I've been to the market where you can buy a massive bowl of ginger for a pound. Or make half the quantity. I find you need to add more water than she suggests for it to blend properly
cookieandkate.com/ginger-beer-concentrate/
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.