It's day 1! Anyone else?

[Thepeppapigfanclub]

I'm 45. I've been drinking a bottle/bottle and a half a night for as long as I can remember with the odd dry January/ Stoptober along the way - but I always end up back on the wine again.

I'm a parent to a 13 year old and the shame that comes with this is crippling. It's not good and I know I HAVE GOT to stop. I am sick of the self-loathing, the fear, the anxiety and the money down the drain. Most of all, I'm worried about shuffling of this mortal coil leaving my child before I should.

So it's day one (again) for me. I just wondered if anybody else has picked this as their day one too for some support.

Any tips for the first week?

Many thanks - there's some seriously inspirational people on here reading some of the other threads - I'm in awe of all of those who've made it to six months, a year and beyond. It feels beyond my grasp.

Welcome @Elledeco we are here for you all holding your hand. 🌻

@Elledeco Well done in making the decision to stop. I would caution you that given you have been drinking a fair amount each day you may need to taper down rather than stop suddenly. The side effects from stopping abruptly may be awful and dangerous. Would you feel able to go and get support from an alcohol support agency to help with this?

Welcome @Elledeco. We can do this! We're not giving anything up, we're not losing anything.
We are gaining our health, energy, vitality and emotional stability.

Do you think that alcohol would be legal if it was only just discovered? Absolutely not. It destroys lives and I'll be damned if it's taking me down! 💪

Hey everyone!

I hope you're all doing well. I was back to work on a hot sunny day - two triggers for the price of one! 😂I've settled on some bitter lemon... tempting though it was to buy a bottle, it would only lead to another. I've also got some becks blue in the fridge so I might crack one of those open in a bit. I think it's going to take a year to break the back of this - all the 'firsts'. What's that saying though, 'Do what you've always done and you'll get what you always got'. Or something like that.

Welcome everyone new! @Elledeco. A lot of us will be able to relate to the sneaky behaviour and doesn't it just crush your soul and self-esteem? You can do it! Check in with us every day. What are you aiming for long-term, moderation or AF? Just look at this and the other threads - you really are in good company!

Well done @BackToBasics1808 ! It is almost impossible not to say 'sod it' when you're surrounded by the stuff. All a great step in the right direction.

It was kind of you to lend your support @BlackJumpsuit. Your encouragement is much appreciated.

Just think - one day this might be something we don't think about very much anymore. That day can not come quick enough.

Thanks for the welcome everyone.
I'm home from work now and DP is coming over. This is one of my triggers.
I'd usually start cooking with a glass or 2 of wine, then sneak more.
It feels like a " treat " after a day at work.
But actually, a treat doesn't leave me feeling disgusted or terrified when I wake up because I can't remember the night before or if I was a dick!
I'm going to look at it like that.
A treat is clear skin, a non puffy face and hopefully the extra half a stone I've gained gone.
@Thepeppapigfanclub as much as I would like to reach a place where I can drink in moderation, I think for now I need to be AF completely.

Can anyone recommend any good apps btw ?

I use the try dry app just to track days and money saved. I think it will do daily notifications but I turned them off in case one of my kids read them.

Day 15 today. 2 weeks with no alcohol and no cigarettes. V proud as there have been so many times I’ve had to say no. So many temptations that I’ve ignored. Someone upthread mentioned about how alcohol is everywhere and it really is.

I was back to school shopping with the DC and as soon as I walked into the supermarket on one side were pencils and backpacks and on the other side was beer on offer, wine on offer and chocolates on offer. You literally had to walk through this tunnel. It hit me as a) I wasn’t expecting to be confronted with alcohol on offer as soon as I walked through the door and b) because it would have been so easy to put a bottle in the trolly along with the other bits we were buying. Normally I just completely swerve the alcohol aisle, which for me is the back end of the shop. I just lost the ability to prepare myself and it was a reminder that I’m probably not as strong as I like to think as am.

I also use Try Dry App. I do get a thrill from the congratulations when I click that I've been sober again/still.

To think about never drinking is too much for my to ponder too much at the moment. A friend said that i just have to deal with the day in hand and that seems achievable so far.

I shall start reading the serenity prayer every day. I'm not sure if I could face AA because, to be honest, I'm not sure that I'm ready to think about if I am an actual alcoholic or just trending that way.

I also use the Try Dry app and also turned the notifications off 🤣 can’t have everyone seeing it flashing up. Today was fine, an early morning walk with the pooches to avoid heat and pottering quietly in the evening but I am still a bit fuzzy and after two weeks I would have hoped for some zinging clarity. Slightly suspect the late bedtimes are not helping the cause but I am sleeping well when I get there.

I definitely find it easier when I am wfh but the office days are very much a trigger for me.

I’m on day 31. I’ve caved in three times but I don’t feel bad about it, I’m so pleased I’ve done this well. It has been easier than I thought it would be.
Im going on holiday next week with two friends. Once the idea of doing that with no alcohol would have been unthinkable, but I’m not worried at all about it.
My friends want to go AF to support me, but it’s not necessary and I feel bad for them. But I think one is actually a bit concerned about their own drinking.
I love going to bed sober.

@SoosanCarter I'm sure that your holiday will be even better for not drinking. Think of all the lovely moments usually lost to a hazy alcohol fever dream: no you can bank some precious memories and go home refreshed and relaxed. Enjoy!

Today is my first day.

Today is my new day 1. Feeling much more determined though after a few days not drinking. Not even sure why I bought the wine???

Day 16!

Hi there to everybody new and good luck with it! It's a bit of a bumpy ride but I wasn't sure I could do 16 days 16 days ago.

I think I've stopped thinking about it so much...I went to the shops after work and didn't even side-eye the wine for the first time - ever I think.

I've been awake since 3 so absolutely knackered - sleep is still a bit over the place but I still feel better than I did when I was drinking. It's nice not to paranoid about stinking like a brewery at work and constantly chewing gum and having to keep a wide distance.

I hope you're all doing ok.

Day 16 here too! I think my sleep is finally ‘normal’. It was my first day back at work today and usually the night before I’d be tossing and turning, worrying, over thinking, panicking even. Last night I fell asleep pretty quick and slept through to just before my alarm.

I weighed myself and I weigh the same as I did at the start of the summer holidays, which is both a miracle and depressing all rolled into one 🤣

Glad to be back to work and school for the kids, so we can get back into a routine. This weekend will be my hardest challenge to date. DH is away and I have the house to myself. Usually I’d take advantage to drink without him seeing how much. Or how late. Or what state I was in. It’s going to be really hard with no one here. I might be in bed with teeth cleaned at the same time as the kids.

I've managed 3 days so far! It's been absolutely fine and I haven't had an urge to drink. The test will be when the weekend comes. Thankfully my DH is in this along with me which makes it easier.

So many challenges @MamaGhina ! Why is everything so triggering? 😂But just think - by the weekend we'll be well on the way to a month. Will there be any opportunity to have some different treats? I'm glad your sleep is back to normal. There surely has to be a point that this 'wine weight' starts shifting?

That's great news @ApolloandDaphne . No thudding hangover in this heat can only be a good thing?

Can i ask what everyone's strategy is about evening situations where alcohol is a main feature - such as dinner or drinks with friends. I'm thinking that maybe I should just avoid those situations, but given that i drank to fill the boredom and loneliness of endless evenings spent alone stuck at home with the kids - not going out seems like a counter productive choice?

I've gone from "this is easy" to panicking that actually i can't ever have a drink again. I know that it's a day at a time and I've been great at that until now. DH is trying to help; but he doesn't listen to me.

@ReadySalty i can’t think about the long term at all, just for now is the only way I can really do it. Because each evening feels totally (okay, well mostly) doable but if I contemplate eg November then I start to panic a bit. I’d like to think that if that’s what I decide then by November it will be a lot easier to contemplate than it is now, so why do the stressing about it now?

I think going out is totally you dependent - I have managed it but tbh I wasn’t in the mood for drinking anyway and so it was fine but that won’t always be the case and I think others would very much avoid and that is fine too - good even. Is there an alternative where you do something non drinky to avoid the temptation?

@ReadySalty I’ve mainly avoided where I can, so changing dinner to lunch or even lunch to coffee in the beginning. I did go to the pub with DH confident as anything but then panicked completely and ended up with a J20 all night because it was the only non-alcoholic drink that came to mind.
I went out for Sunday lunch at the weekend and took time to look at the AF options and went for a juice. I was alone though so there wasn’t any pressure and I do feel a bit more relaxed about it now.

It’s taken me almost 3 weeks to stop thinking about depriving myself of something and to start to think instead that this is about taking care of myself (instead of using alcohol as a form of punishing myself).

I’m going to read this back over the weekend when I’m tempted. Day 17 for me and I really do feel well.

Thanks @MamaGhina @TimesaChangeling

I think I'll keep to daytime meet ups and leave the evenings for now. I know this is worth it.

Hi everyone - I hope you've all had a good day and that you are all doing well.

Day 17 here too. Glad you are feeling really well @MamaGhina. It's not been without it's challenges so well done to you.

I have noticed that I am enjoying my job more and feel more 'present'- if that doesn't sound to vomity. I genuinely feel more cheerful and not faking it for a change. I also think I've stopped 'expecting it' as a reward when I get in from work.

I won't be trusting myself to 'out out' for a long time. This is just too important and I think if I cracked now I'd cry, but I guess it depends what you're aiming for and tempted you might be?

I don't really want to tempt fate too much but I do feel like it is, dare I say it, getting easier. I too feel a LOT better than I did -even if I am still fat. 😂

Hey all. So I checked in to the thread a while back and said I’d be back. And here I am, on Day 3.

Very similar to others on the thread. Been drinking for years. Become even worse over last few. Have never lasted more than a few days other than pregnancy. But I am so fat. So miserable. And so worried about my health. So here we go!

I am using a hypnotherapy app and have also downloaded Try Dry. I have ordered some Becks Blue to be delivered and have cleared the house of wine (I don’t seem to have an issue with spirits, beer and cider …) I am also doing 16:8.

I haven’t done a dry weekend for as long as I can remember bar illness or pregnancy but I am feeling the most positive I have ever been about making this happen.

You lot are proper inspiring! Well done to everyone on this journey.

Well done on day 3 @BoilingHotand50something ! And let's face it - it's practically day 4 now, which is near a week!

There have been some lovely people who have spent time out of their day offering support and advice and that has really helped me.

We can do it! I really, really, really want to be one of those people who say they gave up alcohol and it's the best thing I've ever done. Forever still seems like a long time though so- day by day we go. Good luck and I hope your sleep isn't too all over the place.

Also -reading some of the most recent threads is enough to put the fear of God in you! 😦