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.

Indeed! Or pubs! I was out last week for a 60th birthday. 3 cocktails an extra £30! (plus we moved onto wine)

Joining please. I have also been drinking a bottle of wine a night for too long. Also have a teenager. Sick of the cycle.

I almost feel defeated 😞

I'm with you, @Wittow I really do feel defeated. Like I simply can't do it.

FWIW I am just trying to get through each moment. maybe literally hour by hour rather than day by day. It's so depressing.

No really @MamaGhina that's amazing. Nicotine and alcohol? 💪 It's not like you've decided to abstain from toasted crumpets 🤣

For me maybe nowI can finally work out what are menopause symptoms vs the wine! 🤣

In other news I lost 0.5 lbs yesterday. Unremarkable you might say. I ran but 10 days ago that would have made no difference because I also had fish and chips. Ten days ago this would definitely have led to weight gain that would take days to shift. Yes there would have been the extra 600 calories from the bottle of wine. Maybe my body is actually healing.

Thankfully so far I haven't been faced with any social situations. I've been at home or out with kids since I gave up on Tuesday. Mind you, I might embrace my introverted self and just stay home from now on 🤣

Welcome @Wittow

I don't want to sound like the old lady that maybe I am, but what about something like crochet? Mostly I do it to calm my adhd-ness. But it also works to the "wine glass in hand" thing. I only took it up 18 months ago. Check out Bella crochet on YouTube for "learn along. I'm counting on no one I know seeing this thread. But check out what's I've made this week while NOT thinking about wine 🤣

Ooh @BrassicaBabe I like thinking about calories saved as well as money saved!

Love the pictures... you have reminded me I have some knitting on the go. I need to find it...

Hello!

Absolutely sick of myself and drinking. I gave up for a couple of months last year and felt so much better. Very cross I didn't keep it up. Since then, the amount I drink has crept up, so time to knock it on the head again.

Anyway, enough moaning. Well done everyone who has started their journey 👏.

BrassicaBabe those are so cute!

Joining here if that's OK, today is my millionth day one. Also drinking too much wine in the evenings and I really don't know why it is so difficult to quit, I try and then get to midweek and cave and the cycle starts again 🙄 well done to everyone here that has managed to stay sober there is so much inspiration on this thread 🥰

Morning all! Happy day - whatever day you're on! Just look how many of us have been affected by this - on this and the other threads. It. Is. Shocking. I think there's enough of us to conclude it's the booze that is the problem - not us!

@Tenderstem It's such a drag isn't it. At least you have the evidence that you feel better off it and can do it. I could write a book about 'day 1' I've given up so many times.

@Wittow 'Almost' is the word - you're not though. Welcome aboard. We know exactly how you feel.

@NewLifeHappyLife Hour by hour, minute by minute, second by second if needs be. We can help each other. It is so hard

@BrassicaBabe They are cute and so funny. That's the face I usually pull when I look at my recycling bin. 😂

@MamaGhina You are seriously hard core! Nearly a week!

@Mummykins54 How was your meeting?

If it wasn't for the food delivery I was waiting for last night, I think I might have cracked last night. I was so, so, so close. So glad I didn't but this is going to be hard long term. I don't know if I can do it either.

Me again - speaking as someone involved with a recovering alcoholic.

In the early days they ate a lot of sweet things (you are also dealing with sugar withdrawal).

It obviously wasn't ideal but better than the alternative.

Once recovery was more settled they dealt with changing their diet to more healthy options.

Morning! I'm still here. Slept for a mammoth eleven hours last night. No waking, no nightmares!
Usually after two days off id be rewarding myself with a night very much on. BUT not tonight. Tonight I'm going to the cinema to watch anything as long as I'm not sitting in my house trying not to think of wine.
Happy Sunday.

Day 7 for me - I've made it a week 🎉 yesterday was a bit of a struggle and I really argues with myself over stopping for a bottle of wine on the drive home from a long day at work as I always do but I stopped myself (although I had to stop at the shop anyway, didn't go near the wine aisle!)

Woke up this morning with a spring in my step that my head was clear and I felt good

I was tempted yesterday. I had a friend’s dog for the day, he is lovely but my dog and him played very boisterously most of the day, which was a bit trying.
so I was tempted to turn to my usual crutch.
Three things stopped me.

1. Dog’s owner is one of my lovely supportive friends and I just couldn’t do it knowing he was coming to collect said dog.
2. I would have felt such regret
3. I always look forward to 9.15 when my Try Dry pings me. I think, I just have to hang on until then, I’m ok after that.

@PNDshame what I'll never understand is how I know how much better I feel (physically and emotionally) when I don't drink and I feel dreadful when I do drink, but that craving whispers such lies. The first glass is heaven, so light and floaty and then once its got you it turns sour.
I have to do this, I have to turn my back on it. Alcohol is a cruel narcissist and in mumsnet speak - I have go no contact.

You've got this! Ignore the call. Long term being free of alcohol is so much better than that first glass buzz

It's taking long term benefits over short term weaknesses. I'm not a dribbling mess, but I definitely don't want to continue down this road because it is getting worse.

I'm curious to know if any of you who, like me, were drinking a bottle of wine every day cut down/tapered or stopped altogether. I know my body is used to a whole bottle every day. I know this is gonna be hard for at least 4 or 5 days.

Been for a swim today. A bit of exercise always helps me. Have also downloaded a 10 day alcohol detox book on audible. Listened to a download about "urge surfing"

I am also stocked up on decent ready meals and puddings and plenty of blood orange san pellegrino!!!

https://winspress.com/read-free/urge-surfing.html

Sharing, in case it helps anyone else x

@Wittow I wasn't quite a bottle of wine every day. I'd have a bottle of wine say two or three nights a week and then a few beers or gins on the other nights. On a really bad night Id have a litre of wine or a bottle of wine and a gin. It made me sad and grumpy, sick and anxious. I had a daily drinking habit. I've stopped altogether and this is my third day.

Day 2. Proud of myself for deciding to stop on a bank holiday weekend. I prob drink a bottle 2-3 nights a week but more if I go out/bbq or something social.

Like a few people I feel so much better when I don't drink, sleep better, more energy and I have done for 2-3 months at a time. I don't know why I start again!

There just seems to be more and more social events recently and then I think oh sod it I've been bad I may as well have more.

This needs to stop!

Umm. So the bags under my eyes seem to be actually water filled sacks. What's THAT about?! While not the face of Mona Lisa, this isn't normally coming on my complaint list 🤨🤨

@Wittow i was a bottle 1/4 to 1/2 maybe 3- 5 nights a week but my final night (well day and night) I cleared well in excess of 2 and I was horrified with myself. I nearly threw up the next morning (which I never ever do) and I realised trying to moderate was leading to massive peaks and I was terrified of that becoming a norm. So here I am. Tbf I had been working up to it all summer.

I didn’t try to taper, I have no off switch anyway. I’ve never had physical symptoms (well, I mean hangovers aside) and I sort of think that tapering is just holding on really BUT it is an incredibly important thing to do if you are physically addicted (and no one knows that but you).

Anyway I am only on day 8 so hardly one to be giving advice but good luck.

Checking in at the end of week 1.
Lovely to see so many new joiners to the thread. Thanks to everyone offering words of wisdom and welcome to the newbie’s.
I can’t believe I got through my first dry weekend in about 6 months. I feel strangely proud of myself and hopeful for another good night of sleep 🤞

Day 8 today @MamaGhina and @PNDshame ! We did it and I finally got a settled night of sleep. Now if I avoid all social situations from now on and stay off it - I've cracked it. Ha!

@Wittow I was drinking about a bottle and a half a night. (This had increased over time - and was continuing to increase.) I just stopped but as you might imagine, some of the withdrawal symptoms have been a bit unpleasant. Not unbearable - but not nice. I'm still having some tummy troubles and the disturbed sleep has meant I've spend most of this week absolutely knackered.

It is great to see some new faces. Wishing you all the very best with your journey. It's great waking up in a morning, not just without a hangover/feeling rubbish but knowing you didn't drink anything at all. The morning coffee has never tasted so good. The house has never been as clean and I've been more present for my child. I'm not as bloated but now need to work on the weight gain.

Have a great day!