On A Mission To Moderate or Absolutely Abstaining? Join us for encouragement, support and non - judgemental chat CONTINUED....

[Determineddoris]

Hi all,

Can't believe the last thread has already filled up!

Thank you to all of you for the incredible support shown in the last thread especially @amdone123.

Everyone is welcome! This is a safe, non judgmental space.

Sorry about my inability to tag everyone but if others can that would be great!

Thank you for the new thread

Thank you for the new thread. I have taken the second of my librium tablets so the last one tonight with dinner. 3 days of 3 pills then 3 days of 2 pills and 3 days of 1 pill and thats a safe detox done. I am excited for this. I am ready for this.

I'm on day 3 sober, can I join for support?
I was drinking almost every day. I've damaged relationships, my children have witnessed upsetting scenes and I've struggling with anxiety.
Good luck everyone trying to regain their lives 😊

@Tribute219 I totally hear you. I really need to be sober and not let alcohol ruin my life anymore. We are all here for support x

5.20pm and I am going to go for a long hot shower and get into pjs. I have not been near a shop although have driven past many but my resolve is absolute, I will not drink today. I am kind of afraid to anyway considering I am taking the medication. Anyway once thats done I shall produce a meal of some sort and it will be early to bed for me. I can do this. I CAN DO THIS.

@Needtokickthehabit you definitely can. Getting into PJs early is a good move actually.

@Needtokickthehabit yes, you can do it. Get today ✅, and yes - one hour at a time. @Determineddoris thanks for the thread and your lovely words - you have done and are doing so well ❤️
@Tribute219 hi and welcome. Well done on Day 3, that's a great start. Are you planning on abstaining or just seeing how you get on ?

Well, what a great day. I got up early, walked the dog, went for a walk, popped into supermarket, toyed with the idea of drinking, and thought no, I'm not just drinking for the sake of it.
Came home, drank Pepsi max, sat in the garden and read my book.
It just occurred to me that I've had a great day, no alcohol - it just lies to you !!
You think you need it but really, it just brings a whole load of rubbish with it.

Well the shower and pj's wearing has happened and dinner is over and have taken my final tablet of the day. I am full and content and I have sparkling water with lime to sip on this evening.

@Needtokickthehabit that's brilliant xx

I am up in my bed now with my book and going to let myself try fall asleep naturally. First fully AF free day in I do not know how long. Lets hope I sleep!

Well done @Needtokickthehabit and also well done to you @Tribute219 .

I’ve managed to get out of my holiday every day drinking antics and have not had any alcohol today or yesterday. I’m attempting to moderate not abstain but my drinking has been creeping up again. It’s mad how quickly you can go from successfully moderating to eying up the wine at 12 noon!

Hi there! Just checking in, I’m doing ok feeling a bit better generally. I don’t know if it helps but I’ve started taking a liquid multivitamin every day and I do feel a bit more chilled out.

Today I tried some zero cider and it was lovely.

Every night I make a point of watching something on YouTube about either alcoholism or liver disease and this helps to keep me on the wagon.

Hello all and thank you for the new, shiny thread.

I'm doing moderately ok. It's definitely time for me to go home. I'm having difficulty with putting up with the very slow rythme and also my sibling's, sometimes, extreme ideas. Can't go there as too outing and this is my safe place.

I've managed to curb the carbs, not really the problem, but everything is linked in the long run.
Wine wise I'm staying moderate, which I am happy with, as I know that as soon as I'm back in my "safe" environment, I'll be ok. Next time I'll be stronger. I know that. Deep down.

My real problem isn't really the wine, it's the reason why I let the wine witch win. That is so much more complicated. That is hours and hours of future counselling.
I find myself unable to really be myself opposite my sibling, who is, in the long run, a judgmental bully. Really complicated, can't and don't want to go down that road now and here. But necessary to understand the whys and hows.

I was brought up to never answer back, never disagree with my elders. Even if I am of an extremely opposite opinion, I tend to keep my opinions and ideas to myself. Surprisingly only opposite this one person. I'm all of a sudden incapable of expressing my anger, disgust and sometimes shame of their ideas. It's incredible. I am ashamed of this cowardice and I find the WW gives me, not the backbone that I need, but an escape route to deal with it. I'm again the naughty child. The silly stupid one. Irresponsible.

Much too late to develop more, but it certainly helps to write it down.

Best wishes to all. Stay strong. Will catch up properly when I'm back home on Friday.

Love yourselves, at least that won't harm anyone, and we all need a little bit more love.

Morning Doris, morning all.

@Needtokickthehabit well done. I think the Pj's trick works. Even for booze queens it means knickers back on if you want the corner shop! Once in bed and watching Endeavour etc I can't be arsed to go out.
@Nowstrong I have a difficult sister, we don't speak. Not even at our baby brother's funeral a few months ago. She is a bitter bully who lies. Her DC speak to me and visit so I ignore her. I fell of the wagon at his wake. I admit it and I did well not to carry on.

It does get easier folks. If you can make a month AF you are well on your way to being a non drinker. Our cells change in a month. The alcohol has left your body. You will look so much better. I am 20 months on Friday and I wouldn't go back. I am safe around drinkers, can walk past the booze aisle and although ever fiesty I walk away from people I don't like. The latter has made me much happier. Therapy helped.

Just read your thread and hope you don't mind the message.

I am 120 days AF and couldn't feel better! There is no anxiety and lots of energy and clarity! Exercise and learning more!
I still do all the things I enjoy, just with a AF drink and no internal battle or danger of going too far!

I listened to a lot of sober podcasts which were great! And use try dry app which is a great visual to see your AF days or your moderation

Wishing you all well! It's so worth it x

So night one went well. I was tired but a bit nervous I would not sleep but I got around 6 hours in the end which I am classing a win as they were six sober ones as opposed to just sleeping off the booze. I did wake up a sweaty mess but the doctor had advised this so not a huge shock. I know the booze has to come out of me some way. I feel a bit more positive about things today and have just taken my first of three tablets to get me through today. It will be a busy enough one today I think but that is not a bad thing.

I cannot believe a full day where I did not drink and furthermore was not tempted to. It really is all in the mind and so glad I took that first step to seeing my doctor.

Best of luck to all today. We got this :)

Wow well done @Needtokickthehabit !! You are doing fantastic lovely !!! Seriously look back and think where you were and now today? It's mind boggling isn't it the internal mind gymnastics as @Amdone123 says it definitely lies to you and well done @Amdone123 for pepsi Max and reading because it would normally be the wine right ? Everyone is doing so so well you should all be proud of yourselves. Welcome @Tribute219 alcohol takes away too much and doesn't really deliver anything positive ! We are here for you. @Touty you are doing great I'm glad you enjoyed the AF cider and it's about mindset too, you tube videos help anything helps really! @Nowstrong I hear you about the sibling I too was bought up similar to respect elders but all of that has completely fucked me up to this day but also therapy will help me but as soon as I've sorted out my son's therapy. It's been really tough recently and I feel like I can't cope but I'm not drinking! I do feel like smoking a whole pack of cigs but I won't. Hi @WendyWagon hope you are over your illness xx

The thing is too once I told my doctor she was amazingly supportive. I always was too paranoid to tell her because she is local but then I remember patient confidentiality. She was so understanding and lovely and it was nice to be fully open about it. I do wish I had done it weeks ago and my dp might still be around but for now I need to focus on me and getting my relationship back on track with the kids. I was going to make pancakes for breakfast this morning but I do not want to scare them too soon 😂
I am on medication for anxiety as well as high bp and the doctor assures me I could come off both if I kick this habit so that is another positive I guess.

Good morning

I'm so glad I've found this thread.

I know I'm fucking my life up. I'm drinking at least a bottle of wine every night and have done for a few months.

I think I know why I'm doing it.

I'm nicer when I'm drunk.

Until something pisses me off.

I want to stop all together, I think. Because even if I try to drink moderately I'll end up drinking more than I should like I do now.

This is the first time I've admitted to drinking too much.

I don't really know where to go from here to be honest.

@CrannyFaddock101 you’ve started already by admitting the problem. That’s the first step! Now you need to find a way of stopping that suits you. Some people cut down to nothing slowly, some stop altogether straight away. Finding the path best for you will most likely result in a few wrong turns and false starts but the main think imo is to just keep going no matter what.

I didn’t do so well on hols, booze every night. Didn’t like it most of those nights which says a lot! Back to normality now though so gonna turn the booze tap off. Also ate too much rubbish so a general health kick is on the cards….more salad less carbs!

Looking forward to it…a bit of derrermination and paying it forward should see me through I hope!

Thanks for the reply. I'm also nearly 40! And getting married in a couple of months!

I think I'm going to try and quit completely unless it's a social event where it ok to have a couple. But this drinking at home every night thing definitely needs to stop.

@CrannyFaddock101 good luck. That’s the situ I’m in, although it seems to be holidays are my excuse to drink. Only get a few of them a year tho! Routine helps me, so if you can make it routine that you don’t drink at home and that habit is broken, that’s a great first stage to get to. I’m guessing you’ll get there then realise how pointless booze is and stop drinking elsewhere as well.
I just don’t buy it and don’t have it in the house! It’s different when out at a pub or whatever but I can control my af home.

congrats on the wedding!

Unfortunately we always have booze in the house (we get gifted a lot through our business and for birthdays etc, plus we entertain a lot)

But I think you're right. Getting into the routine of not drinking just me and him at home midweek for no reason etc is a good start.

And damn you have a lot holidays! I'm jealous lol

@CrannyFaddock101 welcome we have booze in the house as my house gets it gifted too.

I gave up my bottle a night habit twenty months ago.

I need to be able to exert self control and not have my surroundings control me.

Well done Wendy! What benefits have you noticed in the 20 months?