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!

@Determineddoris hi im ok not bad on the wagon again no more visitors now so no excuse to drink! Problem is once I start that’s it binge drinker.

@Amdone123 how are u feeling today?

@Touty I'm ok thank you.
Yesterday was good, today not so good, but it can be swings n roundabouts in schools. I'm glad it's half term, can have a rest and think about what I want.
I probably will drink this weekend. I have no overwhelming desire - just because 😣
It's great that you've got no visitors - you can concentrate on yourself.

@Amdone123 a rest over half term sounds great xx

So it’s 7 days since I last had a drink; I want to keep this going. I must admit that I did feel like a drink today and started to fantasize about having one but I managed to shut those thoughts down and had a zero lager instead.

Thinking about it, my last drink was a week ago today, I organized a good walk with my neighbor here, had a nice swim afterwards, then she invited me to her apartment for something to eat, I didn’t really want to go and alarm bella were ringing in my head because this woman is a drinker, and I knew I would get sucked in, trapped without an escape plan. It ended up being a 3 bottle wine night, I was very ill the next day as I’m not used to wine it’s too strong for me. Anyway this woman was up jogging in the morning! With me with me head in the toilet.
I really worry about her because I have the feeling she drinks like that most nights.

Well done on a week @touty!

Yes, having a tolerance for drink like that must comes from conditioning, not a good sign for your neighbour.

I didn't really intend last night to be AF, and even walked up to the local shop with DH to get wine early evening. Whilst in there it struck me that my now almost daily wine was almost certain contributing to the overthinking/rumination that I had been stuck in most of the day. It then became a bit repulsive to me so it I had no interest in pouring a glass when we got back.

I'm hoping I have a better day today as a result! Get some stuff done!

Hello everybody and thanks @Amdone123 for tagging me. This week has been a bit up and down. I had two really nice evenings with DH but both times drank one more drink than I should have - seems to be a pattern with me! I’m worried because I’ve been drinking most nights (although 2 AF this week and a couple with only one drink) but I know the slippery slope. Im off on holiday now and im thinking of just accepting that I will drink to some extent each night rather than trying to tell myself I won’t and then getting annoyed when I do! I think I’ll aim for 1 or 2 drinks and just enjoy myself rather than ruin the holiday with a constant internal battle and feeling of regret.

@Bigbus that's a great plan for your holiday. Have a lovely time and try to stick to that because that's exactly what I did on my last holiday and I felt so much better for it. You can do it.
@Touty that's what my friend used to drink like. She's 57 now, ulcerative colitis and told to give up. Well done on your 7 days, you're doing really well.
@Coppergate7 that's good, being af instead of just doing it for the sake of it. I can be quite similar in my approach. I always feel super empowered saying no 🤣. I also wonder if people sometimes just get sick of it

Well, I bought 2 bottles. Drank 1.5 ( I was on day 7). Poured the remaining half away as I don't need the temptation tomorrow.
I'll drink now Friday ( funeral).
My 2nd job starts at 4pm ( Mon to fri), so unlike previous half terms, I won't spend the days drinking. Yay ❤️

Hello all. Catching up at an airport. Haven't been able to read all the new posts, just skimmed through. Am now off for a week in the sun and after 5 days definitely not AF. Don't even ask me what happened there... I'm determined (again) to start afresh and will even try to do dry November.
Can't drink this week as with DGD, so it will be a good start to prepare for November.
This really is difficult and I admire all who really manage to go totally AF.

Well, will do my best and read the last posts properly as of this evening.
Send me strength !
Stay strong. Have a good weekend

@Coppergate7 yes I thought that too, and she barely eats.

So, I felt antsy again this evening for a drink but no I had my zero lager and stayed sober. By the time I had my dinner the feeling had passed.

@Touty that's brilliant, well done.
All of us on here know that antsy feeling and how difficult it is to tackle. 👏

Hope you have a great holiday @Nowstrong !

That's great @touty!

I had wine last night. I'm pretty neutral about it today. It was partly because I'm off to my hometown for a visit today (leaving very soon) for a quick one night visit. It always fills me with dread but is always fine. I love seeing everyone - just not so many people in a small window of time or the journey. Going by myself this time. No idea if I will drink or not tonight, maybe not if I'm having to drive back to the premier inn.

When I get back though - renewed effort with lots of things! Definitely want to bring back my alcohol 'rules'. Feel stuck again and that is making me feel increasingly anxious. Right! I had better face the motorway...

Morning, checking in to put my Monday to Thursday plan in writing again. Well done you guys who have abstained and moderated especially in the face of taxing times at work @Amdone123

@Hohofortherobbers thanks, and here's to your Monday to Thursday plan.
I'm tending to just drink Fridays now - either 1 bottle or 1.5.
Yesterday was the first Sunday in a long time, I didn't want to drink. Was a long day though - lovely but long. 😩

Morning all, day 10 today of no booze. Am pleased with myself. It’s not been easy but I think from past experience after 2 weeks the cravings will reduce.

hoping everyone is ok? Xx

Next Monday will be my day one again....

My day 1 is going to be today. I didn't have any alcohol on Sun night (I was away, needed to drive and no one else was drinking so as easy as it gets) but I had some last night (home again)- too much. I have a slight hangover today and ended up going back to bed which is a complete and utter waste of time. Regret it now.

@Touty day 10 is brilliant, well done ! You've done it before, you can do it again.
@Coppergate7 same here. I didn't drink Saturday and Sunday.
Yesterday I was food shopping and saw a bottle of wine that looked nice, so had it after work. Then 2 glasses of brandy. I feel ill today. Got to go to work. I could ring in sick but that doesn't feel right when it's self inflicted.
I know I won't drink til Friday so at least the next 3 days will be af.
@Needtokickthehabit just keep trying, it's all you can do.

Hi 👋 all, so, I’m back…. Hope that’s ok?

I was part of the thread earlier in the year and managed to get myself back on track and things were so good - I was still drinking but in moderation, maintaining my weight, no hangovers, no drunken binge eating, sleeping well, it was brilliant.

Unfortunately we lost our lovely little dog a few months ago and it’s all gone to sh!t since then. I feel terrible again today.

I am thinking I need a week of abstaining and to remind myself how good I feel when I’m not drinking then ease in in controlled environments….

How is everyone else going? Xxx

Hi there @Swannyb lovely to see you again! Course you're welcome - posters on here pop in n out. It's not a problem.
Sorry to hear about your dog 💐

I'm doing OK. I've recently been drinking on a Friday only, apart from this week when I drank on Monday. I don't know what I was thinking - but that's the problem - I have to be en guarde every day. It's exhausting.
Your week of abstaining sounds great. Probably something that I should get back into, as I always feel so much better, too.
When will you start ?

Hi @Swannyb - that sounds like a good plan. I think it is easier to moderate after a good stint of AF. Sorry to hear about your dog 💐

I didn't drink yesterday, I definitely didn't want to waste another day like that for a start. I went for a long walk (well 1 hr 40 mins) after posting yesterday, had lunch and then felt exhausted again so went back to bed, again! Slept pretty much as normal last night too. I don't think that as just the alcohol but who knows.

Definitely want to get back into a good routine again - and staying AF is the first very important step in that.

Did you manage ok at work yesterday @Amdone123 ?

Ok I need to get a hold of myself. Myself and my ex got back together and I promised him that after our back to back drunken (me) spats I would leave off on the booze but sure we dont live together so he has not got a clue.
Yesterday I was off work and nothing to do so I drank a 12 pack of bottled beers and half a bottle of wine. I was in bed by 10. I woke this morning thirsty but not hungover and thankfully I sent no bad messages or anything but I feel like shit that I basically drank the day away. ANyway I have half a bottle left and won't be buying more so thats tonights moderation sorted if nothing else. I think I need a hobby.

@Coppergate7 work was ok thanks. I find that I am actually better being busy, rather than lying in bed, feeling sorry for myself. I know that I'm feeling anxious about a couple of things and that's why I drank.
Today I've sorted them out, took 90 minutes on the phone but I know I'll sleep better tonight.
@Needtokickthehabit I used to drink out of boredom. Now I just accept that I'm bored. I still drink when battling other emotions, though.
Can you think of a hobby you could do ?

The only thing I like to do is curl up with a good book - and a nice glass of wine to go with it. Or cook - while sipping a nice glass of wine while doing it. I need to reset myself I just do not know how. I wouldnt mind but I get far more enjoyment out of one large glass than I do out of the bottle but if it is there it is being drank.