10 days, Booze free

[MsAlice]

It's 2am. I have Covid, I was drinking last night, only a few compared to my usual amount, probably because I felt too rubbish.

I'm not happy with my drinking generally.
I drink 2-3 times per week, every time to the point I have memory blanks, big ones.
I have giant measures, which I hide from others.
I need to give myself a break, so I'm going to commit here, to 10 days sober.
I've not gone that long, since 2017.
Excessive drinking behaviour is common in my family.
It's killed some, others struggle on.
It's affecting my health, how I'm viewed by my partner, everything.
It's my start.
10 Days

I could have written this. I stopped
two years ago after many attempts - read a book called this naked mind.

I’ve never looked back. You can do this.

Thank you, I have this book, but haven't read it, I completely forgot about it.

I'll dig it out this morning.

Just checking in. I got to the point where I despaired and thought life would be hangover dominated forever more. By complete accident, I quit. I was given Champix for smoking and overnight, I stopped drinking. Which was something I could only have dreamed of before. I was on holiday when I started it and just couldn't bear the thought of wine, it was bizarre. 6 months on, I still bless every single morning I wake up without panicking, I am so immensely joyous. People think I am a bit boring but I don't care. I am so anxious that now I stopped the meds, I will start again, I dream about it every night. But really, I can't describe the joy at not drinking, being able to answer the phone, go and help people who have broken down etc, no phone anxiety in the morning. It's wonderful xxx

That's amazing @Valerianandfoxglovesoup . The feeling of freedom in the morning is everything.

This morning I'm lying in bed, knackered. Not even a big night for me, because I'm under the weather with Covid but I still drank, because it was Saturday. I could never be someone's phone call at the weekend, everyone knows I'll be drinking.

You've done this, I'm really in no positions to give advice, but I do know you don't want to be back here, you've got this.

So will I.

Read the unexpected joy of being sober. It really helped me . I now moderate really well. I just drink once per week now. I joined a fitness class too which means I don't want to ruin my progress as I eat shit loads when I drink!

Plan something nice to do every night, doesn't have to cost money. A film/ Netflix series ect.

Download a free app where you track your days. Sounds stupid but its sooo rewarding being able to click each day you don't drink and see them build up. It gives a dopamine release and makes you feel proud of yourself.

Write a list of the things that you don't do because you drink and start to tick them off one by one . This again will help you to see just how rewarding not drinking is and how invasive drinking multiple times a week is on your life

Good luck

Gosh yes the unexpected joy is my constant companion. I read the hairbrush chapter regularly. Its especially helpful in prepping you for feeling quite weird about things you haven't faced in a while. My family are a bit hurt that I don't contact them as much but I usually phoned with a wine on the go and have had some uncomfortable revelations since I stopped. That book though is warm, funny, loving and caring. Do read it xxx

Ps thanks for your kind words. I feel a bit of a fraud as I quit by accident bit I honestly felt like I was a prisoner to it and had given up x