On A Mission To Moderate or Absolutely Abstaining? Join us for encouragement, support and non - judgemental chat *2024*

[Swannyb]

@amdone123 @mj20 @touty @Hohofortherobbers @Coppergate7 @bigbus @colouringindoors @wellitywellness @Atacamadesert @Freezingfeetwarmheart @WouldRatherBeAPieceOftToast @Hohofortherobbers @mickandrorty @Mykittensmittens @afaloren @NoTeaNoShade @CrackersCheeseNoWinePlease @LynnThese4reSEXPEOPLE @Needtokickthehabit @OhShitImNearly40 @Nowstrong @enoughisenough4

Thank you all for the welcome. I had 2 glasses of large wine on Saturday and froze the rest for cooking....

I actually felt scared drinking it thinking this is it the slide back has started....

Thought of the day is very thought provoking

@skippydo well done on just 2 glasses, that's really good.
I have never frozen wine - don't think I ever will. But its a good idea !
I'm day 3 here, without realising it really as I'm planning to only drink Fridays ( and not then if possible).
Yesterday was hard - but I managed to ignore the craving.

@Amdone123 2L bottle of water is my trick too 😂 I have 1L glass bottles of water in my fridge and bring that plus a wine tumbler into the lounge and it keeps me ticking over (it actually works).

@Swannyb
Some of it is habit, like a glass of wine while cooking dinner. So I find a glass of orange juice or something in a wine glass, while cooking dinner, it's just the same

Hi everyone. I've got a really terrible tendency to drink too much wine (expensive wine too).

My unhealthy relationship with it comes from a combinations of being ND and having bad coping mechanisms, having a family with a large number of alcoholics including my dad. I was given alcohol from the age of 7 by my parents and have grown up actually liking the taste of it.

I have tried to give it up before and that lasted about 6 months. I didn't miss it, but when I decided to have one glass on my birthday, I was sad to discover that I no longer liked the taste of it. So I started drinking again because I was sad that I no longer had this enjoyable thing now. Absolute madness!

Anyway, I've now been alcohol free for 2 weeks. I'm not missing it at all - it's like a habit that I can switch off from. But it has to be completely off,

This time, I have invested in the app 'Reframe'.

I have to get out of the mindset that 1. Life without drinking is boring and reconcile myself to a new way of thinking that if alcohol isn't ever a part of my life again, that's ok!!

Checking in as well. Still feeling shitty, still writing blog! Today is another meaty topic, namely the causes / models of addiction. I thought it was an interesting topic at any rate...

https://wellitywellness.com/2024/01/15/dry-january-15-causes-of-addiction/

Morning! Well, all is not going so well... I'm really stressed with my sister's visit and wine has become my evening crutch. Sleep has gone down the drain. Feeling dehydrated and bloated. Well, this is a really an eye-opening moment, am now waiting for her departure on Friday to go as AF as possible. My goals have changed. Not only no solo drinking, but also no drinking for as long as possible.
Perhaps I needed this experience to see how much alcohol does upset my metabolism. Also I'm using it but not really enjoying it.
Glugging water to rehydrate and I'm actually looking forward to not drinking. How weird is that?
Cold and wet here. Feeling miserable. Take care.

And you need to focus on this time @Nowstrong

You're using alcohol as a crutch - has the problem situation changed? Or do you have the same problem and alcohol in the mix?

Could you have done something different?

(I'm hoping I don't sound judgy! Not meaning to)

I'm a month in and for once I'm finding it not so bad. Ex wife is piling on the financial pressure and it looks like I'm going to have to sell the house I worked so hard to make a home for me and the kids so I'm not sleeping and constantly stressed...but I don't have the additional stress of booze! I can't sleep because of what she's doing but I'm doing better in every other part of my life. I can handle work, doing exercise every day (think I've actually started to lose the dad bod belly beer and cider have given me this past few month!).
Had my first weekend truly alone without the kids or friends around this weekend and while I wasn't exactly productive, I wasn't seriously attempted to get drunk and piss my troubles away. So I'm carrying on and dealing with my stressors sober. It's easier in a lot of ways. Want to get in shape and be sober by the time I'm 40...6 months to go!

Good luck @Coppergate7 xx

@Tilllly yes, I know what the problem is. My overbearing sister. I'm retired, have children and grand children, held a responsible job, travel alone. Still frightened of my sister. How sad is that? I love her, because she is my sister and my only family member left from the UK. She has no children, so after her, no other relatives left there. But, and a big but, I'm frightened of her. Of course I could stand up to her very set opinions (on politics, poverty, immigration, never ending list) but I don't feel capable of falling out with her. Nothing more complicated that human relationships. Done years of analyse, I understand the reasons, but can't cut the final tie that I have with my maternal family.
As to my alcohol consumption, it's not enormous, but has shifted from 1-2 glasses, to 4-5. And I am feeling the physical consequences immensely. I'm not getting drunk. I'm numbing my feelings. Putting out any fire before it explodes.
So, after having rambled on a bit. I'm going to try to put up with her in the evenings (never drink the day) and keep my consumption down.
It is however very interesting to see and feel, in real life, so to say, the discomfort this upping of alcohol consumption has caused.
Being positive (I normally am), it's an encouragement to abstain even more.
Most go, have to play perfect hostess 🙄, thank you for your post which I didn't read as being judgey. It made me analyse my feelings a little better.
Stay safe! And Sober x

Morning all!
just a quick one….
when I do drink heavily I wake up in the midst of a panic attack (it’s been a couple of years since I had a big episode of this)!
anyway…. Last night I dreamt it happened!!! I woke up thinking Omg thank god it was a dream! I was even thinking in my dream but it’s the middle of the week why would I do that lol.

anyway a good reminder from my subconscious why I’m doing this xx

@OhShitImNearly40 well done!! Keep going!

@Nowstrong you're doing great... family can be the hardest of stressors to cope with but you've boxed it up into a short period of time

I woke up this morning - late, after a reasonably good night's sleep! - with a massive headache. Went straight down the rabbit hole of self-castigation about drinking. Till I realised I hadn't had a drink! Massive relief. But goodness only knows where the headache came from. Ended up taking some paracetamol, as it still hadn't gone half an hour after getting up. I didn't really want to take anything that would add more stress to my liver, but had to give in in the end.

But just very thankful it wasn't a headache from the booze.

@OhShitImNearly40 it sounds like you’re doing really well, especially considering your current stressors, but you’re right, alcohol will not help.

@Nowstrong hang in there. One of my motivators to moderate is for other health reasons - to see how much things will no doubt improve without it.

@Mj20 lol! Glad it was just a dream.

I’m honestly starting to think I’m determined to not have a hangover this year. The more time goes on, the more I desperately don’t ever want to feel all that comes with it. It’s keeping me strong when alcohol is around.

Morning- day 18! The next few days will be a bit tougher, I'm off work until Monday (previously this would be a green light to drink as much as I bloody well like!) and then there is the dreaded in-laws visit on Thursday, DH will DEFINITELY be drinking after that and I shall be trying my best not to join him.

Strange how everyone has woken up worried they have had a drink when they haven't! I woke up after 4 hours with a dry mouth, I was thinking "this isn't meant to be happening now"!

Positives so far - I actually think constantly freezing feet have been a bit better. It's a vicious circle- a warm whiskey and ginger will warm the up but long term drinking is not good!
My forehead is definitely looking less shrivelled and my skin is smoother.
Sleep is generally better although I could still use a bit more.
I've lost any festive period weight already!

I have a health check booked for tomorrow afternoon (got it in before the in-laws visit just in case as that might make them concerned about my blood pressure!) so we will see how I'm actually doing health wise, should be interesting.

Today's post is all about alcohol-free drinks - in particular the joys of Sentia. Cheers!

https://wordpress.com/post/wellitywellness.com/4789

Hi all, still keeping up with my dry streak here. Off to see friends for dinner tonight who we would usually drink with but they’re doing Dry January so no temptation. Just nice food and good company and no heated discussion about who’s going to drive!

I'm still standing, and also pondering whether or not I can go a little longer after this... For now though, today's post is about the different "types" of drinker out there, as far as that can be said to exist. Which one or ones are you...?

https://wellitywellness.com/2024/01/17/dry-january-17-types-of-drinker/

@wellitywellness
I think I'd be habitual
(It says 17 types but there aren't???)
Which is possibly the easiest to break

I've just had a G&T whilst having a foot spa and a pedicure
But just a single and just one

I'm a mix of a few of those types of drinkers!

I'm still going here but really really want one tonight. I feel like I might be about to come down with a cold and a hot toddy to sweat it out is very very appealing right now!

I had my health check today and everything is withing normal ranges so I must be doing something right.

On the bright side if I DO get a cold then the in-law visit is off! So I'm not quite sure which way I want this to go 😅

Hi, just checking in, still AF. Day 17

How are you doing @Touty ?