I love alcohol | Mumsnet

dotdotdotdash · 02/02/2026 20:31

Hello, maybe get sober curious so you can start to see the benefits of quitting drinking. I really like the Reframe emails and a podcast called Recovery Elevator (it's US-based but consists of interviews with ordinary and not so ordinary people). You might also be covering up some psychological issues or loneliness with drinking so might be worth starting a journal or having a bit of self reflection. Well done for reaching out; you'll find some support here.

Icecreamhelps · 02/02/2026 20:55

Hi,

I'm only 4 weeks sober, the first few weeks were hard. But I feel so much calmer now, my anxiety has pretty much disappeared. I find it interesting that you say endure not drinking. The freedom I feel from not being dependent on a drug that was literally poisoning me is liberating. I didn't feel like that at first I thought alcohol was something I enjoyed I was addicted and not thinking straight.
@dotdotdotdash gives some really good advice why not take a break and do some research then see how you feel what have you got to lose.

PleaseBePacific · 02/02/2026 21:05

There's a guy on Facebook called Ian Callaghan, he also has a website. Look him up - what he says may or may not resonate with you. It does with me, I like his straight talking no bullshit approach which is a bit different from most.

I also really like alcohol, especially wine but health issues combined with menopause have forced me to cut back

IdRatherWakeFreshAt6am · 02/02/2026 21:46

I love it too. Reasons I am practically sober these days:

DC getting old enough to notice I always had a glass of wine in my hand in the evening. That's not an example I want to set and I want to be present and enjoy them. This was my main reason for stopping.

I didn't realise till I quit that I had low level anxiety all the time and I was using alcohol to quiet that noise, a noise that was ironically cauaed mostly by alcohol.

Pride. It's not a good look, a drunk middle aged woman, or a hungover middle aged woman, or buying cheap wine with the groceries every time you visit the shop. I'm worried that people knew I was drinking too much.

Money. Drinking a lot is expensive. I lowered the quality of my wine so I didn't have to reduce the quantity but that's not very classy is it?

I love alcohol free sleep even more than I love wine. Falling asleep is the most amazing feeling, compared to passing out, and the dreams are tremendous.

Being alcohol free has given me my reading mojo back.

For the sake of balance, I haven't had the skin benefits others celebrate. A bit of puffiness smoothed out my wrinkles so now I look saggy. I hate driving so no benefit there. Overall I prefer being sober though. Why do you ask, OP, what are you thinking?

IdRatherWakeFreshAt6am · 02/02/2026 21:56

Actually one more from me and this is a difficult one to write. My beloved mum is terminally ill and will soon die, younger than she would have otherwise. In her case it is the other socially acceptable addiction, smoking. But it has really driven home to me how much the family of an addict pay the price as well as the addict themselves. This is another thing I will not put my DC through. I wasn't addicted to alcohol but I was thigh deep in the habit and wanted to wade out before I lost the choice.

Hohofortherobbers · 02/02/2026 22:19

A reset may be good for you, a month off the alcohol to think with clarity about the hold it has on you. A trial separation, you can go back to it after a month. It gives you the chance to see some benefits, for me that's in sleep and anxiety levels. It also makes you realise how much time and headspace alcohol gets from you. Attention that could be spent better elsewhere.

Its only a month, what you got to lose? If it's not for you, you go back on it.

Donttellempike · 02/02/2026 22:31

TotallyWeir2 · 02/02/2026 11:42

It will probably kill me, but we all have to die sometime; sooner or later.

Should I endure the absence of alcohol to live a few extra years?

To answer my own question...probably.
I have a son who could do with my help now and then.

And...

Nothing I can think of just now.

Any thoughts?

Love to all out there........D E Weir in Cumbria x

I really enjoy drinking too. But am having a break as had started to drink too often.

I’ve done dry January and am continuing for now. I am sleeping a lot better and anxiety has gone. Also saving a lot of money.

I will drink again, but want a reset. And then plan to drink week ends only

It may not just kill you, it can cause long lasting serious health issues, and seriously affect brain function. It s a highly addictive drug so it’s so easy to get dragged under by it .

Maybe have a break and then see how you feel.

A lot of it is just habit TBH. And that may be easier to break than you think

88expertprocastinator · 03/02/2026 17:46

Icecreamhelps · 02/02/2026 20:55

Hi,

I'm only 4 weeks sober, the first few weeks were hard. But I feel so much calmer now, my anxiety has pretty much disappeared. I find it interesting that you say endure not drinking. The freedom I feel from not being dependent on a drug that was literally poisoning me is liberating. I didn't feel like that at first I thought alcohol was something I enjoyed I was addicted and not thinking straight.
@dotdotdotdash gives some really good advice why not take a break and do some research then see how you feel what have you got to lose.

Agree with this 100%. There are so many unexpected benefits to being sober and once you’ve read the facts about it, it’s really hard to go back to it! (My plan was to give up for 4 days and I’m still here coming up to 13 months)