Back to the start...

[pinkclouds26]

I have been on and off alcohol for the past couple of years. It has got to a point where I drink too often and at times too much. It is not worth the anxiety, broken sleep, the money, the arguments with dp...

I have learned the hard way the moderation doesn't work for me, the longest I went off alcohol was 6 months and I actually felt amazing. The minute I decided to have a few, I was back to square one, I have had numerous false starts since then, but always found an excuse to have a drink again, a holiday, a party etc. It wasn't easy being alcohol free, but it was so worth it. It is time to start again. I really wish I wasn't back to the start but I suppose I do have a lot more knowledge behind me this time

Anyone any tips for getting through the first few days?

Here I am at the start of day 4. Slept like a log, my body needs this. Feeling strong and motivated at the moment. Apprehensive about the witching hours of 4-6pm.

I found fizzy water really helpful. I dont know why - I've heard it suggested for beer drinkers but beer is one of the only drinks I can drink responsibly so it's not that the water is replacing that! For some reason, the strong sensation of bubbles and the full feeling really helped distract me in the early days. Plus, im absolutely shattered today after a mad week at work and my skin still looks better than it did after a full weekend of rest when I was drinking!

Sorry, meant to say that the almost painful bubbles kind of give me the firey feeling from a spirit. Obviously it's not the same but its something.

@Gofaster2023 thank you. Will buy fizzy water today. Luckily I love the stuff! How long have you been alcohol free?

Following! I've started this week and today being Friday is the first real challenge because DH will have a drink (not much).

@Incredulousaboutlife , what do you mean by the online diaries? Could you send a link? Sounds interesting.

@Gofaster2023 @Poopgoestheweasel I recommend Dash water if you can find it, I get it on Amazon. It's flavoured but very subtle and no sugar.

I think I need to join this thread - Day 1 again and I feel so down and fed up with myself and terrified at what I’m doing to my health.

It’s like ground hog day; I promise myself I won’t drink again, write my list of all my reasons and then it only takes having a bad day and before I know it I’m a bottle down. I mean what do I even get out of it? I live alone and spent yesterday evening getting pissed very quickly on a bottle of Prosecco and then went to bed! I don’t even remember the end of the evening, but then woke up from 1am onwards with raging anxiety and fear, depressive thoughts and full of self loathing! Why on earth do I keep doing this to myself?!

So thanks OP for starting this thread and for everyone else that’s contributing, I intend to check in every day - I feel if I could just get a few weeks under my belt, I might have a hope of sustaining long term, or that’s the hope!

So I found counting days actually was more harmful as I would end up counting days I could have a drink for whatever reason.
Now I go off percent out of 200 days I have drank once so my score is 99.9% and that feels better for me. Also drinking that one time put me off as I had a hangover from hell. Feel much better not drinking, my skin is clearer, I get less headaches, my heads clear and it's nice to jump in the car next day if I fancy going out instead of having to avoid driving as the alcohol is still in my system. I focus on what I can do not drinking.

Thanks for checking in @pinkclouds26 I'm slipped up the night before last, the cravings got the better of me. So I'm going to check in daily for accountability as I really need to get through this