Stopping drinking for a while

[Patbutcherismyhero]

Throughout lockdown I've gradually started drinking more and more. I now usually only have one day off a week. Last night I drank way too much and was sick, slept terribly and today I just feel awful mentally and physically. I need to cut back. It's become far too much far too often.

I hate waking in the night with anxiety and having to check my phone to if I put any shit on social media. I don't usually get hangovers but I always feel tired and lacking in motivation. Alcohol has become such a big part of my life but I know it's not healthy and I really need to stop for a while. Anyone else?

Hi everyone can I join too?

I had sort myself a goal last week to begin the same thing of cutting down. During lockdown my drinking has got out of hand. Easily drink a bottle of wine and not feel drunk, so I continue. I’m also the same with once I start I cant stop and it makes me cringe thinking how drunk I can get compared to others.

My goal is to cut down and I was doing well early last week then slipped up Wednesday and drank heavy and drank very heavily on Thursday and Sunday. This is about two bottles of wine and spirits. I can go 2 days not drinking before the temptation becomes overpowering and I cave. My goal is to not drink now until I see a friend on the 18th... wish me luck...

I’ve downloaded drinkless app as mentioned by someone and hope that helps to track my units and alcohol free days for motivation.

Morning all.

Fluckity and Box sorry you are both feeling a bit off. Is the weather crap where you are? That doesn't help.

How are you biscbek?

Was sorely tempted last night, but resisted.

Welcome QWeRTY12340. I think many people who drink have found their intake has crept up during lockdown. Good luck!

Wonder what Jullilora's deleted post was all about...

Pretty sure she had one removed from the doghouse too!

Think something smutty. On loads of threads!

Morning all. I did relatively well last night (for me) actually left some in the bottle. xx

Well done Darcy!

Yes the weather is crap, probably doesn't help. I don't feel sick today just knackered and low. Seems like I should be walking on a cloud to be rewarded for not drinking and resenting this not being the case

Morning all.

Sorry to hear you're feeling rubbish @fluckityfluckfluck and @BoxAndKnife - seems like when we cut down or stop we expect to feel brilliant and healthy and if we get ill or don't see immediate health benefits we almost think well this obviously isn't working! Keep at it, it might be related or it might be just feeling a bit offish.

I gave in and had a few gins last night. For some reason I can't seem to get past two days AF without feeling like I deserve a reward. Am now trying to stay AF in anticipation of my night out. Hopefully I can enjoy that then forget about drinking at home for the rest of the week.

I’m the same I get to day 3 and I usually cave. I’m going to try and prepare for that later by having a bath or doing some exercise to distract myself

Yes there's definitely a sense of injustice in sacrificing so much and still waking up feeling under-par

Well done @biscbek

What are you doing today? I’ve just decided I’m going to give myself a home facial once I’ve finished work and then attempt to do my eyebrows (usually have brows done professionally).

Sorry for those feeling a bit rough, hope it passes soon.

2 days AF is better than zero; and 5pm is better than lunchtime, so don't beat yourselves up. I have been stuck in that pattern until just 10 days ago. It's hard to say exactly what has clicked for me. In the past I have tried to curb my drinking because I felt I should - not because I genuinely wanted to. I set these flimsy non-goals in my head and then allowed myself to cave really easily based on any excuse I could conjure up.

I actually feel different this time. I want to curb my drinking because I want to. Not because I "should".

We all on this thread know we "should". As smokers know they "should" quit; as morbidly obese people know they "should" diet; as the person with the dodgy mole knows they "should" see the dr.

I don't want to be clocking 30-50 units a week.
I don't want to be unhealthy or damage my liver.
I don't want to be hungover or a dickhead or sleep badly.
I want to use alcohol far more sensibly and mindfully.
I don't want it to use me.

And I'm only 10 days in. But that's where I am, having gone past umpteen stumbling blocks.

There are loads of sober podcasts out there and the alcohol experiment/naked mind looks really good. I also find this thread so supportive and encouraging.

And I guess it's a long road. I don't think that after a few months I will be that casual take it or leave it drinker, I think it'll be a gremlin which will always be in me.

Same Sauvignon. Sometimes I'm fine and can have a few and sometimes I'm ridiculous and black out and end up racked with anxiety and worry. I just don't trust myself and the drinking alone thing is just destroying my self esteem - I feel like a right dickhead getting through so much wine sat alone

I've never stopped for this long before and genuinely don't miss it yet. Apart from feeling the urge to repeat the habit - and I'm definitely feeling less anxious. But basically I'm tired of worrying about what I might have said/done/ and what people think etc. My kids also made too many references to my drinking habits for me to pretend they weren't aware anymore

You have nailed it @Sauvignonismysaviour - at the moment I am still at the wanting to quit because I think I should, not because I want to stage. Because frankly I enjoy the feeling alcohol gives me after a hard or boring day. That said, the ill effects it has on me are obvious. I've piled on weight and there have been numerous times where I've made a real idiot of myself. A really low point for me was on a work night out when I got really sloppy drunk and starting dancing like a total pillock. When I saw the pictures and videos I was utterly mortified. I couldn't believe I'd acted like that in front of my colleagues. That feeling of shame and anxiety makes me never want to binge drink again.

It's the habitual drinking at home that is getting me during lockdown though. I'm the same with food. I promise myself I'll have a healthy day, no picking at bad food and no alcohol after work. And I can guarantee that by lunchtime I'll have had a bag of crisps and by 5pm I'll be thinking of booze. I just have no willpower and am stuck in a big rut!

I wanted to join this thread as a lot you say resonates with me OP.
I've been drinking a bottle of wine every day since lockdown begun. I just simply enjoy it.
I haven't had a drink Monday and yesterday. Got to admit it feels good. I'm likely to have a glass tonight because I'll be totally honest, I love matching wine with foods.

So that's my nemesis. I need to be eating dinners which aren't complimented by wine. I'm yet to find any.

I'm in bed. This evening was hard. Looking forward to tomorrow

I’ve found tonight very hard too, but feeling proud of myself as I’m out of my danger zone. I’ve been on the longest walk ever listening to the naked mind to really talk myself out of getting a bottle of wine.

I used this App last year and have just reinstalled it on my phone , surprisingly it still remembers my last dry spells ..
It tells you how many units you have saved , how much money you have saved and how many calories you have saved , the only problem with the calories is that is no way to add calories for the non/ low alcohol drinks ( and I am buggered if I am just= going to drink just water and black coffee ) but it it is easy to use and clear.

play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.org.alcoholconcern.dryjanuary&hl=en_GB.

I have stayed dry today , nut not sure how I will do tomorrow , I dont have any AF beer left but I do have a lot of 'real' cider in .

I had a really lovely San Pellegrino lemon and mint fizzy drink last night - from Aldi - recommend!

I went to put it into My Fitness Pal and it was a hundred and something calories. I am so weird - I was really cross! And then I caught myself on. A glass of wine is roughly that and lord knows I've logged enough of those over the years and then some. The calories in wine has never bothered me - the lust for the wine has always superceded anything else.

I've always made excuses and allowances for alcohol and this is another example for me. Another thing that I need to change.

Welcome @Cherrybakewellard
I enjoy drinking wine too. The 14 units recommendation doesn't really seem like a lot when I can polish a bottle of wine off to myself on a Monday evening. But it just seems to be a habit, and a bad one at that!

Well done for last night @fluckityfluckfluck and @QWeRTY12340

@Patbutcherismyhero have you looked into The Alcohol Experiment? Some of the things there really resonated with me. They advocate that you can't change on willpower alone - you need to rewire your thinking and that has been a big help for me this time. Yeah, I've tried to quit or cut down loads before, but this time feels a bit different.

All the very best everyone x

Morning all - managed to stay off last night so that's 3 in a row which is what I need as a minimum per week. I may drink tonight but not totally decided. If I do I am going to aim low and try to think of all those calories!

@Sauvignonismysaviour, my DS is addicted to that stuff! We have a drinks fridge which is mainly several varieties of SP now Unfortunately though I'm not really a fan of fizzy drinks so it doesn't work too well for me as a booze substitute, but the mint and lemon one is nice enough with lots and lots of ice on a hot day.

So today is day 13 AF for me. But tomorrow is my birthday so....who knows.

Morning all - I love our thread! I'm feeling a bit better today. Have my first social engagement - going to a friends for tea who is walking distance away. She will be expecting me to drink. I have no intention of it but no idea how to handle it either

Morning all. Managed to stay AF last night and woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed today....however....we have moved our girls night from Saturday to tonight as it's likely the pub will be a lot quieter tonight.

So I will be drinking tonight. Aiming to take it steady to ensure that tomorrow isn't a complete write off. It I drink tonight I can maybe attempt an AF weekend which hasn't happened in months.

Well done @Darcysshirt and @BoxAndKnife !

@Patbutcherismyhero & @fluckityfluckfluck it sounds like you both might need a plan for the evening … ?