How to deal with people now I've made this decision

[CharlieDickens]

Lying in bed at 1130 pm suffering from what I can only describe as an anxiety hangover.

For 2 weeks I didn't have a drink and felt the best I'd felt in months. This weekend, I went out Friday night with friends and had 2 G&Ts. I slept terribly and felt rubbish yesterday. This evening I had 1 G&T. I feel rubbish already - heart racing and worrying about everything. I've taken anxiety medication and still feeling off.

I really want to go teetotal. It's just not worth it anymore. The problem is that I'm surrounded by people that love to have a drink. I used to but a traumatic experience has meant I just can't do it anymore. I don't know if my friends really understand it. Has anyone done this and not been made to feel unreasonable about it by friends?

Don’t worry about anyone else, OP. You’ve made a decision that is going to benefit you greatly. I’ve friends that don’t drink, friends who occasionally drink and sometimes I don’t drink. Never been an issue. If they love it, they can do it. I wouldn’t even mention it, just order a soft drink and enjoy your evening (and enjoy waking up fresh!)

A friend of mine gave up alcohol by switching to non alcoholic beer. Tbh if she hadn't mentioned it I doubt any of us would have noticed.

I would often have a tonic water without gin. Again, I don't think that anyone really notices.

Just say you're working on your MH and will be sticking to soft drinks. Don't overthinking it just do it.

People might make a small joke or have a dig. It'll be ok. You could always joke that you're planning to set up an Uber-like business as a side gig if you want to make light of it rather than get into anything heavy if you don't feel comfortable.

My husband had to give up drinking as he started to get awful hangovers - it just wasn't worth drinking to feel so awful- even a tiny bit would lead to a horrible hangover.

I don't drink often anyway and we never drank on a daily or weekly basis at home so it wasn't a great loss. I am lucky that I don't get hangovers really (yet!) So I still drink occasionally when I go out - so only social reasons.

Tonic water can cause palpitations so that might be adding to the situation.

Ditto OP. I too suffer hugely from alcohol and hangovers and would love to quit it totally but wouldn't know where to start as I'm also surrounded by friends who drink copious amounts

Ps his reason of awful hangovers really was accepted by everyone- it was never a point of much discussion- just sympathy that it wasn't worth drinking for that reason.

In this instance there's nothing wrong with a white lie while you find your feet.
If people are going to be on your case "Ohh just have one!" And you don't feel confident enough to either argue with them or your worried they'll twist your arm into drinking then you can always say you can't drink for pretty much any reason you like. Do you drive? That's a good get out clause. Or you can just simply state "I can't drink any more, it just doesn't agree with me, gutted!" And leave it at that. Best wishes on the teetotal journey!

Just saying it's messing with your medication. People who love a drink do take it personally when you don't drink. You have to take care of yourself.