To ask what you do on nights when you don't have a glass of wine

[Stuffisperplexing]

I have a glass of wine every single night

Just one (or two)

But I think the reliance on it is unhealthy and I'd like to not drink for a bit

It doesn't help that I have anxiety and low mood and wine gives such a nice dopamine rush

It sort of blows my mind that some people don't drink it at all - I'm quite envious of the self reliance

Give it up for a month. Your anxiety will probably be much better for it. If you are not able to manage a month - seek help.

This was me, then one day I couldn’t close the lid on my large recycling bin due to cans and bottles.
Started winding back slowly - replace one night with an alternative - I used ginger Ale initially and had a pint with loads of ice in a beer glass.
Then 2 nights, then just drank alcohol weekends, then cut Sundays.
Now I have the occasional beer when I fancy it, not because it’s a habit.

I still go out and have beer with friends, still get drunk, but it’s more occasional and I’m in control.

some alcohol free beers are okay - have had fun still on a night out when I’ve just had them.

Take it slowly and gradually.

Tea, coffee, lattes, orange juice.

I don't drink anyway but every night I treat myself to a can of kombucha. It's abit pricey so it feels like a posh treat!

What is biscuit tea?

Water!

I’m sober. I have a nice herbal tea or a nice drink of something else alcohol free every night before/during dinner. It could be a soda water spritzer with fancy garnishes, a tonic water with alcohol free botanical spirit, an AF beer, a hot chocolate, matcha latte, whatever.

Honestly, I thought I could never possibly be one of those people who didn’t drink. I actually went to a class on Friday during Dry January one year and was shocked that there were people out at a class on a Friday doing meditation and not at home finishing a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc. 😂 But believe it or not, there’s a whole world I realised I was missing out on because I put so much importance in having a couple of drinks every night.

I don’t miss it at all anymore really. The smell of wine actually puts me off. I’m coming up to 2 years sober now.

I go to the gym? Or drink a "special" non alcohol drink in a nice glass? Three Spirits and Trip are good for relaxation, or a camomile/valerian tea for something hot.

I do love a wine but only 1-2 times a week!

0% 'booze' has improved so much in recent years so you could try that or a soft drink that's a bit of a treat so you've got something to look forward to that isn't alcohol.

Tea and chocolate once the kids are in bed usually watching a series or scrolling. Helps me unwind and I've a chocolate addiction. 😂

I like a nice glass of Ribena or a small glass of diet coke but I've always got a glass of cold water on the go. I don't drink very much at all, very rarely at home even if company. Maybe a glass of wine in a restaurant but always a soft drink ordered at same time and usually its diet coke.
Could you drop down to every other day then down to weekends only, then end if the month only🤔

I guarantee you those wines are making your anxiety worse overall.

I used to be alcohol dependant and then gave up when pregnant. I'm not tee total but drink probably 3 times a year (usually to excess mind you).

I enjoy a game on my phone with a herbal tea.

Zero alcoholic wine and Prosecco, I love them, I have had 1 baileys on Xmas eve and then stuck to nozeco. I also have a nice mug of ovaltine, green tea, cappuccino sachets and decaf tea and coffee. Just mix it up a bit, make it a treat.

Having another lemon balm tea (with added ginger) - pleased to have learned about this!

What were 90's alcohol adverts like?

LOVELY

Lol how detailed. Did you have your glass today? 😂

What were the old ladies in the 80's like ?????

Quite depressing - they'd had hard lives.

I did have my wine as it's Saturday and oh fancied a glass too. Tomorrow I will refrain!

And they all had curl and sets, carpet coats or macs, tabards and shopping bags. And listened to radio 2. And smoked like chimneys.

Tonic water with orange juice and lots of ice is nice.

Same here. I found anxiety and life / work pressures meant sleep was hard. Wine helped. I have spent the last 2 years reviewing what causes me stress and trying to deal with it….. not easy with a nasty ex and high pressured job. But I really think hard before taking anything else on and o factor in more self care and ways to reduce the pressures by doing less. It’s important for my health. and yours!

whilst I’ve been doing that I’ve also been reducing wine consumption: diluting it with soda water or lemonade, switching to sleep aid herbal tablets or gummies (Holland and Barrett) and having a night time tea containing valarium (check out pukka and h&b). I s k so use the calm app sleep stories and mindfulness to get to sleep (works 85 percent of the time.). It also helped going to bed not tired just to listen to an audiobook. Usually I fall asleep to it.

I also am now on anxiety meds which help. Anxiety stops the natural sleepy hormones so it’s difficult to feel tiredness which is why the wine helps. But putting in place strategies like this has helped me and can help you too x

For me, having a lot of therapy has stopped me from wanting to drink. That's not why I had the therapy but it's a really good side effect. I never feel like I need a drink any more although I do usually have one or two drinks a month and I know that one drink won't lead to two.

I also suffer with anxiety and alcohol did help with that in the past. Now however I just don't feel any need.

I am jealous that people can drink without feeling rough. I am in the 'don't drink at all' camp purely because even one drink makes the next day hell!
I am assuming it doesn't make you feel rough? Otherwise it would be an up side to you stopping the nightly wine.