To get sick of people having a go at me cos I don't drink??

[coolma]

Hi I'm new here, but am loving these threads Situation is, I realised I was drinking far too much recently so stopped. It was really really hard and I went through quite a rough time, but having done it, I've decided not to drink alcohol again-at least for as long as I feel this way, iyfswim. Is it right for people to laugh at me, tell me there's 'something wrong' with me and generally remind me what i was like when i was drunk? I'm beginning to get quite upset!!

I'm on meds which mean I can't drink. I find weddings and parties a bit tricky as people get to be less good company when they are legless and you are not (strangely they think the reverse) and the night tends to drag a bit.

But the positives like no hangovers, lots more cash in the pocket and more energy are worth it.

When I was younger, people used to call me immature because I didn't dress like them, drink, etc. I was the happiest young person around and I was always doing my own thing.

It's a good thing to be an indidual. Its your decision and you don't have to do anyhting you don't want to.

Either some of you hang out with some really numbnuts people who can't bear anyone not conforming - or there is a possibility that some of you are being a bit preachy about your non-drinking. I used to have a non-drinking aqcuaintance who was a recovering alcoholic but was an absolute PITA about other people's drinking and took shedloads of ecstasy and ketamine but still claimed he was 'better' than 'losers who can't cope without getting drunk'.
I drink, some of my friends drink, some don't. I wouldn't dream of nagging or tormenting anyone about their choices: it's up to them, and I don't think many people I know would fuss about it either.

Though: good excuses (if you don't want to make a big deal of it or indeed if you are PG/TTC and don't want to announce it)
Antibiotics (cough piteously or, if feeling mischevious, suggest the pills are for something gross and offer way TMI...)
Want to lose weight (I wouldn't use this one myself because I don't think people's wieght is other people's business either but it will work..)
High blood pressure (if you are over 35)
Religious reasons (if you want the person/people to go away and leave you alone entirely...)

I'm not being preachy at all, in fact I am quite 'ashamed' that I had such a problem that it has come to this. I do know people who make a huge thing of it though.

I gave up drinking a few years ago when TTC and actually found it was much better not drinking so much (apparently waking every day with a headache and a raging thirst is not normal - who knew?!). So now I hardly drink at all.

I find that some friends were very supportive (albeit nosey about why not drinking) but some just never ever got over it. I think it is much worse if you were a big drinker and then you stop, than if you have never drunk much in the first place.

I took to drinking tonic water or lemonade alot, cos it looked like a G&T. In the end I drifted away from some of the friends, others I told I was TTC and they were actually quite supportive. I don't think there are any easy answers, but medication always seems to be a good response. No-one really queries that.

Good luck!