Alcohol - when does it become a problem (part 2)

[janh]

I thought it would be a good idea to start a new thread for this because the old one has got so long! (My PC is very slow at loading up long ones.)

OK, ghengis! (And anyone else who wants to, of course.) Wednesday it is for our mutual support group to start - but we'll have to decide what our own targets are...I already can't decide whether to go for alternate days or to bite the bullet and try to go straight for none during the week (except maybe for a couple of stubbies now and then.) How about you?

I have been drinking steadily more and more. The past few weeks the weekends have started on Thursday and gone on until Sunday! Consequently I feel absolutely lousy on Monday, which is the worst day for me as I'm at my busiest - helping support a child with special needs at a local school and having a driving lesson. I have really tried not to drink much on Sundays, but just can't seem to. I have a couple and then want more. I reckoned up that I have been drinking about 30 units a week, all condensed into that Thursday - Sunday spree.

I know all this drinking is taking it's toll as it makes me depressed, I get minor panic attacks sometimes on Monday mornings and I just feel unwell for days, lethargic and unhealthy!

So I am trying not to drink from Monday to Friday (as I usually have a couple of tinnies whilst he is out playing squash on Wednesdays), which will be a start. If I can do that then I will try to decrease what I drink on Sundays. Ideally my goal is to only drink on Friday and Saturday. So I'll see how it goes!

Rhubarb, just Friday & Saturday is just how I would like it to be too, we're all in it together! "I have a couple and then want more" - exactly! (And the Sunday ones are definitely not good for your driving lesson!)

How are you doing this week? Are you being good? Do you want to join us from tomorrow?

So far (today is only Tuesday though) I haven't had a drink this week. Last drink was on Sunday. Dh is playing squash tonight instead of Wednesday and as he goes to the pub afterwards, I normally have a couple of cans in front of the pc. It will be really hard tonight as we have cans in the fridge, but I can do it!

I've love to join your support group!

Last night was a nightmare! I had a bottle & a half and woke up on the sofa at 2am. Felt like death most of today and have no intention of opening a bottle (or finishing the rest of last night's) tonight. I am starting early Rhubarb and JanH!

What did you have a bottle and half of Ghengis?

A very nice cabernet sauvignon shiraz. First 2 - 3 glasses tasted wonderful! I'm sitting here now with a glass of water and desperately wanting a glass of wine.

Oops - I might have to start tomorrow now! I just got caught up with the first thread and it made me feel really thirsty! I've been trying to justify having a can all night, and finally decided that we probably wouldn't be drinking that much this weekend as we have to be on a train heading for London at 6.30am on Saturday, then we don't get back in to Preston until 11.30pm, by which time we'll all be shattered.

I much prefer wine too, a nice Merlot or Cab Sav. But the one bottle never seems enough for two does it? We always end up polishing off two bottles, and then if our resolve is weak we might have a glass or two of Baileys! Well, at least my liver would be nice and marinated - be quite tasty for a cannibal!

Made it to 10pm with just water. I might have to go to bed now to take my mind off things. Hurrah! First night booze-free.

Well done, ghengis! That's a great way to start!

I called in at Tesco on my way home from the hospital (35 minutes each way for a 2-minute X-ray, what a waste of time) for a nice bottle of special-offer-Cawarra-Shiraz-Cab - as we're not really starting till tomorrow I felt I owed it to myself. I have told DH about mumsnet support and he is very pleased!

Nothing tomorrow then - OK, girls? Honest reports on Thursday morning. (Well, it'll be afternoon for me, I work 9-1 on Thurs and Fri.)

Much better for you, sobernow - well, maybe not the creme egg, but the other stuff. Are you with us on the alcohol-free weeknights then?

Can I join in too?? However... can I put an exception on Thursday nights?? Ds goes to Grans house every Thursday and we always have wee night out.
So instead of me being allowed to drink on Fridays and Saturdays... can I make it Thursdays and Saturdays?

However, I did drink a nice bottle of white wine last night. Feel ok today though... which is a good job coz I've got a hectic day at work ahead of me!!!

Good luck everyone!

Will definitely try harder! From now on I will try my best not to drink during the week and to cut back to just one bottle of wine SHARED between us on Sunday. Will let you know how I get on too. Good luck everyone, we can do this!

Course you can! The more the - er - merrier (!)

That's 5 of us in for being Good tonight then. One day at a time...lots of luck!

Hi everyone. Pleased to day I didn't drink any alcohol last night. I expected to feel bright-eyed and bushy tailed this morning but I feel very drowsy and not quite 'with it'. I'm sure this will pass and am feeling confident about tonight.

Well done, ghengis!

I am always disappointed too at how undynamic I feel after a night off - don't seem to sleep any better either - and then I usually have a night on again so never catch up - I think after 2 or 3 off we will notice a difference (well I hope so!) Our livers will love us.

I was telling DD1 (she's at uni) about this today and saying I don't know what I am going to drink in the evening instead - tea and coffee and cold drinks get a bit boring - she suggested getting some really nice fruit juice instead (like Del Monte Tropical). I might try that.

Sad I know, but I drink ribena out of a wine glass on 'nights off' (lots of those at the moment as I'm bf) - a lot of my drinking is habit (although I must say I only ever have 1 or 2 glasses - I seem to have been either pregnant or breastfeeding for ever and ever) so the 'red' drink in a glass satisfies some part of me!

Pineapple and coconut sounds lovely, Batters!

How long ago did you start giving up drinking alcohol every night? And how often do you drink now? Do you find it easy to only drink occasionally? (Not that I'm obsessed or anything! )

Good idea janh. I've just been out and bought some cranberry juice for this evening. I hope to stay 'dry' for 2 weeks and then start to drink (less!) at weekends only. I have also bought some milk thistle, which is supposed to repair your liver. It is foul tasting so it must be good!

I'm pregnant at the moment, and thankfully gone off alcohol! - but when I don't feel like drinking but need a 'hit' I might have tonic (fully loaded, none of that diet nonsense) with loads of ice, lime or lemon juice squeezed into it and round the rim of the glass (bit of a citric queen!) and just pretend it's Bombay Sapphire

Ever tried red grape juice? It's lovely, and you can pretend it is alcohol!

Has anyone ever tried sparkling elderflower water, I always use that as an alcoholic alternative it's really refreshing and has a tangy twist to it like white wine