Alcoholics or Dependant Drinkers Club

[Rhubarb]

For SoftStuff, tyedye and anyone else who wants to join.

The rules are that you HAVE to sign in every night to let us know TRUTHFULLY how much you have drunk. You need to let us know your triggers too. So if you resisted for 12 hours but then cracked and had a beer - what finally snapped?

We'll be here to give you encouragement, support, advice and opinions.

Hiya
all
so pleased you are all doing so well. I had a crap weekend and got plastered Friday (well it is Friday!) Saturday (well no more after this) and Sunday (definitely none during the week!). Have not had a drink since Sunday night and I am a miserable cow! I am also suffering raging PMT which can't help. Tuesday night I thought I might rip someone's head off if they came near me, but I managed with a bubble bath instead. I still find I sleep really well when sober, but could sleep on for hours in the morning if I didn't have to get up with kids. I am going to try to say NO this weekend as well. Did any of you watch 'Turn back your body clock'? After 8 weeks without alcohol, your liver starts to recover, I am due another blood test so I need to at least attempt the 8 weeks so my gp won't bollock me again. I am so glad this thread was started, it's a great way of letting out what you need to say. Good luck guys

FOUR nights now without alcohol. Tonight should be ok coz it's running club, home about 9.30pm, then shower and blow dry. Then I think there is something good i normally watch on telly - which is my alcohol trigger. I know I have enough red grape juice left in the fridge for tonight though. I wore the batteries out on DS's gameboy last night playing frantic tetris just to keep my hands away from the corkscrew!

I was upset, kekeshi, I feel fine now though, well until next time..

As promised to myself, I got my hair cut yesterday as a treat. All 8 inches off!! I love it! I've had so many comments on it already.

I have managed yet another night without drink but I'm still getting a constant stream of nightmares as soon as I close my eyes.

I have promised myself a drink on Friday if I get get through tonight too. I must admit I do feel a bit more confident that I can do this. Not sure I'd be doing this without all the support i've had.

Softstuff - I agree - there is no way I could have done this well without being able to post on here each day.

I had a haircut earlier in the week too. The comments you get from people are a real boost don't you think?

I was going to try and just have 2 glasses of wine for a treat on Friday night, but I seriously doubt I will be able to stop at one. I can see that Friday is going to be a huge hurdle for me to get past and I guess you are all feeling pretty much the same?

Newbie here.

I am at rock bottom, thinking about seriously going to an AA meeting at 12.15 today. Anyone been to one before.

I'm scared but I have got to sort myself out

No never been to AA. I work in mental health, so I would know the people running it. I would have to drive myself a long way out of area LOL.

If you have an appointment to go, then go. If it's anything like where I live, then the waiting list is long for this service. If you don't feel happy or comfortable, you can always not bother going back. I'd give it a go if I were you.

Its an open meeting in central london, I think you just turn up.

I have got to tackle this, it has to be today

Well, I would say go.... you've got nothing to lose.

Welcome the pits,good luck.Well done all you who can abstain.
I am really hungover again and am wondering exactly what i am going to do to stop.I dont seem to have any willpower at all,my life is passing me by.

tyedye - if you are hungover, are you less likely to fancy that beer at lunchtime??

I wish,it makes me want it more,hair of the dog etc...STUPID ME!!!!

And now the weather is better, I always fancy a cool beer sitting out on my back decking in the sun. It always seem more legit to drink during the day when the sun is shining... sort of continential.

this is a great thread. Something lots of peoople don't really talk about. At least not so openly.

I was horrified recently to discover that I drink way more units of alcohol a week than I'd thought. I love a couple of cool cans of lager in the evenings which I thought must be harmless. But I googled alcohol units and worked out I'm having maybe 6 units a night with just those! That's 42 a week, nowhere near the 14 they recommend.

Do any of you work out alcohol units or is it too terrifying. I almost wish I'd never looked!! I NEED my beers!!!

If i worked out my units,i would have a horrible shock,in fact,maybe i need to do just that!!DOH!

Martian - I found out that a bottle of my favourite cava is 9 units - and I can easily drink one a night, plus extras in the form of pernod on a weekend. A lot of us here said at the beginning of the thread, that we don't think about units as they don't seem 'real'. I certainly don't actively count them because I get a kind of mental block about it.

Is abottle of wine usually 9 units?cava is bubbly isnt it?!I drink STRONG wine,13percent usually,so that would be more "units"i suppose?GOD!

Yeah - the cava i drink is 11%

I just calculated i do 14 units nearly every dayi just registered with,www.downyourdrink.org.uk
wish me luck.

Hi all, welcome to thepits and martian...hope you get something from this. To answer the previous Q about AA meetings: I think people are sometimes put off by what they see in American movies (I know I was). Firstly AA is "run" by other alcoholics, there is no hierarchy and therefore no-one is "better" than anyone else. Whether it be 40 years or 40 minutes you haven't drunk for. Everyone is only sober for that day after all.

Thus, anyone who is there would also be an alcoholic so that's how anonimity is protected...and it is protected fiercely. There is usually a speaker who shares their experience, strength and hope fo a period of about 30 mins to 45 mins (the format varies). After this, the chairperson (also AA member) goes round the "body of the hall" to ask others in the meeting if they want to share anything. People go there and share generally about where they are, how they're feeling and what life is like for them in sobriety or when drinking. No-one will comment on what you have to say...it is not up for discussion.

When you are a "newcomer", the best thing to do is call the AA hotline number and they will arrange for someone (another AA) to meet you, and attend meetings with you at the start. Newcomers are always well received and get a lot of good support. After that, you can decide if you identify with the people in the room, if it's for you, how often you want to go. It's best to remember there are many AA meetings, and in that some will appeal to you more than others. There is absolutely no-one to tell you are an alcoholic, that is for you to decide. People generally tend to go even after a long period of sobriety because of the great fellowship, care and understanding you receive within these meetings.

I would say to anyone, who hasn't tried it to give it a go. At least you'll be informed, and see that sobriety isn't a life sentence! Themoon66, as I said, you would only see other mental health workers there if they are alcoholic themselves and if they are, should be even more welcoming! However, I know there are meetings exclusively for doctors and health professionals for this reason(and you never have to tell anyone what you do).

I hope this sheds a little light on how it works, and if you need it, give it a go.

K xxx

well, that's why I was wondering. The amount of people I know who drink a bottle of wine a night or at least half a bottle are therefore on way over the recommended amount.

I know what you mean about the 'units' not seeming 'real.' To me, a couple of cans of lager a night can't be all that bad can it?

tyedye, I'm sure you're not alone in drinking that much each day. How long have you drunk that much for? Does that make a difference?

SS, hope all goes well with the cpn today. Is the psychiatrist you're waiting to see a specialist in addictions?

My dp gave up with the help of aa and it has been 14+years now and he has never looked back.It is difficult but he said when you really have had enough it is easier iyswim.AA helps with the mental side of things recognising why you drink and why you are scared to stop.We still go to lots of parties etc and he is often last on the dancefloor I still drink but only on odd occasions like going out for a meal or a party.I have never felt the need to change because I don't have a problem with it.Dp often pours me a glass of wine and has no problem with it but at the beginning it is easier to avoid situations where people will be drinking.Alcohol is a depressant so that up and confident feeling is fleeting.I really hope you make a go of it I know my dp says his life is fuller and better than when he drank

FIVE days without drinking now! A record for me. I've been dreading tonight coz Friday night is our normal sit back and chill night, where me and DH collapse on sofa with a few cans or a bottle of wine. However, I think I may go to Ikea on Saturday morning, which means an early start, so incentive to not drink if I have to get up and drive 70 miles first thing.

Does anyone know what time Ikea open on a Saturday?? Its the Leeds one I'm going to, but I guess they all have same opening times.

hi all, hope you are all doing well.

Anyway, i have lasted 5 days without alcohol or going out.

It is my plan to go out tonight, but i probably won't need as much to drink because i'll prob be pissed quicker with a week off the stuff.

Also, is it normal to crave sugerie things when you cut out drinking??? I've not been more than 3 days without over the past year and i suddenley want chocolate and was wondering if it is related to the 13 t-spoons of sugar in one pint[embarrassed]

Butty.xxx

how are you doing tyedye?