alcohol - how to cut down?

[IAmLost]

Didnt know where to post this

I have gradually been drinking more and more over the past year or so. I need to cut down. I want to cut down. But I am finding it very hard. How can I do it? It is such a contraversial subject. Especially amongst mothers I have found.

you are a better person than me then kokeshi. I wanted to go cold turkey, and my homeopath said I should try, but I cant. I just cant. I like drinking. Which is ridiculous as I know what damange it is doin me

lol! No way IAmLost, not better just almost dead! That's a major factor...mental preparednesss.

Although my health was deteriorating for a long time (acute pancreatitis, liver inflammation etc), I just got to the stage where mentally and emotionally it was doing nothing for me. I was drinking to escape my feelings but at the end felt even worse when I did drink. Wasn't much of a choice really.

It's really difficult to stop something you know inherently does still give you pleasure.

You CAN do it, IAmLost! Apparently we get BETTER at giving things up with practice. I finally managed to stop smoking after over 20 years and it wasn't nearly as bad as I thougt it would be. Don't beat yourself up about these things, please! I have spent so much of my life in the most hideous monstrous guilt trips, I dare not think what I did or who with. I found it was the hangover that was making me feel even more wretched. Oh the depressing qualities of alcohol!

wish I didnt want to do it tho, or smoke for that matter

Indeed, don't give up giving up. Hellobello is right, sometimes the fear and anticipation of something is actually worse than the reality. Has often been in my case.

oh but I do kokesh eveyr day

you're welcome on our other thread too, please don't be put off by the title!

hi guys just checking in to say hi and well done "i am lost" keep going with the cutting down and DO as kokeshi says and give yourself a pat on the back, its all progress

thinking of you and sending pos vibes XX
XX

thanks LadyH - I am not really doing that well tbh. lots of cr*p around atm and I am hiding inside the bottle again. Wish I hadnt started this thread now

I would second Rhubarb's tips about distracting yourself. Find a specific hobby that doesn't mix very well with alcohol is a good ploy. For example, I used to make sewing projects on a sewing machine which I didn't dare do if I had had a glass of wine.

It really helped doing something constructive other than sitting there just thinking about it.

Having said all of this, if you feel it is getting out of control, or depression about the whole thing takes hold, AA can be a great source of help. I am very close to someone who has given up for nearly 20 years now through them, and so know it can be very helpful. Not for everyone, and possibly not for you now. But never forget that it is there if things ever take a turn for the worse.

lostinthesnow, bit concerned.....feel bad that you wish you hadnt started the thread, if you want to talk off here, then let me know, but if not, just know youre not alone, you are facing up to change which is half the battle and trust in yourself - im thinking of you and have been and will keep sending you reiki xx

I want to NOT drink wine everyday. The problem is by 6pm in the week and earlier at the weekend - I crave it. I literally wake up every morning feeling terrible about myself. I start every week thinking I won't drink in the evening but always fail.

I eat healthily and exercise everyday. I'm not over weight and got engaged this year. Any advice welcome.

Any help welcome...

Hi ette this thread is from 2007 but didn't want to to read and run
Imo what helped me was deciding not to drink in the week, drinking water with dinner and then brushing my teeth straight away
Doing something with my hands like adult colouring books, fb games like candy crush and word searches!