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Original poster

is there an alcohol support thread here?

94 replies

MuchLessTiredNow · 18/01/2009 17:35

can anyone link me - can't find it!

OP posts:
BlaDeBla · 18/01/2009 18:09

There has been one, but it seems to have become a bit abandoned. Perhaps it's time for a new one?

I'm finally starting to talk a bit more about my rather unhelpful relationship with alcohol.

Original poster
MuchLessTiredNow · 18/01/2009 18:09

bump

OP posts:
Original poster
MuchLessTiredNow · 18/01/2009 18:13

that's a good phrase! I have found myself drinking too much out of habit - we live on a very social street: this week for example is typical - parties on Friday and Saturday that went on into the wee small hours, and there is usually a neighbour dropping in every evening for a glass or 2 and I think it has really crept up on me. I am fed up with waking up feeling rubbish, and think I need to give up for a couple of months just to prove to myself I can do it, and also to get my fitness back. My skin is rubbish,my eyes are dull and I am 2 stone overweight - partly due to the calories in alcohol, partly because I stuff myself to get rid of a hangover. So I want to make a change, but am worried it will be just another grand gesture, and I'll slip back into my old ways.

OP posts:
BlaDeBla · 18/01/2009 18:23

Did you read that article in the Times about a drug that dampens the pleasure aspect of alcohol?

I don't find that drinking less makes me any thinner! I just hate waking up feeling crap and the remorse does my head in. It's not worth drinking to feel like that!

I have found that since the New Year, I am drinking less, just because I don't like feeling bad. I don't like talking about it because it's something I could really do without getting worse before it gets better. That's scary!

Having other things to do is important, and feeling important enough to do other things.

So.. what can we do instead of drinking?

lulu41 · 19/01/2009 12:11

There is a thread in General Health - called Problem/Dependent Drinkers - but as Bladebla says its has all but been abandoned. It was a very supportive thread for a while perhaps we should try to resurrect it.

Original poster
MuchLessTiredNow · 19/01/2009 12:39

good idea for the resurrection. Bla, no I haven't found the article, but sounds interesting.

Please don't tell me not drinking won't have any effect on my weight!!! I'm kind of counting on it!

well, I didn't drink last night and am feeling much more energetic as a result - I am trying to find something interesting to do instead - I think that is the key too. I want to take up running again, and know I won't like doing it if I feel rubbish.

OP posts:
georgimama · 19/01/2009 12:45

Could I join in if this is going to be a let's not drink thread? I am finally willing to say I am a little uncomfortable with my almost daily habit of putting DS to bed and then having a glass of wine or three to wind down.

We're also starting to think about TTC number 2 and I know that not drinking so much will help with that, and I will lose weight (I did before when I gave up drinking to TTC DS). I don't feel hungover in the mornings which frankly I find worrying - I seem to have built up a pretty strong tolerance for alcohol. I don't think I am an alcoholic - if there was no dry white wine in the house, I wouldn't drink anything, but my God I would be ceanky about it!

lulu41 · 19/01/2009 13:21

I lost loads of weight when I stopped drinking its just empty calories

BlaDeBla · 19/01/2009 13:32

Here's the article in the paper

I just want to feel a bit more in control, and aware of how alcohol makes me feel. Last night I drank just over half a bottle of wine and felt pretty drunk. I was really pleased that I stopped. It often doesn't happen like that!

georgimama · 19/01/2009 13:53

I'll post later when I'm at home - I would ideally like to not drink Monday to Thursday. Will start tonight!

georgimama · 19/01/2009 19:55

Anyone around? Has anyone cracked yet?

Flowertop · 19/01/2009 21:10

Hi, I was an avid member of the dependant drinkers thread and have been drinking constantly in the evenings since DS2 was born 8 years ago. The only time I had off the wine was for 7 nights last year and then I caved in. Over xmas and (at least half bottle of wine a night and more at weekends)new year this year I seemed to be drinking all the time with no hangover. I said on new years eve that I would not drink in January and although I cannot believe it I have not had a drop.
I feel fantastic, calm and full of energy although funnily enough very tired in the evenings. I am a runner and when I was drinking always felt exhausted after a run. i have noticed that I can run further and have more stamina even after 19 days abstinence. Apologies if I have gone on but if I can do it then anyone can. I always had good intentions to stop and just poured another glass. I haven't lost a pound in weight which I find confusing. Anyway that's my story. Let's keep posting...XX

Original poster
MuchLessTiredNow · 19/01/2009 21:21

thanks for the inspiration, flower, and the rest. Glad to hear that weight loss is not just a fantasy of mine!! I love the post about the running - I am going to train for a half in May and that kind of thing will really help. Bla - seriously well done for only drinking 1/2 bottle - much harder I think to stop after 3 than not to start.

OP posts:
Original poster
MuchLessTiredNow · 19/01/2009 21:23

I think it is a habit, isn't it - I know I started to reach for the chopping board and the corkscrew at the same time I realised that, but I treasured my time on my own in the kitchen. cooking the supper, listening to the radio and no little voices arguing in the background. My trouble is that one leads to 2 and so on.

OP posts:
SweetestThing · 19/01/2009 21:27

Flower, if you're a runner, you might want to go onto this site.

BlaDeBla · 19/01/2009 22:05

I know what you mean about 2 leading to more. I wonder what kind of escape that is? I like the warm fuzzy feeling a glass of wine gives you and I want it to carry on. I guess that's where the breaks fall off, especially when I don't have to wake up to anything in particular or do anything very much.

I used to be able to drink a huge amount and still work in the morning when I worked with horses. The exercise wore off the hangover eventually.

Flowertop · 20/01/2009 09:28

Hi, I was an avid member of the dependant drinkers thread and have been drinking constantly in the evenings since DS2 was born 8 years ago. The only time I had off the wine was for 7 nights last year and then I caved in. Over xmas and (at least half bottle of wine a night and more at weekends)new year this year I seemed to be drinking all the time with no hangover. I said on new years eve that I would not drink in January and although I cannot believe it I have not had a drop.
I feel fantastic, calm and full of energy although funnily enough very tired in the evenings. I am a runner and when I was drinking always felt exhausted after a run. i have noticed that I can run further and have more stamina even after 19 days abstinence. Apologies if I have gone on but if I can do it then anyone can. I always had good intentions to stop and just poured another glass. I haven't lost a pound in weight which I find confusing. Anyway that's my story. Let's keep posting...XX

thegreatescape · 20/01/2009 09:39

10 years ago I was in a really bad relationship and used to drink at least a bottle of wine a night (no dcs). I used to wait for the clock to hit 6pm so I could pour my first glass. I had a few days off work with hangover related illnesses and so on. I'm sure other people noticed my drinking but no-one said anything. Since then I have gone through periods of abstinence and sensible drinking. Now ds is 20 months I am drinking a couple of glasses of wine a night, sometimes 3-4 so feel I should knock it on the head again. I do think where my drinking has crept up I have also put on nearly a stone. I think the first week or two is the hardest and then you start to lose the 'taste' for it a bit.

As georgiamama says, if there was no dry white wine in hte house I wouldn't drink anything else either (I hate beer) but I would be pretty cranky - and how often is there no white wine in the house??

beinghonest · 20/01/2009 10:49

I am glad to see this thread here. I too have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol, and I can appreciate what an achievement it is for flowertop to have such a great start to 2009. Well done you.

I can kid myself that I don't have a problem because if there is only whiskey and beer in the house then I won't drink it. But being honest I know that I drink more than is sensible, and more importantly, that I do not currently control my drinking as I should (having more than I intend, drinking when I say I won't, feeling thwarted if dp comes home early and drinks MY wine!).

I had a good week at the start of the year but since a couple of recent sociable weekends (we have recently moved house so we've had lots of visitors, and when you're at home you can't be the one who is driving!) I have returned to some pretty bad habits.

I have found before that until I get into a more controlled pattern, then the best thing for me is to severely restrict my drinking. So here is my commitment to myself:

I will not have a drink today (even though dp will be out with his mates tonight).
I will not have a drink on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday.
When I go out for dinner on Saturday, I will be the driver - both ways.

I would really appreciate the support of other posters on here so is it OK if I post on here every day to let you know that I have kept my commitment?

I know I will feel better for it.

thegreatescape · 20/01/2009 11:53

being honest - post away

Yes, also get annoyed when dh drinks 'my' wine! He'll drink any old crap goddamit! Have noticed that he has put another bottle of prosecco in the fridge (I drank the last one with a little help from dh). I'm going to take it out. Will not drink warm prosecco. Am not that far down slippery slope. Yet.

Flowertop · 20/01/2009 14:18

being honest, yes please post on here to let us know how you are doing. I think with me I can't have just one drink so the fact that I have told myself that I am not even allowed one drink in January has really helped. I have read it takes three weeks before you start to lose the habit.
Keep posting everyone!
X

Flowertop · 20/01/2009 14:18

being honest, yes please post on here to let us know how you are doing. I think with me I can't have just one drink so the fact that I have told myself that I am not even allowed one drink in January has really helped. I have read it takes three weeks before you start to lose the habit.
Keep posting everyone!
X

dicksbird · 20/01/2009 14:55

me too me too.

Bottle a night and more on the weekends. First alco free night last night for months.

Will keep posting.

xx

beinghonest · 20/01/2009 22:20

Tuesday evening - I bought a bottle of sparkling elderflower and pomegranate juice to drink at pre-dinner G&T time, and although it cost 2 quid it was cheaper than a bottle of nice wine.

Got dp to make me a mug of herbal tea before he went out. I will go off to bed soon so I am feeling glad that I have had an evening without alcohol.

dicksbird · 20/01/2009 23:25

Well done BH. I failed I am afraid. But Hey ho. will try gain tomorrow.

DB