OK I need to grasp this nettle.

[OrmIrian]

I drink too much too often. Have always liked a glass of wine but in the last 18m it has got too much.

So as a starting point I am giving up booze until my birthday on 6th Feb. If I make it that far I will see if I can go back to sensible drinking - if not it might become permanent.

I love wine. I want to be able to enjoy it without compromising my health long-term, my weight, my running (try running 10miles the morning after you've downed a bottle of red ),my mental health and my bank balance.

I've cancelled the bottles of red wine I ordered wih my supermarket delivery tomorrow, and replaced them with tonic water. I am planning to run more as a distraction. Anyone got any tips - the crunch point for me is about 6.30 when I am getting dinner ready. I don't want to fail because they I will be scared about myself and my addiction (no other word for it).

All advice gratefully received.

I have tonic water biwi. I don't much like sweet drinks like juice or coke. ANd I can't drink tea all the time! I don't think I'm you And I promise I haven't been spying...

I know weekends are hard. But I got into the habit of not drinking on saturday last summer because it messed up my Sunday morning run - so I know I can do it. But Friday will be crunch time.

cranberry ( ocean spray) is nice and sour

byt you must have a nice glass and ice

Maybe you have to do some visualisation of a fatty rotten liver- or some other horrific health issue?

Try to find a distraction technique that fills the gap when you are tempted. Better still just don't have any booze at home.

I haven't drunk for over 10 years due to medical reasons-if I drank, I'd be ill. It isn't easy but I have no choice.

"the time he realised he had a problem was when he found he was actively setting himself targets such as yours (ie i wont drink in January-at all) rather than just being able to not drink he had to make a fuss "

Well what can you do then?

i think that is an odd thing to say sc

We have a load in the house atm. Stuff left over from christmas and stuff that we were given. ATM it's not tempting me but it's early days.

Another one in the same boat here. DH and I have agreed to have no alcohol in the house but may have a drink if we go out (which is rare) or have people over for dinner.

I finished the last glass of white last night and DH drank his last beers.

You can do it Orm.

put it in the shed

Ah, if we have it in the house we drink it.

I don't have that problem I must admit. We always have it in the house - wine, beer, spirits - but I don't feel tempted just cos it's there. It's time of day and habit that gets me.

Orm - it's the time with me too. When DD is in bed and I'm cooking dinner.

At other times of the day I'm not fussed, there could be bottles all over the place and poured glasses even and I wouldn't touch it. It's just a nasty little habit I've got into when cooking dinner.

Orm I am joining you.

I know I drink too much, but everyone I know drinks a lot so it never seems so bad but in reality I know some people would be horrified by the amount that I drink and I would be embarassed to confess so I guess that is not good is it?

I did give up for January last year and that wasn't so hard - I cut out the drinking at home without difficulty but going out was hard and we go out with friends/DH's work a lot and TBH I was very pleased when the end of Jan came round

When I was pregnant last year I gave up completely without a second thought but started (quite heavily) very soon after.

FWIW my top tips are make sure you always have a variety of soft drinks/sparkling water in the house; drink soft drinks out of a nice glass/wine glass; have something to keep you busy (if I am sat infront of TV/MN I want a drink - not so keen if I've been out running/riding).

Good Luck

OI
did we decide about mettles?

OI
did we decide about mettles?

I think it's nettle. You grasp the nettle, or you are on your mettle.

i d nto want to graps a nettle
it would shurley hurt

be careful with the tonic water - it can stop you sleeping...

Early evenings are definitely the worst.

DH and I spent most of last year not drinking during the week - and I would generally end up with a glass of tonic at about 6:30pm. We kind of fell off that wagon over Christmas (holidays count as weekends ) but should will get back on after our big twelfth night bash next weekend.

Personally I can generally drink a bit and then stop but do really want that bit sometimes . DH's problem is that whilst he can quite happily have no alcohol, once he starts drinking he will carry on.

And I think you grasp nettles and are put on your mettle as well, FWIW.

Orm- you won'tlike this, but i think you should seriously consider going to AA.

If you do any "quiz" on booze/addiction- there areloads onthe web- you willsee that thinking about when you canhave your next drink and planning you day round it, and fretting over not being able to have one, is a sign of drink being too important in yourlife and you being/becoming dependent on it.

THIS is taken fromthe AA website:
While there is no formal "A.A. definition" of alcoholism, most of us agree that, for most of us, it could be described as a physical compulsion, coupled with a mental obsession.

We mean that we had a distinct physical desire to consume alcohol beyond our capacity to control it, and in defiance of all rules of common sense.

We not only had an abnormal craving for alcohol but we frequently yielded to it at the worst possible times. We did not know when (or how) to stop drinking. Often we did not seem to have sense enough to know when not to begin.

Maybe PP. But I want to have a go myself first.

PP According to those quizes when answered truthfully I have been an alcoholic since I was a student and I don't believe that is true - with the greatest of respect to those who compile them I think they overstate the position.