motivation/ encouragement needed to quit drinking for November

[Feckinlego]

Hi guys, would really love your help. For the past year I seem to have gotten myself into the bad habit of drinking 4-5 nights a week. I'm drinking 2-4 bottles of wine per week, far too much!
A bit of background, we'll I've 2 children age 1 and 7, and an amazing dh. I work part time, 2 nights per week. Me and dh work opposite shifts so dc don't need childminders. So I'm on my own a lot with the kids.
Reasons I give myself to dtink:
Stressful day with dc
Going on nights the following night
finishing nights for the week
weekend
big one- to avoid dtd with dh(sexdrive completely gone after last birth though was never great)
for the past few months I've been having periods every 2-3 weeks, with resulting horrific black moods, to the point I'm wondering if I'm actually depressed.
I'm functioning ok, house clean/dcs fed dressed played with etc. Dh doesn't think I have a problem but I do, so I thought I'd start with a month off to see how I get on.
any advice greatly appreciated. I'm off on to work but ill try post when I can xx

I've let us down tonight
AWFUL day at work, feeling betrayed and furious. Went to pub quiz and had wine. Trying desperately to remind myself one terrible day doesn't mean the end of a conscious effort to improve my health, but....
I need to do better tomorrow. As ChooChoo aid, I fucking LOVE drinking!!! I love being relaxed, not thinking about work, being sociable, just calm.

It's done now. Don't beat yourself up over it, it won't all fall into place easily just because we decided it would. If it was that easy we wouldn't be in this situation. Move on from it now.
You had a hard day at work, horrific by the sounds of it. It doesn't mean you've failed. Forgive yourself and move on from it.
Hope you're ok xx

I can only speak for my own situation and heaven knows there have been so many occasions when in the morning I have sworn not to drink that night and then come 4pm bought a bottle so I can have some that night, but tonight....I had a glass before going out, 2 glasses while out and a couple of sips from one when I got in and I'm ok with that, because I knew tonight I would have a few drinks. Tomorrow will be the same. The hard part for me will be Sunday!

Fekinlego - just read your op again. Thanks for starting this thread. Honestly.

70 - I think the reason people may be reluctant to join BB thread is that it's SO established, that it may feel like a massive jump, kind of like shouting I HAVE A DRINK PROBLEM, whereas here people might be putting their toe in the water. I know that is not really the case, having followed BB since the start.

Anyway good luck and perseverance to us all!

Well. I didn't last. Shared a bottle. So instead of two bottle over two nights, I had half. I'm trying to remain positive. I didn't come here to give up, so in a way I'm ok with it.

No wine last night, wasn't overly difficult but I know that I struggle after 4 or 5 nights so that will be the test!

Thanks for starting the thread, it's great to have some company while I break this destructive habit.

Morning. You're all doing good. We all have our own different goals this month, some are trying to abstain and some are just trying to rein in the out of control drinking. So if you're all happy enough that's great. If we feel we've slipped or let ourselves down we can come and maybe try figure out why and how to avoid it.
Choochoo are u happy enough with having that half bottle? U were able at least too stop at that, how did that feel? Normally if I've run out of wine before bedtime I'd freak out!
I was fine again last night. I watched a couple of those tv shows where I'd normally drink, enjoyed them just the same. Big test is tonight, I love love love my Friday nights, wouldn't give them up for anything. I'm undecided how ill handle it yet

OK in the stark light of day, I know that I should have not had a glass before going out, or the few sips when I got home. But that's me all over. I probably had a bottle.

Morning, morning. [flowers) to those worrying. No one's letting anyone down. Just keep trying.

Day 6 for me. Out for drinks locally tonight but walking distance. So have volunteered to pick teen DS up from his girlfriends later on in the evening instead of sending DH.

I'm still feeling very positive and determined. Just wonder when that will end [confused)

Bugger. to everyone! And !

Feckinlego - what's your plan for after November?

Well done Bowlers on volunteering to collect later on in the evening.

Good evening all. Well I caved. Bought wine. Not sure if I'll drink it yet. I feel ok about it. What's the harm in 1 bottle over a weekend. But then again I couldn't last a week so what does that say about me? Dh thinks I was too hard on myself and if I only have 2 glasses ill be ok. Funny, all week I was thinking this was so easy! But I told myself if I lasted all month I'd go overboard in December. The wine witch eh? I even thought about saying nothing here but what's the point of that.
When catkisser said she let us down I thought she was being silly, I feel the same now

I reckon the DH's have a lot to answer for.

Me last Sunday: I'm giving up alcohol for November
DH then: oh, ok!
DH today: ooh nice glass of wine tonight
Me: not for me, I'm not drinking in November.
DH: I didn't think you meant at the weekends

Not helpful! Will you drink it feckin? Can you put it off until tomorrow?

Hello ladies, if it makes you feel any better I've succumbed to beer tonight. We can all hang our heads in shame together.

I don't even have a DH/DP I can blame!

Your dh sounds like mine! He honestly doesn't think I've anything to worry about, and that makes me cave a bit. He doesn't drink a lot, especially since he's losing weight. Yes, I'm gonna drink half of it. My Fridays are just lovely to me, don't think I can give them up. Last night I thought, yeah ill still have my Friday, just without alcohol. But it's not the same. Maybe if I read this tomorrow I'll see the error of my ways.
How are you doing bowlers?

Sorry corky crossed posts, but I laughed when I read that. It's just too tempting isn't it

I'm doing ok thanks, Feckin. I'll be fine tonight. 6.00 is wine time on a Friday normally, now that's passed without caving in I won't think about it for the rest of the evening. Tomorrow I'm out with quite a boozy set of friends, so slightly worried about that, but I'll be driving anyway so should get away with it.

That's great bowlers you're doing so well. I'm watching a dvdwith ds in a few mins, he'll go to bed about 9-30 then ill open the bottle. That's my usual time. Suppose there's still time to change my mind but I don't think I will

Blimey you do well to last until 9.30. I'm normally off to bed about then. Our drinking time is always earlier, between 6.00 and 7.00, never late, so it might be easier for me because once it's passed it's passed, if that makes sense.

Do what you need to do, and don't feel guilty. There's always tomorrow to jump back on the wagon.

Yup! I um-ed an ahh-ed with myself earlier after having a hellish day at work (boss decided to take a holiday even though we were stupidly busy, FFS), and decided to just go for it anyway. Didn't buy enough for a binge so I'll be back on the decaf tea now. No doubt in the cold light of tomorrow morning I will regret it but, for now, hey-ho

If I started that early I'd drink far too much! I'm having second thoughts now. I'll use the dvd time to have a little think.
I was so happy an hour ago driving home with my wine, now I'm not so sure

Well done bowlers, well done feckin Hope everyone else is doing OK. We'll get there, ladies!

Well you moderated at least corky, that's not so bad. After a hard week it's understandable.

Actually, I think we'll do ourselves no favours here making excuses for each other!
Aggh , why is this not easier

I cut down and now only drink on the odd, very rare night out. The way I did it was to just not buy it. Simple. It's hard if family buy a bottle though and pressure me to have a glass, because I just can't stop after one, so I tend to lie and say I'm on antibiotics/have to drive somewhere/don't like that brand of wine etc etc. good luck!

Thanks corky, I just think I'm in the right frame of mind at the moment. I tried to do dry January and failed miserably, and was on a thread so bailed out. But did have a dry March, and an almost dry June and September so I know it's possible for me. Well done for trying, and start again tomorrow? Any break you have has got to be a good thing.

Witches did you drink a lot, and do you have a partner who drinks?