help me to give up alcohol

[dontcallmehon22]

I don't drink everyday, but when I do I binge drink and end up feeling really low afterwards. I become overly gregarious and attention seeking. The next day I loathe myself. My last relationship was with a man who drank a lot, but a couple of times I became an argumentative or embarrassing drunk.
I want to stop completely. There is so much social pressure to drink but I think I need to do this. I'm on anti depressants and the alcohol stops them working for a few days. So words of support, wisdom, advice from anyone who's been through the same thing will be welcome. I declare 2015 an alcohol free year.

I'm doing dryathalon too, hoping to make some major lifestyle changes for 2015

Hi pony and 40 - we can support each other.

Thanks teapot - I will take a look at the living sober site.

At least I will know that any future decisions I make will be with a clear head.

I need this thread

Can I join in? Managed to drink a full bottle of red wine last night without actually realising it.. Feel fine this morning after a coffee though. I was going to start on Thursday too but sod it, I need to get healthy and lose some weight among other things so no time like the present!

Hi OP, sounds like you're at the point where you're sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. Good for you. Life is about to get a whole lot better!

I do still drink but have cut back massively in the past couple of years and I recommend it very highly. Here are just some of the benefits I have experienced:

• no hangovers - for me that means, no headaches, sick stomach, indigestion, wasting the whole of the next day feeling exhausted and regretful
• much better quality sleep
• clear head every morning - glorious
• clearer skin
• weight loss, especially on my face. My face is now actually a different shape to what it used to be!
• more energy, physically and mentally
• more even moods (I also suffer from depression)

Do it. Try to find some non alcoholic drinks that you actually enjoy the taste of - for me, that's fizzy water with ice and fresh lime, or a range of herbal teas. Plan something every day for the following day - anything small - a walk, watch a film, do your nails - and think how much you will enjoy doing it with a clear head. Within a couple of weeks, you will be feeling like a new person. Good luck!

Hi all - tonight will be tough!

I'm in. Dry January for me and then I'll take it from there but I've definitely got to the point where the costs outweigh the benefits.

I'm positively looking forward to tomorrow morning's clear head and appetite for the lunch I'll be cooking. It won't be like that all the time though. I often feel a real urge to buy wine and drink the whole bottle so it'll be those times I need to plan for.

Well hope Nye went well, wisey.
I did it - alcohol free!

Good luck. Parts of your thread sound really familiar and could have been me three years ago. Since having dd I have cut right back and barely drink,might have a few drinks or 2 glasses of wine or so but tend to stop (a) being responsible for a small child, hangover the next day would be hell with screechy toddler (b) I don't tend to buy in wine the same so tend to run out of booze a lot earlier (c) we don't go out to drink as too skint for bar prices and have dd with us

I'm glad the hangovers and cringey blurry memories seem to be much a thing of the past, and it stopped being 'fun' a long time before that

Hi
This is the first time I'm used mumsnet and it's because I need support to give up alcohol. I can easily drink a bottle of wine a day. Feel very isolated and ashamed. Any pearly words gratefully received.