Dry 14

[glad2016]

This is the thread for all those who are living, or committed to living, life free from alcohol.
Go sober warriors !

Morning everyone. :)

Hope everyone is well and good. Welcome back motherr.

Morning,

Thanks for the messages.

I think BrassicMonkey's post just gave me the willies. I'm not drinking as much as she was so there is probably no danger for me, however, I have been drinking for a very long time (if that makes a difference?).

So this is the new day 1.

Hiya BigFat - if you are worried, perhaps there's some concrete advice somewhere online how many units you can safely cut down to, or from? Do you know how to contact your local drugs and alcohol service?

I was drinking 1-2 bottles of wine every night, and binges most weekends for about six years. I stopped dead and though I had terrible headaches and exhaustion for a couple of weeks, I did not suffer any major withdrawal symptoms. But it's probably different for everyone, given their size and diet and metabolism.

How much did you have last night? What was your trigger for drinking? Perhaps thinking about that a bit will help you figure some strategies out for tonight?

Hiya White,

Thanks for your message.

I have been drinking (in a worrying way) for about 10 years although I have think I have always had problems with it from when I was younger, drinking to get pissed never having a couple. I think I have that sort of personality.

I used to be on the vodka however, more recently, last 6months ish it's been about 4 cans of larger a night. I think I should be able to just 'stop' from 4 largers if u did it from the wine you were on. What do you think?

My whole life is the trigger, there's no good in it (apart from the kids, and they ironically make me feel like drinking!). Stress is another major factor. Boredom, loneliness, my dad dying.

I know I'm on the right track by being aware enough to know I have a problem and by wanting to change. It's just the stopping is the hardest bit, it's easier to be a drinker than face up to my problems ifswim?

I haven't made any contact with anyone as I'm scared that social services would become involved although I think I do need support. When the kids go back to school I'm gonna try n find a daytime AA meeting that I can go to.

Hi BigFat

you could have a look at the strength of the lager and work out how many units you are having a day and a week? I think if you want to cut down, you can. For me, that would have been much, much harder. If I open a bottle, I drink all of it, and everything else in the house, until I pass out. It's as simple as that. Ripping off the plaster worked better for me. But we are all different.

Why not just go without anything tonight and see how you feel tomorrow? Make a plan to do something out of your routine tonight - don't sit in your usual chair, by a bottle of fizzy water to drink, paint a wall or clean your oven or start knitting a jumper (!) or just do something other than what you normally do when you were drinking.

Even if you were drinking four cans of very strong lager every night, you'd probably not into seizure / DT territory yet. It will take willpower but it does get easier. I think every time you tell yourself 'no' you build up that muscle of self control.

Maybe start with making a list of all the reasons you want to stop? And tomorrow morning, when you feel proud of yourself and as fresh as a daisy after a good night's sleep, make another list of all the immediate benefits?

Welcome bigfat and motherr

Bigfat how about contacting your local drugs and alcohol service. You can find them by googling your area. Usually you can refer yourself. That's what I did although I stopped completely at the same time. I had a telephone assessment which included how much I drank and my symptoms if I didn't drink. I was assessed as psychologically dependent and on the threshold of physical dependence but I did not need medical support to detox, I was drinking 1-2 bottles of wine a day. Everyone is different so it might be worth seeking advice if you are worried. Even though I didn't need a detox I could have had some medication to ease the first few days but no one told me that at the time. Have you stopped drinking ?

For whoever was asking about sober blogs mine is www.sothisissober.com. Lilybetsy X is www.alcoholfree2016.com and Lucy's is www.ahangoverfreelife.com but there are loads out there.

Waves to everyone and hugs to those struggling. You CAN do this. Keep posting xx

Hi! just checking in. Not in a great place in many ways, but not drinking.

Nothing to say really, Just hi, and thanks for sharing.

Hiya WHITE, last night I cut it down to 3 and it was a PITA as I'd just like to stop rather than drag it out. Plus I know that when it gets down to 2 & 1 I'll be thinking 'it's not gonna be enough ' iuswim? I even thought it at 3!

I think just stop is gonna be what I do. All your other advice thank you, it's all good and good ideas.

Hi 2, I'm just so worried about SS if I go for help. I'm not gonna drink tonight so it'll be day one for me!!!

Thanks again for responding. Already I'm finding this Thread really helpful. Thanks for being so kind.

How many days have u got under your belts?

I really know that sense of it not being enough. I still don't really understand how people can have one glass of wine and then switch to a cup of tea or do something else. I just drink it all until it's gone or I am asleep, whichever comes first.

I have over 80 days now. If you read the previous threads - from DRY 13 onwards - you can look at how it was for me in the early days and the advice people gave me. I still post a lot even though it isn't as hard for me as it was because I find the support here invaluable. ]

Best advice I ever got: play it forward. It's too easy to fantasise about that single glass of cold white wine, but if I am realistic to myself and play that fantasy right out to the end, what I picture next is enough to put me off wanting to drink for life.

I know what you mean. I envy those people. How do they do that? I'm a to the end person! It's a personality trait, in my dna. I have a could of alcoholic relatives (2 of my dad's sisters r definites) and the rest are heavy drinkers.

Play if forward sounds like excellent advice. Thanks for sharing that. I'll keep that in mind later when I start thinking about beer. I really wanna stop. Oh, what I could spend the money on! Life would be so much better for me and the kids financially.

Well done to getting to 80 days, I really can't imagine getting that far but the testaments on here are an inspiration and give me hope and a place to share the journey, without being judged. This thread is priceless.

He he, I'm starting to think like a warrior!!! 😊

Couple not could!

I couldn't imagine it either. Honestly. I couldn't even imagine getting to 3 days.

Have you got beer in the house? Why not get rid of it, then once the kids are in bed you can't go out and get more and temptation is removed. No point making things hard for yourself.

Hi, just wanted to join you all, I need some support.

3 years ago I quit drinking, I lasted 18 months then decided I would just have the odd drink on special occasions, this lasted a year. The last 6 months it's crept back up and last night I completely messed up and drank myself to oblivion, no idea why, wasn't upset about anything. I'm so dam upset and angry with myself. Thankfully I was at home so didn't embarrass myself in public apart from a couple of daft FB posts I've deleted but I woke DH up with lots of banging as I stumbled about (don't remember this) I think whats upsetting me more is that he's being so nice to me, all the crap I've put him through in the past with my drinking

So that's it now, it has to stop completely. Part of me is feeling relieved but then another part of me feels sad that I can't be normal like most of my friends, have a couple of drinks and just leave it at that. I'm also scared as I have been here too many times in the past, I thought this last time I'd cracked it but sadly no

Sorry for the pity post

I'm not even sure that I can make day one and that's scarey!

No beer in house, I buy it daily from the offy. I'm going out now to get school shoes and then to Asda. It'll be hard not to buy any.....but I'm sure I can do this!

Good look Bigfat

Luck even

Hi 77,

I'm new to all this so don't know what to say other than I'm sorry. I guess the good thing is u have come back so as you can fight it again!

And good luck to you 77!!!!!

I think I'm gonna need it!!

Might it be easier for you this time? (hoping that it is). Coz u know what to expect etc.?

Thank you BigFat yep done it before just sad to be back to square one again.

Hope you day goes well, stay strong!

I'm gutted for you 77!

Hope you have a good day too and don't beat urself up. Shit happens, u will be stronger for it.

It will be until the weekend, I don't drink everyday but it's been most weekends these past 6 months or so and a bit more on holiday. Just know come Friday "the fear" will have gone and I'll be trying to convince myself I can just have the odd one or two. Going to take Whites advice and play it forward.

I have 153 days. I would never ever have believed I could make it this far. Without the support here I doubt I would have done. This is a link to when I first joined. http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/2584735-DRY-11?pg=23&order=

I find it helpful to re read when I am struggling.

Thanks for the welcome (back), vxa2 and Slim it's good to see the same names, gives me hope I can do it too.

OnePillow how nice are you? I think this thread is such a support to newly sober so it's kind to pay it forward like that.

I'm not doing proper writing! I just started a blog to remind myself of the reasons I'm quitting if I ever feel like hitting the bottle again.

Hi to you both 77 and Big it's good to know there's some fellow beginners here too!

I have been totes emosh today much to my Dh's horror. I'm hoping this is a phase and I fully intend to self-educated this evening with chocolate and a crappy novel

Self educate? I meant medicate, but maybe phone is right, I should bin the pulp fiction and try something a little more highbrow!