DRY 18

[vxa2]

Link to old thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/2841743-DRY-17

Hi all, old timer here with yet another a name change. Been here since Dry 13, done many long bouts of sobriety but keep slipping back into old bad habits.
Been doing very well for last 200 odd days, also started counselling for CSA which has helped a lot. But, last few weeks have been particularly bad and so I thought I would try to moderate. But I can't. So here I am, back on Day 1.

Hi restart. Well done for getting back on it. I can't moderate either. Will/do you talk about drinking in your therapy at all? It's good that it's helping. Be very kind to yourself (which obviously includes not drinking)

Hi all. Day 1 here. The last week I've had nearly 2 bottles of prosecco a night. I've done dry January a few years ago and I don't know why I started drinking again as by the end of the month I wasn't even missing it.

Anyway, going to do a dry month and then if I do decide to drink I'll try and keep it for only when I go out. Drinking at home is my big problem. But I have to have a good run of being sober before I can even think of drinking when out

Hi. Can I join please?
I'd really like to stop but struggle with boredom in the evenings when dd gone to bed.
Currently drinking a litre of vodka and three bottles of wine a week.

Hiya...

All are welcome!

Any thoughts on what you can replace the drink with to avoid the boredom? Books, Netflix, yoga app? I’m currently drinking gallons of wild berry tea...

Don’t buy any vodka or wine, but do treat yourself to something - I drank gallons of chocolate milk in the early days - whatever it takes, prioritise what ever it takes...

We all start with day 1, and being on here is the biggest bestest leap

Welcome

Tomorrow will be day 1 for me. Much overdue but much needed. I’ve drunk wine most evenings for as long as I can remember (I’m 54). I stopped for 2 years at 50, the started again and while able to have some nights off I’ve got to the point where I’m drinking nearly 2 bottles a night and work and social life are suffering, as well as finances. So, tomorrow is my day 1. I’m so determined to make it happen. I’m fed up of feeling rubbish, and spending all day planning where I buy the next bottles from ( obviously have to alternate between shops!!).

Today was fine actually. I had two friends bring over a bottle of prosecco each to thank me for some stuff I'd helped them with (I wasn't home otherwise I wouldn't have accepted them). So I'm proud that I didn't drink them. I bought lots of yummy food and drinks today- some healthy juice mixes, chai latte, diet coke etc as when I try and give up drinking I go too healthy and then easily succumb. So trying to use some of the money and calories that I would have used on alcohol to treat myself.

Not drinking always means weight loss so looking forward to buying some nice clothes in a smaller size in a couple of months!

I really can't settle to anything to help relieve the boredom. I can't find any authors I like. Exercise just won't happen after I've been working all day but perhaps I'll have lore energy without drinking. I can't do anything too noisy or go upstairs as dd is a light sleeper.
I don't watch a great deal of TV either. I did think of perhaps learning a language so I'm going to see what free apps are available
Finished the last of the vodka last night so today is day 1.

Do you have to be at home newstart?

Is there anything you'd like to try craft wise? Knitting, drawing, quilting etc? You can do that whilst listening to an audiobook. Also start doing some YouTube exercises- try Joe Wicks' hiits. They're only 20 mins long and it'll get you hot and sweaty. You can have a nice bath afterwards.

It's about breaking habits and changing how you'd spend the time that you drank. Maybe start going to the cinema once a week or join a local sport group.

So glad to have woken up clear headed today. Last time I cut down on daily drinking, I remember how much nicer my skin looked after just 5 days. My eyes were more open and brighter.

Ibab1702 same same same

Day 1 again for me...I have been here before and bloody annoyed that I am back here again.

But you are back.... and that’s a good thing!!

Thanks mustti. Yes I have to be at home. Single mum to 4 year old and no available extended family to help. So cinema and sport clubs are a no go. I can't even run a bath while dd is asleep as it'll wake her and finding an author I can tolerate is impossible.
I haven't had a drink tonight so will probably turn in to avoid temptation.

How much do you usually drink? Or do we not ask that? (unsure of etiquette here)

Well done!! Have you tried going dry before? Once you break the habit it's easy. If nights are hard could you start getting up earlier and doing stuff in the morning and therefore going to bed earlier?

I have been drinking a bottle of prosecco most nights and l don't know how much when out drinking. Last week on holiday i drunk about 2 every night.

Thanks mustti. Did you manage to stay off it last night?
I wake at 6.30 every day to get dd to nursery so can't envisage getting up earlier. Hopefully staying booze free will up my motivation to exercise.
I'm feeling its really ageing me the booze and weight gain is terrible. What motivates you?

NSN... you may have done this already, but time spent reading through the historical ‘DRY’ threads would be well spent - there’s so much support, inspiration and actual practical tips and hints... it won’t all be relatable for you, but I’d bet some of it is....

Hi Newstart - yes, I did. Alcohol is completely responsible for me being overweight. I lost a stone when I did dry January and a few years ago I lost 15 kilos just by really cutting down on alcohol for a few months. I exercise a lot and eat really healthily but when you're knocking back a bottle or two of prosecco most nights plus get the munchies and then the next day you're carb loading..

My skin and eyes look a lot clearer when I quit or cut down on alcohol, yes. Plus sort it loss gets rid of my double chin and makes my eyes look bigger so definitely look better.

Losing weight and looking better is the main motivator for me, I've got to be honest.

Newbie (to being dry) here.

It's not been exactly my choice, I've just started to take medication and you can only have maximum of 6 units per week [not on days you take medication etc....] so I've decided to stop.

I knew the medication was imminent so for the past few months I've been drinking a lot

I can't wait to be a non drinker. I'm actually excited and feel positive. I'm also reading the Jason Vine book.

I drink for all manner of reasons... to relax, as a reward, as a crutch, to self medicate (I have health issues and have periodsof being unable to walk), to escape my reality (my DC3 has a rare genetic condition).

In the space of just 8 months my drinking has spiralled but I'd say for a good chunk of the past 3 years my drinking patterns had changed..... for the worse.

I work (currently on ML), I have 3 kids and all the responsibility that comes with young school age kids and a baby, I manage the house, I manage all my DC3 appointments and health associated issues.

I am however fat and miserable, my confidence is non existent. I can't even bare to see myself in the mirror. Drinking triggers overeating in me and I'm done. I'm done being this terrible version of myself.

Me too musti. Wow to a stone loss!
I look forward to seeing some positive results.
Like you crunchymum it tends to be a crutch, reward or self medication but I'm thinking possibly a vicious circle as the tiredness makes me bored and stressed then I drink more.

Hi crunchymum- you have a lot to deal with. I have always used alcohol as a treat and to self medicate. After work, then to make bedtime with the kids a bit easier and in the last few years because of my ex's toxic behaviour. Good luck!

Third day dry today and there were a couple of times when i flickered but hardly thought about it. I'm leaving exercising until the evenings though so by the time I've done that, made dinner and fed the kids etc it's past the time when I would have drunk.

I'm also eating earlier with the kids as I never feel like starting to drink after dinner.

How did you guys get on?

Day 2 ended. Had to fight the urge to buy wine on the way home from work and had to get into bed early with a cup of tea. And ate biscuits and chocolate:( But that’s better than drinking right?
I’ve a weekend camping with friends coming up this weekend. Most will be drinking. Part of me says I’ll let myself drink and part says ‘No’, I don’t want to go back to day 1 and I want to prove to myself I’m strong and can resist. How will I stand up to it?

Well done ibab! I'm not sure if I would be able to resist not drinking camping with friends. Try some non alcoholic beers/wine?

I'm not going out this month and I'm going to do different stuff that needs me driving if I do go out - going to the cinema etc.

This week I'm also not worried about diet. I'm eating delicious food and drinks and not worrying about the calories. It's been healthy but I had chocolate cake tonight.

Good morning musti and crunchymum.
Congratulations on another night alcohol free. I managed it too despite bf coming to stay..

Well done Newstart! I'm enjoying waking up feeling better- are you?