I need help

[Georgina69]

I've joined this community in the hope that I will get some inspiration to help me reduce my alcohol intake and maybe stop altogether. Once I faced up to the amount I have been drinking over the last 2 and half years I knew it cannot go on. All through my life alcohol has been free and easy and it was easy to lay off it for a while when I needed or even wanted to.Now it's as if I don't have any control over my drinking at all. I'm hoping someone out there has been in a similar position to me and can give me some tips to combat this.

Thank you.

[Isinatra]

I had to make the same decision as you….to continue or stop. My addiction told me to continue, but what the addiction was doing to me told me I needed to stop. I tried to control and cut back for decades. Tried many times to stop, but always without help. I couldn’t stop by myself because the addiction was bigger than myself. Each person has to make that decision on their own. I can inspire you to stop because my life without alcohol is better than with it….hands down. I can’t inspire you to cut back because if you are addicted, I would be harming you. I’m not here to harm people. I do hope, though, I can inspire you to make a healthy decision. AA was what helped me combat my alcohol abuse. 🍀

[Georgina69 in reply to Isinatra]

Thank you for replying Isinatra. I appreciate your comments and am currently on 2 days alcohol free. No sweating or shaking but persistent headache. I have pencilled in 3 alcohol free days this week, but am worried about having a drink and it starting the cycle so have decided I will take 1 day at a time and see how I go. Thank again for your advice.

[Isinatra in reply to Georgina69]

😊

[Ste_smig in reply to Georgina69]

I am almost 3 months clean and just take every day at a time. I also had a few bad weeks to start with, things do get better. I focus more on the positives I get from not drinking anymore and that keeps me on track, I can now take my daughter to a dance class every week in the local pub and happily sit with a dilute orange, not feeling strange or out of place and knowing that I can get up at 5:30 in the morning without feeling rough or probably still over the drink drive limit..

there is always a positive to be found just keep looking for it.

Keep at it Georgina, you can beat this. 😁

[HeavyFoot]

An excellent decision, Georgina. Everyone has their own way of dealing with it, but you will get support on this forum. 🍀

[Georgina69 in reply to HeavyFoot]

Thank you HeavyFoot. As I have gone 2 days with no significant side effects I will take 1 day at a time and see how it goes. I must admit it does feel good to be in control ...for now...but it is very early days and I have been here before. Thanks again.

[HeavyFoot]

Be gentle with yourself. I stopped before (twice) but look on it as lessons learned rather than failures.

[Mim08]

hi there, the relief of knowing I am not alone on this fragile journey. I am on day one of this week. I did four days last week and I am feeling much better for it this week and am hoping to do the same again this week. The cravings are hard. Good luck all

[TealLovebird]

Hello 👋. New here having just dowloaded the NHS Drink Free app today. I used to just buy one bottle of wine to drink at the weekend, but my wine drinking has become far more regular over the last two years also. 1-2 glasses more days than not. Usually the first as I start cooking the family meal. I just don’t want to drink so frequently and sincerely want to change my habits. I’m fearful for my long term health. I have healthy eating habits and exercise pretty regularly, but my alcohol intake lets me down and denies me better sleep and better focus. So here I am. It would be lovely just to have a contact or two outside of my usual circles to share the successful days and not so successful days with 🙂

[marisamf]

i'm trying too