I’m in a long term dance with alcohol. Ironically I started drinking more when I gave up smoking. At the peak I was drinking a bottle of wine a night- I didn’t know how much it affected my day to day functioning as I was never not without sleep deprivation or worse for wear. I started to have periods going alcohol free to help with weight loss and I realised how much alcohol affects me day to day. It was a crutch. I have an emotionally invested job- I drank on the bad days for consolation. I drank on the good days to celebrate.
Friday is a trigger day- I’ve been sober this time since 2nd Jan. My goal is not to drink alcohol again till I’ve lost my target amount of weight. She. I’m on the wagon, I’m on it but Fridays are the days when I start to bargain in my weaker moments- just Fridays, then a few weeks later, just Friday and Saturdays and then Sundays and then and then.
It’s amazing but I realise a weight has been lifted when I decide to not drink for a while. Then I forget. A few years ago the thought of going dry for a year terrified me. It makes me nervous now but only because I know I’ll have wobbles on the way.