dry Jan and hopefully beyond 😉

[JBrat69]

hi all

been drinking far too much Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday , the guidance is 24 units per week I know I couldn’t stick to that so better to stop all together . Dry Jan was a good place to start. Not had a drink so far and I have been doing so much more things since stopping on 1st Jan , feel loads better in myself so much more energy motivation I don’t want to drink again at this point as I don’t want to feel like crap again and I know I would be so disappointed with myself. Going to get three Jan then look at adding some other small goals losing a bit of weight moving more . Ps I have saved the money I would of spent I don’t know how I afforded it going to treat my self at end of Jan x

[Hidden]

hi welcome here and well done for making the decision to stop, im on night 3 tonight one night at a time yes thinking of the money you can save perhals put some in a pot everytime you fancy buying some and each week at the end of the week what you would have normaly spent, im not saying ive stopped forever as i stopped twice for 3 months and 2 2 weeks various reasons set me back and i thought ill be ok with just a couple mainly pain relief boredom anxiety,just wanting a lift and a relaxed pain free night, ive got some strong pain killers which ill resort to only if its really bad,as there addictive if taken regular and i hate meds, i find distraction is the key if you feel like buying some think how bad youll feel, dont have any in the house,and stay away from situations where you would normally drink, have you thought about AA its not for everyone its not full of alcoholics infact most when i went wanted to be normal drinkers not drink a full bottle of wine be able to leave some in it, i feel so much better for 2 nights not drinking, i dont drink every night but its the fact i cant stop at one or 2 that upsets me and i realise im not normal i know people that can and dont want to turn to it like i often have when get stressed or feel down,and of course too much makes us feel worst next day, i found swimming helped got me into health mode, i think it be hellful to read through others posts and chats, keep us updated, i wish you luck 🤗🌟🌠

[Smegmer in reply to Hidden]

Im on night 3 after a binge on Friday. My sister is in AA, but im not too sure about it. Seemingly we had a similar drinking pattern. Not the major amounts of some poor souls on here, but a couple of binges a week. Im getting to old for it. Could keep it at 1 bottle for a while, but it increased in lock down etc.

[Hidden in reply to Smegmer]

hi yes im like that im just playing it by ear not buying any more wine for now anyway best not have it in, i did go a while with none and wasnt botherd then boredom toothache like pain in my head set me off 3 months with nothing, at least im having less alcohol nights now, im living with my mam so that helps she doesnt really drink since her heart attack maby the odd 3per cent draught beer no more than one or a scherry lol she got some brandy suring hrr covid and uses as a medicine in v small doses it is medicinal for some, i notice you smoke it causes narrow hard arteries which cholestrol builds up in quick re heart attack strokes that how mam had hers she doesnt smoke now, alcohol also damages the arteries, i worry about my health more now im older as so many i know have had problems from drinking, good luck

[Hidden]

me too i was disgusted with what id spent in one year let alone the rest of the years 🙄

[Hidden]

when i think of the times ive drank out of kinda routine, i used to have couple cans cider a few nights a week but when i had a bad year i went onto wine one most nights so you can imagine back then i could get one i liked for about 3 5o, the same one now over 4 pound so 5 nights one bottle is 2o a week about 1ooo a year so over the years, although before i got a taste for wine id drink just lager or cider, some nights i paid more the corner shop 5 pound🙄 🙄have a good drink free night i am 🤗

[JBrat69]

I think zero alcohol drinks could be more encouraging to help people stop if they were cheaper as there not much different in cost. I’ve still been having schloer in a champagne flute 😊

[Hidden]

i do that with my pink grapefruit juice or ribena i love the pink gralefruit juice its very comforting especially in a wine glass i guess its part of our comforting thing breaking us in gradual to not drinking alcohol 🙄

[LilyAnnepuppy Ambassador]

be aware that many non alcoholic drinks contain a small amount of alcohol. Once I have ingested any alcohol, it sets off a compulsion to have more.

Also by pretending to drink out of a wine or champagne glass sets up my mind for a drink. My mind gets drunk before i pick up that drink. But that’s just what I’ve learned through experience.

[Isinatra in reply to LilyAnnepuppy]

I tried the non alcohol route also. The taste triggered me to expect the effect of alcohol, which never came, so of course, I caved.

The glasses, which were triggers, I got rid of except the few my mother had given me and those I put out of sight. I did what I had to do.

[LilyAnnepuppy Ambassador in reply to Isinatra]

That’s why you’re sober today. And have some time put together. Even though it’s just for today.

[Isinatra in reply to LilyAnnepuppy]

Just for today I won’t drink. Just for this minute I won’t drink.

[Spirit-bird]

Audible have a great listening book called Glorious Rock Bottom by Bryony Gordon. A really honest account of being a drinker. Well worth a listen to anyone wondering how bad their drinking has become and the steps they may need to take to address it

[JBrat69]

my husbands drinking concerns me . Drinks red wine Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 13/14 percent at least 9 bottles over that time. He’s a lovely man works hard and stays at home no bother just drops to sleep. It’s the amount that worries me. I leave him to it don’t lecture him about it . He is supporting my abstinence. 🤔

[JBrat69]

so far so good on dry Jan, I tried af rose this weekend. I’m not sure if I need to be doing the af stuff to be honest. I feel loads better already mostly chuffed with myself for getting this far as never have before. I feel I want to carry on beyond January it’s nice not to feel ill .