Binge last night...

[ScoobySnack]

Hi all. I fully planned to and succeeded in a 12 unit binge last night - half a dozen cans of beer in front of the telly. I'd been 4 days totally drink free, so I felt this was fine.

My main realisation this morning was that it was just "pointless". I wasn't stressed, didn't need to do it, didn't feel a craving....just did it. All it did was make me sleepy. So really it was a wasted night of drinking.

I see this as a good thing as I've thought it through today. I'm only 1 week into my journey so I'm not going to punish myself either. I definitely won't be drinking tonight (I'm driving) and my pledge is only to go totally drink free 3 nights a week and I've hit that target and more.

I'm not being complacent either, just trying to find what might work for me. As I say, thinking about my binge last night and also writing this post is a good tool for me.

I also confided in a close friend this morning about joining this Forum. She knew I was a heavy drinker, but it was cathartic and another positive step getting it out in the open to someone I respect and trust.

Thanks for listening.

[SoberDrunk1]

Pretty much similar to my experience. AF for few days week and boom the urge comes in and I acted on it. It took a long time for me realize I cant handle alcohol safely worse yet, I cant stay stopped. Had to have a psychic change.

[Smegmer]

I would always make sure I was drinking less days than I was, so max of 3 nights a week.

As you have pointed out, you find there wasnt much point in you drinking the 12 units when you thought about it the next day. I think you need to think about what you can do with your time. Any hobbies you had when younger that you could pick back up ? I found I drank out of boredom mostly, and of course "because its the weekend". Im now pushing 50yo and realised how many weekends I have wasted being hung over for most of it.

[CiggieStardust in reply to Smegmer]

Yes I recognise myself in both your comments scoobysnack and Smegmer. Saving my drinking for 1 day a week and usually sticking to 1 bottle of wine but if that day is a Thursday then it leads into Friday... then Saturday🫨 And I always volunteer to drive. I find too that I drink when I'm home alone - not through loneliness - boredom I suppose and just because. I think the best thing to do is not to think of having a drink as having a treat for the achievement of not drinking but to treat yourself with NOT having that drink BECAUSE you've achieved that time without it if you get my drift. So I'll start my diary tomorrow morning. Good luck my sober friends