Giving up the booze......

haaammit · 22 Dec 2011 at 21:12

I need to make a concerted effort to give up booze in the new year. I'd be grateful for any ideas, help or hearing your experiences regarding this. 02nd Jan 2012 is my target date.

Have you stopped drinking? Do your mates think you're weird because you no longer drink? What's it like never having an alcoholic drink again?

Email in trust if you'd rather not post on here.

I've been through the GP route, and that didn't work out last time around (counseling uncovered some stuff that I felt is better left covered). I struggle with groups of people, so no AA either

My mates know I like a drink, but have no idea as to the depth of the problem. Going to a 'do' and me not drinking will look like me not breathing in and out, if that makes sense.

I've managed a couple of days recently, but really struggle after that. I want to try and do it with shear will power (I managed to give up fags after 15 odd years at 20 Marlboro a day :eek:

'just like that').

I could do with a bit of help

Mods - this isn't a medical thread. Ta. I'm posting here because it's relatively anonymous - I realise there will be 'lol' comments

Scuzi · 22 Dec 2011 at 21:15

If you can't go more than a couple of days without a drink due to a dependency then you are an alcoholic in which case this certainly is a medical thread and you require professional help.

Maybe go back to another GP, explain that counselling doesn't work well for you and ask for other options?

SuperTronNarwhal · 22 Dec 2011 at 21:16

Your going to wait till new years? Why not start now!

Also what makes you feel like you must drink alcohol?

the shadow · 22 Dec 2011 at 21:21

just like that i gave up drinking some think it's weird some think i must have been a alki .
At times i think i could do with a drink for dutch courage or facing people i rather not see
maybe i will have a drink some day but it might be harder to stop

Reginald · 22 Dec 2011 at 21:22

Get so smashed on new years eve that you never want to touch the stuff again?

Or on a more serious note, people are more likely to succeed when they do things together. Join a group? Start roping your friends into activities where you don't have to drink. Seems like everything we do nowadays revolves around alcohol... Find other fun activities near you that you and your friends will do together. As for going out, it's not bad without booze, have done it a few times.. Just let loose be yourself and enjoy waking up the next morning not feeling like the wrong end of a badger!

Ahleckz · 22 Dec 2011 at 21:27

Weakling.

Edit - I just read the OP and feel a bit bad for saying that.

Disco Boy · 22 Dec 2011 at 21:29

From the tone of your post, it would seem that you have a serious problem.

Have you tried to quit in the past? Why did you fail? Would cutting down be a better solution than going "cold turkey"? Or do you find it impossible to drink in moderation?

Morgoth · 22 Dec 2011 at 21:31

Has drinking made you fat? That's good motivation to quit.

haaammit · 22 Dec 2011 at 21:32

Maybe some more info might help. I currently consume 25 odd units of alcohol per day. Have done for many years. Counseling (last year) uncovered some things I would really not have to deal with and personal issues meant that after 4 months dry I got ratfaced again (and so the cycle started again). I'm not sure I want to go through that again (but maybe that's the way?)

Transport is also an issue - I am no longer able to travel to the sessions (even if I wanted to go :/) due to my wife working and our 20 month old girl.

We have a few parties to go to (inc new year/old year's night) and I/we feel my best bet is after the '''''festive season''''

Sorry - starting to ramble

haaammit · 22 Dec 2011 at 21:33

Morgoth said:
Has drinking made you fat? That's good motivation to quit.

I've reached a plateau of 6'1" and 17.5 stone, so yes. I'm constantly ashamed, and that is one of many reasons for giving up

SuperTronNarwhal · 22 Dec 2011 at 21:34

Quink said:
Maybe some more info might help. I currently consume 25 odd units of alcohol per day. Have done for many years. Counseling uncovered some things I would really not have to deal with and personal issues meant that after 4 months dry I got ratfaced again (and so the cycle started again). I'm not sure I want to go through that again (but maybe that's the way?)

Transport is also an issue - I am no longer able to travel to the sessions (even if I wanted to go :/) due to my wife working and our 20 month old girl.

We have a few parties to go to (inc new year/old year's night) and I/we feel my best bet is after the '''''festive season''''

Sorry - starting to ramble

But surely not drinking at these parties could be more of a challenge, of how good you will power is and in drinking environment?

Biohazard · 22 Dec 2011 at 21:34

Get angry with yourself for doing it?

That normally works with me. Chin up, and try to find other things to do.

Good luck.

JayMax · 22 Dec 2011 at 21:37

Quink said:
personal issues meant that after 4 months dry I got ratfaced again

Are these personal issues resolved now? Are they a root cause? You can see where I'm heading with this.....

nydryl · 22 Dec 2011 at 21:38

Quink said:
I've reached a plateau of 6'1" and 17.5 stone, so yes. I'm constantly ashamed, and that is one of many reasons for giving up

It'll make a difference. I hardly touched (or maybe didn't drink any) beer at all from about 18-20 and lost a few stones, obviously not from that alone. Switched to whisky and diet coke. I think it was pretty obvious to folk why I was doing it, but never mentioned it explicitly! Good on you if you manage to chuck it completely.

haaammit · 22 Dec 2011 at 21:38

SuperTronNarwhal said:
But surely not drinking at these parties could be more of a challenge, of how good you will power is and in drinking environment?

Yes, but my mates would want to know why I'm not drinking, and I'd be too embarrassed to explain why

I/we see 02nd Jan as the time to do it.

Biohazard · 22 Dec 2011 at 21:39

Quink said:
Yes, but my mates would want to know why I'm not drinking, and I'd be too embarrassed to explain why

I/we see 02nd Jan as the time to do it.

YOu have to get over this.

Draeger · 22 Dec 2011 at 21:39

Quink said:
my wife working and our 20 month old girl.

This might sound a tad flippant but give up drink for them. Aside from the fact that drink affects your day to day functioning if you are consuming 25 units every day, think of the damage it is doing to your health. Long term you want to be around with your wife to see your little girl grow up. Continue down this road and there is a chance you won't be. Apologies if that sounds blunt.

I hope it all works out for you, there's no easy answer. I'll say this though, it may just be an internet forum you have posted this on but props to you for doing so and admitting to yourself that you have a problem you desperately need to deal with.

Pate · 22 Dec 2011 at 21:39

Not sure what advice to offer mate, but thanks again for helping me out, really appreciated. My offer of drinks on me when you're down my way is still open by the way, even in light of this thread. ^_^

haaammit · 22 Dec 2011 at 21:40

JayMax said:
Are these personal issues resolved now? Are they a root cause? You can see where I'm heading with this.....

Personal (read financial) issues are now certainly 100% dealt with. Old repressed stuff not, and I don't want to. It was the financial stuff that buggered me up last time

[FnG]magnolia · 22 Dec 2011 at 21:41

I'm sure you posted this before and the thread got locked.

If you have a serious issue then going cold turkey is potentially fatal. Alcohol is one of the few drugs that causes the body to terminally close down to if it is removed without any step-down changes. I think you need professional advice.