Been off the booze for two weeks....

haaammit

haaammit

haaammit

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Yay - go me. I've not had an alcoholic drink for two weeks now.

"So what?" you may well ask - well I've had an alcohol problem for certainly the last 20 odd years. I've stopped a few times before but either money for relationship problems caused me to start again.

We are expecting our second child (a boy!) in the new year and it's really made me want to sort it out - so here we are. Drinking 25 odd units a day was really taking it's toll.

Feeling really confident this time - so far so good. Had a few temper issues for the first week, but it's all getting better now. Drinking loads of squash and water, but not really hungry. Trying to relearn sleeping. All I used to do was black out, I'm now having to actually go to sleep. If you've not been there I guess that doesn't make sense!

No real point to this thread other than a bit of self praise :)
 
Thank you for the kind words - they really help.

I've also recently had two episodes of Atrial Fibrillation with Rapid Ventricular Response - basically my heart started to go into arrhythmia and my pulse was over 200 bpm. These episodes were caused directly by the quantity of alcohol I was drinking :/

It's another reason I've decided to knock it on the head.

We even went out to a mate's wedding reception last night and all I had was a couple of cokes.

Thanks again for the support :)
 
Thanks one and all for the words of support - I'd better sign up to the wagon thread I guess :)

Had another test today - met up with my dad and went for lunch at a pub. I'd usually have a couple of pints, well this time I stuck with coke again! I'm so pleased with that :cool:

The last few times I've stopped for a while it's got to the point where I think "Just a beer or two tonight, that'll be fine" and before I know it I'm back up to stupid amounts. I just can't drink in moderation :o

I'm taking each day as it comes, but one of the hard physical parts is over. Just have a quick google about the very real dangers of going cold turkey from high alcohol dependence. It's not fun and can be dangerous, but that part is subsiding thank goodness. Big thank to my better half for looking after me.

I waited two weeks before posting as getting through that physical stuff means if I start drinking again and stop I have to go through it all again.

With regards the addiction, it's hard to explain. I feel like there's a huge part of my life missing. When I thought about stopping it was like "But how can I NOT drink? It doesn't make sense". Stupid really.

I don't have long term goals - I'm not sure I can ever "just have a beer or two" so it may be that alcohol is completely off limits from now on. This in some ways makes me sad - I'll miss the Norwich Beer Festival (been every year since I was 16!) and I'll feel self concious at parties (drinking at the levels I was means that if I really put my mind to it I could put away insane amounts :o) as mates know I like a drink.

Very few people know of my drink problem - my missus and you lot. I'd feel so embarrassed if my mates/family knew. For the short term I'm saying that because my missus can't drink I'm joining her for moral support - after our son is born, I'm not sure how to tackle it, but that's 4 months away yet.

I'm planing on staying alcohol free for a long, long time - all of your support is really appreciated.

If you're wanting to cut down or give up or you think you have a drink issue, please post in here or the On The Wagon thread and we can all help each other.

Long ramble over, but thank you for letting me get some stuff out of my head :)
 
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Thank you for all the encouragement. That's now three weeks (21 days) without a single alcoholic drink.

Sleeping is getting better, but I'm going to bed quite late to make sure I'm tired so I don't have too restless a night. Bed at 2.30/3.00 and up with my daughter at 7!

Not that I'm trying to lose weight, but I've lost well over half a stone so far. I'm going to get back on my bike soon and start cycling again.

I'm determined to stick with this - being sober has made me realise just how much I hated getting drunk every night. I'd love to say I miss it, but I don't, and it's so hard to not go out and get some beer. I keep thinking "You've done so well, just have a couple as a treat" but I know if I go down that route I'll end up right back where I was three weeks ago. I've invested way too much, both physically and mentally to waste by boozing again, but **** it's hard.

Anyhoo -3 weeks and I'm so far feeling ok - long may it continue :)
 
Just really to update this thread. That's now 35 days without an alcoholic drink. Over a month. 5 weeks!!!

However, one of my drinking buddies has invited us over in a few weekends time and I'm unsure as to how to tackle it. We've always had a few drinks together in the past. I don't want to tell him about my booze problem, but it will be very, very strange if we go and I don't drink. The whole "Not drinking because my wife is pregnant and can't drink so I thought I'd support her" thing won't really work with him.

What to do? :/
 
easyrider said:
Just say you are having a break from drinking as you want to get healthy.

Have you lost any weight in the 5 weeks?
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Over a stone so far :eek: Started cycling again last week, and plan on starting swimming soon too :)

Thanks for the ideas and support. I wasn't really after advice about whether or not to drink again, more how to tell my mate I guess.
 
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Yes - it was more on how to tell my mate that I'm off the booze, not whether to drink again or not. Having any sort of alcoholic drink right now would be a sure fire way of ending right back drinking the amount I was before. Booze isn't an option right now.

Part of me wants to make excuses and say we can't go due to a prior engagement, but I can't avoid him for ever. I've got a couple of weeks to decide what to do. Cheers all :)
 
Suarez7 said:
If this is the case then I can only recommend being honest with him, if he doesn't support your decision then sadly he's not really a friend just an acquaintance.
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He's deffo a mate, but I'm ashamed for my friends to know I'm an alcoholic. I have relative anonymity here - not something I have irl.

I AM ashamed to be a dirty alcoholic, but I'm doing my best to change :o
 
Hi - please accept my apologies for not responding sooner, but I have been trying to work out the best way to reply.

I'm so glad that the original post has motivated others to reduce or totally stop their alcohol intake.

As I'm sure you are all probably aware by my distinct lack of replying is that I am back on the booze. One of the reasons of not replying sooner is the shame I am feeling for letting the posters on this thread down. Re-reading this thread from start to finish has made me feel so ashamed of myself, but want to do something about it.

I have made an appointment with Norcas to see someone who can help me with this issue.

The last few years since the op have been interesting (read turmoil). Various personal issues have come to a head, and lots of things have changed, not necessarily for the better. Re-reading the thread has made me want to try again, hence the appointment I have next week.

The hangovers - well you get used to the amount of alcohol in your system and the hangovers you get used to/don't really get. If I have a night where I don't eat then I'll feel a bit ropey in the morning, but otherwise I just get up and get on with it.

I've been booze free for a few weeks here and there, and I do certainly feel better in then mornings, but when back on the booze you soon get used to it again.

A night out with a couple drinks just doesn't work, nor I suspect will it ever for me.

So - yes. I'm sorry to all the posters who posted such helpful advice. I feel ashamed that I have let you all down, but I want to change. Hopefully by making the appointment with Norcas this will help. It feels like an admission to have told someone in real life about my problem. I feel I'm taking positive steps in resolving the issue.
 
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