On The Wagon... then in 'ere!

So, I need to do something.
My relationship with booze isn’t good, and hasn’t been for some time. I’m being destructive and the booze is enabling that destruction. I’m not sure if the destruction is a symptom of the booze or is there regardless but I suppose stopping the drink may help answer that.

I’m not sure where to start. I’ve tidied away my whisky and cocktail making stuff from my bar into a cupboard. I’ve packed up my Perfect Draft machine and put it in the loft.
However my life revolves around drinking. It’s my number one hobby and number one interest. I not only enjoy drinking it, but enjoy reading about it, making it, and buying it. Winter is probably a bad time to start a new hobby and I’ve not had any hobbies stick in the past but I guess I’ll try.

Fingers crossed I become a better person, and hopefully I can stop!
 
Ahleckz said:
So, I need to do something.
My relationship with booze isn’t good, and hasn’t been for some time. I’m being destructive and the booze is enabling that destruction. I’m not sure if the destruction is a symptom of the booze or is there regardless but I suppose stopping the drink may help answer that.

I’m not sure where to start. I’ve tidied away my whisky and cocktail making stuff from my bar into a cupboard. I’ve packed up my Perfect Draft machine and put it in the loft.
However my life revolves around drinking. It’s my number one hobby and number one interest. I not only enjoy drinking it, but enjoy reading about it, making it, and buying it. Winter is probably a bad time to start a new hobby and I’ve not had any hobbies stick in the past but I guess I’ll try.

Fingers crossed I become a better person, and hopefully I can stop!
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A bit over a month ago I made the conscious decision to hugely cut down, well I started cutting down a little while before that, but I think that was my moment of genuine realisation. I've still not completely packed it in, but that was never the main goal. I can however attest to generally much improved mood and more stable mood at that. I have less peaks and troughs. I'm not so "short" with people anymore. Greatly improved drive and motivation aswell. I wont lie its not an easy journey to begin with, but it gets easier.

I decided to pick up a new "hobby". I have replaced the booze with Zwift. I bought a Smart Turbo trainer and cheap used road bike. First thing I do when I finish work is get changed into Phys gear and jump on the bike whilst the drive and motivation is there, smash out about 60-90min, by the time I get finished, showered, fed and ready to chill its already gone 1930-2000, and the desire to have a sup has subsided. As I see my fitness improve the drive to better myself gets stronger, seeing my personal bests get smashed every time I ride is giving me more of a buzz than the booze did.
As I get fitter I'm even more conscious of the impact that Alcohol had on both my physical and mental fitness.
I'm not saying you should do the same as me. You need to find your own path, one that works for you. However, I do definitely think that finding a hobby is key to breaking the cycle, something to focus and work on, something to pull your mind away from the desire.
 
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Ahleckz said:
So, I need to do something.
My relationship with booze isn’t good, and hasn’t been for some time. I’m being destructive and the booze is enabling that destruction. I’m not sure if the destruction is a symptom of the booze or is there regardless but I suppose stopping the drink may help answer that.

I’m not sure where to start. I’ve tidied away my whisky and cocktail making stuff from my bar into a cupboard. I’ve packed up my Perfect Draft machine and put it in the loft.
However my life revolves around drinking. It’s my number one hobby and number one interest. I not only enjoy drinking it, but enjoy reading about it, making it, and buying it. Winter is probably a bad time to start a new hobby and I’ve not had any hobbies stick in the past but I guess I’ll try.

Fingers crossed I become a better person, and hopefully I can stop!
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It's not a case of 'fingers crossed' or 'hopefully'. I can obviously only speak for myself, though I know my experience is echoed by others.

I once went camping because I didn't want to drink. I set up camp, sat down, then stood up for my wallet and walked 6 miles to the nearest shop and bought booze. Going to the loft to pull out the draft machine would have been something I'd have done without a seconds thought. What about you? Do you really think that will stop you?

Stopping drinking and staying stopped was without doubt the hardest thing I've ever done. Not hardest in terms of being the most unpleasant or challenging thing I've ever done (though it was was both at times) but hardest in terms the amount of effort it took. It wasnt just a case of pouring the booze down the sink, declare myself a non drinker now, and something or someone else took care of it. I had zero coping skills, no tools to cope with life, few relationships, no real support network to speak of, no hobbies or interests etc when I stopped drinking. Alcohol was my life. It takes a degree of effort and commitment to turn that around.

The good news is you don't have to do it alone (indeed I'd say it's probably impossible to do it alone) and there is help out there.

The question I pose to you is not meant to be judgemental but it is meant to make you think - if what you've been doing (or not doing) for ''some time" has got you to The point where you're being destructive and you need to do something about your relationship with alcohol then what something (different to before if you've already attempted to stop or moderate your drinking) are YOU going to do?
 
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phonemonkey said:
It's not a case of 'fingers crossed' or 'hopefully'. I can obviously only speak for myself, though I know my experience is echoed by others.

I once went camping because I didn't want to drink. I set up camp, sat down, then stood up for my wallet and walked 6 miles to the nearest shop and bought booze. Going to the loft to pull out the draft machine would have been something I'd have done without a seconds thought. What about you? Do you really think that will stop you?

Stopping drinking and staying stopped was without doubt the hardest thing I've ever done. Not hardest in terms of being the most unpleasant or challenging thing I've ever done (though it was was both at times) but hardest in terms the amount of effort it took. It wasnt just a case of pouring the booze down the sink, declare myself a non drinker now, and something or someone else took care of it. I had zero coping skills, no tools to cope with life, few relationships, no real support network to speak of, no hobbies or interests etc when I stopped drinking. Alcohol was my life. It takes a degree of effort and commitment to turn that around.

The good news is you don't have to do it alone (indeed I'd say it's probably impossible to do it alone) and there is help out there.

The question I pose to you is not meant to be judgemental but it is meant to make you think - if what you've been doing (or not doing) for ''some time" has got you to The point where you're being destructive and you need to do something about your relationship with alcohol then what something (different to before if you've already attempted to stop or moderate your drinking) are YOU going to do?
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I haven’t really tried. I’ve said, enoughs enough before but never with much conviction. This time feels different. But, I can’t answer your question as I don’t know how to stop. Apart from just trying each day.

You’re right, it’s tough. This week I’ve got a week off work and I’d normally be in the pub. I’d be walking/cycling with the intention of only doing it so I could go for a drink. I’ve taken the car to places I’d usually walk to stop that. I’ve told friends I’m not drinking. I’ve booked a restaurant on Saturday I know doesn’t serve booze for a lunch with a friend and I’ll drive.

Funnily enough, my tent is in the boot as I’m going to go on a jaunt tomorrow and thought I may want to camp somewhere! Maybe I’ll walk six miles. Maybe I won’t. I hope I won’t, all I can do is try.

However, I’ve had a rammy with her tonight (not about booze), and I’m not sure what to do apart from have a whisky. But I won’t. I’ll read my book (Irvine Welsh May or May not be the best for substance abuse issues!!) and have a bath.

Definitely baby steps and maybe I haven’t tried hard in the past. And maybe I’ll fail. But I guess I want to do it and I know it doesn’t help by drinking. Maybe the next rammy I won’t be so desperate for booze. And maybe the rammy after that won’t have happened because my drinking didn’t happen and didn’t cause it.

Sure there’s whisky in the house. There’s also an off licence across the road so getting rid of it won’t help. But by driving instead of walking. Going places I can’t get booze and telling my friends I don’t want to drink seems a good starting point.

Im not sure what I should be doing to stop drinking and change a habit. My personality and life revolves around drinking. Im terrified of what life would be without it but im also wanting to try and find out. As I reckon it’ll be better. So im trying to do something.
 
Good luck @Ahleckz, spurred on from a heavy night of drinking and going straight to the shop after waking up to get more alcohol I too am trying to go sober from tomorrow. I definitely use alcohol as a coping mechanism and I'll drink every day, not always vast quantities but it's the reliance of having that daily drink after work and taking the edge off life that needs to stop. After a week of stopping I know I'll feel great but it's continuing the journey day after day that I seem to struggle with, especially when that novelty wears off.

Also well done @Cosimo, that is some achievement :)
 
Ahleckz said:
I haven’t really tried. I’ve said, enoughs enough before but never with much conviction. This time feels different. But, I can’t answer your question as I don’t know how to stop. Apart from just trying each day.

You’re right, it’s tough. This week I’ve got a week off work and I’d normally be in the pub. I’d be walking/cycling with the intention of only doing it so I could go for a drink. I’ve taken the car to places I’d usually walk to stop that. I’ve told friends I’m not drinking. I’ve booked a restaurant on Saturday I know doesn’t serve booze for a lunch with a friend and I’ll drive.

Funnily enough, my tent is in the boot as I’m going to go on a jaunt tomorrow and thought I may want to camp somewhere! Maybe I’ll walk six miles. Maybe I won’t. I hope I won’t, all I can do is try.

However, I’ve had a rammy with her tonight (not about booze), and I’m not sure what to do apart from have a whisky. But I won’t. I’ll read my book (Irvine Welsh May or May not be the best for substance abuse issues!!) and have a bath.

Definitely baby steps and maybe I haven’t tried hard in the past. And maybe I’ll fail. But I guess I want to do it and I know it doesn’t help by drinking. Maybe the next rammy I won’t be so desperate for booze. And maybe the rammy after that won’t have happened because my drinking didn’t happen and didn’t cause it.

Sure there’s whisky in the house. There’s also an off licence across the road so getting rid of it won’t help. But by driving instead of walking. Going places I can’t get booze and telling my friends I don’t want to drink seems a good starting point.

Im not sure what I should be doing to stop drinking and change a habit. My personality and life revolves around drinking. Im terrified of what life would be without it but im also wanting to try and find out. As I reckon it’ll be better. So im trying to do something.
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I recall seeing posts like this from yourself or somthing like it many years ago… I’m sure it was before you were due to travel away or somthing. Good luck :) .. I still regularly have a beer or 3. It’s not the best but i can leave it also if im given somthing to do which is the tricky thing as i dont always have things to do.
 
It will be day 5 for me tonight, is it normal to still feel groggy upon waking like I've had a drink the night before? Perhaps I was just drinking so consistently this time that my body has just got used to feeling this way when waking up. I definitely don't feel any better/rested yet (if anything I feel worse) but it is obviously very early days. Appetite is all over the place at the moment too, first day I didn't eat a thing which is very unusual for me. Perhaps I stopped too abruptly and should have tapered down over the week instead.
 
Regy53 said:
I recall seeing posts like this from yourself or somthing like it many years ago… I’m sure it was before you were due to travel away or somthing. Good luck :) .. I still regularly have a beer or 3. It’s not the best but i can leave it also if im given somthing to do which is the tricky thing as i dont always have things to do.
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Yea, I think so. I can’t remember what spurred that on but evidently didn’t work.
Could have been the same self destructiveness situation I found myself in recently.

I’m doing alright! Not had a drink since saying I wouldn’t. Went out the other night and had two Heineken Zeros and a milkshake. It was actually quite nice being able to drive home and not rely on public transport/pay a fortune in taxis.

She’s had a few beers in the house, but I’ve just had tonic waters which seems to be fine for me.
 
Bunko said:
It will be day 5 for me tonight, is it normal to still feel groggy upon waking like I've had a drink the night before? Perhaps I was just drinking so consistently this time that my body has just got used to feeling this way when waking up. I definitely don't feel any better/rested yet (if anything I feel worse) but it is obviously very early days. Appetite is all over the place at the moment too, first day I didn't eat a thing which is very unusual for me. Perhaps I stopped too abruptly and should have tapered down over the week instead.
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It's difficult to say, not knowing how much you were drinking and for how long, but it can take a while for your body to get used to not having the alcohol in its system. I found that sugary drinks helped me when I quit, and it took many weeks before I started feeling any better. You will start to feel better, but you will have to play the longer game. It's likely your appetite will be all over the place, as you've found.

Stopping abruptly can also be dangerous, again depending on how much and for how long you were drinking. The most dangerous time period is often the 3rd day from the cessation of booze, so this could be a point you've just crossed over. For me it's always been all or nothing, I've been unable to taper down, or drink in moderation after "giving up". Keep at it, you will feel better, but it will be hard. You ever need someone to talk to you can reach out on this thread or my inbox is always open.

Good luck and keep at it. 1 year, 4 months and 11 days for me so far
 
haaammit said:
It's difficult to say, not knowing how much you were drinking and for how long, but it can take a while for your body to get used to not having the alcohol in its system. I found that sugary drinks helped me when I quit, and it took many weeks before I started feeling any better. You will start to feel better, but you will have to play the longer game. It's likely your appetite will be all over the place, as you've found.

Stopping abruptly can also be dangerous, again depending on how much and for how long you were drinking. The most dangerous time period is often the 3rd day from the cessation of booze, so this could be a point you've just crossed over. For me it's always been all or nothing, I've been unable to taper down, or drink in moderation after "giving up". Keep at it, you will feel better, but it will be hard. You ever need someone to talk to you can reach out on this thread or my inbox is always open.

Good luck and keep at it. 1 year, 4 months and 11 days for me so far
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I've never really counted up what I'd drink in a typical week but doing some research I'd say it was a minimum of 50-60 units a week. Which broken down doesn't seem too bad (denial?) as it's around 4 cans a night and how easy is it to slip into that kind of habit? Obviously some nights could be more, some less depending on what I had planned the next day. I guess it's the frequency of doing that week after week over the years that catches up with you.

I do feel better today, still a bit lethargic but my appetite has come back. I know full well I'll end up with a drink in my hand at some point in the future but I'm determined to change my mindset around alcohol and not rely on it to escape reality, which is definitely what I've been doing.

Thanks for the words of encouragement and well done on your length of sobriety :cool:
 
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Going out for the first time since I’ve actively decided to stop drinking and going to a comedy show.
Normally I’d be in a pub beside the venue by now, couple of pints in and planning the pubs to visit afterwards. Now, I’m chilling at home and going to drive in and then go for churros and ice cream afterwards.
I definitely want a pint, but not really fussed about the pub crawl either end of the reason for going out!

Hopefully they have some Lucky Saint beer, it’s really good for non alcoholic.

Hope Everyone else is having a nice Friday night!
 
So I had two 0% beers (Estella) last night and all day I’ve had a hangover esq headache at the front of my head. Almost like my body is reacting to how it thinks it should feel on a Saturday!
Very strange. Seemingly it’s not uncommon though.
 
3 weeks dry now but i have drunk for 40 years without a gap, having said that i have never drank much (pretty much never) on weekdays but binged on a weekend.
How do i feel? rubbish tbh ,very low mood ,irritated, lack of interest i am trying to distract myself with my new dac and headphones but a little voice in my head keeps saying, "red wine is good for you, you are missing the benefits,, you deserve a vice after a weeks work,"
Anyway the month is now in sight, i am sleeping better for sure but also looking forward to the escape of sleep, that's a bit worrying
 
I completed a month if no booze this Friday. That's all I was aiming for so I had a few tinnies on Friday night.

Well yesterday I was tired and bad tempered as a result. I'm not sure I need anymore proof than that to stop drinking.

The wife did it with me but went out with some friends on Friday night. She was sick several times Saturday. I don't think she will be having another drink for a good while yet either.
 
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Had a bit of a test today. Arranged dinner out with two friends and met them in the pub beforehand. Had a tonic water and then non alcoholic beer in the pub and tonic water in the restaurant.
I expected it to be awkward, and a bit less chatty. It wasn’t. It was exactly the same atmosphere as if I had been drinking and had just as much fun.
A friend and I went for a drink (tonic water again for me) in another pub after dinner and he remarked how I was my normal self without drink.

Drove home and had a great evening out with friends without booze. I like this new booze free life I think!

Can’t sleep tonight, but don’t think that’s related…
 
Ahleckz said:
Had a bit of a test today. Arranged dinner out with two friends and met them in the pub beforehand. Had a tonic water and then non alcoholic beer in the pub and tonic water in the restaurant.
I expected it to be awkward, and a bit less chatty. It wasn’t. It was exactly the same atmosphere as if I had been drinking and had just as much fun.
A friend and I went for a drink (tonic water again for me) in another pub after dinner and he remarked how I was my normal self without drink.

Drove home and had a great evening out with friends without booze. I like this new booze free life I think!

Can’t sleep tonight, but don’t think that’s related…
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That's really good - great stuff. What will happen, over time, is that's how the new way will be, and it will slowly start to feel normal instead of different. Well done - keep it up :)
 
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