I want to quit drinking

I've been struggling with alcohol dependency now for a few years. I've made a final FINAL decision it's time to turn things around as my health and family are suffering. Go to work every day but I'm just functioning and no more. Anyone else want to help me / join me in this?

Help to quit drinking

I cut down my alcohol intake from nearly a bottle of red a day to a glass every couple of days with something called Alcolim. I took it for a month, and after about a week, I just started wanting to drink less. It helped me feel more positive too.

Does alcolim work?

I am intruged as to whether alcolim actually works? I can find limited info on the internet? I drink a bottle of white every day. Desperately want to cut down, I was wondering if you intake is still controlled.

Hi,

i'm a new member here and i've just read your message, where do you get alcolim from? do you have to go the doctors for it or can you buy it from a pharmacy?

Stop smoking

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Stop smoking

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I gave it up

Hello there

I gave up drinking 10 months ago after making an idiot of myself once too many times. You might be surprised but I found it really really easy! I read Alan Carr's how to control drinking, started seeing alcohol as a destructive poison and haven't looked back. I still go out and socialise, I'm not the shy wall flower I thought I'd be when sober and I love love love waking up on Saturday mornings without having to cringe and instead feel extremely smug and energetic. Honestly, it's the best thing I've ever done. Good luck.

Hope i can do it

Thanks for getting in touch. I have tried before (for a few days) and have felt really good but always slip back. I have the Alan Carr book but it didn't work for me. I think family are beginning to think I might have a problem. My biggest fear is that they discover that I am an alcoholic but I know I need to do this for myself in the first instance. I don't see them as much as I should but I will when I'm not concentrating on drink. How do you fill your time? Did you take up new hobbies or interests. I find I get sooo bored without a drink.

Hope you can do it

Hi there
How much are you drinking? What sort of drinker are you and how old are you?
I was a binge drinker, would never drink during the week but would go nuts at the weekend and make a massive idiot of myself. It reached a head when I got v drunk at a party and wanted to go to the bar next door to my boyfriend's house after the party. He didn't want to go but I insisted on going on my own I(there was no reasoning with me) and I was apparently clinging onto the bar begging to get served and my boyfriend had to come and physically remove me! Believe me, this wasn't the worst behaviour I've had either! It was the point,however where I'd just had enough. LIke you, I'd reached that point before but would then forget about how awful I am as a drunk a few days later but this time something seemed to click in my head.

I didn't change anything about my life though. I still went out with friends. I think if I'd have changed my life completely and took up knitting I'd have got really depressed. I just learnt how to go out, not drink, not make it a big deal and still have a good time. At the start it was hard and I felt like I had nothing to say but then it got much easier.

I tend to go home earlier though and I get bored by about 11 pm but that's ok. My life is actually fuller as I get so much more done at weekends during the day.

Thanks for the support

I drink every day, mostly evenings or earlier if it's the weekend. I don't enjoy a drink anymore and I usually drink alone. Now I drink to get things done around the house. I have 2 children and a husband and I'm 41. I have my first drink to cope with housework etc but of course once I've had the second one nothing gets done. I had a strategy where I did an hour of housework and wouldn't have a drink until 7pm but I didn't last. I have everything but I'm still unhappy and my family is suffering. My only option is to give up altogether. I think I'm much further down the line than you were but I'm glad of the support.

I don't need to drink and I don't really get withdrawal symptoms if I try to stop so I just have to do it like you did. Did your friends not try to get you to drink? I can't see how it would be fun to go out without drinking.

I agree that my life would be fuller and happier if I stopped but I just haven't managed to get there yet. I really want to be a better person, mother, wife ..

I can really relate....

I am a mother of three and I work full time, so I'm constantly busy. Some time last year, I reallized how much easier it was to get things done around the house if I had a few drinks and I've been doing that ever since. I have went months at a time drinking every evening after work and on the weekends. On the other hand, sometimes I'll go 4-5 days without drinking. I guess that's what keeps me from admitting that I have a problem. It's only been 2 days since my last drink, but I'm trying.....

Reply

You have to get your head around the being bored if you don't drink. I too felt like there would be a gaping void where there was alcohol, I felt like I'd be labelled an alcholic I had all those fears too. It's amazing though how little of a deal it can actually be. My friends didn't force me to get drunk which was a bit of a sign actually as they find me much more likeable sober I was that obnoxious!

Can you pinpoint why you are unhappy? Maybe you need to stop drinking for while to get some clarity about why you are unhappy. Is it the drink that's making you unhappy or is it something else? I suffered from depression last year and was going through a very very hard time in my life, the drinking made it worse. Since i've stopped my moods have stabalized and I've felt in control of stuff that made me unhappy. Why don't you give yourself some time off from it, don't say you'll never drink again, just that you are taking time out to sort your head out.

You could always get professional help, I know that sounds scary like you are putting yourself in a box labelled 'alcoholic' but you could at least speak to someone who knows their stuff. There are so many other people in your situation, you are not alone!

Reply

I know now that the drinking is adding to my unhappiness and I'm going to try to do what you suggest, take a break from it to see things clearer without the haze of alcohol.

I won't be seeking professional help because I live in a close knit community where everyone knows your business, but I'm going to sort it out for myself.

Here goes.

Thanks for your support and I'll keep you posted.

Reply

You are doing the right thing. If you find yourself unable to sort it out for yourself then please don't reject the idea of professional help. It's done really really discretely. You can also look for forums online as well.

Good luck! Don't see it as a huge mountain to overcome or you'll feel too overwhelmed. Keep me posted.