| Messages: |
Stopping drinking alcohol
Hi I'm 40 years old and have decided that I would like to try and give up alcohol. I've decided that it makes me feel bad about myself and I have a tendancy to do 'silly things' when I;ve had a few. I don't tend to drink during the week but have a bottle of wine on the weekend. Trouble seems to be that oncfe I have a drink I lose my self control and can 'drink for England' I then end up feeling guilty and embarrassed about what I may have said or done.So does anyone have any useful tips or methods that will help.
|
|
|
Giving up alcohol
hello how ar u?
my name is alan i am from ireland!where u from?i know you posted this two years ago but will reply anyway!sounds like you should give up alcohol altogher if it makes you feel like that,u seem like the kind of person who thinks too much probably like me!!i gave up alcohol six years ago altogether, i used to go out most friday and sat nites drinking,i didnt go into pubs much for the first year because everyone used to be annoying me about it,but the last five years i go to the pub every weekend people just get used to you not drinking,although i do still get slagged over it!!
|
|
|
Another forum chat?
Hey I am so impressed at the idea of having people write in to something like this.
I am at a point in my life where I have taken on alot of big challenges and am quite vulnerable to feeling stressed or depressed.
I think it would be great to have some moral support for me to have a break from alcohol until I feel more in control and on top of things (and who knows...longer?)
Is anyone in the same boat and wanting to maintain a sort of chat forum and/or could advise me of an existant online forum???
thanks!!!
|
|
|
I wana give up!
im a nitemare to my boyfriend when im drunk and he's just ended it with me as cant take th 'choppsy' person that comes out! its just not me,im in a complete state and dont want it over,ilove him soo much,been together two years and he's 'the one'! ive saiid il go totally teetotal to save the relationship but hes says iv said it too late,hiow do i convince him,and how will i cope as i do like my wine but dont know when too stop so think its the only way? what to think and where do i start,will it be that hard?
|
|
|
Cutting back or giving up - that is the million dollar question
Hi
I have just read your reply of 6/7/07? hope it was this year anyway!
I am seriously thinking about either giving up alcohol or cutting back drastically, but wow is it scary. Lots of bad things going on at the moment and my worry is would I cope better without the prop - possibly. Also take anti-depressants for anxiety and wondere a. if they are encouraging me to be laid back about eating and drinking or whether I have knocked any beneficial effect out anyway? The partner I am with had a very heavy drink problem for ten years before we met but now seems to be falling back into old pattern and my ex husband was/is an alcoholic and I used to slate him for his constant drinking - but look at me now! Hypocrite or what.
Anyway am really interested in joining in any chats re the alcohol issues
Thanks
|
|
|
Me too...
hi, i'm new to this site, just registered this evening. what you say and write is sooo completely same as myself and my situation. i have one child and not only is excessive amounts of wine ruining my health and what used to be a figure but is an enormous burden on me. i too am on meds for anxiety etc and agree and empathise with what you say. regretably this site doesnt seem to show the 'year' of a comment, but its currently june 2008.  x hope things have improved for you. keen to hear/read anything that did or might help.
|
|
|
Do it!!!!!!!
I used to go out on the ... all the time, at least 3 times a week. I have had a lot of health issues over the last 2 years and I now do not drink when I go out. I used to love drinking cause I got a lot more confidence but now I feel so much better waking up the next day and not being in agony. To begin with my friends didint understand why I wouldnt drink but they have got used to it now. I do drink occassionally when i'm out (about 1 every 2-3 months) and when I do I only need a couple of drinks to feel tipsy!!
My advice is to try not drinking for a few months and see how you feel, I guarantee you will feel 100% times better.
|
|
|
Do it
hi
i gave up alcohol 1year and a half ago and i feel really great; lost almost a stone just by cutting it out, sleep better, my skin/hair looks really good and it's easier to maintain a healthy lifestyle...it's also raised my confidence a lot, i find people a lot easier to talk to because i dnt drink, it's easy to get on with people. I now have the odd drink but only a spirit with diet coke, tonic or orange juice. Most people wonder why they're not losing weight even tho they try really hard, the fact is they forget to cut out alcohol its packed with sugar and e numbers and so on
anywya, going a bit off the point there! detox for a month and i garuntee you will feel, look and be a hell of a lot better than you were
b
|
|
|
How
hi
am new to this but was wondering how you found the willpower to stop drinking i am finding it quite difficult any tips
|
|
|
It helped me
Hi,
I found it hard to give up (or drink less) if I relied on my own will power. I could do it for a couple of days, but I just kept thinking about when I would have a drink again.
I would recommend hypnotherapy,or NLP, or EFT or any combination of these. They are not at all scary, they can work really fast (I listened to a CD just once and it started to make a differnece immediately). I can still enjoy a glass of wine, but I just don't have the urge to drink loads anymore.
I used David Allen's nlp-hypnotherapy.biz site where you can buy a downloadable CD.
In any case, get someone to support you. As you start to drink less you'll want to tell someone how well you are doing. It feels great.
The Lovely
|
|
|
How did you do?
I had my last drink on Saturday, which is exactly two years after your post.
I've been thinking about giving up completely, but I was such an idiot on Saturday night, thaty I've now really made up my mind. I'm a mum and too old for all this and it's not dignified.
I've given up for a month every January for years now. It's not giving up which is a problem; it's stopping when I've started. So... wish me luck.
I hope you managed to follow through. That would be a good omen for me!
|
|
|
I'm teetotal and i'm having fun!!
I've never been an alcoholic but liked a good drink especially a weekend binge-a-thon.Really stupid amounts and doing the most cringesome things. But then my best mate had to stop due to being pregnant. When we went out it was crap me being drunk and her sober. I felt bad that she'd be the only one sober too. So it started off a few times that I'd just have a coke or something and I realised I was still able to have a good laugh with everyone. I'd have a lemonade and tell ppl I that it was a vodka and lemonade at first. Then I'd drive and ppl could rely on me as being the designated driver for the night ( not ever time) so then I couldn't drink plus I never got any complaints about having a lift home! It just stayed that way and ppl respected me and knew I just didn't drink, one of those things, no big deal sort of way. I feel like ppl like me the way I am and 'not after I've had a few, I'm mad'. I used to think I'II have a drink for a bit of dutch courage but it got me thinking that's really sad to have that as a crutch and I should build my confidence up another way. Take up a new hobby, I know it sounds so cliche but honestly really works. I love working out now and because I look better I feel better too. I love it when ppl ask what I do for exercise! I met new ppl too. Life shouldn't revolve round drinking, there's so many better things to do. Let me know how you are getting on.
|
|
|
Giving up alcohol
I have just discovered this site. I was looking for a discussion board on this subject. I have given up alcohol since October last year and can't really say I feel any better. I still suffer from insomnia and mild depression. I have lost some weight but my weight was never a real problem.Actually I almost feel worse not drinking as I have nothing to lift my spirits especially at the end of the day. I gave it up cos I was getting headaches and thought that after years of using alcohol to make me happy and self confident in social situations and drinking too much I should stop. It's very difficult when you are with frinds who drink. I am always having to find excuses why I'm not drinking. I don't find it hard NOT to drink alcohol in the craving sense. I was able to give up quite easily which I never thought I could do for years.My headaches were so bad and also I have a skin problem which is affected by alcohol. It's just that my moods are just as bad as when I was drinking in fact worse as I am miserable all day now without alcohol!!At least I would cheer up at 6pm most days with a glass or two of wine. Does anyone else feel like me?
|
|
|
This might help
It sounds as though you were drinking to hide your unhappiness, and now you really need to tackle why you feel so low. A good counsellor might help, but I think if you can find someone who specialises in hypnotherapy and NLP in your local area, you would get a much faster result.
Good luck
|
|
|
I replace booze with music & walks
I treated myself (with all the money I have saved) to an mp3 player...omg fantastic, I can walk and walk and end up with a smile on my face ...its a great combination. Dark winter evenings, I browse this forum & spout my views. Get your fave songs on an mp3 , if you have a computer..there is a reaaaly cheap way of doing it (private message). Also I treated myself to a Lateral thigh trainer & although its only 20 mins I don't have to worry about the weather and I feel all glowy & pleased with myself.
Tell friends you are on anti-biotics & can't drink...I offer to drive...and diet tonic with ice & a dash of lime for a change is really tasty as not too sweet & everyone thinks you are on g&t.
your addiction is punishing you, grab yourself , call a mate and go for a walk..try it
h
|
|
|
Mmm me too
You know what - if I am honest alcohol has been crap to me ! I am 34 - and I think my life would have panned out differently. I do get down with drinking, sometimes smoke when I drink, put on weight, feel negative about things. And I am the same it is even small amounts of alcohol.. it all just goes blurry. I have said I would do that many a time and people have persuaded me not too ! How rubbish of them. No just in moderation they say. But we know that that doesn't really work for us, for some reason. I attempted an alcohol free month and my boyfriend said I should drink as we were at a nice restaurant that was day three and so I did !! It has never got me anywhere. It's a demon for me.. your post has inspired me. I am going to quit for one month and then see how it goes.. try and extend .. etc. After Saturday. A friend comes over from NZ on Saturday.. she is having an engagement party. I know - I will have to overcome this - and be able to go alcohol free.. but I will take it from after saturday.. I think it is the way forward you know to stop. Try giving up for a month and then try another etc. I understand how you feel... people think that they are helping but they put pressure on you by saying oh don't be silly everything in moderation. Look at the end of the day we know it doesn't suit us. I actually get anxiety now when I know I have to go to something like saturday... It is like my body ... wanting to STOP me from poisoning it... Go girl... maybe we should all keep in touch. Moral support is what we need.
|
|
|
How did you go?
I can relate to what you are doing.
To be honest I'm just tired of feeling hung over the following day. Also, I've just moved into a very challenging job in a poor country and am surrounded by heavy drinking ex-pats. I really want to avoid the party scene as it's just not satisfying to me.
I'm seriously considering giving up alcohol completely while I'm here. But I know what a challenge it will be. Yet, I think I would feel really proud of myself and more stable if I could maintain it...
I guess I also feel silly always telling friends about wanting to give up the grog and then not following through. I feel like moral support from anonymous sources might be just the way to go!
So would love any advice or thoughts from others...
|
|
|
Help x
Hi there
i'm not sure how long its been since anyone posted on this topic but im really interested in quitting too, i find im getting into embarressing and careless situations and its completely because of Drink, i'm in Ireland and
find i cnt go a week without a drink no matter how much i say im gonna quit!
i dont think i have a problem its more of a social thing but i would love if anyone had advice on how to deal with the going out and not drinking for the sake of my health and finances i really need to give this a go xx thanks xx
|
|
|
Good luck
I hope you succeed in your quest to giving up alcohol it is not up to your friends to say that you cant give up drinking altogether they should be more suportive of you. i also am trying to give up drinking and like you get really depressed with myself and do really stupid things alcohol was the cause of my break up woth my b.f and it still seems to causing troubles between us. So i think your desician to give up is very wise and mature of you and i really hope you do it listen to your instincts not your friends!!!!!!!!!!
|
|
|
Its your mood
Alcohol is a mood enhancer! if you feel pretty low about yourself and you drink then you will feel worse. If you was totally happy with your life in genral and confident in the way you look then drinking would be fun! You need to find the root of your troubles so you can enjoy getting drunk with your friends.
|
|
