Quitting Drinking...

[Gwagon111]

quiraing said:

I agree.

He has told me he can't stop. I've argued that it's not "can't stop", it's "won't stop". However, I don't have his perspective on the situation and can't fully comprehend how difficult it might be for him as I have never been a heavy drinker and I now only drink occasionally as I am diabetic. I intend to find out more from the book someone mentioned above, thanks for post.

When someone is that balls deep in drink, they can't just stop. It's going to take a long time to throttle the drinking back, to a point where stopping altogether is possible. It's not easy, but nothing worthwhile doing ever is.

[Bohally]

Flibble said:

You must have very low expenses or drink a st load!

80% is do able. My living expenses are <300 a month. Leaves a fair chunk to piss up the wall!

[quiraing]

Gwagon111 said:

quiraing said:

I agree.

He has told me he can't stop. I've argued that it's not "can't stop", it's "won't stop". However, I don't have his perspective on the situation and can't fully comprehend how difficult it might be for him as I have never been a heavy drinker and I now only drink occasionally as I am diabetic. I intend to find out more from the book someone mentioned above, thanks for post.

When someone is that balls deep in drink, they can't just stop. It's going to take a long time to throttle the drinking back, to a point where stopping altogether is possible. It's not easy, but nothing worthwhile doing ever is.

I've heard that it can be dangerous for a long-term alcoholic (i.e. dependent on a large quantity of alcohol every single day) to suddenly stop drinking - what are the dangers?

Also, what effects would be expected and how long would they last?

[Smitters]

quiraing said:

I've heard that it can be dangerous for a long-term alcoholic (i.e. dependent on a large quantity of alcohol every single day) to suddenly stop drinking - what are the dangers?

Also, what effects would be expected and how long would they last?

In short - death*.

• other less serious side-effects may occur.

But seriously, if a very heavy drinker is considering quitting cold turkey, they need to see a doctor. It's hard as I'm sure many heavy drinkers want to go it alone rather than publicly face up to things, so seeking advice isn't the first thing on their mind, but in this instance, it's important to talk to someone. Maybe NHS Direct could give more specific advice?

[condor]

Delirium tremens

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH000177...

[Colonial]

I've stopped drinking at home.

If I am out I tend to minimise the amount I drink through stinginess.

I used to drink far too much at home and was probably on my way to being an alcoholic.

[croyde]

This is day 7 for me and I feel OK but am having terrible difficulty sleeping since day 4. I normally go to bed between 10pm and 11pm and am asleep within 20 minutes but now I am feeling wide awake even until the early hours of the morning.

I wonder if that I was normally pissed by 10pm. Not like a complete drunk but more than enough not to drive.

Last night I just stayed up but by 3am I was still wide awake. Finally slept around 4am but was awake by 7am and I'm not even working this week.

[Gwagon111]

condor said:

Delirium tremens

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH000177...

Ahhhh, the good old DT's. nothing like 'em to wake a chronic alcoholic up to the damage they are inflicting on themselves .

[mattuk89]

After pretty much going out every weekend for the last 5 years, with the odd few weeks off here and there, and i even had 3 months off at one point whilst saving for my first car, i am going to try to have a dry Jan this year.

From what i remember when i had the 3 months off was that i always felt like i was missing out when my friends were going out, and that the weekends were genuinly boring, but it was worth it in the long run, and i started going to the gym instead in the evenings, 5x a week, and i noticed a very big change in my body, now this was about 4 years ago.

What i find that does it for me is the hangovers the next day, i rarely drink in the week, and eat well, and train hard at the gym, and then ill go out on the weekend, get slaughtered, wake up hungover and eat st all weekend, which just counteracts the weeks training.

I am in the same boat as the OP, i do spend alot of my money on going out drinking, when i was bit younger i never cared about this, as it was the " only live once " mentality, but as im getting a bit older, waking up with a banging headache and realising ive spent £50 which could be petrol and food for a week isnt as appealing as it once was.

I always find i do stupid things when drunk too, which i always end up regretting, so i hope this month goes well, and hope i will feel and look better, and should have a bit more money too!

Now just need to not give into peer pressure when i have 10 people asking me tomorow to go out for a " few " drinks.

[MocMocaMoc]

funinhounslow said:

Allen Carr's book "the easy way to control alcohol" would be worth getting hold of. I haven't touched a drop since reading it a couple of months ago - more surprisingly I don't miss it at all - and I was a heavy drinker. Carr is the anti smoking guru who died a couple of years ago. The ideas in the book are simple yet effective.

It is probably also worth hunting down the lengthy thread 365 days without booze on this forum. Well worth a read.

I'm reading this book now, having just decided to 'stop getting drunk' rather than stop drinking totally.

[Tim16V]

croyde said:

This is day 7 for me and I feel OK but am having terrible difficulty sleeping since day 4. I normally go to bed between 10pm and 11pm and am asleep within 20 minutes but now I am feeling wide awake even until the early hours of the morning.

I wonder if that I was normally pissed by 10pm. Not like a complete drunk but more than enough not to drive.

Last night I just stayed up but by 3am I was still wide awake. Finally slept around 4am but was awake by 7am and I'm not even working this week.

Stick with it despite this - I went through the same!

The booze 'knocks you out' but the quality of the sleep will be poor. It is an odd feeling not being tired but your sleep quality without booze will be good even if the duration is shorter.

You've only just started the programme and your body is adjusting to the new regime/detoxing...just go to bed when you're really tired and bring it forward gradually.

Don't rush it (or expect to) let matters take their course!