365 days without booze... join me?
Discussion
MBVitoria said:
I'm appalled to find that my typical alcohol spend per month including pubs and drinking at home is about £700. In January (after stopping) I've saved £1,000. Absolutely staggered. Strangely that's probably more of an incentive compared to the health benefits!
That's an eye opener. I've bought many cars for considerably less than that. Hell, the last car I bought my Daughter to learn in was half that.I can see myself that my bank account is all of a sudden a little more buoyant at the end of the month but if I'd spent that much my balance would have gone through the floor like a dart. Nice side effect. Well done!
V8Firm said:
Provided I get my head on the pillow tonight without taking a drink of alcohol I will have been sober for 10585 days…..one day at a time.
I have had a huge amount of help and support over the years and learned early on that it is the first drink that does the damage and that if I didn’t pick up the first drink then I couldn’t get drunk! Life changing.
Haven’t given up for ever…just 24 hrs at a time. Where has that time gone?
I failed on so many previous occasions by swearing off the booze for ever only to fail after a few days.
Keeping my goals in bite size (24hr) manageable segments worked for me, and I hope, may work for others also. Worth a try.
Good luck everyone!
I have had a huge amount of help and support over the years and learned early on that it is the first drink that does the damage and that if I didn’t pick up the first drink then I couldn’t get drunk! Life changing.
Haven’t given up for ever…just 24 hrs at a time. Where has that time gone?
I failed on so many previous occasions by swearing off the booze for ever only to fail after a few days.
Keeping my goals in bite size (24hr) manageable segments worked for me, and I hope, may work for others also. Worth a try.
Good luck everyone!
MBVitoria said:
I'm appalled to find that my typical alcohol spend per month including pubs and drinking at home is about £700. In January (after stopping) I've saved £1,000. Absolutely staggered. Strangely that's probably more of an incentive compared to the health benefits!
Similar here. 84 days sober now and off for a long weekend in Paris with the proceeds. Apart from eating my own bodyweight in chocolate since I quit, there's genuinely no downside to stopping drinking alcohol as far as I can see.MBVitoria said:
I'm appalled to find that my typical alcohol spend per month including pubs and drinking at home is about £700. In January (after stopping) I've saved £1,000. Absolutely staggered. Strangely that's probably more of an incentive compared to the health benefits!
It's all the additional costs too - we're off to a gig tomorrow night 40 miles from home. Normally that would likely mean a hotel stay or a train journey and rather expensive taxi home - plus the cost of drinks at concert venues is ridiculous. Instead I'm driving and will save a fortune.I bet there’s quite a lot of people coming to the end of Dry Jan somewhat taken aback by the size of their bank balance 
Not just the savings on booze, but taxis, 3am kebabs. It all adds up…
This money can be used to “reward” yourself guilt free as whatever you spend it on, it’s bound to be more constructive than booze.
If anyone’s now in it for the “long haul” it might be an idea to start thinking what to do with this money - and time, as quitting drinking frees up lots of spare time.
For example a couple of years ago there was a spate of people on here buying new bikes. Spring’s just around the corner after all…
When you think about it the “opportunity cost” of drinking is pretty high.
Not just the savings on booze, but taxis, 3am kebabs. It all adds up…
This money can be used to “reward” yourself guilt free as whatever you spend it on, it’s bound to be more constructive than booze.
If anyone’s now in it for the “long haul” it might be an idea to start thinking what to do with this money - and time, as quitting drinking frees up lots of spare time.
For example a couple of years ago there was a spate of people on here buying new bikes. Spring’s just around the corner after all…
When you think about it the “opportunity cost” of drinking is pretty high.
funinhounslow said:
I bet there’s quite a lot of people coming to the end of Dry Jan somewhat taken aback by the size of their bank balance
Not just the savings on booze, but taxis, 3am kebabs. It all adds up…
This money can be used to “reward” yourself guilt free as whatever you spend it on, it’s bound to be more constructive than booze.
If anyone’s now in it for the “long haul” it might be an idea to start thinking what to do with this money - and time, as quitting drinking frees up lots of spare time.
For example a couple of years ago there was a spate of people on here buying new bikes. Spring’s just around the corner after all…
When you think about it the “opportunity cost” of drinking is pretty high.
Definitely one of the massive upsides is being able to go for a drive or ride at 7am on a Sunday morning.Not just the savings on booze, but taxis, 3am kebabs. It all adds up…
This money can be used to “reward” yourself guilt free as whatever you spend it on, it’s bound to be more constructive than booze.
If anyone’s now in it for the “long haul” it might be an idea to start thinking what to do with this money - and time, as quitting drinking frees up lots of spare time.
For example a couple of years ago there was a spate of people on here buying new bikes. Spring’s just around the corner after all…
When you think about it the “opportunity cost” of drinking is pretty high.
othername said:
Has anyone had any success with hypnosis to try and 'deprogram' the switch which says 'go drink until you can't'? I'm at my wits end and willing to try anything before I kill myself!
My wife and I both used NLP hypnosis to give up smoking 20 years ago - worked instantly and permanently. I then did the same around 10 years ago to completely stop drinking and it worked initially and I stopped for around 6 months, but then I persuaded myself i could moderate. I can't moderate. 
Perhaps if I'd seen the hypnotherapist regularly I may have had better success and it has crossed my mind to try again. One of the issues is that giving up smoking is seen as really positive and no-one tries to persuade you to start again, with drinking it's not the same.
If your question is - can hypnosis enable me to drink sensibly like normal people, I don't think it can. I've given up countless times and each and every time have persuaded myself that if I start again I'll be able to moderate, I just can't. I don't drink every day and can go weeks without drinking (not very often), but once I have a drink I'm drinking until I go to bed.
If you want to give up completely definitely give hypnosis a go along with other sources of help. Ultimately most of the books recommended in this thread are a form of NLP.
Caveat - you have to open to the process, a mate has tried NLP hypnosis over a dozen times to try and give up smoking and it's never worked for him.
I'm currently 42 days sober using Annie Grace's book and Wiliam Porter's book, and a huge desire not to drink again. They work for me at the moment and in 2 hours I'm off to secure a table at the local pub for the Six Nations match, where my mates will likely get absolutely smashed and I'll take great pleasure in the knowledge I'll spend £5 at most (as opposed to the normal £50) and will be bright as a button tomorrow morning, with a 10 mile run with the dog planned at 7am.
JQ said:
othername said:
Has anyone had any success with hypnosis to try and 'deprogram' the switch which says 'go drink until you can't'? I'm at my wits end and willing to try anything before I kill myself!
My wife and I both used NLP hypnosis to give up smoking 20 years ago - worked instantly and permanently. I then did the same around 10 years ago to completely stop drinking and it worked initially and I stopped for around 6 months, but then I persuaded myself i could moderate. I can't moderate. Perhaps if I'd seen the hypnotherapist regularly I may have had better success and it has crossed my mind to try again. One of the issues is that giving up smoking is seen as really positive and no-one tries to persuade you to start again, with drinking it's not the same.
If your question is - can hypnosis enable me to drink sensibly like normal people, I don't think it can. I've given up countless times and each and every time have persuaded myself that if I start again I'll be able to moderate, I just can't. I don't drink every day and can go weeks without drinking (not very often), but once I have a drink I'm drinking until I go to bed.
If you want to give up completely definitely give hypnosis a go along with other sources of help. Ultimately most of the books recommended in this thread are a form of NLP.
Caveat - you have to open to the process, a mate has tried NLP hypnosis over a dozen times to try and give up smoking and it's never worked for him.
I'm currently 42 days sober using Annie Grace's book and Wiliam Porter's book, and a huge desire not to drink again. They work for me at the moment and in 2 hours I'm off to secure a table at the local pub for the Six Nations match, where my mates will likely get absolutely smashed and I'll take great pleasure in the knowledge I'll spend £5 at most (as opposed to the normal £50) and will be bright as a button tomorrow morning, with a 10 mile run with the dog planned at 7am.
Blib said:
othername said:
Has anyone had any success with hypnosis to try and 'deprogram' the switch which says 'go drink until you can't'? I'm at my wits end and willing to try anything before I kill myself!
What have you tried so far? Naturally, I'm open to any suggestions I haven't tried or suggested yet!
othername said:
Blib said:
othername said:
Has anyone had any success with hypnosis to try and 'deprogram' the switch which says 'go drink until you can't'? I'm at my wits end and willing to try anything before I kill myself!
What have you tried so far? Naturally, I'm open to any suggestions I haven't tried or suggested yet!
Remember, it doesn't have to get any worse than it already is now for you to stop. But it can get allot worse.
othername said:
AA, bit weird and not for me. Have read a ton of books some of which seem preachy, others gave a short term effect. Signed up to a local group which provides support, did the 8 week course but if anything it seemed sitting in a room of folks mostly in a worse position than me didn't help (stupid brain thinks 'oh I'm not THAT bad...). Oh, and 'just trying' which involves focusing on more productive things (work, sport, homelife) and whilst I look back and think life is miles better when I'm in that place I still find myself falling into binges that can be anything from a couple of days to over a week - when drinking I convince myself I'm not *that* drunk and I'll be ok (which I never am because the hangovers are terrible and of course I get very little done of any importance). Also counselling for wider mental health problems which are no doubt connected to why I drink too much; that just cost me a packet and didn't stick either. Hence wanting to try something new that might just work...
Naturally, I'm open to any suggestions I haven't tried or suggested yet!
Rock bottom.Naturally, I'm open to any suggestions I haven't tried or suggested yet!
I don't think anyone knows in advance what their own rock bottom will be. But many on this thread will know what theirs was.
Best of luck. Sincerely.
Sebo said:
I suggest you continue to drink until such time as it really is so horrifically bad that you start to identify with the people in the local support group.
Remember, it doesn't have to get any worse than it already is now for you to stop. But it can get allot worse.
Is there really any need for that? I've come here asking for advice because I want to get better and the one thing you pick out from that comment was to make a sarky remark that I should drink more to fit in with folks who seem to have worse problems than myself? I always thought this was one of those PH posts immune to this kind of thing as almost everyone seems supportive and understanding Remember, it doesn't have to get any worse than it already is now for you to stop. But it can get allot worse.
Blib said:
Hopefully, hypnosis will be of help.
There are therapists who specialise in those who present with 'dependency'.
Depending on where you live, you may be able to find one who can support you in a more specific way.
You GP surgery may be able to help.
I'll give it a go, especially if I can find that deals specifically with this are. GP has been useless tbh, refer me to a website & tell me attend the group - which I've done.There are therapists who specialise in those who present with 'dependency'.
Depending on where you live, you may be able to find one who can support you in a more specific way.
You GP surgery may be able to help.
othername said:
Blib said:
Hopefully, hypnosis will be of help.
There are therapists who specialise in those who present with 'dependency'.
Depending on where you live, you may be able to find one who can support you in a more specific way.
You GP surgery may be able to help.
I'll give it a go, especially if I can find that deals specifically with this are. GP has been useless tbh, refer me to a website & tell me attend the group- which I've done.There are therapists who specialise in those who present with 'dependency'.
Depending on where you live, you may be able to find one who can support you in a more specific way.
You GP surgery may be able to help.
The rehab where I worked was a training hospital.
Baby doctors would spend a few weeks with us and attend groups on each of the three ward disciplines - Addiction, General Psyche & Adolescent.
If I had a pound for every cocky med student who was shocked to their core after sitting in with an addiction group, I'd have many, many pounds.
Best of luck with your search. Keep going and you WILL find the support that you deserve.
Always remember that you never need be alone. And, please keep posting here with your progress.
othername said:
Is there really any need for that? I've come here asking for advice because I want to get better and the one thing you pick out from that comment was to make a sarky remark that I should drink more to fit in with folks who seem to have worse problems than myself? I always thought this was one of those PH posts immune to this kind of thing as almost everyone seems supportive and understanding
Until you’re at your rock bottom I don’t expect you’ll stop or have the willingness to stop. That was my experience. I’m very supportive, I don’t think it’s supportive to sign off on people’s BS.
Send me a PM and I’ll call you and talk
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