365 days without booze... join me?

365 days without booze... join me?

Author
Discussion

Davetheraver

1,337 posts

203 months

Thursday 12th August 2021
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Hi All

I have been here before and failed but am determined this time to make some decent progress. Possibly not total abstinence in the long term but at the very least a chance for my body to try and recover and then moderate drinking.

The last five year have been awful for one reason and another and it became all to easy to reach for a beer or wine in the evenings. Often just 3 or 4.

Then it became lunchtime at the weekends, then lockdown and it became lunchtime every day. Then money got right and it became cider, then before you know it you realise you are doing 12 - 16 440ml cans a day most days and your diet has gone to pot as you are never hungry.

Anyway. Throughout am perfectly able to function and never drink of driving etc but days start to be planned around not having to drive in the afternoon so you can get a drink.

So on Monday I decided to stop. I only had 4 on Monday night, 2 on Tuesday and nothing at all yesterday.

Just to add it has never been a problem going without. The in laws stayed recently and they despise alcohol so I didn’t touch any but that was more forced than voluntarily if you see what I mean. Didn’t cause any issues though.

But now I need to make that mental switch to. It wanting it - and it’s hard - I nearly went to the shop last night.

Anyway. Not here for advice or lectures on what has been, just looking for a place to share progress.

Yesterday was more productive than usual but sleep last night was awful and my stomach is in bits so am working from home today in the hope of avoiding using Imodium to disguise anything and just letting the body do its thing.

Massive respect to those of you who have conquered, tamed or even attempted to overcome this nasty drug.

Caddyshack

10,870 posts

207 months

Thursday 12th August 2021
quotequote all
Davetheraver said:
Hi All

I have been here before and failed but am determined this time to make some decent progress. Possibly not total abstinence in the long term but at the very least a chance for my body to try and recover and then moderate drinking.

The last five year have been awful for one reason and another and it became all to easy to reach for a beer or wine in the evenings. Often just 3 or 4.

Then it became lunchtime at the weekends, then lockdown and it became lunchtime every day. Then money got right and it became cider, then before you know it you realise you are doing 12 - 16 440ml cans a day most days and your diet has gone to pot as you are never hungry.

Anyway. Throughout am perfectly able to function and never drink of driving etc but days start to be planned around not having to drive in the afternoon so you can get a drink.

So on Monday I decided to stop. I only had 4 on Monday night, 2 on Tuesday and nothing at all yesterday.

Just to add it has never been a problem going without. The in laws stayed recently and they despise alcohol so I didn’t touch any but that was more forced than voluntarily if you see what I mean. Didn’t cause any issues though.

But now I need to make that mental switch to. It wanting it - and it’s hard - I nearly went to the shop last night.

Anyway. Not here for advice or lectures on what has been, just looking for a place to share progress.

Yesterday was more productive than usual but sleep last night was awful and my stomach is in bits so am working from home today in the hope of avoiding using Imodium to disguise anything and just letting the body do its thing.

Massive respect to those of you who have conquered, tamed or even attempted to overcome this nasty drug.
Wow, that is a big amount of booze to come off and a very brave post. I was 2 bottles of wine a night plus spirits and I am 1 yr and 8 months free now....so good luck and it is simple if you 100% commit to it and decide not to drink.


Captain Smerc

3,026 posts

117 months

Thursday 12th August 2021
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Its time! You can do thisclap

DuncanM

6,210 posts

280 months

Thursday 12th August 2021
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I've discovered that I like alcohol free wine, which is nice.

Dry since Feb 2020, no plans to return to drinking.

Sebo

2,167 posts

227 months

Thursday 12th August 2021
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Nice one Davetheraver, sending you all the best

Joscal

2,080 posts

201 months

Thursday 12th August 2021
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Well done Davetheraver best of luck and the fact you’re seeing it for the poison that it is, is a really big step.

It’s a bumpy ride but so worth it.



Edited by Joscal on Friday 13th August 09:59

ASA569

439 posts

90 months

Friday 13th August 2021
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Well done Davetheraver in taking the first step. I'll only say that we all use this thread in different ways - it can be anything from a sounding board, a support network or just somewhere to record your progress. I lurked mainly but always found it encouraging to know other people were on the same journey.

Good luck

evilmunkey

1,377 posts

160 months

Friday 13th August 2021
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As others have said well done , the first few days can be hard , eating sleeping etc. I found after my first week things started to normalise, eating better and sleeping better. I as others have found getting a soda stream very helpful . i traded the booze for lime and soda and other cordials and juices. helped me a lot . keep up the good work and all the very best . this thread has been so helpful to me on my journey and its nice to now your not on your own out there.

Davie_GLA

6,526 posts

200 months

Friday 13th August 2021
quotequote all
Well done Dave.

I'm struggling today. Have pain around my liver area however has only been since I was at physio and after a particular solid manipulation to my back something popped around my ribs. I have injury here already so I'm hoping its mechanical or something muscular.it feels like done on the surface. Ill call NHS 24 over the weekend if needed or phone the doctor on Monday.

Anyway, tried to remember a documentary that I watched ages ago but it's just popped back into my head. its called "risky drinking", link below.

https://youtu.be/_1gQ4iM6N4M

Davetheraver

1,337 posts

203 months

Friday 13th August 2021
quotequote all
So Friday evening and I haven’t had a drink since Tuesday or wanted one. No withdrawals or issues at all.

But….my god I have a lot of time to fill!

I have been running out of things to do and heading off to bed early to avoid filling the time with drink. I dread to think how much time I have wasted over the years.

grumbledoak

31,551 posts

234 months

Friday 13th August 2021
quotequote all
Davetheraver said:
So Friday evening and I haven’t had a drink since Tuesday or wanted one. No withdrawals or issues at all.

But….my god I have a lot of time to fill!

I have been running out of things to do and heading off to bed early to avoid filling the time with drink. I dread to think how much time I have wasted over the years.
yes Buying it, drinking it, recovering from it. It's a huge amount of time.

You're going to need a hobby!

Joscal

2,080 posts

201 months

Friday 13th August 2021
quotequote all
Davetheraver said:
So Friday evening and I haven’t had a drink since Tuesday or wanted one. No withdrawals or issues at all.

But….my god I have a lot of time to fill!

I have been running out of things to do and heading off to bed early to avoid filling the time with drink. I dread to think how much time I have wasted over the years.
Brilliant, you’re getting your life back..congratulations.

Caddyshack

10,870 posts

207 months

Friday 13th August 2021
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I used to be nodding off and spilling my wine by around 9pm. Then there are the wasted days nursing a hangover.

heisthegaffer

3,423 posts

199 months

Saturday 14th August 2021
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After a few days boozing and feeling very ropey and glum, I'm taking some time out from drinking. Feel quite excited about it oddly enough.

Challenge I have is boozy friends, relatively boozy work and just joined my local social club which is 3 quid a pint...

Going to start at a month and go from there.

Biggest problem at the moment is the evenings tend to drag... Must start using my weights and bike which are both new.

Joscal

2,080 posts

201 months

Sunday 15th August 2021
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heisthegaffer said:
After a few days boozing and feeling very ropey and glum, I'm taking some time out from drinking. Feel quite excited about it oddly enough.

Challenge I have is boozy friends, relatively boozy work and just joined my local social club which is 3 quid a pint...

Going to start at a month and go from there.

Biggest problem at the moment is the evenings tend to drag... Must start using my weights and bike which are both new.
All my ‘friends’ were big boozers, the real ones will understand and the others will do their very best to drag you down to their level. When I look back all we had in common was getting blocked, the drinkers all tend to be miserable, lazy (unless drinking!) and have constant drama in their lives. I wonder why…

Ignore them you’re holding a mirror up to them and they aren’t liking what they’re seeing. It amazes me how many questions I still get to this day about my not drinking.

If I’d quit heroin would they be encouraging me to have a sneaky syringe?

Also not one has said well done or given any kind of encouragement. Says it all really.

Good luck!

Caddyshack

10,870 posts

207 months

Sunday 15th August 2021
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The trouble being sober around boozy friends is that you realise the utter, incoherent, rubbish that people spout when they are drunk, it does annoy me for some reason and makes me a bit grumpy when the wife is slurring away and not actually getting to the point in a long winded and repetitive rant.

I tend to want to leave a party or the pub when the BS starts…normally a round 9:30 / 10pm

Davie_GLA

6,526 posts

200 months

Monday 16th August 2021
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I haven't touched a drop in over 2 years but I still haven't gone to an event or occasion.

I'm lucky I guess as my wife doesn't drink.

What's annoying me more than anything at the moment is everyone who has heard on the grapevine that I've stopped and clearly think it's an issue to drink around me whenever we visit family.

"do you mind if I have a pint mate?"
"no point in asking you if you want a drink mate?"
"fruit shoot for you mate?" - almost landed myself in trouble with that one.


WCZ

10,542 posts

195 months

Tuesday 17th August 2021
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doing 30 days without a drop cold turkey style, 2 hours sleep last night - aiming for 4+ tonight!

Blib

44,218 posts

198 months

Tuesday 17th August 2021
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WCZ said:
doing 30 days without a drop cold turkey style, 2 hours sleep last night - aiming for 4+ tonight!
Depending on your alcohol intake leading up to abstinence, going cold turkey can potentially be dangerous.

Please seek medical advice immediately if you begin to feel abnormal discomfort.

WCZ

10,542 posts

195 months

Tuesday 17th August 2021
quotequote all
Blib said:
Depending on your alcohol intake leading up to abstinence, going cold turkey can potentially be dangerous.

Please seek medical advice immediately if you begin to feel abnormal discomfort.
4x double vodkas every night (roughly) for the last year

I did a post in the past last time I took a break to ask if it was safe and was mocked for seeming to want to justify not stopping xD