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The benefits of giving up alcohol

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27 contributors in last 30 days

Grast_girl Dec 2016 4:29pm, 22 Dec 2016 83 posts	0 Grast_girl Big Al - No good ideas unfortunately. My only suggestions are: - Pointing out that there's no equivalent of dialysis for livers. Would a bet help? If he can stay off it for a month he might feel better and stay off (or find out why he's drinking so much). - Could you get him to get his chest pain investigated? That might entail a blood test, which might include a standard liver function test. If the doctor tells him maybe he'd listen? I hope you can get him to listen, my uncle was drinking a bottle of whisky a day, turns out he was self medicating for the pain of stage 4 mouth and neck cancer. He died less than 6 weeks after diagnosis. You're a good friend for trying to help him.
JenLov Dec 2016 5:06pm, 22 Dec 2016 488 posts	0 JenLov Big Al it must be difficult for you to see your friend in this way. I have no experience of knowing anyone like this so can't offer much help beyond what Grast_girl suggests, doctors looking at a symptom to at least get the ball rolling.
The Jogger Dec 2016 5:57pm, 22 Dec 2016 1,132 posts	0 The Jogger Big Al you can talk until you are blue in the face, if he is not ready to stop, he won't. He will some day have a realisation or a rock bottom (as it is known) and then he might jump off the ladder before he reaches the bottom or dies. Lets hope he see's some sense before it is too late.
Dr TinselD Dec 2016 6:07pm, 22 Dec 2016 13,990 posts	0 Dr TinselD I have to say I agree with TJ. People had tried to talk to me about my drinking for 15 years or so but I had to be ready. Three years ago I was. You can just be a good role model.
Diogenes Dec 2016 7:05pm, 22 Dec 2016 19,525 posts	0 Diogenes He sounds like a more extreme version of myself, Al. At least I'm trying to cut down most of the time. I don't think anyone stood until they really want to themselves, or have to. My question is, knowing him as well as you do, do you think your nagging will gradually work on him, or increase his stubbornness to carry on as he is?
Joopsy Dec 2016 8:31pm, 22 Dec 2016 7,925 posts	0 Joopsy What TJ says mate, he needs to want to stop and whilst he may well be a long standing mate it is actually none of your business. To be honest I have known you as a drinker and a none drinker and you have a damn fine sense of humour either way, saying you are not fun is his issue, not yours.
Big Allelujah Widepants Dec 2016 1:24pm, 23 Dec 2016 4,655 posts	0 Big Allelujah Widepants Yes, I know that fundamentally it's none of my business, but I really love the guy and the business that will be mine (from a selfish point of view) is that he won't be around and that'll be really painful for me. I think it's counter bluff from him. Makes him feel a bit better to slag me off than to face up to the implications. I suppose I know that you're all right and there's nothing I can do, and that he has to want to stop. But it's tough just sitting there and watching the car crash.
Big Allelujah Widepants Dec 2016 1:27pm, 23 Dec 2016 4,656 posts	0 Big Allelujah Widepants To answer your question Dio, I don't nag him that much. Probably about every 6 months. It probably makes no difference. I think he thinks life would be joyless without booze, and when you've been horsing it back for 40 years, it's understandable.
The Jogger Dec 2016 5:33pm, 23 Dec 2016 1,133 posts	0 The Jogger I certainly thought, I'll get really bored when I gave up. When I look back my life drinking was so repetitive that I think I must have been bored and desperate then. Although while I was pissed on a daily basis , I couldn't or didn't want to admit that.
Ebenezer Scorge Dec 2016 6:58pm, 24 Dec 2016 323 posts	0 Ebenezer Scorge Al - sadly there are people who might not ever reach a stage where they can't/won't alter habits. I've cut a couple of people loose this year because I just found I couldn't be in their company, it's a horrible place to be in. hope everyone has a great Christmas, i'm back in the sticks and looking forward to a peaceful time with no self-induced dehydration/headache/etc. odaat

About This Thread

Maintained by HappyG(rrr)

Looks as though this thread has become popular again, here in 2010 (it's now 2024, and it started in 2008, so I think "ever popular" might be more apt! :-)

G )

Good Luck everyone.

A recent plea for those struggling to "reach out" as they say in US of A!

"Anyone not feeling strong and confident, please shout out. Or fmail. Or any other comms that works. Don't drink alcohol when you don't want to, for lack of someone to talk to. Pick up the phone, not the bottle."

Some acronyms, in case people use them:
JFT - Just for today
ODAAT - One day at a time
KIS - Keep it simple
TBOGUA - The Benefits Of Giving Up Alcohol (the title of this thread!)

New feature: article/blog of the month (period may change randomly!) Swittle's wonderful 14,611 days blog: (see links below)

Linking Joopsy's 17 year blog too, cos it's awesome!

There is a GREAT article summarising some of the benefits, to save you having to trawl through the thread (includes links to helpful apps and other resources).

And a great list of Alternative Drinks started by the lovely LindsD:

Please add to these articles and make them as valuable as possible! Thanks! :-)

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And one from way back when...
Dirt Monkey's brilliant blog on TBOGUA too - go try this...

Rebel has recommended a couple of good books:
The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober: THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
by Catherine Gray

The Alcohol Experiment: 30 Days to Take Control, Cut Down or Give Up For Good
by Annie Grace

A great response from a health professional in Ireland responding to a question from a Guardian reader about why the warnings on alcoholic drinks that are coming in:

theguardian.com

"Alcohol is responsible for at least 1,000 cancer cases every year in Ireland, with one in eight breast cancer cases arising from alcohol use. Even one to two drinks per day increases the risk of developing cancer, and that risk is the same whether those drinks are wine, spirits or beer. Unfortunately, there is a very low level of public awareness that alcohol has been classed as a Group 1 carcinogen, meaning it is carcinogenic to humans. That is why Ireland has passed legislation that provides for health information labels on alcohol products, including warnings about cancer, liver disease and the danger of drinking in pregnancy. It is unsurprising that the alcohol industry, which promotes its products with carefully crafted myths of good times for all, is objecting to the mandatory provision of facts (Anger brews in Italy over Ireland’s plans for alcohol health warnings, 12 January).
Dr Sheila Gilheany
CEO, Alcohol Action Ireland
"

And the all important fabulous services:
Alcoholics Anonymous
National Helpline (FREE) 0800 9177 650
help@aamail.org

Al Anon
020 7403 0888

medal

Contact TBOGUA medal

We're adding in our own Fetch offer of one to one contact too, for anyone who doesn't want to post in the thread for whatever reason. Please feel free to fmail ANY of the names listed below.

- - - -
HappyG(rrr)
( Oscar the grouch RIP )
mrs shanksi
Derby Tup
iaincr
Love Lettuce
DocM
LindsD
GeneHunt59
GregP