for an ad-free Fetcheveryone experience!

The benefits of giving up alcohol

1 lurker | 280 watchers

34 contributors in last 30 days

Bez-head Jan 2017 7:14pm, 31 Jan 2017 4,667 posts	0 Bez-head Day 31. Dry January bagged. A month of self discovery to an extent and the benefits are clear to me. The bigger challenge now is to continue with this and or massively cut down. Well done all 😀
g1ngerrevolution Jan 2017 7:59pm, 31 Jan 2017 388 posts	0 g1ngerrevolution Ditto Bez. 31/31 in 2017 thus far. Dinner party this weekend is the first proper hurdle. I've really enjoyed being dry. I wouldn't describe it as 'sober' just yet. But I know that giving up drinking is going to have to be like giving up smoking was: I simply can't have 'one' and expect not to wake up a week later having not smoked (drunk) again since - and the pauses between relapses dwindle until I'm back on 20 a day (cigarettes, not units). Start of a slippery slope to ruin and all that. ODAAT
mrs shanksi Jan 2017 9:41pm, 31 Jan 2017 7,777 posts	0 mrs shanksi Well done guys, that's a great thing. Odaat
HappyG(rrr) Feb 2017 8:33am, 1 Feb 2017 26,332 posts	0 HappyG(rrr) Good work both. That's an interesting way of putting it Bez - a lot of self discovery with not drinking. For me, it was discovering a better way for me. Well done guys. G
LindsD Feb 2017 4:30pm, 1 Feb 2017 15,031 posts	0 LindsD Excellent. Well done all of us pats self on back
Joopsy Feb 2017 4:58pm, 2 Feb 2017 7,992 posts	0 Joopsy Amazing TJ, 10,000 days is just incredible and congratulations on the retiring and the place in Spain. It was our 20th wedding anniversary yesterday and like you, I doubt very much if I would be married, or alive had I not stopped when I did. My eldest daughter was 3 when I stopped drinking so she and her three siblingscan never recall seeing their Dad drinking alcohol, this makes me very proud. They are all very aware of why I don't drink as well. IainCr, love your spirit mate.
HappyG(rrr) Feb 2017 5:37pm, 2 Feb 2017 26,341 posts	0 HappyG(rrr) Top stuff Joops. Imagine exposing our kids to the character who existed before sobriety? My son was 5 when I split up with my missus. But until that time, my lad was being taken to swimming on Sat or Sun morning at 8am, when I had stopped drinking at 5am. Driving my 3, 4, 5 year old, still drunk, never mind a bit over the limit? I hate that person who did that. I'm glad that person is not me any more. G
LindsD Feb 2017 5:52pm, 2 Feb 2017 15,066 posts	0 LindsD You have to forgive him, too, HappyG. It's in the past and he's not you, as you say.
The Jogger Feb 2017 6:56pm, 2 Feb 2017 1,147 posts	0 The Jogger Thanks Joops, this sobriety thing is good, isn't it?
Bez-head Feb 2017 7:14pm, 2 Feb 2017 4,670 posts	0 Bez-head Better half has had a red wine at the airport. Meanwhile back at the ranch I am dry but now I know she is not dry .. More Earl Grey for me. She is the heathen

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! :-)

G

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