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The benefits of giving up alcohol

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27 contributors in last 30 days

Nicholls595 May 2020 11:40am, 23 May 2020 20,531 posts	0 Nicholls595 5 not out Extra watchful today, got to protect the new batsman and that BBQ is warming up for another rapid spell
HappyG(rrr) May 2020 11:43am, 23 May 2020 34,901 posts	0 HappyG(rrr) Sweetpeas, well done for 3 days. As everyone says above, the "One Day at a Time" concept is very important for many of us. When it's getting hard, we do things like go to bed early, find a distraction etc. just to get to the end of the day. Or if we slip today, it's OK to start again tomorrow. And we don't have to look forward for weeks or months or forever. Just today. Makes it easier. Somehow. Just re-ordered my 12 non alc drinks from Amazon to snack on. I don't drink tea, and limited number of coffees I can have in a day. I don't want too many sweet drinks and much as I like water and fizzy water, I really want at least one other choice in a day. Out of interest sweetpeas, what makes you think liver disease is a big risk for you? I confess to not knowing much about that. I'm hopeful that my 20 years of heavy alco drinking, 15-35 years old, has been remedied by my 15 years (and counting!) of non-alco. Does it work like that? Can you liver recover? G
iaincr May 2020 11:48am, 23 May 2020 642 posts	0 iaincr Sweetpea, 3 days is fantastic , well done. We are all rooting for you , keep checking in and let us know how you are doing.
sweetpeas May 2020 12:39pm, 23 May 2020 7 posts	0 sweetpeas Gosh I love this place. Thanks all. I’m absolutely in for today. G - right hand side of ribs is painful. Constantly feel like I’ve got terrible jet lag despite sleeping. 9 years of a lot of wine (minus 12 month fertility treatment and pregnancy). Ribs (and fatigue) could be lots of things - going back to running in slightly crap shoes / impact of my bonkers twisted pelvis / tight right hamstring / general very high anxiety with current situation / carrying a nearly 4 year old etc etc
Derby Tup May 2020 12:42pm, 23 May 2020 42,103 posts	0 Derby Tup One of the things I learned last year is the liver is an amazing organ. They removed a fair chunk of mine and I wouldn’t have known (other than the scarring) within a couple of weeks
Nicholls595 May 2020 12:48pm, 23 May 2020 20,533 posts	0 Nicholls595 Tuppers, I now have that Python Meaning of Life sketch in my head.... "Can we have your liver thèn?"
HappyG(rrr) May 2020 2:00pm, 23 May 2020 34,905 posts	0 HappyG(rrr) Hmm, interesting sweetpeas. Will you ask a doc to look at it? I guess it could be a lot of things. Would be good to get a diagnosis? Obviously reducing alcohol is always a good thing, so no detriment to doing that too, of course. Lol Nico! G
sweetpeas May 2020 3:24pm, 23 May 2020 8 posts	0 sweetpeas Yep, GP next week. I think (hope!!!) it is just anxiety based. NHS 111 reckon it might be gallbladder 🤔 Oh gosh Derby! Very glad it went well.
Derby Tup May 2020 3:27pm, 23 May 2020 42,121 posts	0 Derby Tup I’m fine sweetpeas thanks
HappyG(rrr) May 2020 3:31pm, 23 May 2020 34,912 posts	0 HappyG(rrr) DT is one of our "Incredible and Inspiring Stories" sweetpeas. Go have a read of his blog from (actually, when was the "big surgery" era DT? Can we link your blog in sidebar pls? ) G

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