or for an ad-free Fetcheveryone experience!

The benefits of giving up alcohol

3 lurkers | 280 watchers
27 contributors in last 30 days
Wombling Plodder (Welsh Womble)
Wombling Plodder (Welsh Womble)
May 2020
9:06am, 26 May 2020
3,036 posts
  • Quote
  • Pin
Wombling Plodder (Welsh Womble)
So do I Oscar - although OH reckons that I have a special occasion for everything. He is not a big drinker and thinks about alcohol very differently to me - he may enjoy a nice glass of something with a lovely meal occasionally.

We were due to be having a special meal on a steam train in early June but that is postponed - OH would have driven there but I will offer when it is rescheduled.

The next date is our anniversary in early August when we are supposedly away overnight.

And I had forgotten about our week away in July.

I think I am going to try Mindfulness again and return to my Buddhist studies. Perhaps I will be brave enough to challenge my mindset on celebrations.

@Metro_Nome - I am sorry to hear about your back. Hopefully you will be able to cycle soon - you are welcome to keep me company with ODAAT - be strong, you can do this xx
Wombling Plodder (Welsh Womble)
Wombling Plodder (Welsh Womble)
May 2020
9:12am, 26 May 2020
3,037 posts
  • Quote
  • Pin
Wombling Plodder (Welsh Womble)
HappyG / Mrs Shanksi - thank you for sharing, I can relate to a lot of what you have both said, and will retain the info re life after alcohol for when I need to be strong xx
Captain Malcolm Reynolds
Captain Malcolm Reynolds
May 2020
9:57am, 26 May 2020
941 posts
  • Quote
  • Pin
Captain Malcolm Reynolds
Ooooooooohhhhhhhh. Which lineage are you studying with WW? I’m in month 2 of a 3 year course with Samye Ling monastery.

Mindfulness has helped me loads during some of the rougher parts of my sobriety journey.
mrs shanksi
mrs shanksi
May 2020
11:26am, 26 May 2020
10,654 posts
  • Quote
  • Pin
mrs shanksi
Just take one day at a time WW xx

I think the alcohol industry have a lot to answer for. Also social media has made it worse, how many of us have seen the #winetime #wineoclock photos on Facebook and twitter? Also the "obligatory" photo of a pint of beer at the airport bar whatever time of day. It's a cliché and reinforces drinking alcohol as normal. Even when I drank I never had alcohol at an airport for my breakfast, I actually think that's weird. I've said all this before but it amazes me people still post that crap. Maybe part of the reason I'm the opposite of a 'lost Fetchie', I've never left here but drifted away from fb.

I've never regretted giving up for a second. I've enjoyed holidays, anniversaries, weddings, birthdays without alcohol and haven't had a single second I'd my life lost to a hangover in nearly 5 years. That's something to celebrate!

Have a great day lovely people 😀
mrs shanksi
mrs shanksi
May 2020
11:27am, 26 May 2020
10,655 posts
  • Quote
  • Pin
mrs shanksi
*second of my life
HappyG(rrr)
HappyG(rrr)
May 2020
11:35am, 26 May 2020
34,962 posts
  • Quote
  • Pin
HappyG(rrr)
Mrs s, it's deeply ingrained in our life and in our culture. For hundreds of years, maybe thousands, humans have used alcohol for oblivion, for fun (not what I now call fun, but others would), as a privilege, for flavour/cuisine, as a ritual, for religion (really can't understand that one!) etc.

And in last few hundred years, with tax on it and a big business behind it (production and consumption in bars and pubs), it has a lot of commercial clout too. Hence the massive advertising that still goes on (but shouldn't imho).

It's a lot to overcome, for society. Not sure how we make that happen.
Joopsy
Joopsy
May 2020
12:15pm, 26 May 2020
10,164 posts
  • Quote
  • Pin
Joopsy
I realised that special occasions were just excuses to drink, not to enjoy a special occasion.

In the early days of sobriety I used to get very concerned about dates in the future, weddings, work bashes etc, until I was taught that it is not something that needs to be even thought about today, that I might not even be alive by that point, or it may have been cancelled, or there may be a world wide pandemic! The only things i plan now for 'events' is my escape plan if required, nothing else is an issue.
Grast_girl
Grast_girl
May 2020
7:40pm, 26 May 2020
1,132 posts
  • Quote
  • Pin
Grast_girl
And for necessity HappyG (when water wasn't safe).

I agree that advertising alcohol should probably be banned.

I also plan escape plans Joopsy, mostly for anxiety, but similar.
Wombling Plodder (Welsh Womble)
Wombling Plodder (Welsh Womble)
May 2020
9:59pm, 26 May 2020
3,039 posts
  • Quote
  • Pin
Wombling Plodder (Welsh Womble)
@Captain - That's interesting, I am revisiting the correspondence course that I did with the Buddhist Society and then deciding what is next. I have done a few study days with Kadampa in the past.

@MrsShanski - I think it may be time to have another Facebook holiday, today it is just full of drinks in the afternoon because it is 'half term'.

Thanks everyone - lots of great postings and plenty of food for thought.

I challenged OH about his pork pie addiction today (ok, he is not that bad) after another pack turned up in the fridge and his response was that he would stop eating the pork pies when I stop drinking - so although it is not a competition and we need to do things for ourselves the alcohol v pork pie challenge is on.

#1 completed and I am off to bed. Here's to #2
Derby Tup
Derby Tup
May 2020
10:04pm, 26 May 2020
42,247 posts
  • Quote
  • Pin
Derby Tup
Well done. Sleep well

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 medal Contact TBOGUA medal 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 star
Joopsy star

Note: we're none of us experts, but we're happy to listen, to answer any questions and to offer support if you think it would help you. Except star marked above. Who are experts! :-)

(Note II: at Christmas some names may change a bit, but I'm sure you can still find us to fmail!)
  • Show full description...

Useful Links

FE accepts no responsibility for external links. Or anything, really.

Related Threads

  • health
  • mentalhealth
  • support
  • teetotal








Back To Top

Tag A User

To tag a user, start typing their name here:
X

Free training & racing tools for runners, cyclists, swimmers & walkers.

Fetcheveryone lets you analyse your training, find races, plot routes, chat in our forum, get advice, play games - and more! Nothing is behind a paywall, and it'll stay that way thanks to our awesome community!
Get Started
Click here to join 113,979 Fetchies!
Already a Fetchie? Sign in here