The benefits of giving up alcohol

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22 contributors in last 30 days

Derby Tup Jun 2020 3:31pm, 3 Jun 2020 42,617 posts	0 Derby Tup Me neither
Wombling Plodder (Welsh Womble) Jun 2020 3:43pm, 3 Jun 2020 3,067 posts	0 Wombling Plodder (Welsh Womble) Metro_Nome - I am all or nothing so 1 glass leads to 1 bottle gone and the overwhelming urge to open another. The elderflower sounds lush and right up my street although a magnum is a bit much Like sweetpeas I also thought about decanting it. On the subject of reflux, mine has always been aggravated by alcohol - mostly wine. I then get a really bad cough as the acid gets into my lungs - the coughing worsens after a few glasses and I have been known to have a couple of embarrassing accidents when the coughing wont stop :-/ FunkyPOM - welcome. We are all very different so what works for one may not work for another. I did keep a diary a while back to see what was triggering my drinking although being honest with myself was one of the battles. My hardest time is a Friday as I tell myself that I deserve a drink for surviving the week in a job that was sucking the life out of me, although the weekends had always been my drinking time so I can't blame that job on my bad habits, plus I am now in a job that I love and still have the Friday night urges - I am just in for today and counting one day at a time - and then on Friday evening I have to practice other methods to keep me off the wine. I am only on Day 8.5 - planning is crucial for me, so I am now planning what I am going to do to entertain my hands and my head later on in the week. Oscar - I like that saying "yesterday, today and tomorrow" I can relate to that. I think I am going to try some of the nice tonic waters - I do love herbs and spices
HappyG(rrr) Jun 2020 3:59pm, 3 Jun 2020 35,073 posts	0 HappyG(rrr) Nice post WP. Friday is an understandable challenge. But like M_N said earlier, at my worst, Thursday or even Wednesday became an early Friday (ooh, those hangovers or sick days post big midweek nights out or nights in. Ewww. ) Lots of diversion tactics. That's sensible to plan. Other things to do (hard at the mo with limited outdoor or social activity available), but in my case, also just escaping to my bed if I have to. It doesn't last forever. You can come out the other side happier, healthier and very content with a perfectly full life. G
Wombling Plodder (Welsh Womble) Jun 2020 4:15pm, 3 Jun 2020 3,069 posts	0 Wombling Plodder (Welsh Womble) I had forgotten about the midweek blow outs when away on business or out with the regional teams - and the amount of times I have found myself with my head down the toilet the next morning and then trying to look professional!!! And I get extremely embarrassed when a friend of mine likes to reminisce about the past and all the drunken horror stories that involve me. Goodness knows why OH stayed with me - he reckons the first two years he only got to see me with my head down a toilet and for many years after he would have to come and find me as I would of slumped somewhere, plus he was forever having to clean me up when I had been out on one of my nights. This really makes me cringe - I was never an angry or aggressive drunk but I was a messy one - and footage of young people in Spain is too close to home. Fortunately I have grown out of that phase in the past decade or so. My plan is to make the most of the good weather and light nights - my garden needs weeding and if it is raining then I have an addictive word search to do
HappyG(rrr) Jun 2020 4:29pm, 3 Jun 2020 35,074 posts	0 HappyG(rrr) Excellent diversion planning WP! I have some terrible memories of messy work nights out. In addition to sickness, loudness, losing things, damaging things, stains on suits, rips in material etc. I was also aggressive and unpleasant. It's amazing I never lost a job or friends over it - bizarrely I'm still friends with people whose weddings I was completely trollied at, nights out that I just took over etc. I guess they forgave me! Lucky with some very understanding friends. G
Bazoaxe Jun 2020 4:31pm, 3 Jun 2020 16,593 posts	0 Bazoaxe HG. You describe a person that based on our brief acquaintance I would not recognise.
HappyG(rrr) Jun 2020 4:35pm, 3 Jun 2020 35,075 posts	0 HappyG(rrr) To that Bazo, all I can say, is "Thank you"!
Diogenes Jun 2020 7:28pm, 3 Jun 2020 49,414 posts	0 Diogenes I’ve not had a drink 11 of the last 17 days. That’s not bad. However, My resolve is not fixed as firmly as it needs to be. Now might not be the time for complete abstinence, just reduction.
Wombling Plodder (Welsh Womble) Jun 2020 7:44pm, 3 Jun 2020 3,070 posts	0 Wombling Plodder (Welsh Womble) Scary times HappyG - well done on turning things around All the best Dio - are you using an App to record? I found the NHS one good for tracking a few months back. I have since changed phones so must download it again.
DocM Jun 2020 8:41pm, 3 Jun 2020 34,834 posts	0 DocM Having a change toniggt. Trying nonsecco. Liking it

About This Thread

Maintained by Merry Christmas and Happy NewG(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