The benefits of giving up alcohol

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32 contributors in last 30 days

iaincr Jun 2020 7:05pm, 11 Jun 2020 653 posts	0 iaincr I have to be careful as I know I have an addictive personality, I now think I run/exercise addictively (110 days either running or cycling in a row and only 6 rest days this year!), definetley feel really edgy and down if I have a rest day. But guess its a better habit than drink. I used to enjoy the occassional bet but to be honest it scared the shit out of me knowing how easily I get addicted to things. I found my big book during a clean out a couple of weeks ago, lost an hour flicking through it, really worth a read for those that havent read it, I really identify with so much in it..
GregP Jun 2020 7:26pm, 11 Jun 2020 120,251 posts	0 GregP Nice post. Mercifully I’ve never need drawn to betting or cocaine, they being the two slippery paths I may have hit if I wasn’t careful. I’m very wary of anything that looks like betting these days - even fantasy football/gridiron/baseball makes me slightly uncomfortable.
LindsD Jun 2020 8:14pm, 11 Jun 2020 37,775 posts	0 LindsD I don't have any issues with gambling but I have a family member who does and for that reason I steer well clear.
Diogenes Jun 2020 8:16pm, 11 Jun 2020 49,722 posts	0 Diogenes I have almost the opposite to an addictive personality, I’m more of a dabbler and a gadfly. There are exceptions, though.
Derby Tup Jun 2020 8:24pm, 11 Jun 2020 43,019 posts	0 Derby Tup Beer was my drug. I liked drinking it and loved getting drunk. If there had never been beer and only wine / spirits I doubt I would ever have had any kind of problem with drink; it certainly would have been less of an issue I’m not sure if I have an addictive personal per se, but there is no way I’d have any kind of electronic ‘play device’ ie Play station / X Box in the house. The odd time I’ve had access to such kit I’ve wasted a lot of time
Grast_girl Jun 2020 8:40pm, 11 Jun 2020 1,192 posts	0 Grast_girl Plenty in my family have "issues" with drink, although I doubt many would admit it, so I'm wary. Although I virtually give up most summers, I wouldn't want to go the whole hog, although I'm not sure why.
Scorge Jun 2020 11:57am, 12 Jun 2020 651 posts	0 Scorge JFT. dio - being able to have a drink when you feel like but also wanting to be completely abstinent was the dichotomy that tripped me up in the first time i tried to kick the habit, sunk a couple of subsequent attempts, and will probably kybosh anyone who really wants to stop. getting to point of being psychologically comfortable with the concept of never drinking again when you know you can't 100% be sure of control when you do have a tipple was the key. getting to that point in my case was deeply difficult, because it involved a total and painful reworking of my psyche, and having to be brutally honest with oneself in the cold sober light of day is not easy. breaking and then rebuilding yourself is hard, it took me 4 years and a lot of micro-mistakes. that said, it's still the best decision i have ever made, because my pre-2010 consumption habits almost certainly would have killed me by now, be it physical/mental health, and even the bit before fully quitting in '14 unsuccessfully trying to compromise with myself was rife with danger. cream soda, anyone?
Derby Tup Jun 2020 12:01pm, 12 Jun 2020 43,062 posts	0 Derby Tup No thanks to the cream soda but thanks for the insight Scorge Tea
mrs shanksi Jun 2020 12:17pm, 12 Jun 2020 10,752 posts	0 mrs shanksi That's a great post Scorge. It took me 5 years to realise I had to stop kidding myself and give it up completely.
WA Jun 2020 12:21pm, 12 Jun 2020 7,024 posts	0 WA Thanks Scorge, that's really interesting. I'll pass on the cream soda tho

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! :-)

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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