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The benefits of giving up alcohol

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34 contributors in last 30 days

Joopsy Jun 2020 12:27pm, 12 Jun 2020 10,173 posts	0 Joopsy Brilliant post Scorge, trying to stop took me down further than the actual ‘just drinking’ part. Every slip can quickly become a ‘last hurrah’ in knowing that this will be the time you say goodbye and break the cycle. That acceptance part is massive, you can’t move on until that is cracked, many of us stumble repeatedly at that point.
Bazoaxe Jun 2020 12:30pm, 12 Jun 2020 16,682 posts	0 Bazoaxe Week 1 of the 'Not on a school night' successfully completed. I feel better and have slept well so feel rested and my resting HR is lower as well. I cannot see me ever being in the total abstinence camp, but I do need to break that habit of a glass of wine (sometimes more) almost every single day.
Wombling Plodder (Welsh Womble) Jun 2020 1:13pm, 12 Jun 2020 3,099 posts	0 Wombling Plodder (Welsh Womble) ODAAT - interesting discussion on counting days (or not). I keep forgetting what day it is so going to stop counting. I have added a pin to my post on day 1 so that I have a note should I need it. Great post Scorge - thank you for sharing. I think I will give the cream soda a miss too - will have a glass of elderflower with you though. Well done Baz.
LindsD Jun 2020 3:13pm, 12 Jun 2020 37,808 posts	0 LindsD Scorge. Absolutely. That was my experience 100%. Dry January doesn't help either because it gives you/gave me the illusion that I was in control.
Big_G Jun 2020 3:20pm, 12 Jun 2020 43 posts	0 Big_G Dry January kick started me on this occasion (2.5 years now), but something changed in my mind in that month. I can't describe what exactly - a combination of things - but I just knew I needed to change something and just doing Dry January wasn't going to cut it. Previously though, Dry January didn't work as all it did was made me focus on what I was missing/restricting. And come Feb 1st I was back to normal. But in Jan 2018, part way through that month I just decided to do the whole year, and I haven't drank since.
LindsD Jun 2020 3:24pm, 12 Jun 2020 37,817 posts	0 LindsD Yup - that was also my experience. The year before I gave up I went through to about March but then caved.
McGoohan Jun 2020 3:41pm, 12 Jun 2020 45,717 posts	0 McGoohan Things like Dry January just imply 'Wet February' to me
Derby Tup Jun 2020 3:44pm, 12 Jun 2020 43,082 posts	0 Derby Tup My thinking exactly McG
LindsD Jun 2020 3:46pm, 12 Jun 2020 37,818 posts	0 LindsD Yup
HappyG(rrr) Jun 2020 5:22pm, 12 Jun 2020 35,182 posts	0 HappyG(rrr) There are always hilarious messages on Dry January and stuff about "gasping for a drink on 1 Feb" and "I'm gonna go on a total bender on 1 Feb" and I always thing, err, not quite sure this is helping! :-)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