The benefits of giving up alcohol

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33 contributors in last 30 days

mrs shanksi Jun 2020 8:03am, 19 Jun 2020 10,823 posts	0 mrs shanksi Agree with the above. Sweetpeas well done for not cracking yesterday, just think about today now. I'm in for today.
Bazoaxe Jun 2020 8:19am, 19 Jun 2020 16,745 posts	0 Bazoaxe That’s two weeks done for me now on the school night approach. I will drop off the wagon tonight but I have an early start tomorrow so will not be a repeat of the last two Fridays.
HappyG(rrr) Jun 2020 8:24am, 19 Jun 2020 35,229 posts	0 HappyG(rrr) Well done sweetpeas for getting back in. A slip can and will happen. Just think about how much better today will be without (and how much better it makes tomorrow!). Good stuff Bazo, that's working for you. M_N great to hear you've been able to have a small run. Hope you can get back to your running soon and avoid injury. G
HappyG(rrr) Jun 2020 8:25am, 19 Jun 2020 35,230 posts	0 HappyG(rrr) Planning an early morning meet up with katypie to simulate our support running for our cancelled WHW runner - the race would have started at 1am overnight tonight. Oh well, not the worst casualty of CV19. But an early morning long run on Sat would NOT be helped by drinks tonight, so I rather think I won't! G
mrs shanksi Jun 2020 8:38am, 19 Jun 2020 10,824 posts	0 mrs shanksi Have a lovely run HappyG. We would've been travelling down after work to be part of the sweeper team if the real whw race was happening. I'm glad we've got the virtual race to get involved in. I'll be running on virtual Rannoch Moor today 😊
Derby Tup Jun 2020 8:49am, 19 Jun 2020 43,376 posts	0 Derby Tup I’m doing the most running and walking I’ve done in quite a few years. I would not be able to do what I’m doing if I was drinking
DocM Jun 2020 8:55am, 19 Jun 2020 35,237 posts	0 DocM ive done more running than any previous year. Ive drunk 2 and a half bottles of wine this year so far, I probably used to drink that in a week. Cutting down is really working for me. I properly enjoy what i do drink , i never crave it or miss it, i never resent having to be the driver and i sleep better. today i wont be drinking
Tracey G Jun 2020 9:02am, 19 Jun 2020 2,633 posts	0 Tracey G There was a time at the beginning of Covid when I nearly fell off the wagon due to losing all my autistic/ADHD sons college and care package. Now dealing with a health emergency but thou worried I’ve not had a drink. I hated the day after having a drink, even thou I was a light weight.
HappyG(rrr) Jun 2020 9:12am, 19 Jun 2020 35,231 posts	0 HappyG(rrr) Sorry for your troubles Tracey. Well done for not turning to the drink. Funny isn't it that we think of it as a "temptation" to drink when times are tough. But it never helps. And yet we also say it's a temptation when times are good because we want to celebrate. So which is it? A medication for bad times or a pleasure for good times? The answer is: neither! It's a deceptive bliddy drug and it's not good at any time (for me, etc. other opinions are available!) Fizzy water, coffee, coca cola, ginger beer and the odd n/a beer or distilled drink. No drugs for me, thanks. I'm really not good with them! G
sweetpeas Jun 2020 12:22pm, 19 Jun 2020 44 posts	0 sweetpeas Thanks Derby, Linds, MrsSh, G - hand on heart this thread was the only reason I didn't cave last night. I'd committed to being in. Absolutely on the anxiety increasing with alcohol, and sleep being rubbish. I've slept a lot better than I had been doing. DocM yep, same, though it is very early days for me (re more exercise than for a while). It's a big motivator. G, yes that is it in a nutshell. No matter how much we (I) think it's the answer, it truly isn't, it makes things worse. Knowing that isn't enough for me, the immediate release and fuzziness is the attraction but generally I know what my triggers are, and I can mostly bribe myself with an ice cream.

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