The benefits of giving up alcohol

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32 contributors in last 30 days

Corrah Aug 2024 7:02am, 14 Aug 2024 8,583 posts	0 Corrah In again today. So glad you are reaping the benefits Fenners.
plodding hippo Aug 2024 7:32am, 14 Aug 2024 51,771 posts	0 plodding hippo Congratulations DT! In for today...at some point i should start to feel better 😃
HappyG(rrr) Aug 2024 7:35am, 14 Aug 2024 50,689 posts	0 HappyG(rrr) Thanks to irregulars who popped in to say hi. Any lurkers who want to join in, just for a day, that's great too! In. G
Derby Tup Aug 2024 7:46am, 14 Aug 2024 67,461 posts	0 Derby Tup @plodding hippo dare I say the benefits from not drinking can sometimes be exaggerated a bit. I have seen my blood pressure drop and have far fewer issues with indigestion but my main gains have been mentally. Like everything in life it’s different for everyone. One thing I would say without being in any way complacent I can’t imagine a scenario that would persuade me to re-start
GregP Aug 2024 8:04am, 14 Aug 2024 152,969 posts	0 GregP Difficult to exaggerate the benefits for me and my sort. If I'd carried on drinking I wouldn't have made 50.
Derby Tup Aug 2024 8:06am, 14 Aug 2024 67,462 posts	0 Derby Tup I’m always conscious we’re a broad church Grep
Big_G Aug 2024 8:11am, 14 Aug 2024 3,878 posts	0 Big_G For me the main thing is being free of it, mentally. It took so much time and energy to organise life around whether to drink or not, having it no longer part of my life saves a lot of time and energy, which can then be used on other things. But getting rid of it, for me, didn’t suddenly make it easier to lose weight, or turn me into an athletic powerhouse….sadly!
Joopsy Aug 2024 8:21am, 14 Aug 2024 12,757 posts	0 Joopsy I still wake some mornings and feel so tired, after nearly 22 years the first thing that comes into my head is "thank God I don't drink". I couldn't imagine having to deal with an hangover on top of life.That always feels like a win.
Derby Tup Aug 2024 8:30am, 14 Aug 2024 67,463 posts	0 Derby Tup Two great posts. One big one for me is what stupid things did I do or say last night while I was pissed is no longer an issue
HappyG(rrr) Aug 2024 8:39am, 14 Aug 2024 50,690 posts	0 HappyG(rrr) The benefits are probably as varied as the difficulties we have had with drinking or even just as varied as human beings are? For some it is literally life and death - the heavy drinking alcoholic who will ruin their job, their family and eventually end their life due to addiction, through to the person who just finds it a drain on their time, money, energy or it gets in the way of their sport. And all points in between! Some (not many I'd say, but some, let's suppose!!) don't get hangovers, some don't drink to the point of drunkenness, don't become aggressive, don't eat too much or badly when drinking, don't have a problem with sleeping or other physical symptoms, don't waste money on taxis, hotels, replace the costs of £30 spirits and £10 wine with non-alcoholic drinks of the same cost and volume, so don't save money... etc. However, internal damage to body and increased risk of : "... mouth cancer, throat cancer and breast cancer; stroke; heart disease; liver disease; brain damage; damage to the nervous system There's also evidence that regular drinking at high-risk levels can make your mental health worse." nhs.uk So even if you can't see them, remember the benefits you can't see. 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