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Over the past year or so I've found myself having at least one drink a day. I enjoyed having a glass of wine or a beer with dinner or later on in the evening. Well, slowly, the number of drinks have increased and I can't seem to stop. I have one drink, and it feels so good to have that warm feeling that I find myself reaching for another ... and another. I don't usually get super drunk, but I like to have that buzzed feeling.
I'm afraid now, though, because I've tried to cut down. If there's any alcohol in the house (there almost always is), I will drink it even though I promise myself to take a break. Then I will promise myself just to have one drink, only to have more. I've taken the 'do you think you're an alcoholic' tests on the internet and failed. I'm afraid of what this could be doing to my body. I'm afraid of it getting worse. I just want some tips or ideas on how to stop or control my drinking.
My hat's off to you for admitting to yourself that you have a problem and taking concrete steps to deal with it. But like excon says, you don't have to do it without help. Actually, getting help is the fun part of it, so don't deny yourself that.
I thought about it a lot, but I got through day 1 with no drink ...
I'm trying to drink lots of water and had a couple cups of decaf herbal tea. I don't know too much about body cleanses but I may look into that. I don't want to go crazy with too much stuff right now - but if anyone has suggestions, I'd certainly be open. I won't be quitting my morning coffee just yet!
What are the physical symptoms of quitting drinking? I haven't experienced anything so far except I'm feeling figity and restless. Maybe I'm more pyschologically addicted than physically addicted?
I thought about it a lot, but I got through day 1 with no drink ...
I'm trying to drink lots of water and had a couple cups of decaf herbal tea. I don't know too much about body cleanses but I may look into that. I don't want to go crazy with too much stuff right now - but if anyone has suggestions, I'd certainly be open. I won't be quitting my morning coffee just yet!
What are the physical symptoms of quitting drinking? I haven't experienced anything so far except I'm feeling figity and restless. Maybe I'm more pyschologically addicted than physically addicted?
I'm not going to take your coffee!
Lotsa fluids. Depending on how your level of "intake" was before you may or may not have significant symptoms. Hopefully..! Restless and fidgity is not uncommon.
Consider involving yourself in a new hobby or crafts. Take in a movie or museum...anywhere that doesn't have drinking as an immediate option.
Anyhow ... Day 3. I had a great workout this morning. I was feeling really strong. We're having company for dinner tonight and my husband said, "I AM going to bring beer home tonight". Huh? I told him if he wanted beer he could go OUT and drink it but DO NOT bring it into our house! To be fair, I guess I haven't told him outright that I'm an (??) alcoholic (??) because I don't want to label myself as such. I just told him that it's obvious that I can't control myself and will drink (all of) it if it's in the house so I need his support in this. He agreed to this, so I'm lucky to have some support. But then he said, "Not even any wine with dinner?" I said ok. Why should everyone else suffer because of me? I understand his standpoint ... I'd hate to have to give up having an occaisional beer if my partner had a problem ... but if he had a problem it wouldn't be that much to give up. So, I don't plan on having any wine ... this is real life
Over the past year or so I've found myself having at least one drink a day. I enjoyed having a glass of wine or a beer with dinner or later on in the evening. Well, slowly, the number of drinks have increased and I can't seem to stop. I have one drink, and it feels so good to have that warm feeling that I find myself reaching for another ... and another. I don't usually get super drunk, but I like to have that buzzed feeling.
I'm afraid now, though, because I've tried to cut down. If there's any alcohol in the house (there almost always is), I will drink it even though I promise myself to take a break. Then I will promise myself just to have one drink, only to have more. I've taken the 'do you think you're an alcoholic' tests on the internet and failed. I'm afraid of what this could be doing to my body. I'm afraid of it getting worse. I just want some tips or ideas on how to stop or control my drinking.
Hypnosis is very powerful. There are cd's by Wendi Friesen to stop alcoholism on her site:
I don't know if they have an online AA, but you could try to find one. I quit drinking on my own, so I know it can be done. I hit rock bottom in a soppy, drunken state, just before passing out, and knowing how I'd feel the next day. I cried out for help. If there is a God, and you are there, help me, I don't want to do this any more. I admitted that I was helpless to beer, it controlled my life, and I wanted my life back.
Stick with it, one day at a time, just get through the day, hour, or minute. Sidetrack yourself with cleaning, cooking or something you love to do. The minute will pass, so will the hour and the day. The days will get better, then weeks, then months before you know it you will think about drinking less and less.
My one regret is that I wish I'd done it sooner, before my children grew up. I look back now and can't remember some of my son's childhood.
Here it is day 7 and I'm feeling pretty good. Last night my husband and I went to a party where EVERYONE was drinking. I went and bought some non-alcoholic cider that looks like real cider so no-one hassled me about not drinking. It really was ok - but just ok. Some of the people were talking about their drink of choice ... wine, beer, whatever. I just couldn't help thinking that it's such a drag that I can't have an occaissional glass of wine or beer. I can appreciate a fine wine with dinner or a cold beer on a hot day ... why do I have to ruin that for myself?
Thanks, Captain, for the link to the online AA site. I did 'attend' two meetings, but they were painful. The 'speakers' were very slow typers and you just sit there listening to what seem like very rough people (I don't mean to generalize ... but that's how they seemed to me) talking about their pathetic lives and how much they've lost because they drink too much. One person made everyone sit there for at least 20 minutes patiently reading her complaints and grievances towards her family (blah blah blah) and then promptly logged off when she was done - it made me so mad that everyone let this person monopolize all that time and then he/she couldn't be bothered to extend the same courtesy towards others. Well, perhaps I can use these people's life stories as an example and not go through those same experiences ... but it's really hard to relate to people like that. And honestly, I don't even want to.
So I'm wondering now if I couldn't just take the month of September 'off' from drinking and re-evaluate and set some concrete boundaries for myself. I'm not having a real difficult time not drinking. I still think it would be nice in the evening to have a glass of wine or a beer, but since it's not here and I've resolved not to drink, I'm ok. Do you think all this talk is just my way of justify drinking again? Am I fooling myself? Can't I just try to set my boundaries and stick with them?
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