Dry January Challenge

Hi there

It depends on definitions I think, would I class myself as a heavy drinker? yes maybe, a bottle of wine a day, but thats not a lot by comparison to many people on here, but for me it is a problem.  Am I dependent? I don't think so as I have stopped before without witdrawal symptoms.  For me what Alchohol Concern are offering is just right and I don't think we should discourage others from trying it too.  This section of the forum isn't just for people who are alchoholic or dependent, surely it covers a range of stages of alchohol abuse.  I've been on these forums for over a year and if you read my biog you'll see I have dealt with dependence before, as well as having conquered some very serious mental health problems.  I was trying to be helpful

Lizzie

Hi Radley

HEY, THAT'S GREAT, I am so pleased.  I'm doing well so far, stopped last Monday, last drink Sunday night, and no withdrawal effects so far, in fact already I can feel benefits such as not rushing to the loo with the runs every morning, slept better last night and I'm sure my concentration has improved

I was drinking a bottle of wine a day plus a large g&t at bed time, so am surprised I've not had any problems so far.  I was also being deceitful about my drinking, hiding bottles and lieing about how much I drank, even to my own seceret journal!. So it feels so far like a great release both physically and mentally.  I have my gp on side and support from lots of people on this forum, plus an old friend who isn't on the forum.  Incidentally, my Facebook "friends" have all totally ignored my posts on this subject, which I find dissapoining, they always like my funn/cute animal photos but anything serious is a no-no.

Tell me a bit more about yourself, as much or as little as you want to say and I'll back you up all the way

Love

Lizzie

Hi Lizzie I have drank a bottle of wine a night for years.  On weekends I would start at 12 noon and keep going.  From a habbit to an addiction I believe.  I went abstinent for 80 days on a course I attended - then back to the one glass and crept up again.  I do see a counsellor who has said I am not an alcoholic - he described me as a problematic drinker ie I am working on eliminating or the nasties in mylife  and the reasons why I drank as I did.  Recently I have been able to control it however Christmas was spoilt due to me over indulging and it clearly does not suit me - lots of people can be happy and silly - I am okay to start with then I turn like having a personality change I realised yesterday after being so horrible it was high time to live a dry life - with fun laughter and a happy marriage - I used to drink when I felt down of late I hadnt but nevertheless it clearly is poison and therefore its not just dry January its a dry life by taking a day at a time and not thinking about it.  x

 

Hi Radley

Thanks for sharing, and I'm right with you.  My GP doesn't think I'm an alchoholic either, more a problem drinker, whatever definition one uses, I too have come to the conclusion that it has to stop and like you I'm taking a day at a time.

Good luck and Happy New Year

Lizzie

Hi Lizzie - all signed up it will be good to catch up on progress and with Paper Fairy too I have asked somebody else to join us from another forum - day at a time - tonight tonic water and tomorrow a clear head and a much happier person - Godbless and Happy New Dry Year to you x

And to you too  {{{hugz}}}

LIzzie

Great stuff Paper fairy, I'm really pleased you've joined me too.  Glad last night didn't do you any harm, I know how it is, alchohol is everywhere in our society, now I've stopped I can't stop seeing it advertised, trailed, talked about, on TV shows; it makes it hard for us.  And of course its nice, when being taken in, but has done me such damage that I'm really hoping for new me without it.

LOts of LOve

Lizzie xxx

Hi JJ pleased you are on board to.  I am the same as you got through New Years Eve, New Years Day - as for sleeping I have had a 2mg diazapam to relax me which has helped.  I generally wake, didnt last night a and then go without.  Onwards and upwards one day at a time. Doing dry January, is preparing me with the support of others and especially people on this site as my long term goal is never to drink again. Hence one day at a time as a lifetime sounds daunting. Will do the same and check in later - hope everybody is else is doing well.  Rx 

Hi everyone

Great to hear all your stories.  Today is a particularly difficult one for me as I'm cooking a really nice meal for mum and I used to drink while cooking and eating it later and over that period could get through over a bottle of wine and a couple of glasses of sherry.  However, I'm feeling good about my abstinance today, mum sipping sherry but I'm on fizzy water.  It really helps that we are all doing this together.  Thank you, I think I can do this  :-)

Lizzie

Hi Lizzie

Your doing really well - I have dinner to cook later and I 'was' the same drinking whilst cooking especially game.  I will be on tonic water with a slice of lemon - You can do this Lizzie - I am with you on this - lets not look at it as a battle more of an achievement, put the money in a tin that you have not spent on wine daily the first 5 days is going to be tough for all of us.  Onwards and upwards and do enjoy your meal x

Hi Radley

Enjoyed my meal with mum just drinking sparkling mineral water and no less of a pleasure than with wine, in fact more so as I don't have a hangover :-)  Spending my evening sorting out my study so as to make room for more books I've ordered from Amazon today, hope to get together a good donation for our local hospice shop next week.

Its nice to hear that you've done the same as me with cooking and eating, I used to freally enjoy it, the drinking, but in the end it just became a habit.  You are doing great too.  We can do this all of us, a day at a time until we've won, but then isn't every dry day a win?

I've already made one charitable donation on the strength of this, hope to make more later

Love

Lizzie