Not sure if I'm in the right place... Stopped drinking 2 days ago :(

Tracy, Dont worry about not making it through, the journey may be different for many of us and for  some relapse is part if it - believe me i should have a medal for the amount of times.  Someone gave me this:

On the basis of their own observations Prochaska and DiClemente believed that a person who changes as a result of receiving help, through counselling or therapy for example, goes through the same processes as a person who receives no help but has nevertheless has changed.

SIX STAGES INVOLVED IN CHANGE

PRECONTEMPLATION

CONTEMPLATION

DETERMINATION

ACTION

MAINTENANCE

RELAPSE

Just keep trying.

As for someone else's comment about giving up to a higher force - I to was dismissive about this and still am, but someone pointed out recently that even if you didn't get anything 'from' AA one of the things it does offer is that you are 'around sober people for a couple of hours'  t-his made a lot of sense to me, even though as a lone drinker rather than a social drinker - i.e. I drink at home alone it still makes sense i think dont know what others think.

Hi Tracy,

Please don't feel bad about yourself in any way xx. I took ten years to stop drinking, nobody can do it overnight.. if you can cut down slowly for a start off, say one unit every other day, and if possible one alcohol free day.. if you have days when you

Fail, just pick yourself up and start again..

I have to say that I found it easier to think, right. I can have a drink if I want to and

It helped to take the pressure off rather than thinking if I have a drink I have failed.

Believe me, I did not find it easy to stop, I was dragged kicking and screaming ( not

Really ) but I was sectioned four times, and even then I had very many slips along the way.

Even after giving up, I have been well for ten years, I still feel the need to have a

Bottle in the house so in some kind of way I still have a choice.. I used to feel the

Most unbelievable panic if I ran out..

Just try to never forget that you are in no way a bad person, you do not need to feel ASHAMED of your problem... try to talk to as many of your family, friends and

Support groups as you can..AA are very good ( even though I am a Catholic I found

It to be to intense for me ) you can ask your doctor for help, but I found the very

Best for me were the : community alcohol service : ,you can phone them or just call

In and ask to see someone, it is in complete confidence, my nurse became a very

Good friend to myself and my family.. they keep in touch with your own doctor, and

In my case my psychiatrist and mental health nurse.. you can see how many

Problems I had with alcoholic... I feel though after all those bad years I have come

Out the other end as a better person, stronger and much more laid back.

I truly wish you well , try not to worry too much, I am sure that you can do it, but

Don't worry if it takes very many tries.. you are in my thoughts and prayers

Good luck, let us know how you are doing.. xx Deirdre xx

Hi Tracy. I'm hoping my story will make you feel that you really are not alone! I have recently just done my first month in 15 years of drinking, possibly longer! I had an abusive partner who tried to destroy me,I suffer from depression, I've completely embarrassed myself in public, broken my ribs drunk, fallen down stairs, hurt my family, nearly lost my husband and children!. I tried AA and other  recovery programmes, ect. Then I stopped going out at all, just drank in the evenings when the kids were in bed. My husband always works late so I became dependant on alcohol, my wind down and my only thing I looked forward too.

I started to get all sorts of health problems but was in total denial that the vodka was hurting me! I had test after test and because my liver funtion test came back ok I carried on. Recently a few weeks ago, my bloating had become embarrassing, I'd been asked if I was pregnant! And my liver was hurting, I had an ultrasound and they set the alarm bells ringing for me!. They said my liver was fatty and swollen, it had noduals on it which he said could be Cancer.

I came away from the hospital with more wracked guilt than I normally felt daily, and the sick feeling that I might be too late to see my children grow up. I was so in denial that all that mattered was getting pissed! I never in a million years could imaging an evening or going out without a drink!!! But I knew I had to, this was my turning point. I didn't shake but I sweated it out a couple nights and it was bloody hard, but I did it. I was as moody as hell and horrible to be around, I slept in the spare room for 3 weeks, couldn't go near my husband! I had to wait 4 weeks for my liver results but stopping drink, all my symptoms disappeared!!!. My scan showed alcohol damage and my liver is still swollen. I still have to have a MRI to be sure but it looks like I stopped in time! We are now on holiday and I have had some sangrea, but sprits are a no no. I never thought I would say it, but the theripst  said to me. Don't let your mind control your body, let your body control your mind. Your mind tells you you need a drink, your body tells you it's hurting you! Every time I want a drink I think of a shrivelled up liver, which takes a good 6 months to repair and some days it still hurts. Message me when ever you like, even if a private message, if I can do it, I know you can. xx

hi Tracy how you doing?

I'm not doing so good but today is another day!

 

hi tracy  you seem to be doing so well  i did all the things you are doing, my hobby is fly fishing i went as often as i could, away from everything, i now have the strengh to go in a pub with my partner, while she has a lager i have a soft drink,keep on doing what you are doing,  if you fall get back up there, good luck and best wishes  

Hi Tracy, I used to drink every night of the week and I'm sure that my drinking habits contributed to  me being diagnosed as being diabetic. I'm certain that heavy drinking does damage to vital organs. I haven't given up alcohol but now I drink 2 or 3 nights per week and stay well within the government guide lines. when I feel the need for a drink, I have diet soft drinks or sugar free soft drinks. Half the time it's just feeling the need to have a glass in my hand! Best of luck

Keep On keeping On. Everyday is another opportunity to continue or restart

Hi Tracy,

How is it going i am 4 days and going strong so far... I was having major liver pain, Kidney pain and also racing heart so i though it was time to give myself a rest after many years of abuse.

I hope you are still going strong, i know how hard it is please keep me updated

Well done l am on day 3, its not easy keep going.