Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry I missed this. It was a busy weekend. Curious, what made you quit on Halloween 7 years ago?
Learning from your mistakes is key. If only I could quit all my vices like I was able to quit smoking. haha :(
I wish you the best too!
Hi!
So I was feeling so good. I decided to quit after Halloween weekend and I did. I didn't drink for a whole week and I was actually seeing my mood improving. I was randomly happy and normally I don't feel that happy. I was feeling like I could do it. Then a friend of mine who also stopped drinking suggested we deserved a reward. Just a drink or two. I wasn't even thinking about it until she mentioned it and then I just couldn't stop thinking about it. I caved and decided to get a 6 pack or White Claws (my fav). I told myself I would just have three and save three for after another week of no alcohol. Well, I ended up having 6. I felt like crap the next day and it just really took the wind out of my sails. I didn't even really have fun when I drank. What a waste. Now I am in a bad mood, could also be due to time of the month, and all I keep thinking about is having a couple of drinks. I know I will feel better is I just stop drinking altogether but I always want a instant mood boost and fix when I am not feeling that great. I still have lots of work to do...
Can anyone relate?
Hi Kikidee!
I am trying to cut back too. Two drinks a day would be good for me but I never manage to stick to it. I love wine. I decided to stop drinking wine because I drink it too fast and love it too much. I switched to white claws and that seemed to help...but I still always end up drinking too much. Now I am trying to go a month with no alcohol at all. I made it a week but caved on Saturday. I was already starting to notice the benefits. I am super bummed about it.
I am sorry to hear how drinking has effected your health. To be honest, I am too scared to go to the doctor so I have no idea if it has impacted me at all. Good for you for checking. At least now you know.
Glad you are here. Hopefully we can help each other. My hubby is also quitting and I also think it is easier for him. I am not sure why. I feel like I am a bit emotionally dependant on alcohol where he is not as much. I am curious to know why you also think it is easier for your husband?
How is your first day going?
I didn't yesterday but I want a drink today :( Hopefully I can make it through. I seem to get really moody around that time of the month (now) and I always turn to alcohol to make me feel better. I need a new pattern I guess.
Hope you are well!
Pumpkinss
That was a good idea you quit on a Thursday! I think I quit on a Monday...but I can't remember exactly. I just know it was hell and I am so glad I don't have that terrible addiction anymore. Yay us. Thanks for sharing.
I haven't seen your post yet but I will check again.
Thanks!
Pumpkinss
Thank you so much for bumping this for me!
I think we had a lot in common while going through our quits. I remember also having weird dreams while quitting.
I find it timely that you shared this now as I am trying to quit drinking. I find I often use it as a way to cope with stress and difficult emotions. I some how learned how to cope with stress and difficult emotions without smoking so I must be able to do the same with drinking. If I could only remember how I did it. Do you remember how you coped with stress in a alternative way? I really need to think on this point. Thank you for posting. It was very helpful for me to read.
Thanks Timbo.
Breathing exercises does help. I haven't been doing them lately...I should probably do that more. I was also thinking of taking up yoga. I never have any energy the day after I drink so I haven't been exercising as much as I should. Yoga seems like it would be easy to get started and help with stress.
I was able to moderate my drinking this weekend, so I guess that is better then nothing. What helped me was not keeping too much alcohol in the house. I have learned that I just drink the alcohol I have in the house. Which makes sense. When I was quitting smoking I also couldn't keep cigarettes in the house.
Thanks again
Thanks Lynn,
What you wrote made a lot of sense. I am exactly like how you used to be...always waiting for another excuse to have a drink. I can actually see that it would be a relief if I could get to that point. What you wrote really gave me a lot to think about. Thank you.
Thanks Timbo,
You are right about not being able to keep it to just one. I can only moderate my drinking when I only keep a few in the house. If nothing else I am at least going to be moderating like that. The reason I stopped smoking was because I wanted to have kids. The reasons why I want to quit drinking is because I want to be a good example to my kids and I want to be fully present. The problem is I am a pretty good drunk. I hid it really well and can manage well even when I had too much to drink. At the same time I am sure my lack of energy effects them so I have to stop it with the excuses.
I managed to only drink one evening this weekend. Friday night I drank only 3 drinks which is good for me on a weekend. Saturday night I didn't drink at all. I really wanted to but I was playing a computer game with my family. I was my daughters partner and I really wanted to be fully present so we could win lol. My competitiveness really helped. It is a new game that my kids love and my hubby and I enjoyed it too. I think we might be playing this more often as a way to spend time with the kids and a motivator to not drink. My husband is being really good about finding alternative activities to drinking. It really helps that we are tackling this like a team.
The goal this week is no alcohol until the weekend. I am still not ready to quit completely. It feels too daunting to quit completely. I do think posting here and continually assessing how much I am drinking is helping me to get a better handle on things though.
Thanks again to both of you! I hope you two had a great weekend and will have a great week.
Pumpkinss
Hi Everyone
Thank you so much for all the great advice. It all really helps. Sorry I have been MIA. I have been dealing with some health issues unrelated to drinking and I just didn't have the energy to post. The good news is I also do not have the energy to drink and have not been drinking. I still feel pretty tired most days but I had to come to thank all of you for all your kind and thoughtful words.
Thank you very much!!
