Giving Up Alcohol

newcastle1969 Joined: 16 Jun 10
Replies: 74 07 Nov 10 22:36   


Theres more to beating alcoholism than beating the craving for a beer tbh thats the easy part

Just read that, and thats very true and important to realise.

El Mucho
Yep the changing of a whole lifestyle was the most difficult part I do go into pubs now but I only have a lime cordial, I will sit with mates but I find I have a 9.30 curfew now as everyone has become too much of a w anker by then.
I am less social now that I've stopped drinking so its not missed as much because its not something that I really want to do.
Main pleasure in life now seems to be counting the money I've saved by not drinking - have you tried putting that aside, say 20 quid for every pub visit you avoid it really mounts up very quickly.
Its been over a year now and I miss the "life" I used to have but i wouldn't go back to it, back to thinking your a comic genius down the pub, back to that false confidence, back to your "mates" or are they just brothers in the bottle, back to never buying nice things, back to running out of money all the time, back to the morning horrors.
The other strange thing that was difficult was sex, getting the urge when your sober is not as easy as when you drink - libido definitely lessens.
And it took me 6 months to eat a kebab sober

for all you know we could just be in a period of time where drinking alcohol was
the normal for the majority of people..you was probably all brought up with alcohol
around you so your just repeating what you learnt from your parents so infact its
not a problem its what seems normal.....looking back they will say wtf was they
thinking of! but like i said you was just unlucky or lucky to be born around this time.

Been reading this thread with interest for a while always thinking I cant be an alcoholic but I am,been out of work for a few weeks was supposed to be starting a new job this morning instead I went out saturday night and didnt come home till twenty four hours later needless to say im still unemployed.Like previous posters have said its the boredom of being sober I cant deal with staying in for the rest of my life,so many times Ive gone out saying ill be alright for a couple then come home yeah right I dont like the sound of AA but am at a loss what to do.

When I 1st went to AA I knew for certain I was an alcoholic and I knew that if I followed the AA programme properly I would get sober and stay sober. The thought of never drinking again was too much though. Like others I reckoned that would be the end of any enjoyment in life. This was despite the lost jobs, wasted money, police problems etc. Went to AA on and off for 7 years but never kept sober more than a few months, fact is, I didnt really want to give up. Needless to say things got much worse and went to a Salvation army rehab. Been sober ever since (over 4 yrs)and wish I'd done it sooner. It does require a physic change/different way of looking at life. It really has to be AA. It is definitely not a cult and it is not really religious, if some meetings feel that way then go to others, some are better than others like all things in life. I read the following and thought it was impossible

"If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way through. We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness. We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it. We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace. No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others. That feeling of uselessness and self pity will disappear. We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows. Self-seeking will slip away. Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change. Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us. We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us"

It has actually proved correct.

I've just sat and read this whoel thread for the first time, and it's certainly forced me to do a lot of thinking.

Firstly: the very best of luck to everyone trying to beat it. My old boy, a heavy drinker since his teens, had a triple heart by-pass last year, and came through it okay, thank God. That was the shock to the system he needed; he's gone from being a fry-up-devouring hard-drinking lorry driver type to a "no more than two/three pints tonight - oh, and that salad looks quite nice doesn't it?" fellow. And yes I know that 2/3 pints sounds like something they all say but he really does do that (my mother would grass him up otherwise) and he gave up a 60-a-day habit with nothing but willpower 25 years ago.

I don't know if he got lucky to get a second chance or unlucky to be so ill, but either way he got the message and he has another go at it.

Now, as ponder my units-per-week together with my upcoming 30th birthday, well, it makes you think pretty hard on how you want the second half of your life to go.

All the best, boys.

It's good to hear your story betty and I certainly see the benefit of AA. It's great that you've been sober for 4 years, that seems a long way off for me at the moment. As of next week, it will be the longest I've been without a drink for 25 years. I'm looking forward to it and can relate to your point about wishing you'd given it up sooner. It's good to hear about your experiences and approach to staying off alcohol.

newcastle, it's great that you've got the discipline to manage to the pub and not drink. I'll not risk it at the moment. At an AA meeting the speaker advised that 'If you keep going to the barber's, you'll eventually get a haircut'. I think that if I go to the pub before I've established a good time without a drink I'll just fall into the same old trap. It's true what you say about 'brothers in bottle', I'm  reassessing some of the friendhips I have. Some of the people I had to rush to get down the pub to see don't seem so important right now.

Justin, it sounds like the old man is making a real effort. Good luck to him.

My m8 who is a self confessed alcoholic went 9 weeks without a drink 2 years ago,slipped back into his old ways after a domestic with his partner.

He seen the doctor today and has agreed to start a course of anti-abuse tablets,I hope he sees it thru and gets his life back.

EL MUCHO YOUR DOING GREAT.I TRIED GOING INTO THE PUBS HAVEING COKE,AND ORANGE AND LEMONADE BUT STARTED DRINKING AGAIN,

NOW IVE GOT 7 YEARS BEHIND ME I CAN ENTER A PUB IF IM GOING FOR A MEAL ,OR TO SOMEONES WEDDING ,BUT I HAVE TO HAVE A GOOD REASON TO GO IN ,AS IM STILL NOT ON SAFE GROUND YOUR PICKING UP THE RIGHT INFORMATION AND THERES SOME GOOD POSTS ON HERE,JUST GET YOUR BOTTOM ON THE SEAT AT YOUR A A MEETINGS AND LISTEN ,AND TAKE NOTICE OF  HOW OTHER PEOPLE HAVE OVER COME THEIR ADDICTION ,THEIR WILL BE SOME PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO OFFER YOU ,BUT SOME OF THEM PEOPLE THAT I THOUGHT COULDNT HELP ME ,HAVE GIVEN ME SOME OF THE BEST ADVICE OF MY LIFE,

* dare I say caps lock

^ never insult the forum darling HeartsNo1

67th time I walked in to an AA meeting, and after 66 meetings when I wondered what the funk I was doing there,  someone told my story better than I have ever done.

SAY WHAT YOU WANT SO LONG AS YOU DONT SWEAR

hearts ..that sounds autobiographical...good luck.

Do you get those little badges/keyrings at AA meetings to say you've done 1 day/1week/1 month etc off the booze?

anti buse dont work m8 if you want a drink trust me you can.Anyway we are all going to go sometime so why not go happy, you only get 1 chance at life so do what you want.If you want to drink do so if not dont simple.Way it up ,its sad if you are  violent with drink just be happy and get down the pub

Thanks Do Wah. I met up with an old mate on Wednesday night and he wanted to watch the Manchester derby, so we ended up in a pub. He went to the bar and asked me what I wanted. Almost on auto-pilot I scanned the pumps, then realised that I wasn't drinking and had a soda water and lime. It's too early to be going to pubs!

For those who haven't seen it, huskydog podted this link on another thread:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bbaRyDLMvA
Craig Ferguson talks a lot of sense.

El Mucho - hows it going?

Fine thanks newcastle. I'm still on the wagon. I read the Allen Carr book and found it helpful. I still get the odd urge to have a pint, but quickly come to my senses. I don't miss the drinking as much as I assumed that I would, but am still adjusting to not spending my social life at the pub. I'm sure that will wane with time. How are things with you?

Glad to hear your still doing it, any special plans to avoid alcohol at Christmas - have you thought about going to the pub but taking your car see if you can stick to a lime soda.
Things are fine with me thanks.
Is the money racking up now?

I don't think that I'll be in the pub much at all over Christmas. If I am it will be a quick pop in at lunchtime for a coffee/soda. I met a mate the other day in the pub and he had a pint while I had a coffee. The appeal of staying in the pub for any length of time reduces when you know that you aren't drinking alcohol.

Yes, there is a real financial benefit to not drinking. I'm not sure that my local publicans are too happy though. I met one the other day and he said that I looked worse for not drinking!!

Good work mucho.  I,ve spent the odd midweek recently out of the pub, but not necessarily off the booze, and it is amazing how I can start the week with fifty in my pocket and Still have money left when I finish work on friday, that never used to happen.  I reckon I would be a wealthy man if it wasn't for the booze

Nice one UTI, it certainly does add up. It will leave you more to invest on here..

how did christmas go?

Fine thanks newcastle. I've managed to stay on the wagon since the original post. I rarely go to the pub, so that reduces the temptation. When I have been, I've had a soft drink and buggered off after half an hour. The appeal of the pub isn't the same if you're not drinking. I can't say I miss it at the moment. How are things with you?

Glad to hear it - I'm fine just done my second christmas without booze so all's good

good work Mucho.

WELL DONE,TO BOTH OF YOU

Excellent, well done. It's amazing how much time and money is freed up. It's also great not to wake up with a hangover. Hopefully I'll be in your current position this time next year.

yeah im hoping to quit in the new year.  Waking up is the best feeling if you havn't had any,  just the night before its so hard to resist

Thanks UTI and Do Wah.

LMansini it is achievable if you want to do it, but you have to want to do it. There is so much temptation that, if you're in two minds, you're likely to succumb to it. There's plenty of good advice in this thread from lots of posters that will help. Good luck.

yep.. in two minds and the  'just have one drink' mind will always win out.  which obv turns into 2, 3, 8 drinks

give it a go - in 6 month's you'll be wishing you did it years ago

Sobriety is for weak mugs, imo.

Good thread here, be interesting to know the ages of people here doing this. I used to drink every night. I suppose im lucky in that i can still drink one night a week(6-8 pints) at the pub and have 2 nights with just a couple of cans and the rest drink free.

couldnt do the soft drink in a pub routine though, bit like going in the betting shop and just having a matchstick bet with a pal on the outcome

im 51 btw

happy birthday [:p]

im 27
drank almost nothing the first 24 years of my life then the last 3 years thanks to being oversea's for work and hanging out mainly with expats who drink every single night have been wasted out my mind more than nights than not

Isle of Wight.....it's wild there...[:o]

Anyone who drinks almost nothing for 24 years is bound to aquire a bit of a thirst.

well when i say almost nothing i mean never more than once a week
got hammered many times but nothing on this scale

I know... 'acquire' btw

out my mind more than nights than not

this has confused me...

im drunk right now
lol
; )
in 4 days im quitting foreve3r

I've been more or less teetotal for years now, its over-rated I am thinking about going back to alcohol.

i just wanna find a balance

can get smashed 1 day a week not want to drink the other 6 days

that will suit me fine

'Forever'..... sounds drastic.....try not getting in to 'rounds'......drink more slowly....etc...etc...

Why did you go teetotal...?

There's a lot to be said for sobriety.

I say this as a blood-stained non-practioner.

Wish I could do this.

Well done pal.

Alcohol too acceptable in this country imo
Too many people killing themselves and people will buy them a drink in the club/ pub
Good luck

Ive experimented with a few things and alcohol is definitely the worst for you and its "legal" - wtf.
Couple of "little fellas" far better for you and society as a whole imho

What a bunch of whingeing losers. Just have a drink and cheer the feck up.
This thread brings to mind this Frank Sinatra quote.

“I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day.”

Just about willpower mainly.

This Country is bad for it - you get introduced in to it from 14/15 (for some far younger) and before you know it you need it non stop to have a laugh.

Country is a mess anyway but only 1 person really matters and that is yourself and only you can change it.

Good luck all who want to give it up and good luck all those who don't.

IF YOUR AN ALCOHOLICK,YOU EITHER STOP ALL TOETHER OR YOU KEEP DRINKING AND END UP IN THE MENTAL HOME OR DIE,AND THEY DONT USUALLY PUT DIED OF ALCOHOLISM ON THE DEATH CERTIFEECATE THEY PUT SOMETHING ELSE ASSOCIATED WITH IT

THERE IS NOTHING ELSE,WHEN YOUR AN ALCOHOLICK YOU CANT JUST HAVE 2 PINTS AND GO HOME,

AODEA YOUVE NOT GOT A CLUE,YOUR LIKE I WAS
IF I COULD GO TO THE PUB AND JUST HAVE 2 PINTS I WOULD BE THERE NOW

ITS ALLWAYS THEM WHO END UP THE ALCOHOLICK NEVER YOU,

TILL YOU ARE ONE AND THEN THERES NO GOING BACK

Must admit I have had better times on a few little fellas than on the piss.

You give me a few of them and I will steam in to a group of 10 Fittys no problem and the bollocks will be rolling off the tongue. Totally different story though on the ale!

You still off it is el mucho?

Hopefully you are - what have been the benefits from it please?

was looking for this thread again... can we have any updates ????

barrabrava/Over2.5, yes I'm still off it. It's getting easier the more time goes on. I've been to the pub a few times recently to meet up with friends, but don't stay long. There really is no point in staying if you're not drinking, especially when everyone else is. You just aren't on the same wavelength.
The financial benefits of not drinking are pretty substantial, when you're used to spending most of your spare time at the pub. The other obvious benefit is not having hangovers. They were definitely getting worse as I got older. I met a mate of mine on Monday after he'd been out for a big session on Sunday and he was really suffering. In a selfish way, knowing how he felt made me feel better about not drinking. Another friend ended up injuring himself after the same session, due to being drunk. He was laughing about it, but we all know that it's a ridiculous state to be in.
The surprising benefit is how well I sleep now. It's a huge contrast to when I was drinking. Then, I expect, it was more like being comatose than sleeping.
I haven't been back to AA. I really haven't felt the need to, although it's good to know they are there should the need arise.
Thanks for the interest guys and good luck to all those who've experienced/are experiencing similar problems.

WELL DONE EL MUCHO,IF YOU DONT NEED A A  THEN FAIR PLAY TO YOU,BUT DONT EVER BE SCARED OF GOING BACK IF YOU NEED TO ,ITS VERY CUNNING ALCOHOL IT WILL ALWAYS BE THERE WAITING FOT ITS TIME ,TO HAVE ANOTHER GO AT YOU ,IN GOOD TIMES AND BAD TIMES,PLEASE GIVE ME A PERIODIC UPDATE ON YOUR PROGRESS ,I WONT JUDGE YOU,BUT AT THE MOMENT IM HAPPY FOR YOU

good work mucho.

Thanks Do wah & UTI. I will give the periodic updates Do wah. Thanks.

Well done mucho your doing really well...ive been off it now 3 weeks, the need and want for alcohol in my life is getting less and less by the day, lets see how long i last. Keep the updates mucho its good to hear

flatliner 07 Oct 10 18:58 

My sleep feels like proper sleeping as well not "knockout sleep"

Good innit.

it can't be done. hope this helps.

Who else wishes they'd given up beer years ago

just giving thisa bump to find out how people are getting on with giving up the drink

ttt

good work newcastle

and good to hear el mucho, keep it up

ttt

Nice one newcastle.

Still going el mucho?

ttt

good find

anybody on here died of alcoholism yet ?

mind you,if they had, they couldn't answer the question

Just wandering how everybody is doing with this - ive just celebrated my 4th Xmas alcohol free

Not good here

very good newcastle

Ive been on the wagon for 8 weeks, couldnt of imagined before not having a drink over xmas, but i didnt mind at all. Its not the first time ive managed a good length of time off it, but in the past it was more of a break i was taking from it as opposed to stopping for good. I hope the OP is still off it, i skimmed through the postings but could relate to what he was going through, and its not a nice experience.

a good thread

WELL DONE NEWCASTLE AND S.KENBO

I D LOVE TO KNOW HOW EL MUCHO IS DOING

DO WAH, remember this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAviGOqtAqM

KENNY MAN YES I REMEMBER LITTLE RED MONKEY IT WAS A VERY CATCHY TUNE AT THE TIME ,I DIDNT KNOW WHO SANG IT THOUGH ,AND ALSO IVE NERER HERD OF THE B SIDE ,I USED TO LIKE JIMMY EDWARDS

don't know how i stumbled across that Do Wah, don't think i've herad it since I was 5

Delirium Tremens


[print]




(Christy Moore)








I dreamt a dream the other night, I couldn't sleep a wink
The rats were tryin' to count the sheep and I was off the drink
There were footsteps in the parlour and voices on the stairs
I was climbin' up the walls and movin' round the chairs
I looked out from under the blanket up at the fireplace
The Pope and John F. Kennedy were starin' in me face
Suddenly it dawned at me I was getting the old D.T.s
When the Child o' Prague began to dance around the mantlepiece

Goodbye to the Port and Brandy, to the Vodka and the Stag
To the Schmiddick and the Harpic, the bottled draught and keg
As I sat lookin' up the Guinness ad I could never figure out
How your man stayed up on the surfboard after 14 pints of stout

Well, I swore upon the bible I'd never touch a drop
My heart was palpitatin' I was sure 'twas going to stop
Thinkin' I was dyin' I gave my soul to God to keep
A tenner to St Anthony to help me get some sleep
I fell into an awful nightmare, got a dreadful shock
When I dreamt there was no Duty-free at the airport down in Knock
George Seawright was sayin' the rosary and SPUC were on the pill
Frank Patterson was gargled and he singin' Spancil Hill

Goodbye to the Port and Brandy, to the Vodka and the Stag
To the Schmiddick and the Harpic, the bottled draught and keg
As I sat lookin' up the Guinness ad I could never figure out
How your man stayed up on the surfboard after 14 pints of stout

I dreamt that Mr Haughey had recaptured Crossmaglen
Then Garret got re-elected and gave it back again
Dick Spring and Roger Casement were on board the Marita-Ann
As she sailed into Fenit they were singin' Banna Strand
I dreamt Archbishop McNamara was on Spike Island for 3 nights
Havin' been arrested for supportin' Traveller's rights
I dreamt that Ruairi Quinn was smokin' marijuana in the Dail
Barry Desmond handin' Frenchies out to scuts in Fianna Fail

Goodbye to the Port and Brandy, to the Vodka and the Stag
To the Schmiddick and the Harpic, the bottled draught and keg
As I sat lookin' up the Guinness ad I could never figure out
How your man stayed up on the surfboard after 14 pints of stout

I dreamt of Nell McCafferty and Mary Kenny too
The things that we got up to, but I'm not tellin' you
I dreamt I was in a jacuzzi along with Alice Glenn
'twas then I knew I'd never ever, ever drink again

Goodbye to the Port and Brandy, to the Vodka and the Stag
To the Schmiddick and the Harpic, the bottled draught and keg
As I sat lookin' up the Guinness ad I could never figure out
How your man stayed up on the surfboard after 14 pints of stout

alcohol turned out to be easy compared to giving up Methamphetamine
I wish Id stayed on the feckin sauce

i aint had a drink from december 27th. Tough work i must say but feel a bit better and starting to gain a bit of weight i think which was a problem wen drinking as i didnt eat well

update from mucho would be nice ???

Check his profile in the search engine on the 'new forum'

The OP could easy have been me. My major problem is that I am a naturally uptight person so drinking helps me relax when in public. I end up drinking too fast and before I know it I've got from sober to blind drunk in a couple of hours. If I blackout I don't feel like getting out of bed for days and I'm scared to have contact with anyone for some reason. If I don't blackout then I am usually fine after the usual one day hangover.

Once I start drinking if I get a buzz and stop then I start getting major depression so I either don't drink at all or drink a lot. A switch to lager from spirits has helped on the black out front.

GOLDCUPWINNER ,IT WILL GET WORSE ,IT WONT BE LONG BEFORE YOU CANT LIVE WITHOUT THE DRINK AND YOU CANT LIVE WITH IT ,BETTER TO SEEK HELP NOW BEFORE YOU END UP IN LIVEING HELL

If anybody wants to REALLY give up anything - just do it.

I don't want to give up alcohol because quite frankly life is boring without it. Just need to stop blacking out and I'll be ok.

I've been off the beer since christmas .. been drinking milky coffee with a brandy in em to warm me up a bit & love it .. just merry not drunk at all .. can't see it lasting too long though

I DONT WANT TO STOP DRINKING ,I JUST WANT TO STOP BLACKING OUT TYPICAL ALKEE

IVE JUST GOT A BLACKING OUT SYNDROME THAT NEEDS ADRESSING


YOUVE GOT A MAJOR ALCOHOL PROBLEM

I've been off since NYE Mcmoonbeam. I've already pencilled in my next drink for the Superbowl final though and will be getting drunk. I know I have a problem once I start Do Wah but I'm not giving it up. Drinking beer instead of spirits helps with the blacking out thing.

GOLD CUP ,I RARELY DRANK SPIRITS BEER AND LAGER WERE MY MAIN DRINKS,YOU LIKE MYSELF COULD NOT SEE A LIFE WITHOUT ALCOHOL ,BUT I CAN SEE YOUR HEADING WHERE I AND LOTS OF OTHERS HEADED AND ITS A DEVASTATING PLACE YOU CANT BEAT IT,DRINK WILL TAKE YOU TO IT SLOWLY OR QUICKLY,YOU WILL GO DOWN AND DOWN ,IT TOOK ME YEARS TO THROW THE TOWEL IN AND STOP FIGHTING WITH ALCOHOL AS THEIR IS ONLY ONE WINNER ,I WORKEDVERY HARD AND NEVER GOT ABUSIVE IN DRINK UNTILL MY FINAL DAYS WITH ALCOHOL WHEN I WAS THAT PARRANOID I WANTED TO KILL EVERYONE

I KNOW WHERE YOU ARE BECAUSE IVE BEEN THERE ,YOUR ON A DOWNWARD SPIRAL AND THINGS WILL ONLY GET WORSE,YOU WILL FIGHT IT AND THINK OF MILLIONS OF EXCUSES TO GIVE YOU A REASON TO PICK UP THE ALCOHOL ,BUT IT WILL TAKE YOU TO THE CLEANERS ,IM NOT HAVEING AGO AT YOU ,I KNOW YOU WONT LISTEN TO ME ORANY ONE ELSE LIKE I DIDNT YOU WILL JUST FIGHT IT ,BUY LE ME ASSURE YOU 100% IT WILL WIN AND DESTROY YOU AND THOSE AROUND YOU

I've just completed a full year off the booze.However I'm posting this from an all inclusive resort in Sharm el Sheik.A bit of a novelty being back on the sauce but will knock it on the head again when I return home on Monday.