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Started By
Message
re: Giving up alcohol in general
Posted on 2/15/24 at 12:52 am to JPLSU1981
Posted on 2/15/24 at 12:52 am to JPLSU1981
quote:
I dunno, but I’ve (embarrassing to admit) become an alcoholic the last 2 years and I need to change. But everyday I start the cycle over again. I go to bed just about every night with great intentions for the next day.
I hear that.
Your sense of normal has gotten skewed. I was Fri-Sat for a long time but then gradually some Tues and/or Wed, and/or Thurs. Just having 2-4 drinks while surfing or watching TV. Yeah it creeps up on you. Working to cut back to just occasional wine after meal, occasional beer, but not the damn 5-6/7 nights a week shite.
0
Posted on 2/15/24 at 3:08 am to JPLSU1981
quote:
(embarrassing to admit) become an alcoholic the last 2 years and I need to change.
You recognize that alcohol is a problem and are trying to remedy it. That’s not embarrassing at all. Keep an open mind and give AA a shot. It’s full of guys that tried to quit a million times but weren’t able to until they went to their first meeting.
Posted on 2/15/24 at 3:25 am to RedRifle
I feel like I know more than two dozen people who have completely walked away drinking in the past 6-12 months. Most started as a short break and they just decided to make a change after feeling better. Most of them drank 3-4 times a week if not more.
Posted on 2/15/24 at 3:29 am to 225Tyga
quote:
ETA: but if you’re seriously considering giving it up just know you don’t have to. Find the happy medium and only have a couple drinks, don’t get blackout and you’re fine. Keep working out too
If you have an alcohol problem this won't work. One drink is too many and ten is never enough.
Posted on 2/15/24 at 3:48 am to SixthAndBarone
quote:
I’ve never understood how a man just can’t stop drinking. I just don’t get how you can’t go a day without alcohol. Is it really addictive or is it just a habit you can’t break?
Do you drink?
If so, you don't know if you can stop. Don't drink for a year and prove to yourself if it's easy or hard.
It might open your eyes to how hard it can be to stop. Alcohol is everywhere. It's the most socially acceptable drug out there. The only non-medication drug allowed to advertise on major media.
Every function you go to is centered around drinking, and every social activity it is pushed on you to drink.
Your friends and family will usually try to get you to "lighten up" and just have one or two. Every time you go to a restaurant, you are upsold alcohol with your meal.
Sports? Gotta drink to enjoy the big game. Parade? Can't parade without having a few cold ones. Boys' night? What's the fun in hanging out if you're not going to tie one off together? Birthdays? Man, just relax and celebrate with a few.
It's everywhere and part of everything. You have to be a master of resisting Peer Pressure. The vast of majority of the world is not that kind of person. There's a good chance that you aren't either, no matter how much you believe yourself to be.
Trust me, it's hard. You usually have to walk away from old friends and choose to miss out on certain events, especially at first. And you will soon find out that most of the people you thought were awesome or fun to be around before are annoying as frick when you are sober. It's usually easier for people to just keep drinking or start back drinking than to abandon their friends and acquaintances and find new ones.
Give it a try and find out for yourself though.
This post was edited on 2/15/24 at 3:50 am
Posted on 2/15/24 at 4:10 am to RedRifle
I quit drinking for long periods every year. If I have one drink, I’m back to drinking 2-4 drinks per day, everyday. I’m all in or all out. When not drinking I’m a much more engaged human.
Posted on 2/15/24 at 4:19 am to RedRifle
(no message)
This post was edited on 3/16/24 at 7:00 pm
Posted on 2/15/24 at 4:23 am to RedRifle
I went from having 3 or so slugs of whiskey every evening and more on weekends to a 3 or 4 drinks just on the weekend. I feel WAYYY better. I sleep a lot more, my eyes are brighter, face isn't puffy, etc. The worst part for me is I'd start out saying I'm not going to drink today then the next morning I'd wake up and have to think about how it beat me again.
I used to drink 5 or so cups of coffee in the morning because I was dragging arse. Now I'm down to one or two. Even a couple of drinks can keep you from going in to deeper sleep cycles so you never are really rested as well as you should be. Drink almost every day for 10 years and your benchmark for what you think is feeling pretty good shifts. Quit for a week and you realize how shitty you felt when drinking.
I quit for about 6 months last year and a few months the year before. It feels different this time. It's not really a struggle.
One thing that helped me was quitting with all the bullsh*t excuses. It wasn't helping with stress or health or anything like that. I was drinking because I wanted to and because I like it.
Eta: zyn pouches helped me shake the habit at first but now I'm hooked on that.
I used to drink 5 or so cups of coffee in the morning because I was dragging arse. Now I'm down to one or two. Even a couple of drinks can keep you from going in to deeper sleep cycles so you never are really rested as well as you should be. Drink almost every day for 10 years and your benchmark for what you think is feeling pretty good shifts. Quit for a week and you realize how shitty you felt when drinking.
I quit for about 6 months last year and a few months the year before. It feels different this time. It's not really a struggle.
One thing that helped me was quitting with all the bullsh*t excuses. It wasn't helping with stress or health or anything like that. I was drinking because I wanted to and because I like it.
Eta: zyn pouches helped me shake the habit at first but now I'm hooked on that.
This post was edited on 2/15/24 at 4:30 am
Posted on 2/15/24 at 4:27 am to RedRifle
I think I've told this before on here but....
2014 for me. My boys were 10-11 & were being taught the dangers of alcohol & drugs in school. They brought home some literature, proud of what they learned & discussed it with me.
Of course I agreed, it was a very profound conversation & I gained a great deal of respect for them.
Long story short, I felt like a hypocrite & decided to quit. I couldn't fathom telling them not to do something that I was doing.
They gained a great deal of respect for me & it was a great father/sons moment that had a very positive impact on them.
For me it was about, you have to buy it. So instead of stopping at the store, I would drive on past it.
I think most of us need a good reason to quit. Find that reason and go for it. Good luck brother & keep on driving.
2014 for me. My boys were 10-11 & were being taught the dangers of alcohol & drugs in school. They brought home some literature, proud of what they learned & discussed it with me.
Of course I agreed, it was a very profound conversation & I gained a great deal of respect for them.
Long story short, I felt like a hypocrite & decided to quit. I couldn't fathom telling them not to do something that I was doing.
They gained a great deal of respect for me & it was a great father/sons moment that had a very positive impact on them.
For me it was about, you have to buy it. So instead of stopping at the store, I would drive on past it.
I think most of us need a good reason to quit. Find that reason and go for it. Good luck brother & keep on driving.
Posted on 2/15/24 at 5:43 am to RedRifle
Is it causing issues in your life, ( family, friends, job, etc..)? Honest question, how much do you drink a day?
Posted on 2/15/24 at 5:56 am to RedRifle
My routine is I get bombed on Friday night and sometimes on Sunday because I'm off on Mondays but the other 5 days I don't drink a drop. I know some folks can't do that but it works for me
Posted on 2/15/24 at 6:04 am to RedRifle
Quit cold turkey over three years ago. Everything has improved. I’ll never take another sip. Wish I would’ve stopped sooner. The sleep alone is worth stopping. My physical and mental health are noticeably much better. Improved my mood, concentration, relationships, work performance, sleep, weight, how I feel in general, increased energy, etc. Quitting also saves money. One drink is enough to disrupt your sleep, mood, and hormones for a week. There’s no upside to alcohol. Good luck to you.
ETA: Also, my hair is noticeably thicker and my skin looks better. Drinking ages tf out of you
ETA: Also, my hair is noticeably thicker and my skin looks better. Drinking ages tf out of you
This post was edited on 2/15/24 at 4:24 pm
Posted on 2/15/24 at 6:06 am to bpinson
quote:
I gave it up last week. I woke up with a hangover Thursday morning and said enough is enough. I'm done
I say this about three times a year
Posted on 2/15/24 at 6:15 am to RedRifle
quote:
Has anyone just given it up cold turkey?
Had a friend who did and was dead a week later.
(they were killed in a head on collision by a drunk driver)
If you are making this choice then congrats for you! You can not get another to stop but you can stop yourself. If you go the AA route, do not trade addictions, sugar will kill you just as fast as booze.
(Having a Krispy Kreme next to an AA meeting site is just a terrible idea)
Posted on 2/15/24 at 6:16 am to 225Tyga
quote:
Find the happy medium and only have a couple drinks, don’t get blackout and you’re fine. Keep working out too
Yea.... easier said than done. I had a buddy who told me he was quitting and he just didn't seem like an alcoholic to me so I questioned it but was supportive. Little by little I learned he had a total inability to have a few beers or a drink or 2 without stopping till he felt like shite the next day.
I'm really thankful I can moderate, but some cant
This post was edited on 2/15/24 at 6:16 am
Posted on 2/15/24 at 6:23 am to Cheese Grits
quote:
If you go the AA route, do not trade addictions, sugar will kill you just as fast as booze.
Had a friend who gave up drugs and booze via AA, but became addicted to fast food. She went from about 120lbs to around 220lbs rather quickly. She's most likely pre-diabetic at 40.
Posted on 2/15/24 at 6:23 am to RedRifle
Did dry January and never felt better. PRs in the gym, started running again, overall better mood and outlook which made me a better worker and husband.
That was the longest steak I’ve gone in over 20 years. During Covid I got in a bad habit of nearly a 6 pack a day and over the last year it got worse and worse (prob 9-12/day) so just had enough.
I’ve drank two days in February, next day was ruined both times, and it just wasn’t worth it so jumped back on the train and never looking back. Once you break the cycle and a couple weeks go by you’ll wonder what the hell you were thinking needing a drink.
That was the longest steak I’ve gone in over 20 years. During Covid I got in a bad habit of nearly a 6 pack a day and over the last year it got worse and worse (prob 9-12/day) so just had enough.
I’ve drank two days in February, next day was ruined both times, and it just wasn’t worth it so jumped back on the train and never looking back. Once you break the cycle and a couple weeks go by you’ll wonder what the hell you were thinking needing a drink.
This post was edited on 2/15/24 at 6:25 am
Posted on 2/15/24 at 6:27 am to RedRifle
I found my drinking was due to habit and boredom. Broke up the habit by abstaining for 6 months. Replaced the boredom with exercise and meditation. Now I maybe have a drink once a month at a social event.
Health has improved, blood pressure, weight and sleep have all improved.
Weekends have a plan to do something early in the morning, hiking, farmers market etc. just have a reason to get up and do something.
Health has improved, blood pressure, weight and sleep have all improved.
Weekends have a plan to do something early in the morning, hiking, farmers market etc. just have a reason to get up and do something.
Posted on 2/15/24 at 6:28 am to RedRifle
I find these threads on alcohol consumption fascinating and yet sad as well. It amazes me the shear amount of alcohol that some of the posters on threads like this drink daily. I would not think they would lie but this is the OT after all. Just from a financial perspective that is a large amount of cash spent a year to consume something that is flat not good for you. (Unfortunately you can throw the American diet in this same category but that discussion is for another day.) Over a lifetime that has to be a staggeringly large cash outlay. Yeah I know you had a grandfather that drank a pint of whiskey a day and he lived to be 100. Exception and not the rule I say. As for the real sad part when people are truly honest with themselves the alcohol consumption has affected relationships with their family, friends and co-workers. Their health will be affected it’s just a matter of when and to what degree. I know stopping is hard as I have friends that have overcome this struggle and their lives are multi-times better. I really hope everyone in this thread that are trying to quit are successful. Don’t get discouraged.
Posted on 2/15/24 at 6:30 am to JPLSU1981
Walk into a local AA meeting. It will change your life. It changed mine.
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