I don't want to drink tonight

LegacyUser

Hi,

i'm really posting this to just get this out, but I suppose this is a good podium to put it out there. I really, really, feel the need for a drink. This isn't the first night, its almost every night, its just tonight it's really bad. I don't know why, nothing has really happened, I just feel extremely tense. I'm fighting it, but i'm doubting myself. I'm doing unbelievable things to distract myself (hence this post!). I suffer from bipolar disorder (form of depression) and I am on a low period, so I understand this contributes but... anybody got anything? Encouraging words or whatever?

I want to see this as a first step.

Dord

Have a cup of tea instead.

Watch a movie to occupy yourself maybe?

star-pants

NeedADrink wrote:

I want to see this as a first step.

This IS a first step -- you're fighting it & seeking encouragement... and here is where you'll find it

It's tough I'm sure, I can't begin to say I know what you're going through - but it's definitely good that you're trying to get through it and you will.
It's not the easiest to fight what your body is craving but do it a few times & hopefully it will get easier. And posting up here to help vent/seek company -- is good too -- there's always people milling about to help and encourage you. You're doing really well

LegacyUser

Its a weird, horrible, tense, panicky feeling. Its like the feeling you get the night before you have to get up early to do something important and you can't sleep for no reason. Increasing frustration.

Bottle_of_Smoke

Is it a tenseness to drink or tenseness to be in the pub?

LegacyUser

To drink. I've been at home all day and I don't want to leave. I *just* want to drink. I'm even thinking to myself "just one drink, one cold beer", but I know its not that. I'd even drink it all.

DD

NeedADrink wrote:

Hi,
I really, really, feel the need for a drink. This isn't the first night, its almost every night, its just tonight it's really bad.
I want to see this as a first step.

whats ur age
why r u desperated to drink?

biko

NeedADrink, to occupy yourself - search PI for previous posts on this issue. There are loads on ways to distract yourself and also groups you could join (as well as the usual, take evening class, travel, work late etc etc advice).

Feel free to OD on Fanta or similar, I know it's not a substitute but at least it's something in a glass.

Bring this up with whomever you go to for you BPD, maybe they can help?

Best of luck to you!

cazzy

Cup a tea is a good idea. Cant beat a good cuppa. And its cheaper too.

daithimac

try thinking about the last time you took a drink. That feeling of waking up in the morning wondering how the hell you even got into bed. that dread of wondering what you did and did you hurt anyone you love. please write back.

estar

NeedADrink wrote:

Hi,

i'm really posting this to just get this out, but I suppose this is a good podium to put it out there. I really, really, feel the need for a drink. This isn't the first night, its almost every night, its just tonight it's really bad. I don't know why, nothing has really happened, I just feel extremely tense. I'm fighting it, but i'm doubting myself. I'm doing unbelievable things to distract myself (hence this post!). I suffer from bipolar disorder (form of depression) and I am on a low period, so I understand this contributes but... anybody got anything? Encouraging words or whatever?

I want to see this as a first step.

it is a first step

acknowledging that you use drink while alone to comfort yourself
and that this worries you and that you want to change

there are a lot of people out there who probably dont have the intelligence
to realise they have concerns about drinking

you need to build the blocks for a new way of getting out and about
and amusing yourself that dont involve stimulants apart from the naturally
occurring ones

its especially positive that you are seeing that drinking when you
have bi-polar disorder might not be the best choice for you

i suggest the following when the urge strikes

1. dont have drink in the house
2. have plenty of tasty fruit juices and nice things in the house
3. keep a diary every day that details what you want to achieve, how you feel, what your hopes and dreams are
4. confide in loved ones how you are feeling - and that you might need someone to talk to when feeling this way
5. answer some posts on boards - im sure you have positive contributions to make
6. phone and chat to the samaritans - its there for people who need emotional support through troubled times
7. get a pet if you live alone - great company
8. take up a new hobby such as yoga which is great for stress relief and teaches you stress relief techniques that you can use in times of stress outside the yoga room
9. join a gym to tire you out so that you just want to go to bed
10. make a list of 35 things you want to do before you reach 80 and start making plans on how to achieve them

we all have so much potential if we just avoid whats bad for us and stick to life enhancing choices and every day is a new day

if you slip start again.

well done on being so self aware and wanting to change.

LegacyUser

The forum seems to be eating my damn posts.

I don't have that feeling of dread. Generally I have the feelings of
"man I want a drink",
"oh crap its morning" or
"last night was ****e, again. I need new friends."

Or that I feel sick, obviously.

I've only had a handful of bad experiences while drinking. Its usually not the amount thats the problem - its the regularity. I drink everyday. I'm tired of this, both physically and economically. The amount of money i've spent - I don't even want to imagine.

(thanks for the advice Biko)

DAVE_K

Having a few cold beers every night is an easy habit to get into. The trick now is to break the habit and build up a good run of dry days. At least then you'll be free somewhat of the shackles.
Options (as I see it them) to break the habit.
a) Read Alan Carr's 'Easy Way to Control Alcohol' - i read this - it was pretty good - i got a good couple of months of no boozing out of it anyway.
b) Find another activity to occupy those beer hours in the evenings - down the gym, martial arts, something like that.....DVD box sets are good too.......a few episodes a night will get you off to bed and keep your mind off the nectar.
c) Head to AA - not for everyone but does serve the purpose of showing you what can happen to your life if your drinking spirals out of control

strawberrybox

hey i think you sould think about going along to an AA meeting there are loads all over Ireland, you can just go along and observe you dont have to talk or take part or anything, just to see what goes on and hear other peoples experiences with alcohol, you might identify with somebody there and there are people there that you can talk to about your drinking habits and start to explore why you feel you need to have a drink as there can be so many underlying reasons that you may not have even thought of- best of luck

craichoe

NeedADrink wrote:

The forum seems to be eating my damn posts.

I don't have that feeling of dread. Generally I have the feelings of
"man I want a drink",
"oh crap its morning" or
"last night was ****e, again. I need new friends."

Or that I feel sick, obviously.

I've only had a handful of bad experiences while drinking. Its usually not the amount thats the problem - its the regularity. I drink everyday. I'm tired of this, both physically and economically. The amount of money i've spent - I don't even want to imagine.

(thanks for the advice Biko)

The main thing is to recognise it and say to yourself "Ok, I'm down now, but its all temporary, i won't feel this way tomorrow"

Mullah

I second what estar said:

I had stumbled in to a routine of having a few beers most nights, which meant 6 out of 7 nights. Turns out stumbing out of that routine isn't that easy. There's a match on; or a bad day at work; or a good day at work; or.........you get the idea.

I used the following form the list:

1. dont have drink in the house
2. have plenty of tasty fruit juices and nice things in the house
9. join a gym to tire you out so that you just want to go to bed

Took a bit of time to turn the ship around, but deffo worked, have a beer or go out once or twice a week now. Clearer mind at work, more energy to do things at the weekend, better health etc.

Best of luck mate.

biko

OP, for more info http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=54164854

ruffles

craichoe wrote:

The main thing is to recognise it and say to yourself "Ok, I'm down now, but its all temporary, i won't feel this way tomorrow"

I feel for you i too have bipolar and it doesnt just go in the morning, a down time can last for weeks or months, i try to find distractions too, exercise is good or a nice meal, good luck

bostonian

alcohol=an even worse bipolar episode.

LegacyUser

'Hi

I just seen your post now so I don't know if you did go for your drink or not..Sometimes having a few drinks to unwind can become a habit and you start to miss not having the drink. I think it'd be a really good idea if you joined a club or a gym because when you're out and active you might find you spend less time thinking about a drink and you might be able to unwind from your worries in another way. A good cup of tea and some chocolate is a good distractor too :-)'

LegacyUser

'Thanks for the good support everyone. I didn't have the drink; it was hard but I didn't. And now its night 3. Going ok.

Thanks again '

timmyotoole

I saw this topic there and dont want to restart something thats a little old but i just wanted to give some advice on it, as i didnt think that some of the replies, of go have some tea, were very helpful. Also just wanted to say many other people have gone through what your going through.

I have suffered from depression all my life and i have a lot of problems with stress. I started drinking a lot in college, but it really became an issue when i left college and started working and living in dublin. After work i would buy a 6 pack and drink it watching tv or on the pc. I would do that monday to friday and if i could , i would go into town on the saturday, where i would get seriously drunk. Of course id be so hungover on the sunday id be in bed most of it, and usually it would be the only day i wouldnt drink.

I continued the drinking every week thing, now some weeks id be gone home for holidays or some times i tried stopping, for 2 years. Then i started getting numb the next day. Horrible feeling where my whole body is numb. So i realised that if i didnt stop id end up with an even worse lifestyle then i had and an earlier death. It was hard to even stop drinking for one night of the week, but its just down to willpower and a bit of common sense. It really is a horrible feeling though when your trying to stop.

Now i have stopped doing that for about 2-3 months now. I still drink from time to time but only if say a friend calls and asks if i want to head out for example. Having said all that i have drank on my own a few times. I am improving gradually myself.

The fact is this is a very bad cycle you have gotten into. You know you need to stop, which is the important thing. The best way is if you are wanting to have a drink is to go find something to do. If your living with other people in the gaff then go talk with them about anything, dosnt matter. Dont just sit infront of a tv of pc on your own. "Watching a movie on your own" its going to help either. If no one is around then get outside and go for a walk. Dont have drink in your room or in the fridge for christ sake. The best thing of all is find something to do outside of your house. Get involved in some sport or martial arts club or something that is on in the night time, as thats when you probably end up wanting for a drink. Maybe you can get friends to go play soccer on some astroturf or pitch that has lights every thursday night for example. That will be one day of the week that you will have something planned for. A movie night with friends would be a good idea. In the end if you allow your body and mind to heal and get back into a more healthy state it will reward you by helping you keep that way. Its all about routines, youve just gotten yourself into a very bad routine. You need to find a good routine for yourself.

Its great that youve stopped. Now i dont know how long you were doing this, but dont get caught in the old "ahh ive stopped for a few days now i deserve a drink". If you wish to drink, and theres nothing wrong with drinking, but do it with friends. Just remember, dont ever drink alone, theres no point and its stupid. I have found that my drinking was lot to do with being on my own for too long. Get out of the house and go do something with people that dosn't involve drink.