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kicking the booze for good

245

Comments

  • #32
    Sunnyisland
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,562 ✭✭✭✭Sunnyisland


    Try here OP, lots of like minded folk.

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=1015


  • #33
    lkionm
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,407 ✭✭✭lkionm


    Good luck man.

    I was thinking the same but only until I cure this depression which has been at me for months and I have been trying to suppress with more alcohol. I would love to be able to go out and have a few fancy ones so you savour the taste more though


    Alcohol is the solution and problem to all of lives problems. It is even worse when you are 23 and your friends are going or wanting to go out friday and saturday and drinking buckets which I loved until recently and I found it a way out for a while but it made it worse.





    Christ, I got too serious there. Someone deflect attention with some traveler bashing


  • #34
    lufties
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,507 ✭✭✭lufties


    Ted_YNWA wrote: »
    If you want to offload any drink you have in your house, let me know.


    Wouldnt want you to succumb to temptation.

    no bother man, but you can pay the post and packaging from hong kong ;)


  • #35
    the_syco
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37,310 ✭✭✭✭the_syco


    lufties wrote: »
    The only thing is it might involve refraining
    from pubs altogether as the temptation might be too much.This to me is the most daunting aspect, facing social isolation.
    F**k that. Drink the non-alco stuff; it tastes nicer.


  • #36
    caustic 1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,314 ✭✭✭caustic 1


    Good luck to you.


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  • #37
    Bluegrass1
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 97 ✭✭Bluegrass1


    lufties wrote: »
    Hi All, As a 31yr old, i've had alcohol pretty much every week for the last 14 years, with the odd exception here and there. in recent weeks have cut down a lot and focused on other things, now i'm determined to kick the auld booze for good ,as its done me more harm than good overall.

    The only thing is it might involve refraining
    from pubs altogether as the temptation might be too much.This to me is the most daunting aspect, facing social isolation.

    Any thoughts/experiences are welcome :)

    The biggest problem is getting your former drinking buddies to accept the new you. Some people will complain like hell about you not drinking! How you deal with this is going to be crucial.
    Invent a medical problem. Say that you have to stay dry for a month because of tablets or whatever. Just keep it going for as long as it takes for people to forget you ever drank.


  • #38
    longhalloween
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,207 ✭✭✭longhalloween


    Welcome to a world where you wake up on a Sunday, feel great, and go spend a load of money, that you wouldn't normally have, on stuff.


  • #39
    lufties
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,507 ✭✭✭lufties


    Bluegrass1 wrote: »
    The biggest problem is getting your former drinking buddies to accept the new you. Some people will complain like hell about you not drinking! How you deal with this is going to be crucial.
    Invent a medical problem. Say that you have to stay dry for a month because of tablets or whatever. Just keep it going for as long as it takes for people to forget you ever drank.

    thanks for the heads up! feck them, if any mates desert me they weren't my mates in the first place.


  • #40
    Bluegrass1
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 97 ✭✭Bluegrass1


    lufties wrote: »
    thanks for the heads up! feck them, if any mates desert me they weren't my mates in the first place.

    It is not that they will desert you, but will keep narking on. Why not have a pint or a short? Drinking water or a soft drink. Is that all?
    A lot of the time it will be your closest friends doing it. They may not think they are doing any harm.


  • #41
    sneakyST
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 367 ✭✭sneakyST


    Did the same myself a few years back. The drink was getting the better of me, so I decided to quit. It was hell for the first few weeks, especially when you are out and everyone around you is suddenly plastered.
    But then you discover some decent non alcoholic beers and you find yourself leaving at the stage where everyone has had too much. Wake up the next day feeling good and after a night out as well.
    Two years I stuck it out, now when I have a beer I enjoy one or two and that's it.
    Good luck with it OP.


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  • #42
    Sam Kade
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,297 ✭✭✭✭Sam Kade


    xzanti wrote: »
    I gave it up last year.. I don't miss it.. I just find pubs unbearably boring now, I prefer to be at home with my Son.

    I still see my friends for coffee etc or of course if I'm invited to someones Birthday I'll be gracious and go for a few hours.. I don't feel that I'm 'socially isolated' at all.. I'm sure there are a few who now view me as being boring.. but I really don't care.. those are probably the very people who I look at and think 'thank God I gave up'.

    Anyway.. My kid thinks I'm great craic altogether.. and that's all I give a sh1t about :)
    It's easy to listen gobsh1tes full of drink when you are one of them, when you aren't it's unbearable :D


  • #43
    lufties
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,507 ✭✭✭lufties


    sneakyST wrote: »
    Did the same myself a few years back. The drink was getting the better of me, so I decided to quit. It was hell for the first few weeks, especially when you are out and everyone around you is suddenly plastered.
    But then you discover some decent non alcoholic beers and you find yourself leaving at the stage where everyone has had too much. Wake up the next day feeling good and after a night out as well.
    Two years I stuck it out, now when I have a beer I enjoy one or two and that's it.
    Good luck with it OP.

    cheers man, been hitting the gym and swimming pool a bit lately, also met a burd I like who's big into kung fu..i've no doubt its gonna be tough especially when i like nothing better than chilling with a few weissbiers :)


  • #44
    endacl
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,443 ✭✭✭✭endacl


    Hi OP. You may find the allure of the pub wears off when you quickly realise what utter ballcocks your friends (yes, even the really smart, interesting and articulate ones) spout, once you're the only sober one at the table...

    I wouldn't be a heavy drinker. Maybe 2/3 pints max and never spirits, every other week or so. I'm normally ready to leave at least an hour before closing when the real sh1te talk kicks in.

    Best of luck with it.


  • #45
    endacl
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,443 ✭✭✭✭endacl


    lufties wrote: »
    cheers man, been hitting the gym and swimming pool a bit lately, also met a burd I like who's big into kung fu..i've no doubt its gonna be tough especially when i like nothing better than chilling with a few weissbiers :)

    Gonna be tough when she cracks open a can of 100% proof whup ass on ya!


  • #46
    Gloomtastic!
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 9,864 ✭✭✭Gloomtastic!


    "Bluegrass1 wrote:
    Invent a medical problem. Say that you have to stay dry for a month because of tablets or whatever. Just keep it going for as long as it takes for people to forget you ever drank.

    I tried that once. They figured out I'd the clap in about 30 seconds!

    Good luck OP.


  • #47
    --Kaiser--
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,461 ✭✭✭--Kaiser--


    Sunhill wrote: »
    I wish you success. The only realistic road is complete abstension. If you can do it you'll always see it as one of the greatest achievements and one of the best decisions of your life.

    Absolute nonsense. I know loads of people (including myself) who can enjoy a couple of drinks and stop there. Not a problem unless you're an alcoholic


  • #48
    lufties
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,507 ✭✭✭lufties


    Gloomtastic! wrote: »
    I tried that once. They figured out I'd the clap in about 30 seconds!

    Good luck OP.

    cheers, don't think i'll tempt fate on that front :)


  • #49
    lufties
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,507 ✭✭✭lufties


    --Kaiser-- wrote: »
    Absolute nonsense. I know loads of people (including myself) who can enjoy a couple of drinks and stop there. Not a problem unless you're an alcoholic

    growing up i always thought an alcoholic was someone who drank a bottle of whiskey/vodka a day, had a liquid brekkie, and couldn't hold down a job. otherwise they were just 'fond of a sup':confused:


  • #50
    wretcheddomain
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,094 ✭✭✭wretcheddomain


    You're drunk OP, go to sleep and you'll wake up tomorrow thinking more rationally about it.


  • #51
    --Kaiser--
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,461 ✭✭✭--Kaiser--


    lufties wrote: »
    growing up i always thought an alcoholic was someone who drank a bottle of whiskey/vodka a day, had a liquid brekkie, and couldn't hold down a job. otherwise they were just 'fond of a sup':confused:

    I lived with an alcoholic briefly. Put me off drinking a little to be honest, I probably drink less because of him


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  • #52
    lufties
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,507 ✭✭✭lufties


    wretcheddomain wrote: »
    You're drunk OP, go to sleep and you'll wake up tomorrow thinking more rationally about it.

    haven't drank in a week, so this is about as rational as i'll get.


  • #53
    Big Ears
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,165 ✭✭✭Big Ears


    endacl wrote: »
    Hi OP. You may find the allure of the pub wears off when you quickly realise what utter ballcocks your friends (yes, even the really smart, interesting and articulate ones) spout, once you're the only sober one at the table...

    I wouldn't be a heavy drinker. Maybe 2/3 pints max and never spirits, every other week or so. I'm normally ready to leave at least an hour before closing when the real sh1te talk kicks in.

    Best of luck with it.

    It's good craic till about 01:15-1:30, that's when you get a lot of people going from merry and a bit drunk to retard drunk and it is then on impossible to converse with some people. They can only understand others of a similar intoxication level, and you certainly can't understand them !


  • #54
    --Kaiser--
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,461 ✭✭✭--Kaiser--


    Big Ears wrote: »
    It's good craic till about 01:15-1:30, that's when you get a lot of people going from merry and a bit drunk to retard drunk and it is then on impossible to converse with some people. They can only understand others of a similar intoxication level, and you certainly can't understand them !

    I had the dubious pleasure of hosting some work colleagues in my living room after they had been drinking all night....and morning....and afternoon. Not only were they talking ****e, they were looping the same ****e all over again, a few stock phrases, barely interacting with each other. I would say 'Madness!' but it was more like 'Tedium'!


  • #55
    Sam Kade
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,297 ✭✭✭✭Sam Kade


    I know a couple who spend their spare time in the pub and when in the pub they drink like it's going out of fashion. Thing is they have been doing this over the last 30 years since they were teenagers :eek: you would think that they would be fed up doing the same thing over and over after all these years. Both of them have had a couple of scares each and were drink related but that still doesn't stop them. They still believe that they aren't alcoholics :(


  • #56
    orestes
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,972 ✭✭✭orestes


    I quit drinking at the start of the year after years of very heavy drinking. Last month I moved to Prague, where I work as a bartender for the biggest pubcrawl in Europe and I just got home at 8am from being out all night for my birthday, completely sober. Being around bars and people drinking like crazy doesn't bother me (I even live with two of the pubcrawl tourguides) and everyone is massively understanding about me not drinking anymore so it's fine.

    If anyone gives you sh!t for not drinking, fukk them. Do what's right for you. Best of luck with it man.


  • #57
    stefan idiot jones
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,518 ✭✭✭stefan idiot jones


    I read the Allen Carr book eight years ago and haven't touched a drop since and never will. Drink was a big part of my life for quite a few years, I never missed a day off work, could function perfectly well in any situation but couldn't wait until I finished work to open up my flagon of white lightning with an energy drink top and buzz the night away until about eleven when I was warm and fuzzy then it was time to eat. Frozen chips etc. This went on for a few years until I was just sick and tired of what I was doing to myself. I had crazy thoughts, even questioned if there was a devil making me do this to myself. ( I am an athiest, never even been christened) Saw my local GP, just for a chat, advised me on cutting back, bollocks. One day I was browsing my local bookstore in Edinburgh and came across Allens book. I didn't even realise that books were written about this subject, I didn't even realise what the self help section in a bookshop even was ? I browsed through the book thought what have I got to lose and bought it. Up until I started reading the book I thought the only way to beat drinking was the twelve steps thing that keeps popping up (which my father needed), but no. THIS WAS THE BEST EIGHT POUND THAT I HAD EVER SPENT IN MY ENTIRE LIFE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The book does not brainwash you at all, it just reminds you what our fickle brains have tricked us into thinking regarding alcohol. There is no great revelations inside, just things that we already know but have chosen to ignore/forget in favour of self destruction. The main difference between myself and the lucky people that the twelve steps has worked for is ; instead of being branded and the stigma that you are an alcoholic in recovery until the day you die, I JUST DON'T DRINK !!!!!!! I am not a recovering alcoholic, I just don't drink, the same way that I dont inject heroin, the same way that I don't molest children, the same way that I don't eat meat. Drink is purely just not part of my life anymore, and do you know what I am missing out on ? **** All. Buy the book, it might just save your life because it saved mine.


  • #58
    RossFixxxed
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,102 ✭✭✭RossFixxxed


    What really worked for me was driving into town for a night out in a club. I parked near the club and met my friends. Stuck with soft drinks all night, nobody minded especially as I had the car.

    When I stepped out into the air at around 2 a.m. I felt... not horribly drunk. It was refreshing, I was almost anticipating that sudden 'oh I've overdone it' feeling. Hopped into the car and drove home in about 20 minutes, green lights all the way along the N11.

    Was up bright and early next morning, felt great, made everyone a fry up. Total cost of the night was under 20 euro. Haven't looked back at all. That said, I' d allow myself to go drinking if I wanted, but since I'm happy enough not to I've left it for 2.5 years now.


  • #59
    CruelCoin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,463 ✭✭✭CruelCoin


    lufties wrote: »
    Hi All, As a 31yr old, i've had alcohol pretty much every week for the last 14 years, with the odd exception here and there. in recent weeks have cut down a lot and focused on other things, now i'm determined to kick the auld booze for good ,as its done me more harm than good overall.

    The only thing is it might involve refraining
    from pubs altogether as the temptation might be too much.This to me is the most daunting aspect, facing social isolation.

    Any thoughts/experiences are welcome :)

    I'd suggest rather some moderation instead of total abstention.

    A pint or two is fine, but after that you should have the mental wherewithal to say "thats enough, i'm going home now". It's a choice to keep drinking beyond pint #2. No-one forces you to swallow, or call the bar-man over, or raise the drink to your lips etc. That's all you.

    Beer is good and tasty op, kick most of it, not all.


  • #60
    lufties
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,507 ✭✭✭lufties


    CruelCoin wrote: »
    I'd suggest rather some moderation instead of total abstention.

    A pint or two is fine, but after that you should have the mental wherewithal to say "thats enough, i'm going home now". It's a choice to keep drinking beyond pint #2. No-one forces you to swallow, or call the bar-man over, or raise the drink to your lips etc. That's all you.

    Beer is good and tasty op, kick most of it, not all.

    I tried that a few times but it never works, luckily I live in a warm climate so it does help a small bit. I feel that the cons of drink are out-weighing the pro's, I've lived in a haze for too long. I think the most imortant thing is to stay active in body and mind as boredom just makes me wander into the pub majority of the time.


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  • #61
    lufties
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,507 ✭✭✭lufties


    stefan idiot jones wrote: »
    I read the Allen Carr book eight years ago and haven't touched a drop since and never will. Drink was a big part of my life for quite a few years, I never missed a day off work, could function perfectly well in any situation but couldn't wait until I finished work to open up my flagon of white lightning with an energy drink top and buzz the night away until about eleven when I was warm and fuzzy then it was time to eat. Frozen chips etc. This went on for a few years until I was just sick and tired of what I was doing to myself. I had crazy thoughts, even questioned if there was a devil making me do this to myself. ( I am an athiest, never even been christened) Saw my local GP, just for a chat, advised me on cutting back, bollocks. One day I was browsing my local bookstore in Edinburgh and came across Allens book. I didn't even realise that books were written about this subject, I didn't even realise what the self help section in a bookshop even was ? I browsed through the book thought what have I got to lose and bought it. Up until I started reading the book I thought the only way to beat drinking was the twelve steps thing that keeps popping up (which my father needed), but no. THIS WAS THE BEST EIGHT POUND THAT I HAD EVER SPENT IN MY ENTIRE LIFE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The book does not brainwash you at all, it just reminds you what our fickle brains have tricked us into thinking regarding alcohol. There is no great revelations inside, just things that we already know but have chosen to ignore/forget in favour of self destruction. The main difference between myself and the lucky people that the twelve steps has worked for is ; instead of being branded and the stigma that you are an alcoholic in recovery until the day you die, I JUST DON'T DRINK !!!!!!! I am not a recovering alcoholic, I just don't drink, the same way that I dont inject heroin, the same way that I don't molest children, the same way that I don't eat meat. Drink is purely just not part of my life anymore, and do you know what I am missing out on ? **** All. Buy the book, it might just save your life because it saved mine.

    Thanks mate, I will look into getting that book.


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