Haven't touched a drop in...

amcgu10 · 29-06-2012 6:02pm

amcgu10 wrote: »

After a lot of deliberation and thought i've decided to give alcohol a kick for good.

I'm 19 years old unemployed and usually head out on a Monday and Thursday night 2 a drink. I'd usually invite the lads around to my house for a few cans usually around 5-7 cans each then head out to the nightclub and drink a few pints and a few shots. Lately i've noticed i'm just not enjoying the whole drinking culture. I hate waking up with the "fear" of what did I do last night or who did I do dying with hangovers and having no money and having no recollection of large periods from the night before. Its just not worth it.

I've said in the past that i'm going to give it up for good but it always failed. I'm writing this now i've no money til next Monday which is fine because I know i'll not be heading out til then I have no problem with that but when I collect my dole on Monday the urge to head out will start to kick and i'll say "ah **** it i'll head out for a few"

Hopefully I can snap out of that and not head out and stay in instead. Its going to be tough but i'll do it:)

Since I wrote that post I haven't gone out to pubs/niteclubs

TeddyTedson · 02-07-2012 11:18pm

I haven't drank in over 2 weeks now. I know that doesn't sound like a lot. But that's now equal the longest I've gone all year.
I think I'm feeling better because of it, although I am a little sick right now, if that makes any sense:D
I don't drink too often, as in never during the week, but one I start I sort of lose control and can't stop.
I'd like to still have a few drinks from time to time but I'll see how it goes. Mostly for social reasons.
I keep getting invited out for drinks which is kind of annoying.
I have to keep turning them down as I don't think I'd have the willpower to go to the pub for a few hours and not drink. Especially when people start putting pressure on.

I also tend to drink waaaay to quick which is another problem, although I never get legless drunk. I do get a lot of black outs though.
Earlier today I was thinking about the last few years and it really is a little hazy which is kind of scary!

Sunnyisland · 03-07-2012 5:35pm

Teddy Tedson wrote: »

I haven't drank in over 2 weeks now. I know that doesn't sound like a lot. But that's now equal the longest I've gone all year.
I think I'm feeling better because of it, although I am a little sick right now, if that makes any sense:D
I don't drink too often, as in never during the week, but one I start I sort of lose control and can't stop.
I'd like to still have a few drinks from time to time but I'll see how it goes. Mostly for social reasons.
I keep getting invited out for drinks which is kind of annoying.
I have to keep turning them down as I don't think I'd have the willpower to go to the pub for a few hours and not drink. Especially when people start putting pressure on.

I also tend to drink waaaay to quick which is another problem, although I never get legless drunk. I do get a lot of black outs though.
Earlier today I was thinking about the last few years and it really is a little hazy which is kind of scary!

Hi Teddy make a list of all the worst things that have happened when drinking - I mean, really scary things - These all happened to me at one time or another--almost getting caught drinking at work, making a fool out of myself drunk at a work socials, getting arrested, getting too drunk to deal with a family emergency, letting my dog out and not realizing it until the next morning, losing a good friend because she was mortified at my drunk behavior, etc.....

In the early days I think it's really important to keep these things at the front of your mind. The drinkbrain

will try to convince you that drinking wasn't all that bad and try to make you concentrate on the good times. But the bad times is why you are here, and also why you need to try and get some control,Good luck

gillapino · 03-07-2012 11:10pm

Had one or two malibu and cokes and a cocktail two weeks ago on holidays, but besides from the odd one or two drinks very rarely , havent had any more then that in nearly 3 years

Sappa · 07-07-2012 2:16pm

6 weeks roll on 6 months now.

TeddyTedson · 08-07-2012 11:51pm

So disappointed with myself for drinking yesterday. I drank so much that I haven't been able to get up all day because I feel physically sick and want to puke. I did a few stupid things also, but no where near my worst. There's too much social elements in my life that involve drinking.
I was feeling great. Now I feel **** again. That's the problem. I feel so good that I feel a few drinks won't hurt.
I really wish there was a pill I could take every day that would make me sick if I took a drink. In the morning I always am determined but then on a Saturday evening there's such a buzz I want to be in town and out and about.

Anyway I rambling, but now I hope this time next week I'll be able to say I haven't drank in a week. I'm such a stupid ****ing idiot for drinking.

Actually I don't think I would have drank last night if I hadn't go a distressing phone call. It's things like that that can push you off the wagon.

Sappa · 09-07-2012 12:06am

TeddyTedson wrote: »

So disappointed with myself for drinking yesterday. I drank so much that I haven't been able to get up all day because I feel physically sick and want to puke. I did a few stupid things also, but no where near my worst. There's too much social elements in my life that involve drinking.
I was feeling great. Now I feel **** again. That's the problem. I feel so good that I feel a few drinks won't hurt.
I really wish there was a pill I could take every day that would make me sick if I took a drink. In the morning I always am determined but then on a Saturday evening there's such a buzz I want to be in town and out and about.

Anyway I rambling, but now I hope this time next week I'll be able to say I haven't drank in a week. I'm such a stupid ****ing idiot for drinking.

Actually I don't think I would have drank last night if I hadn't go a distressing phone call. It's things like that that can push you off the wagon.

Actually Teddy you can get anti booze pills prescribed by the doc but they will only go that road if they feel it's the last resort.
Don't beat yourself up about the drinking,I know the way suddenly your feeling good the sun is shining and you think ahh a few bottles,been there a bunch of times and it's the same scenario the next day.
Regret and poor health followed by a feeling like your back to square one.
I've known I needed to give up yrs ago and tried and failed many many times but it's a battle you just have to keep chipping away at it and try to avoid these situations if at all possible.

sockmo · 09-07-2012 8:31pm

I'm only on day 2...but dead serious about quitting for good this time as i've pretty much messed my entire life up with drink.Had a bit of an epiphany after a drunken argument with my ex over the weekend.

The problem is I've never lasted more than a week so I'm in fear that ill crack by the weekend.I've tried giving up many times before and I always crack by day 5..

The fact is I know Im an alco and I need to stop drinking for the sake of my baby son,Im 26 years old.I've lost jobs,friends,Vanity-wise Ive also become quite fat when i used to be skinny an handsome, and ive lost a lot of my sanity.

I look in the mirror and say "what the hell happened to you man?"

the answer is alcohol.

I know what I have to do

kerryted · 09-07-2012 9:45pm

sockmo wrote: »

I'm only on day 2...but dead serious about quitting for good this time as i've pretty much messed my entire life up with drink.Had a bit of an epiphany after a drunken argument with my ex over the weekend.

The problem is I've never lasted more than a week so I'm in fear that ill crack by the weekend.I've tried giving up many times before and I always crack by day 5..

The fact is I know Im an alco and I need to stop drinking for the sake of my baby son,Im 26 years old.I've lost jobs,friends,Vanity-wise Ive also become quite fat when i used to be skinny an handsome, and ive lost a lot of my sanity.

I look in the mirror and say "what the hell happened to you man?"

the answer is alcohol.

I know what I have to do

well sockmo you have a great excuse to pack up the drink ,your young son, you are still very young and you can get back in to shape and get your life back on track . some people cant do moderation i was one of those and had to pack it up for good ,take it day by day and you wont find the weeks passing, there is life after alcohol, its there for you if you want it

hubba · 10-07-2012 12:42pm

Hi Sockmo,

I'm impressed by your mail and there's something in the tone of it which really sounds determined which is half the battle. I wish you the very best in the days, weeks and months ahead. It's about quality of life at the end of the day and living your life as the real you, not some fake member of the herd, following along cos it's 'what everyone does'.

We only get one life and the way I see it is that I've tried the drinking scene for many years, gave it my best (!) but it just made me miserable, broke and tired. And that's not life, not for me anyway.

Again, best wishes, Sockmo and you can count on support here.

seanrose · 12-07-2012 7:24am

hi guys

long time since i posted on this thread but have still been looking in at it

The last time i posted was back in april,and decided to post again after having a horrible weekend where it has put me back to square one again
not that i lost anytime at work as such but just so so disappointed with myself for letting myself down by overdoing it and the usual blackout i used to have

its hurting me so bad that i continue not to learn from my mistakes about over indulging,that is what hurts me the most even though i try to drill it into what binging is doing to my body and mind.

I have been watching the show "blackout" on bbc and it brings home how one night of madness of alcohol can wreck your life,it may be a tv show but i am so aware these things can happen just as easily to me

i try to keep telling myself that this weekend was a blip but its very hard to get the negative feelings out of my head

thanks for listening

TeddyTedson · 13-07-2012 5:43pm

sockmo wrote: »

I'm only on day 2...but dead serious about quitting for good this time as i've pretty much messed my entire life up with drink.Had a bit of an epiphany after a drunken argument with my ex over the weekend.

The problem is I've never lasted more than a week so I'm in fear that ill crack by the weekend.I've tried giving up many times before and I always crack by day 5..

The fact is I know Im an alco and I need to stop drinking for the sake of my baby son,Im 26 years old.I've lost jobs,friends,Vanity-wise Ive also become quite fat when i used to be skinny an handsome, and ive lost a lot of my sanity.

I look in the mirror and say "what the hell happened to you man?"

the answer is alcohol.

I know what I have to do

I always find the first weekend is the hardest.
I feel great now and want to have a few drinks tonight and hit the town. I need to organise something for myself early tomorrow morning now so I stay off the drink.

Sunnyisland · 14-07-2012 4:55pm

Failing to plan is planing to fail ;-)

Varied · 14-07-2012 7:24pm

realies wrote: »

Failing to plan is planing to fail ;-)

What did you do in your first few months? Did you go on trips? Take up hobbies? Genuinely interested as to how you filled your time.

Sunnyisland · 14-07-2012 11:21pm

Varied wrote: »

What did you do in your first few months? Did you go on trips? Take up hobbies? Genuinely interested as to how you filled your time.

At first AA was suggested to me but I didn't think then that I could face other people. So I surfed the net looking for support in which I found two great sites,I clicked in and it suited my needs and me straight away (anonymity). It was two weeks before I had the courage to post on the forums. I also put in place a meeting with a addiction and anger councillor and from this joined a 3 month abstinent personal development course which I successfully completed and have gone on and finished an aftercare program, I also finished an addiction studies access course in college.Through sheer grit and determination I exercised on a daily basis. I eat healthily, and use my supports daily, my relationships without alcohol are fun, enjoyable and real and I have clear thinking and peace of mind, I now have friends who I have lots in common with apart from alcohol. Looking back, choosing alcohol caused me and others a lot of pain in my life. I put it before all my relationships and it brought me to places and to do things I would never have dreamt of doing ever. I hurt a lot of people who cared and loved me throughout my life. Most of all I hurt me, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Now I am living each day in the day and I am looking forward to meeting my goals and ambitions as well as supporting others. I know I still have a way to go and will be fighting this addiction for the rest of my life, as well as other issues which I know I can do alcohol free. But I am reasonably happy and contented for the last few years and hope to be in the future

Sappa · 15-07-2012 2:08am

realies wrote: »

Varied wrote: »

What did you do in your first few months? Did you go on trips? Take up hobbies? Genuinely interested as to how you filled your time.

At first AA was suggested to me but I didn't think then that I could face other people. So I surfed the net looking for support in which I found two great sites,I clicked in and it suited my needs and me straight away (anonymity). It was two weeks before I had the courage to post on the forums. I also put in place a meeting with a addiction and anger councillor and from this joined a 3 month abstinent personal development course which I successfully completed and have gone on and finished an aftercare program, I also finished an addiction studies access course in college.Through sheer grit and determination I exercised on a daily basis. I eat healthily, and use my supports daily, my relationships without alcohol are fun, enjoyable and real and I have clear thinking and peace of mind, I now have friends who I have lots in common with apart from alcohol. Looking back, choosing alcohol caused me and others a lot of pain in my life. I put it before all my relationships and it brought me to places and to do things I would never have dreamt of doing ever. I hurt a lot of people who cared and loved me throughout my life. Most of all I hurt me, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Now I am living each day in the day and I am looking forward to meeting my goals and ambitions as well as supporting others. I know I still have a way to go and will be fighting this addiction for the rest of my life, as well as other issues which I know I can do alcohol free. But I am reasonably happy and contented for the last few years and hope to be in the future

Realies
Your a great support on this thread,I really get a lot out of reading your posts and it makes me think seriously every time a situation with booze arises I think back to this thread and resist breaking.
7weeks today and for the past while this is a record,old habits were creaping in and like yourself I have made some poor decisions on alcohol no more than a lot of people in Ireland and maybe worse but if I keep going with drink it will finish me off,was speaking to a good friend who is 12yrs sober and we both recounted dozens of incidents where we almost died because of drink during crazy drink periods in our lives,swimming accross swollen rivers in your clothes with no memory how your clothes are soaking wet in the morning,driving high powered bikes on hols hammered and without a helmet r recollection where you parked it in the morning,sleeping in hedges on your way home cause your too gimped to make it back and that hedge looks like a cosy bed or waking up 100 km outside a foreign city on a train without a clue how you got there and no money or keys.
I could go on and even typing this I feel relieved that I know it's a problem, this time off it does feel way different.
I have no desire to break it and I can go out for a short while meet a few friends,but get home before they get drunk.
Like yourself eating healthy,getting in a lot of exercise and keeping busy are key for me.
I look at folks out having the craic and think I'm not bitter anymore as i used to resent folk who could have a few pints and stop when I couldn't or I don't feel like I am missing out on weekends away or pissups as I have been there so much that I know it stopped being fun a long time ago and I have the memories but life is about the now not the past or the future and if you can live solely in the now your on the right track IMO.

buyer95 · 15-07-2012 2:11am

Just in from the pub, so it's been about 15 mins since my last drink, Father...

Dunny · 16-07-2012 12:31pm

7 weeks

kerryjack · 17-07-2012 2:30pm

Going on 5 weeks all is well, tried the moderation thing for a while did not enjoy it don't see the point in it, way easier to pack it up all together, OH thinks i am a bit more grumpy than normal, **** happens i suppose,

Hank Scorpio · 22-07-2012 4:45am

5 weeks, me and mr beer dont get along too well

Sunnyisland · 22-07-2012 10:36am

nuxxx wrote: »

5 weeks, me and mr beer dont get along too well

Well done nuxxx

petes · 23-07-2012 10:04am

One week today with the help of AA

Weekends really are my Achilles heel and I got through my first one, wasn't easy mind. A lot of thoughts of having a pint.

Corcaigh84 · 27-07-2012 12:46pm

Heading into my third weekend without it. Drank way too much this year, was in a bad relationship so I used to it convince myself I was having a good time.

I know I'm going to drink again, but not when I'm down in the dumps. It's way easier this time, like I have zero urge for it. Compared to Lent a few years ago when I gave up I was counting down the days, what has changed?!? I guess I'm just more mature these days :cool:

The only downside is I'm spending all my time with friends and keeping fit (hit the gym, delete facebook lol) but I miss meeting the ladies... where the hell do I find them in this country outside the pub?

I realise my tone here might be a little too light hearted in this thread as there are people here with real struggles, and to those I say good job.

Dunny · 27-07-2012 2:34pm

It will be 9 weeks on Monday for me.

27-07-2012 5:53pm

10 months next week.

Sunnyisland · 30-07-2012 6:08pm

Three years,seven months and seventeen days :-) and loving everybit of them.

Cushtie · 30-07-2012 9:47pm

541 days today, never imagined I would stay off it this long. one day at a time..:D

hubba · 31-07-2012 1:40pm

429 days over which I have grown as a person in leaps and bounds and had lots of fun doing it. I lost some old 'friends' in the process, collateral damage, but met loads more who like doing what I like doing.

I've (re?)gained the respect of friends and family and I've SAVED a fortune which is now going towards my pension and mortgage which makes me feel a whole lot better about myself and my future.

Long Term Louth · 31-07-2012 1:51pm

Stopped 2nd Jan 2008, and have never in my life felt better, first few months difficult.

Sunnyisland · 31-07-2012 9:59pm

hubba wrote: »

429 days over which I have grown as a person in leaps and bounds and had lots of fun doing it. I lost some old 'friends' in the process, collateral damage, but met loads more who like doing what I like doing.

I've (re?)gained the respect of friends and family and I've SAVED a fortune which is now going towards my pension and mortgage which makes me feel a whole lot better about myself and my future.

Great work hubba

Librium · 06-08-2012 4:12pm

42 days dry, cousins christening coming up next sunday, i think I'll send a card and give it a miss, will be too much temptation.

kerryjack · 07-08-2012 8:22pm

2 months this is the longest spell ever in my 20 years drinking i think friends and family have got used to the idea and that's a big help you don't get that big surprised look any more or the questions you know the ones , you have all heard them, a big family wedding coming up the end of the year i am still in 2 minds will I or wont I its A bit away yet so no panic.

Hank Scorpio · 11-08-2012 4:04am

Touching on 2 months now, off the fags aswell, vaping is pretty cool.

Northclare · 13-08-2012 5:44pm

Off the hooch nearly 9 years now,in two weeks time hopefully ill be sober 9 year's.

hubba · 14-08-2012 9:27am

Inspirational. Thanks Northclare.

petes · 14-08-2012 4:33pm

A month and a day. It's not easy but one day at a time

Long Term Louth · 15-08-2012 4:23pm

Insurgent wrote: »

A month and a day. It's not easy but one day at a time

The only way to do it, one day at a time and after a while the days will run into months then years, keep it going.

jamesbere · 16-08-2012 12:21am

My first time posting in this forum, didn't think I would be doing it 6 months ago.

Off it now for 3 and half months, I never taught I could give it up.

Darkginger · 17-08-2012 3:36pm

It's been an up and down few months, since I started to cut down on the copious amount of booze I was drinking (a bottle of wine a night at home, maybe half a bottle of vodka - instead, not as well as - at the weekends, too old for the club scene!). Didn't drink at all in May, started again in June (my birthday), stopped for 2 weeks in July (then had my father's birthday and my wedding anniversary), now off it for 12 days, and intending to stay that way until November. I'm not really 'giving up' as such, I'm just trying to break the habit, and only have a drink when it's a special occasion, maybe 5 or 6 times a year. Like 'normal' people do

I have to say I've found it a lot easier than I expected - so long as I have a glass of something (usually water) next to me, I'm fine - got no sugar cravings (have given that up too, plus all sweeteners, am on a health kick), got no cravings at all, really. I am loving the feeling of waking up with a clear head - and I'm finding I'm sleeping a lot more deeply than I used to. It's all win!

Ed The Equalizer · 18-08-2012 2:55pm

Great thread, and delighted to see a non-drinkers group in the forum!

I'm off the drink and drugs 3 years and almost 4 months. Then cigarettes a year later. Time has flown and it's been brilliant. I feel fantastic and genuinely couldn't imagine going back now.

For those who asked about non-alcoholic beer earlier in this thread... I was scared off it at the beginning but last Christmas Day there was a Swedish guy in our group for dinner who'd been sober 22 years and was having a N-A beer with his meal. So I joined him and loved it, all the nice taste of beer but none of the negatives.

I subsequently tried the blue Erdinger which tasted great and helped me enjoy the occasions when I'm in pubs and others are drinking. And in the evening I'd happily stay in and treat myself to one of those. There's also Paulaner which isn't quite as nice.

I enjoy people's company when they're drinking up to the point when they start talking sh1t and slobbering all over me... then I happily jump in the car and drive home.

The strangest experience I had was one night I was driving home from a wedding and we gave a lift to a guy who was totally stoned. He was blabbering the whole way home and after the hour journey my head was also spinning and I had to go straight to bed. It was like I'd got stoned by osmosis, or maybe from passively inhaling the hash fumes oozing from him, even though he hadn't been smoking in the car!

Sometimes after being in the pub I also feel a bit hungover going to bed, but then wake up feeling great in the morning. It all brings home to me, if I feel like that from just being around drink and drugs, what effect must it have had when I was actually drinking and drugging!

Great work everyone, keep it up!

xim2 · 21-08-2012 10:03pm

is been over 2 weeks , just came back from a sober vacation ! Fun rest and relax and ZERO alcohol yay!

Sunnyisland · 22-08-2012 7:28am

xim2 wrote: »

is been over 2 weeks , just came back from a sober vacation ! Fun rest and relax and ZERO alcohol yay!

Well done xim2, whats next on your plan ?

Jimmy Garlic · 22-08-2012 7:40am

I packed it in last week. Sick of feeling sick for a couple of days after drinking. I hope I can stay the course because when I reflected on it I came to the conclusion that alcohol adds nothing to my life.

Sunnyisland · 22-08-2012 7:44am

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

I packed it in last week. Sick of feeling sick for a couple of days after drinking. I hope I can stay the course because when I reflected on it I came to the conclusion that alcohol adds nothing to my life.

Good for you Jimmy garlic

Lots of good reading here in this forum to advise you on your way.

the_syco · 22-08-2012 8:39am

thefloss wrote: »

The only downside is I'm spending all my time with friends and keeping fit (hit the gym, delete facebook lol) but I miss meeting the ladies... where the hell do I find them in this country outside the pub?

A bit of a cliché, but the clubs are the best for this, namely the dancing clubs (as opposed to the nightclubs). Most will have more women than men.

hubba · 22-08-2012 9:00am

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

I packed it in last week. Sick of feeling sick for a couple of days after drinking. I hope I can stay the course because when I reflected on it I came to the conclusion that alcohol adds nothing to my life.

Congrats on being able to see that, Jimmy. And not only does it not add, but it takes, takes, takes from your life and those around you.

Best wishes, Jimmy Garlic (great name) on the fresh new life ahead of you.

Anotherreg · 22-08-2012 11:44am

18 Days.

The longest I've gone without alcohol in over twenty years. I never considered myself to be an alcoholic, until I found this year that I was utterly incapable of stopping once I had a third drink.

At this stage I have a fear of alcohol. I'm sick to death of the days wasted. I've had at least five blackouts since Christmas, and I refuse to fool myself anymore. I am unable to have a normal relationship with alcohol, so rather than having an abusive relationship, I've given up.

I hope when I look at this thread in six days, six weeks, six months and six years that I haven't let myself down.

JonBon27 · 22-08-2012 9:29pm

6 months this saturday. What a journey, best thing i have ever done. Still do all the same things like going out with the lads and that. The first few times was a real struggle but now its grand. I realised very quickly there was nothing different I was doing in the night without drink, except do something stupid, have a blackout, feel like **** for a week, have a row with the missus,etc. Im loving life now, the mates are intrigued and some have cut down cause i've quit as I was always the one who was the biggest mess.

Anyway best of luck to everyone giving up. Stick to it. If you want any advice give me a PM.

Thanks

kerryjack · 22-08-2012 10:50pm

Anotherreg wrote: »

18 Days.

The longest I've gone without alcohol in over twenty years. I never considered myself to be an alcoholic, until I found this year that I was utterly incapable of stopping once I had a third drink.

At this stage I have a fear of alcohol. I'm sick to death of the days wasted. I've had at least five blackouts since Christmas, and I refuse to fool myself anymore. I am unable to have a normal relationship with alcohol, so rather than having an abusive relationship, I've given up.

I hope when I look at this thread in six days, six weeks, six months and six years that I haven't let myself down.

Well done, i found the first month the hardest and it gets easier after that , But you have to keep telling yourself why you gave it up , and how good life is with out it, we all have different reasons for packing it up , for me it was something as small as the fear of losing my licence, because i was always sneaking in to the pubs for a few pints , could never pass the local without calling in for a few, i still call in to local and get a cup of Coffey now.in fairness to my local he respected my decision and made me feel just as welcome as if i was going to drink 10 pints which is great, best of luck anyway and keep posting.

Anotherreg · 24-08-2012 10:09am

Thanks kerryjack and Jonbon27 and all of the others who post on this site. I'm unable to use the functionality on the site yet as a new (rereg) user.

20 days now, first social outing last night which involved a mug of tea and two pints of H2O. It was different but I enjoyed myself. Getting up this morning with a clear head after a night out was very different and is recommended.

Haven't touched a drop in...

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