Health & Family Quitting alcohol and social life

just be careful, ginger beer is often very high in sugar

 

Ginger beer lite......Bundaberg is better than the full monte
Its seriously good

 

awesome effort.
I cant go past about 2 stubbies these days - lose interest in beer - and then I need to go to a wine or a Jim Beam and coke, or simply stop altogether.

 

Just hit one month alcohol free, for the first time ever. Day 35 now.

Had been drinking way too much for years (100+ units a week), but never able to cut down significantly or stop, despite repeated attempts and methods. Will power alone doesn't work for some. It's there in the morning, but one drink evaporates it. So I got sober with some pharmaceutical help, worked for me. First week was hard, some withdrawal stuff and a lot of fatigue, but now things are good, more alert and active, mood better, sleep better (although for a while it was worse), gym better, and weight has dropped 5kg, 1kg a week. Desire for alcohol has decreased also, which is great because I want to keep this going.

As far as social life… no real impact, people generally supportive. At a gathering of Barcelona locals trying to push a beer on me l just told them I was taking a month off and they accepted that, so I didn't come clean exactly. They are generally not big drinkers here but being completely dry is unusual. Off to Australia next month, plan to do the trip alcohol free, will be some social events with alcohol involved but I'm pretty confident about it. The free drinks on the 24 hour plane trip are more of a worry.

 

What was the pharmaceutical help you used?

 

bundaberg ginger beer diet, tastes fantastic too,

honestly i cant tell the difference

 

Ditto

 

I use Disulfiram (/antabus). It's a bit controversial, it causes you to be badly poisoned if you take alcohol. The doctor here was a bit reluctant but prescribed it after some discussion. Maybe it's easier to get here than in Australia, don't know. The temptation of alcohol can't overcome the fear of rapid illness. I was planning to use it just as a kick-start but might stay on it a bit longer, like 3 months or so. It's powerful stuff, can't even use bathroom products with alcohol in them, which is just about everything.

There is another less dangerous and more popular drug called Naltrexone which reduces cravings, but I went with the "do or die" approach.

 

well done to you!
Keep it going!

 

Nice work @Casteller I found the first month the hardest by far, once I finally got passed one month (failed 3 times at hitting a month mark prior), it got much easier. I'm coming up 8 months sober tomorrow. Stick at it mate and don't be afraid to post on here if you're struggling. I honestly think this thread helped me get as far as I have, just being able to put into words what's going on in your head sometimes, no matter who is listening or whether you know them or not, it's like a pressure relief valve. Also keeps you accountable in a way, looking forward to being able to add another month on the thread as you go! Having been to Spain many, many times, I imagine an attempt to get sober there would be difficult. Amiable weather, outdoor dining and cheap grog everywhere. Good luck mate.

EDITED to add:- Not 8 months for me, it'll be 7 month tomorrow, getting ahead of myself!

 

I don't know anyone that has used Disuifiram but i take my hat off to you for going down the sober road and the win at all costs attitude ..Nothing wrong with being a ''Teetotaller'' and waking up each morning sober once you get used to that as the first weeks month was very hard for me still is every now and again ,and just on 11 months now for me now and if you take it one day at a time it will work..good luck..

 

Great to see so many jump on the alcohol free bandwagon.

I on the other hand have been really enjoying my drinks lately. I've had a few incidents lately around mates getting drunk that cemented my believes around Alcohol.

I stopped caring completely about what others around me say or do when it comes to my drinking.
If i feel like a drink i have some, otherwise no chance in hell I'll have any no matter the pressure. A few drinks a session are more than enough for me and seems like most around me have got the idea by now.

I've been getting some really good drops (Wine and Rum) and been enjoying quality and experience over quantity.

 

as i get older and for some reason my alcohol tolerance is getting lower, I am tending towards quality over quantity!
so am happy to drop $200 on a bottle of wine wholesale

 

Interesting posts re quality over quantity.

Let’s not turn this ‘no alcohol’ thread into an alcohol thread however

 

@Heinz57 , the thread was never meant to be a 'no alcohol' thread but I'm glad the thread went that way and that many are going completely sober

 

It’s got so long I forgot where it started!

 

Ive gone to a "no drinks during the week" life now; not for anything to do with social impact with friends; just my personal attempt at not over-indulging; which seemed too easy in recent months.
I found it was becoming common to have 3 or even 4 glasses of wine at night, every night.
It was becoming a comfort/habit thing.
Dangerous.
Now its only Fri and Sat, and only a couple.
Might let the hair down over summer hols a bit though.

 

Or well in just over a week it will be one year ..

I hope all the other's that have gone down this path go into the new year the same way in--between the up's and downs and trying to manage your life better..good luck for the new year..

 

Well done @willair it'll be 8 months for me at year end. A dry Christmas isn't phasing me in the slightest either if I'm honest.