Not getting much support....

[kazzianne]

Hi everyone.You may remember a few weeks ago I posted asking how much alcohol you all drink in general,and It was decided that I drink far too much everynite.(have to admit I agree).Well.after a very good weekend away,but with a very embarassing incident,the result is that I thought long and hard and decided yesterday to become totally tee-total for at least 3 months,to give my body a well earned rest.Now I imagined that I was going to get pats on back,lots of support etc etc..... ummmm no!!

What I got yesterday was jokes that I will never manage it,teases that glasses of wine will be put near me for me to sniff,comments that it will make everyone else feel awkward when I go out as I am the biggest drinker and to see me on soft drinks/water will spoil everyone's night ....and so on.

Oh,and also that it is not a good idea to give up completely just like that....it will shock my body too much apparently.

Now I have got up,poured the last dregs of wine away and am prepared to do this 100% but would love all of your opinions and comments on what my so-called friends and relatives have said.

xxx

[~Wingnut~]

Their only doing it because it will make them feel guilty about how much them their selves drink. It's like when people give up smoking, other smokers tend to say "You'll never do it etc.." because it then prompts themselves to look at their own habit.

I say Good for you Kazzi! I gave up drinking for over a month a couple of months ago and I felt so damn healthy and good in myself, since then I don't drink half as much as I used to and I don't look at drink in the same way either. Don't get me wrong, I'm suffering today! and like a drink but my attitude towards drink has changed.
I lost a stone in that month too ;o)

Glad to hear you had a good weekend!

[kazzianne]

Morning wingnut! Yes we needed the time away,spoilt it slightly by my escapades on sat eve,but I think that was the proverbial nail in the coffin which made me sit up and say "ok,this is getting silly now."

Im actually quite excited about doing this which I know sounds silly.

How did your anniversay meal go? Did you enjoy it?

[raysparx]

Kazzi, you are a star and you can do this,as with the diet Kaz if you do it I will,I like a drink but I won't have one till the World cup starts, deal or no deal???

Seriously kaz you know yourself,that you have to cut back,but why are you now drinking so much? is it because you enjoy it or are you concerned about something in the back of your mind?

give it a go kazzi,we will all support you, take care, Ray xx

[jake-the-peg]

Not very helpful was it?

Thing is unless people see somebody clutching a bottle in the gutter they don't class them as having an alcohol problem.

I didn't get quite the same treatment as you when I went on the wagon, but I did get a lot of people saying "Oh it's you weren't that bad" etc.

If you were giving up smoking they'd give you loads of support!

That one about the shock to the body is criminally untrue! actually so much so that it's funny!

The truth of the matter is probably in the observation that they don't want a non drinker "spoiling the fun", try to show them you can still be fun and they'll also quickly come to recognise the benefit of having a TT about when they need a lift home!

I've also often found that on occasion anti-biotics were a great thing - not to take but as to use as an excuse for not drinking. Especially when you're in say a works drink or where you meet someone and don't want to have to explain why you're not drinking etc. etc. etc.

Well done though and I mean that very very sincerely. If you get tempted count the days you've been dry and think about how "just the one" would be starting all over again at day 1 - that always helped me.

[kazzianne]

Hi Ray/Jake.Is genuinely not that I need it - I just like it too much and so over -do it constantly.And so after I've had a few glasses of wine or whatever,I then lose track of how much I have actually drank.So I think that if I dont touch it at all then I wont be putting myself in that position,and hopefully after a few months I wont like the taste as much.

[raysparx]

Hi kaz, won't do you any harm to give it a go,it will help with the diet as well,how is that? I should have e-mailed you by now ( I am a lazy git) I have lost 1 lb this week kaz how about you?

take care kaz Iv'e got to go to work now. Ray xx

[kazzianne]

haven't lost anything Ray,but that is probably down to the alcohol! Will give it my best shot now! Have a great day at work.x

[redcrx]

Hi Kaz,

as others have said, you friends and relatives are being this way because they have to take stock of their own drinking habits in this situation. Perhaps once they see you are doing well they will be more supportive.

I wish you all the luck in the world for the next 3 months. It wont be easy, but you will have a lot of support on here Im sure.

Did you have a good time at the seaside?

[kazzianne]

Morning Redcrx.Yes-great.We were very lucky and didnt have a drop of rain.We walked on the beach,paddled in the sea,ate fish and chips,went on some of the fun rides,all the things I wanted to do!

[dot.hawkes]

Stick with it Kazz, I am drinking an awful lot often these days as I felt it was causing me heartburn and a bloated feeling and though it never stopped me getting up in a morning, I know that if a drank more than a few nights a week i would be struggling to keep going at work. I agree that if you drink socially it is hard but it is the drinking at home that does the most damage and that is what you should avoid.

[kazzianne]

Hi Dot.I went to the doctor a few months ago with chronic heartburn,and he said I may possibly have the beginnings of an ulcer.But I kidded myself that he was talking rubbish.Now the last few weeks my tummy is really bloated as well,and after saturday night where I disgraced myself I think enough is enough.Im still in my thirties for gods sake! I want to enjoy life,and though I do want to eventually be able to have some wine at the weekends I want to be in control.

[dot.hawkes]

Kazz I meant I was drinking an awful lot LESS often! I know what you mean about the hearftburn, it does make you stop and think.

[~posy-jo~]

hiya kazzianne! glad you had a nice weekend and congratulations to you for making a tough decision. ignore your family, you want to do it for you so if you wanna be tee total go ahead. i wish you well and i'm sure you will do it. i think they are jealous because when you are out and not drinking they will realise how much they actually consume!! we're all here if you need any support. take care xXx

[Bohne]

Hey, you are doing this for yourself, not for them.

You can do it and don't listen to anyone who is trying to tell you differently.
The people you are talking about are neither good friends, not do they care the least bit about you, that is my oppinion!

Good luck!

[CLOWN TICKLE]

Think how much better you will feel and how little there comments will seem. go for it

[kazzianne]

I know Dot.Its scary to think what drink could possibly be doing to the body without you even knowing it isn't it.Good for you on cutting down,god knows how I will manage giving it up totally,especially if the b/f doesnt.x

[jno]

kazzi I know a guy who relied far too much on alcohol, then gave it up completely; he collapsed a week later. (He recovered.) So that is a possibiity for some people, not a joke. I doubt you really drink that much - he drank a lot - so you should be fine. But do monitor carefully how you're going, just in case. And good luck.

[noxlumos]

I had a big scary drink problem along with a few others afew years ago and when I stopped I stopped dead and would recommend it to anyone. I have to say I felt absolutely awful for the first 3 days then much better, then about 4 weeks after I really felt dire for about a week and then it was as if someone had given me the energy levels of a 16 year old, I felt amazing and my whole metabolism changed. I don't drink much now but I can drink as and when I want to , I just find that I don't really enjoy it anymore wheras before I loved it. You keep going and pay no heed to anyone who tries to p**s on your chips, people hate anyone doing something positive and successful, so just carry on, you can do it:)

[kazzianne]

Hi jno - thats what's worring me a bit,but hopefully I dont drink as much as your friend.I said in my old post that b/f and I had for about a year been drinking 2-3 bottles of wine a night between us.Some nights we didnt touch a drop but not many,and some nights it was just one bottle,but either way on the whole it is still too much.But im not one of those people who can do things by halves - its all or nothing with me.

[nickmo]

Hi kazzianne - and I'll add the simple comment apart from the health benefits - put the cash you would have spent on drink into a jar for the week Simple sums ? ... 2 or 3 bottles night at even �4 a go = �200 a month or so, so you must be realy rich to spend that sort of money just on a drink. �2500 a year thrown down the drain, and thats not including a night in the pub, say once a week, �30? x 50 = another �1500. So thats �4000 a year on getting pyssed........nothing else, just drink - then wonder why you drank in the first place when you see the financial cost as well as recognising the health cost.

Unfortunately, I knew people that have died through alcoholism, seen marriages and relationships break up, and all the usual bad stuff. A drink is nice on the odd occasion and I'd be a hypocrite to say never drink.. but as it is a cause of hassle more often than not, you will really be doing yourself a real favour to leave it alone.

The first step is one you have taken to see that here is no enjoyment from constantly drinking - and encourage everyone else to moderate their drink as well around you and this can only help.

You aren't alone, and no need to feel you are in trouble through liking a drink for goodness sake, but stick to it and you really will feel so much better for it.