Teetotalism

[Sara_H]

Has anyone else managed this at all?

I have been "off the pop" since the start of January and I feel so much better for it. However, that's not to say that I don't get hugely tempted still.

How do people manage the cravings and also the social pressures? (A lot of my friends have reacted as if I said "I've decided to become a murderer").

Help!

I've been "teetotal" for about a year.

I made the decision to cut down as I was drinking a bottle of wine every evening (except when I was working nights) and as a result I was lacking in energy, fat and hungover most days. I was concerned about my liver. I was concerned about my neurology long term.

Attempts to cut down didn't go very well, I'd manage a couple of nights off and would be desperate for a drink. Attempts to have just half a bottle were futile - if there was a bottle open I'd drink it.

I decided to try the Allan Carr book "easy way to control alcohol". Before I'd even finished the book I found my stomach turned at the thought of drinking alcohol, and haven't had a drink since then.
It's bizarre, the smell of alcohol on my OH's brath makes me feel sick as does standing in the alcohol aisle at the supermarket.

Reactions from friends on learning that I didn't drink anymore were strange. Even my OH, who was previously very concerned by my drinking habits was concerned that some occasions would be spoilt by me being sober, however this hasn't been the case. If anything, life is better as my wit and intelligence are mch more sparkling, I'm told it's better in the bedroom too if your girlfriend isn't semi concious half the time!

I can honestly say that up until I had my near death experience in December, I've never been in better health. I lost 1lb a week consistantly for several months, just from stopping drinking. I felt full of energy, slept better,felt quicker bain wise etc.

Speaking of my near death experience, I'm not sure I'd have lived to tell the tale if myh ealth had been as poor as it was prior to giving up drinking.

Go for it - you have nothing to lose.

 

[ColinJ]

I'm told it's better in the bedroom too if your girlfriend isn't semi concious half the time!

Maybe the secret is to be semiconscious yourself so you don't notice the difference ...?

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Stop drinking 23 years ago when I passed my L plate test. Since then it has been just special occasions (like my marriage) and the odd hot toddy when I can't sleep due to illness/asthma playing up. maybe once or twice a month I will have about 1/2 a glass of ale with my OH who likes his ales but prefers not to drink alone. So I guess maybe 8 units a year at the most for the last 23 years (with one minor hiccup 20 years ago when I needed a reminder on why I didn't drink (much) anymore and consumed 3/4 bottle of Isle of Jura in one sitting - took 3 or 4 days to recover from that one!)

 

[MissTillyFlop]

I think may have just proven that I really don't even need to drink...

 

[StuAff]

Thing is, without the assistance of drink, how is it possible to get together with someone ? Tea drinking & arranged marriage ?

No idea. I've stuck to the tea drinking.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I think may have just proven that I really don't even need to drink...

That you in the avatar?
Carneval?

 

[MissTillyFlop]

That it is, my child.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

That it is, my child.

Cool!

 

[martint235]

Well I've bought the Allen Carr book, will give it a go.

 

[GM]

I only drink when I'm out, I had an unopened crate of beer the the fridge and someone didn't believe that it was the same unopened crate when they came round 3 months later.

I'm the same, in fact once I had a six pack in the fridge that went past its sell by date.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

I'm the same, in fact once I had a six pack in the fridge that went past its sell by date.

After my grandpa died I was clearing his garage and found some out of date rusty tins of Makesons stout - tasted OK though, well as good as Makesons ever gets!

 

[subaqua]

Have cut right down on my intake. I don't have any on a "school night" and have a lot less than i used to on a friday evening, saturday evening and sunday with lunch.

that said i went a bit mad this weekend watching the rugby and really regretted it the following day with the hangover from hell.

I went a few years without drinking because thats where i needed to be at that time. off it completely. I prefer savouring a nice tasting wine or whisky now to chucking cheap chemicals masquerading as strong belgian/french lager down my neck

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

My mad bad binge on sugary shite seems to have abated my craving for, cheap chemicals masquerading as strong Belgian/French lager.....

 

[Jefferson Meriwether]

I gave up for just over a month as I wanted a short break from alcohol; a 3 week holiday on the Costa De Sol help me stay on the wagon. I noticed a big improvement psychologically towards the end of the month. I was originally planning to do 3 months and would have done it as well if I hadn't taken advantage of a voucher I had for £60 off a case of wine.

I'm not particularly interested in becoming tea total permanently (Though it wouldn'rt bother me in the slightest if I ended up going down that road.) but I am going to change my attitute towards alcohol this year. The vast majority of my drinking is at home by myself and, in a normal week, I drink 2 or 3 nights a week mainly for the sake of drinking. Drinking once a week for the sake of it is alright in my mind but 2-3 times a week for the sake of it is a bit too much IMO. So yeah, I plan to make a few changes

 

[Aperitif]

Well I've bought the Allen Carr book, will give it a go.

It will not taste nice Mart - stick to Ricard.