Saying Goodbye To John Barleycorn

[Richey Edwards]

On 09/06/2023 at 07:45, Bert Raccoon said:

A common story, exact same happened to my father. Stopped drinking for a good year or so but even when not drinking he'd still go to the pub and drink soft drinks just for the social aspect (being forced into early retirement gave his days no real direction) eventually he convinced himself he could have a few at the weekend like a "normal" person, gradually he slipped into his old habits again. 

He went into hospital in 2014 in a final attempt to come off the drink but unfortunately never made it out.

My heart goes out to every single person here struggling and even though I've witnessed it first hand, I've had my own struggles with booze. Stay strong guys 

That's pretty much what happened to me everytime I "fell off the wagon". It may well start off as "a few", but "a few" would never be enough and the old drinking patterns and behaviours would re-emerge.

I'm six and a half years off the drink now. There's no way I would ever go back.

[Jacksgranda]

3 minutes ago, Richey Edwards said:

That's pretty much what happened to me everytime I "fell off the wagon". It may well start off as "a few", but "a few" would never be enough and the old drinking patterns and behaviours would re-emerge.

I'm six and a half years off the drink now. There's no way I would ever go back.

To me a "couple of drinks" was 6, and a "few" was a dozen.

[TxRover]

I’ve succumbed to the interest, but it was just the one finger of scotch three days ago. It seems I may be correct that I can limit myself, but it’ll bear watching.

[coprolite]

One year today. 

Not convinced i was ever an alcoholic as such. More that i'd just get into the habit of drinking unhealthy amounts over again. 

Managed a fair few years of only drinking at weekends but was back up to a bottle of wine + a couple of beers and a large whisky nightcap on a Tuesday by last year. And it was like that most nights. It just bored me and made functioning how i'd like to more difficult. 

As one of many changes i've made kicking the booze has contributed to much better physical health and being in a much better place mentally. Quite like being sober all the time. 

[Hedgecutter]

Hardly a milestone worthy of fireworks, but today marks Day 11 of a cold turkey break.  Intending on getting to 22, although with no intention of giving up fully.

Realised that a couple of beers had become a daily habit (often with a large dram) that had been going on for a couple of months. This was made worse by daily evenings in the pub and hoose parties on recent mini-holiday trips away.

Replaced it with some 0.0% 330ml bottles for midweek, but I'm finding myself drinking 4 or 5 bottles of the six pack on a midweek night.  I think it's the cold fizz refreshment that I crave, but cheaper fizzy water out the fridge doesn't seem to hit the spot.  My will-power is pathetic (hence why I've never tried any form of recreational drug).

I do ad hoc offshore work which normally gives the liver a sudden rest for a while, and I don't miss it at all when I'm away from home.  That's quite comforting knowing that it's a habit and not a dependence.  However, there's a pause in that type of work for me just now which hasn't given me that forced halt, hence the self-enforced ban.

#halfwaythere

Edited September 7, 2023 by Hedgecutter

[Nkomo-A-Gogo]

The last drink i had was on Sunday coming home from holidays. I bought a bottle of wine in the airport. I didnt want my wife to think i was drinking so i went into the toilet and pushed in the cork with my toothbrush and filled a bottle of coke and necked the rest.

It all seemed a bit pathetic but i hate flying so it took the edge off.

Im going to stop for a while now. The problem is i really like a few drinks. I feel no better when off it if anything i feel like something is missing.

Hoping to find some kind of benefit this time.

[Richey Edwards]

[Richey Edwards]

Seven years sober today. 

[Jacksgranda]

Well done!