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3 years ago Mrs D's drinking had got a bit out of control following the death of her mum. Fair play to her, she managed, just in time, to get hold of things and decide to quit. I felt it only fair I join her and gave up e-cigs, the odd actual cig I still had and anything else I smoke or otherwise.
Do I miss it? Just sometimes; when we are out with work and the wines are being ordered from the more exclusive end of the list and just occasionally I really fancy a scotch but I know how much better I feel for not drinking also. And actually, I have been closer to having a cig than a drink more than once. I do indulge in the odd AF beer and have even tried a few fairly reasonable AF wines and spirits. They don't taste quite the same but they are miles better than they used to be.
If anyone is in the process of giving up - you can do it. If my wife can knock it on the head from being very borderline full blown alcoholic anyone can 🙂 .
Good on you! One day soon, now that the link between social interaction and going to the pub has pretty much broken, I might have a go myself, with enormous health, weight and financial benefits.
Well done for giving up, and doubly well done for doing it to support your wife.
Over twenty years for me now, I think.
Nice one! I'm coming up to 2 years.
As far as I am concerned, being alcohol-free is a superpower!
Good effort, to you and MrsDBG
Well done Mr and Mrs Danny on a great achievement!
Happy days, well done to the pair of you.
3 years and one month here! No real reason (although when ye tell folk they assume you were either a jakey, or an aggressive drunk!), was just getting a bit chunky and didn't like the lethargy that a few friday night beers had on my saturday.
It's not til you stop that you realise how much our society revolves around the swally.
It definitely helps that my missus was never really a drinker, similar to yourself it's easier as a pair tbh.
Well done you, you are a very supportive husband. As a fellow teetotaller I understand how challenging it can be in certain situations. Do you still get the looks of horror and the gasps of “what do you mean you don’t drink”?
@Nobeerinthefridge @PiknMix - ain't that the truth. Some people are genuinely surprised that my wife and I are actually very happy not drinking, others look at us like we have the plague and yes, society in the country is very much based around alcohol it would seem...
18 months for me later this month. Due to mental illness I was a "self medicator" with alcohol. Feel so much better without it. Mental health isn't so debilitating and I don't get heartburn or that sicky feeling anymore.
Well done OP for being so supportive of your wife and well done both of you for 3 years teetotal.
Massive, massive, MASSIVE congrats to everyone whos kicked it here. Watched my old man try for years and hes never managed it so totally understand how hard it is. For obvious reasons im also a non drinker and I am amazed the reaction it gets. I once had waiter in a bar scoff and say why are you not drinking its a friday - so i played the alcoholic father card just to see how awkward I could make him feel.
I'm not much of a drinker so could probably give alcohol fairly easily. Chocolate on the other hand I really struggle with. If I have too much it can trigger migraines so far a while I tried not to touch it but when I'm tired or feeling a bit low it's what I want. So I have a great deal of respect for anybody that can give up something they love or have leant heavily on, so well done to your wife. I think this country has a very unhealthy relationship with alcohol.
Well done OP. Huge respect to both you and your Mrs. This year was going to be the year when I went teetotal after a few years of drinking more than I was comfortable with and I managed to go three whole months (Jan, Feb, March) without touching a drop. I've sporadically had a couple of drinks now and then the rest of the year so far but really don't enjoy it at all now. My younger brother is getting married at the end of this month so will have a couple of last drinks then but after that I'll be quitting for good.
Well done, alcohol is a nasty drug that easily gets out of control. I've recently lost my best mate of 40 years due to it. In the manner of him having some adverse reaction to one of the anti psychotic drugs they put him on when he tried to finally give up alcohol.
Well done to everyone, we really don't need such addictions, and a more healthy lifestyle is the best way to live your life, especially as we age and a lifetime of such intake starts to prove very harmful.
Hello everyone, congratulations to everyone who has given up their addictions. I've been an alcoholic since I was a teen, I still am but now I'm just recently sober (again, I've tried many times) I used it to self medicate anxiety and childhood issues. I'm a big guy and that's where all my weight had come from UpTo 26 beers every night or 2 bottles of vodka aty worst. It caused me gastritis and I was frequently being sick with dark strands of blood. It's no way to live.. I've upset everyone in & outside my life many times over by being a drunk, I've quit jobs, fights with the family.. and waking up in your own urine & sick isn't the best start to the day!
I may always be an alcoholic, but I don't have to live that life anymore & I'm determined not to. Plus the withdrawals are horrible and frightening.
It's hard, but good luck to all of us.
Best of luck bliss 🙏🏻
I’ve been an alcoholic since I was a teen, I still am but now I’m just recently sober (again, I’ve tried many times) I used it to self medicate anxiety and childhood issues.
You sound a lot like a good friend of mine. He found that counselling and CBT were pretty helpful to get the anxiety into a more manageable place (and rehab really, that's what got him started on the right road) - you've probably tried them but if not, do give them a go!
He's been sober over 4 years now, went back to college to complete the course he dropped out of two decades earlier, and is doing really well.
Good luck chap.
Well done @dannybgoode and all above. 10 years 9 months here. Back from the brink. I dread to think where I'd be if I hadn't finally cracked it.
It gets easier every year. I can honestly say that it hasn't crossed my mind for the last few years. The negative consequences are deeply engrained in my memory so I only need to think back to reaffirm my conviction!
@bliss - the trick that did it for Mrs D was to tell herself she was not going to drink *today8, not that she was quitting *forever*. And then the next day you are just not drinking for that day etc. It is much easier to not drink for 24 hours than it is to try and stare into an alcohol free abyss for some people.
Ultimately you can do it. I am sure of that...
im also a non drinker and I am amazed the reaction it gets
I stopped drinking for a few years because I wanted to, fortunately not because of any sort of problem. I was amazed what a big deal it was to everyone else. The thing that got me the most was when people would say "but don't you want to have a good time?" It made me realise that in our society, drinking and having a good time are seem as being completely co-dependent. It just made me want to drink even less.
Well done to everyone who is winning a battle.
The thing that got me the most was when people would say “but don’t you want to have a good time?” It made me realise that in our society, drinking and having a good time are seem as being completely co-dependent
Yep, quite agree. I still go clubbing occasionally, hard house and techno mainly. and people are stunned I am still on the dancefloor at 5am dancing badly on nothing more than a couple of glasses of Coke. Completely sober clubbing is the future - I can drive there, dance my tits off and drive home and then be fully functioning the moment I wake up 🙂
I stopped drinking for a few years because I wanted to, fortunately not because of any sort of problem. I was amazed what a big deal it was to everyone else. The thing that got me the most was when people would say “but don’t you want to have a good time?” It made me realise that in our society, drinking and having a good time are seem as being completely co-dependent. It just made me want to drink even less.
+1. Sunday morning hangovers spoilt my riding and I decided I like riding more than drinking so stopped. We have been at a wedding this weekend and had those exact words said to me from a guy with his arm round me followed by " come on you boring **** lets get f^&*ed up". 5 minutes later he fell flat on his face. Looking from the outside I'm amazed at the need to drink to have a good time.
Massive praise to anyone winning the battle against their demons.
hard house
@dannybgoode There aren’t many of us left now. I remember doing Sundissential North sober on my birthday, I just had to look around at the drunken mess everywhere to know I was having a much better time.
Well done!! 20 years for me, still have occasional dream of getting pissed though 😂😂😂
@PiknMix - given Insomniacz was on pre-24/7 drinks licenses I think alcohol was the furthest substance from people's minds. Didn't stop them from getting into utter tangles though :D. I still go to the odd 'somz event when Tom puts one on.
@futonrivercrossing - yes, dreams involving drink are a fairly regular occurrence for me. Usually with (in the dream) associated guilt at having caved in to temptation.
Usually with (in the dream) associated guilt at having caved in to temptation.
This! Thought it was only me! 🤣