newman23

Hi everyone,

Been struggling a bit lately, particularly with cravings. It seems whenever I think about what I am going to do in the evening time, I immediately drawn into my mind with alcohol. This just happened to me now. I thought to myself, why? I sat down and made a list of the pros and cons if I were to continue to keep drinking. I would toss these around in my head but I think the voice tries to "minimize" the cons or shield them altogether when its just kept inside. Seeing them on paper just now really shocked me. Just felt like a slap in the face looking between the two, and want to use this information to fuel my motivation to actively work a program. Its so sick, and scary, how the dominate pro is really "just to feel good", or at least thats what the message of the craving seems to be, compared to everything that gets added to the con list. Just thought I'd share since this seems to have helped me get some perspective. Hopefully it might help someone too.

Pros for drinking:
1) I believe it will feel good(initially)
2) More sociable?
3) It feels like it relieves an intense craving(but only temporarily)


Cons
1) Worsening my liver damage
2) Worsening my high blood pressure
3) Weight gain
4) Constant "mental fog"
5) Physical inactivity reducing health
6) Making a fool of myself regardless of how many times I tell myself(it will be different).
7) Family tends to avoid me and are upset by me drinking.
8) Dangerous activities such as drunk driving(recently lost a car driving drunk and smashing into a curb)
9) Having no energy the next day, and being hung over
10) My job performance has been decreasing at a steady rate(also increased call ins)
11) I can't return to school because drinking takes priority over school work which causes very poor performance
12) Money can't go to more productive things such as seeking out piano lessons, paying off past debts, other hobbies and goals, more clothes and healthy foods for myself
13) All of my life goals are on the back burner and won't see the light of day if I don't stop
14) Poor hygiene, miss taking prescription pills for blood pressure and anxiety, lack of self-care
15) Very noticeable decline in quality of life since starting drinking up until latest drinking patter
16) Work from home and become socially isolated excluding drunken conversations initiated online via facebook or text
17) Everyday feels like the same(like I am stuck in the movie "Ground Hogs Day" with Bill Murray)
18) Depression ensues due to these consequences, not happy.
19) Increasing tolerance making physical health and consequences worse

whiskeyman

i dont think there is a server big enough to cover the amount of CONS

2granddaughters

To the "con" list I'd have to add I became one.

All the best.

Bob R

tomsteve

the largest con for me is:
alcohol will kill me.
if i would be fortunate, it would be only me that got hurt.
nothing good came from drinking. false courage.false security. nothing but a lie.

Boleo

Trying to solve the alcohol-ISM problem using logic and reason is like a dog chasing it's tail.

""We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."
(Albert Einstein)

hirsty

This was my list when I was in the same position as you.. It's nice to read it again as I recently relapsed for a week after 1.5 years abstinence.. Nice to remind myself why I stopped in the first place:--

Pros

* It's social (i live on my own so helps to make friends,, although it never stopped me when i didnt live alone)
* love the taste
* get involved in situations i never thought i'd do
* feel confident talking to girls
* euphoric.. never felt a better rush off any other drug really
* met people i didnt think i would meet
* feel involved in a "community"
* music "seems" better
* makes me "happy"
* looking back at photos of nights out i look so happy


Cons

* being sick every morning
* alienating friends
* being hungover in work
* seeing my bleary eyes in the mirror every morning
* pains in my liver
* getting so drunk i cry about my problems
* not eating for days on end because i can't stomach food
* getting the shakes to the point i cant write properly
* hallucinating to the point where it hurts my eyes to see people wearing striped clothing
* constantly thinking about alcohol and the pub
* rationalising eating food etc so i can buy more alcohol
* losing "the love of my life"
* blackouts and not remembering what i did the night before until i read my txt messages
* getting involved in mad and illegal situations which could get me fired from my job
* speding £100's every month on alcohol
* avoiding spending decent social contact with good friends so i can drink
* secret drinking
* clearing away 10's of empty beer cans and bottles from my room every week
* happy to drink on my own,, often preferred it
* spending loads of money on other crazy purchases whilst under the influence
* suicidal thoughts
* home such a mess beccause i cant be bothered cleaning
* i KNOW this is going to kill me
* injuring myself
* losing driving license

kiki26

Funny I felt like I was living in ground hogs day too. Everyday the same tired pattern that just made me miserable. I would go to bed unhappy and wake up unhappy. It's pretty freeing to rid yourself of drinking

Deluxe

Hirsty......I said "yep" to every single one of your cons....without exception. Thanks for posting.

bigsombrero

I'll give this a +1. I use this on my cons list too. I'll die if I keep drinking the way I did, and that will happen if I pick up just once. Consequences people list often include things like "I won't wake up with bad breath", but if we're honest with ourselves the cons are much, much steeper than that.

Good luck!!!

gravity

Another list I made (idea came from a self-help book) was to list all of the things I was trying to get from alcohol and then list healthier (better) ways to get those things.

For example:

Stress relief - exercise, movies
Friendship - join a gym, attend AA meetings
Have fun - socialize with non drinking family members and reconnect with old friends

And believe me, at the end, my drinking was NOT stress relieving or fun and I had lost all my friends. lol

gaffo

My cons of drinking:
I wasted a frightening amount of time, energy, and money. I established being a drunk as a central component of my personality. I arrested my development. I let some stupid stuff just happen. All those horrible hangovers over the years, the hours and days spent feeling like crap while dealing with the good, bad, and ugly of life just waiting for the day to be over began to feel almost like a sin. Alcohol was threatening to ruin all the things in my life that I had worked for.

My pros of sobriety:
I love my sobriety, it is a source of deep personal pride that nourishes my wounded soul. I love day after day without a hangover. It just gets better every day. Of course I respect that I must never drink again but the cravings are gone. I'll take that trade any day--I never wake up in the middle of the night and think I've got to moderate my sobriety. I almost always sleep all the way through the night and wake up refreshed. My body feels better in every way. I have endless patience for my kids. I relate better to all the people in my life. I can drive anywhere, anytime. I discover new things every day.

deeker

haha! me 2!

deeker

[QUOTE=hirsty;3861452]This was my list when I was in the same position as you.
Pros


Awesome list! Needed that!

JesseJe

Thank you for this!!! I'd like to add if you don't mind. (helps reiterate why I don't want to drink)

Cons of drinking:
Numerous health problems
Being someone you are not
Regret for doing things you wouldn't normally do
Hangovers
Anxiety
Compounding depression
Shabby appearance
Not accomplishing anything
Constantly thinking about getting drunk
Exercise is a chore
House is a mess
Eat crappy food
Meet people who are also alcohol dependent
Can't have a real intimate relationship
Expensive waste of money
Temporary illusion of happiness which always leaves you with a hole in your chest and a craving for more alcohol

Pro's of Drinking:
Feel more connected to people (temporarily)
Euphoria (temporary)

Con's of Sobriety
It's a challenge to face yourself

Pro's of Sobriety
Truth is not sacrificed for a lie
Healthy
Mood is more in balance
You feel amazing for so many reasons
More time to do things you love
Healthier relationships with others and yourself
True confidence can develop (this has been huge for me even in only 3 weeks)
Self love can blossom naturally
Skin is glowing again
Eyes are bright again
Clear head

Sorry that was long needed to get it out