quitting drinking would be so much easier if 5pm was bedtime:-/
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Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 106
quitting drinking would be so much easier if 5pm was bedtime:-/
This always happens. Between 3pm and 5pm. I get so bored and anxious. Its time to cook dinner. I'm fine early in the day, but my coffee is wearing off, I've been around my 3 kids all day and ALL I can think about is having some wine to relax. Best reminder to myself is that after the first bottle and a half, I'm happy, I'm fun, we have a good evening, I put them to bed, listen to music and clean, but around 9, the blackout begins. I start drunk texting people, smoke a whole pack of cigarettes, then wake up with my head throbbing, panicking and checking my phone to see who I might have called or texted while drunk, then sitting there confused because I have no recollection of opening that third bottle.. and usually finishing it. No matter how much I want wine, that just sounds effing awful. Im so tired of it. Looks like tomorrow will be day 4 of feeling good! I'm excited for the weekend
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Join Date: May 2012
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 16,945
Congrats on day 4. 5pm was a tough time for me too, at end of the day I "deserved" a beer. But just like you it was never one. And towards the end there was no "good"...I simply needed to drink so my heart rate stayed under 100 and my BP didn't spike.
The good news is that it gets better, much much better. Try a cold water or soda, relax In the yard or take a walk. You'll discover all the good things you missed out on while you were fixated on the wine
The good news is that it gets better, much much better. Try a cold water or soda, relax In the yard or take a walk. You'll discover all the good things you missed out on while you were fixated on the wine
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Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: in the city by the bay
Posts: 605
I used to do the same thing. Wine was my treat or my inspiration to start cooking dinner and etc. My day is full of gaps now. Times I used to drink. I used to settle in after dinner was over with wine. Go to bed with a glass of wine. It will take time to fill those gaps but I can't drink anymore because I have no power to control my drinking.
Good luck! I have been juicing, trying different teas and etc. I have cut way down on coffee, I still drink 1-2 cups in the morning but it makes me too anxious and anxiety used to lead me to drink.
When you want to drink, try to go here. That is what I do. It takes awhile to stop a habit.
I've got 3 kids also...and as moms, everyone seems to give us permission to drink. That is what I find. I had to really come to my own decision. My husband was happy I quit but he never confronted me, never told me he was concerned or that he wanted me to quit.
I have been drinking much less over the past year. I haven't driven with alcohol in the car for over a year, maybe 2, not sure. At my worst, I had to take booze with me on every trip.
When I was able to stop that, it felt like a huge victory but I was still trying to wait until 7pm, then 5pm...then since summer break, I started drinking in the morning again or by noon.
I can't control it and it ebbs and flows. Sometimes heavy, sometimes moderate but I felt like a slave to alcohol. When I drink, alcohol owns me.
I feel free now. Just keep fighting those empty times during the day. I am on here first thing in the morning, in the afternoon after coming home from errands, every evening...a lot. All the old drinking times!
Good luck! I have been juicing, trying different teas and etc. I have cut way down on coffee, I still drink 1-2 cups in the morning but it makes me too anxious and anxiety used to lead me to drink.
When you want to drink, try to go here. That is what I do. It takes awhile to stop a habit.
I've got 3 kids also...and as moms, everyone seems to give us permission to drink. That is what I find. I had to really come to my own decision. My husband was happy I quit but he never confronted me, never told me he was concerned or that he wanted me to quit.
I have been drinking much less over the past year. I haven't driven with alcohol in the car for over a year, maybe 2, not sure. At my worst, I had to take booze with me on every trip.
When I was able to stop that, it felt like a huge victory but I was still trying to wait until 7pm, then 5pm...then since summer break, I started drinking in the morning again or by noon.
I can't control it and it ebbs and flows. Sometimes heavy, sometimes moderate but I felt like a slave to alcohol. When I drink, alcohol owns me.
I feel free now. Just keep fighting those empty times during the day. I am on here first thing in the morning, in the afternoon after coming home from errands, every evening...a lot. All the old drinking times!
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Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Midwest
Posts: 8,336
4 o clock was a difficult time for me too. I changed up my routine as Dee suggested, took walks, rans errands etc. Once I got past 6:30 - 7, I felt much better, would take a nice bath, get in my jammies and relax with some snacks. Nothing wrong with an early bed time....makes a sober sunrise all the better!
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Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 25,373
The other thing is that you may need to start having an afternoon snack...cottage cheese and fruit, or string cheese and fruit are good snacks.
Being hungry was good when I drank, that meant I would get the buzz faster. Ugh. Then I just pretty much stopped eating at the end unless it was popcorn or nuts. Yes. I was nuts.
In the beginning of my sobriety I would often go to bed around 6PM.
Being hungry was good when I drank, that meant I would get the buzz faster. Ugh. Then I just pretty much stopped eating at the end unless it was popcorn or nuts. Yes. I was nuts.
In the beginning of my sobriety I would often go to bed around 6PM.
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Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: AB, Canada
Posts: 299
Well, make it bedtime! My drinking hours were mostly from 10:00 pm till when the beer ran out! Now, I go to bed at 8:30 or 9:00 and get up early! Life is so much better with enjoying watching the sunrise with a coffee in hand and a clean and sharp mind!
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Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: California
Posts: 46
That is exactly my night! Omit the cigs, but so close. I know that morning panic. Totally relate to the drunk Facebook and text messages. I don't dare call people.... I slur! But I'm sure they can tell with my weird comments and post! I also make plans to do things with people, that the next day I don't want to do! It's funny! And really sad...
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 6,224
What is to stop you going to bed at say, 7.30pm or whenever dinner is finished and washed up? If you are drinking anyway (as I did) you aren't achieving anything by being up so you could go to bed directly after dinner, get up way early and get on with your day. Do it for a week and then think again.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 106
Thank you everyone for all your helpful suggestions! I agree that I need to change my weekday schedule, its just hard to do. I feel like my work is never ending! But I will try to get dinner started early so I'm not spending those hours sitting around fixated on drinking.
As far as going to bed early, my kids are pretty young (yougest is 5) so going to bed before them isnt an option unless I want my house burned down lol. I can never fall asleep before 11/12 anyway.
Anyway, by 8pm we were all watching tv and eating ice cream, they were in bed by 9 and I went to bed at my normal time and woke up at 6am and had coffee. Its a great feeling to wake up so early and be excited about it. When I'd wake up that early with a hangover I'd freak out and drink a ton of water and stress on going to back to sleep hoping my hangover would get just a little better, so the rest of the day wouldnt be pure hell lol.
Feeling a little weird about the weekend.. even though I always have my kids with me, we either go somewhere where theres drinking, or friends/family come here- the kids play while the adults barbecue and drink, or we meet up somewhere like the beach, same story! It'll be my first sober weekend in quite some time.. I'm pretty excited about it! (Nervous at the same time) hoping nobody calls to say they're coming over.. I need to be prepared for that!
Enjoy your weekend everyone!
As far as going to bed early, my kids are pretty young (yougest is 5) so going to bed before them isnt an option unless I want my house burned down lol. I can never fall asleep before 11/12 anyway.
Anyway, by 8pm we were all watching tv and eating ice cream, they were in bed by 9 and I went to bed at my normal time and woke up at 6am and had coffee. Its a great feeling to wake up so early and be excited about it. When I'd wake up that early with a hangover I'd freak out and drink a ton of water and stress on going to back to sleep hoping my hangover would get just a little better, so the rest of the day wouldnt be pure hell lol.
Feeling a little weird about the weekend.. even though I always have my kids with me, we either go somewhere where theres drinking, or friends/family come here- the kids play while the adults barbecue and drink, or we meet up somewhere like the beach, same story! It'll be my first sober weekend in quite some time.. I'm pretty excited about it! (Nervous at the same time) hoping nobody calls to say they're coming over.. I need to be prepared for that!
Enjoy your weekend everyone!
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Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Minneapolis MN
Posts: 2
Originally Posted by Ready2beSober 
This always happens. Between 3pm and 5pm. I get so bored and anxious. Its time to cook dinner. I'm fine early in the day, but my coffee is wearing off, I've been around my 3 kids all day and ALL I can think about is having some wine to relax. Best reminder to myself is that after the first bottle and a half, I'm happy, I'm fun, we have a good evening, I put them to bed, listen to music and clean, but around 9, the blackout begins. I start drunk texting people, smoke a whole pack of cigarettes, then wake up with my head throbbing, panicking and checking my phone to see who I might have called or texted while drunk, then sitting there confused because I have no recollection of opening that third bottle.. and usually finishing it. No matter how much I want wine, that just sounds effing awful. Im so tired of it. Looks like tomorrow will be day 4 of feeling good! I'm excited for the weekend
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Join Date: May 2013
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 383
Someone mentioned cutting down on caffeine - that's a good idea. You may want to look into hypoglycemia - I drank myself into it. Drinking coffee causes a glucose (blood sugar) drop in me, and if I were in early recovery, the 3-5 PM coffee crash along with having little food in my stomach at that time would certainly explain why I would have a strong craving for alcohol. Maybe try cutting down on the caffeine (temporarily) and eat an afternoon healthy snack, around 3-3:30. Something with a lot of protein like nuts - try and avoid sugar, which gives a quick fix but results in the same crash as the caffeine.
As others also suggested, some light exercise is fantastic to side track a craving.
Good job on your sober time
As others also suggested, some light exercise is fantastic to side track a craving.
Good job on your sober time
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Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Virginia
Posts: 86
Wow, Ready, I can so relate to everything you posted and your feelings. I have been there and done that too many times. You and your children deserve so much better. I hope you decide to stick with this and you will see that your other problems and stressors will lessen or be removed completely. I promise! And you will be able to deal with life's issues without getting overly upset, depressed and drinking. Welcome.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 106
Originally Posted by Climber122
Someone mentioned cutting down on caffeine - that's a good idea. You may want to look into hypoglycemia - I drank myself into it. Drinking coffee causes a glucose (blood sugar) drop in me, and if I were in early recovery, the 3-5 PM coffee crash along with having little food in my stomach at that time would certainly explain why I would have a strong craving for alcohol. Maybe try cutting down on the caffeine (temporarily) and eat an afternoon healthy snack, around 3-3:30. Something with a lot of protein like nuts - try and avoid sugar, which gives a quick fix but results in the same crash as the caffeine.
As others also suggested, some light exercise is fantastic to side track a craving.
Good job on your sober time
As others also suggested, some light exercise is fantastic to side track a craving.
Good job on your sober time
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