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Join Date: Oct 2014
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Hi. First time on here. My wife and I have both been big drinkers for 20 or more years, getting drunk nearly every day of the week, month in month out. My wife had recently started having a "left over" drink from the night before in the mornings.
After our 3 kids came around to pour their hearts out about how concerned they are for us we agreed that we would try to leave the drink aside. We are now on day 35 and feel good. Only cloud on the horizon is the fact that we have done this sort of time before but always seem to drift back to the booze eventually.
We're not worried about Christmas but we have an all inclusive drinks passage on a cruise in January. These holidays are always our worst times for getting "smashed". All day , every day. Any tips on how to keep off when the time comes?
Ian.
After our 3 kids came around to pour their hearts out about how concerned they are for us we agreed that we would try to leave the drink aside. We are now on day 35 and feel good. Only cloud on the horizon is the fact that we have done this sort of time before but always seem to drift back to the booze eventually.
We're not worried about Christmas but we have an all inclusive drinks passage on a cruise in January. These holidays are always our worst times for getting "smashed". All day , every day. Any tips on how to keep off when the time comes?
Ian.
Community Greeter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 51,569
Great to meet you blanderpip. I think it'll really help you to be here with us.
I drank for almost 30 yrs. and could never imagine my life without it. It was slowly killing me - I was completely dependent on it. I found SR for support & encouragement 7 yrs. ago. I haven't had a drink since. Everyone here understands and cares. We know you can do this.
I drank for almost 30 yrs. and could never imagine my life without it. It was slowly killing me - I was completely dependent on it. I found SR for support & encouragement 7 yrs. ago. I haven't had a drink since. Everyone here understands and cares. We know you can do this.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Ireland
Posts: 25,826
Hey Ian, welcome to the Forum!! 
I used to slip back into drinking sooner or later too, until I figured out that I needed to do more than simply not drink, that just created a lot of time sitting around bored.
Instead I needed to change up my lifestyle, fill my time with new activities, new interests, this cruise for example isn't going to be a lot of fun simply sitting around with too much time on your hands, when what you'd usually be doing would be hitting the bar.
Carving out a life as a "non drinker" I discovered was more than not drinking, I needed to create a life that was enjoyable without alcohol, and by doing that there was no need to go back to drinking!!
You'll find loads of support here on SR!! Great to have you onboard!!
I used to slip back into drinking sooner or later too, until I figured out that I needed to do more than simply not drink, that just created a lot of time sitting around bored.
Instead I needed to change up my lifestyle, fill my time with new activities, new interests, this cruise for example isn't going to be a lot of fun simply sitting around with too much time on your hands, when what you'd usually be doing would be hitting the bar.
Carving out a life as a "non drinker" I discovered was more than not drinking, I needed to create a life that was enjoyable without alcohol, and by doing that there was no need to go back to drinking!!
You'll find loads of support here on SR!! Great to have you onboard!!
Trudgin
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 6,348
Originally Posted by blanderpip 
Hi. First time on here. My wife and I have both been big drinkers for 20 or more years, getting drunk nearly every day of the week, month in month out. My wife had recently started having a "left over" drink from the night before in the mornings.
After our 3 kids came around to pour their hearts out about how concerned they are for us we agreed that we would try to leave the drink aside. We are now on day 35 and feel good. Only cloud on the horizon is the fact that we have done this sort of time before but always seem to drift back to the booze eventually.
We're not worried about Christmas but we have an all inclusive drinks passage on a cruise in January. These holidays are always our worst times for getting "smashed". All day , every day. Any tips on how to keep off when the time comes?
Ian.
After our 3 kids came around to pour their hearts out about how concerned they are for us we agreed that we would try to leave the drink aside. We are now on day 35 and feel good. Only cloud on the horizon is the fact that we have done this sort of time before but always seem to drift back to the booze eventually.
We're not worried about Christmas but we have an all inclusive drinks passage on a cruise in January. These holidays are always our worst times for getting "smashed". All day , every day. Any tips on how to keep off when the time comes?
Ian.
If you are willing and desirous above all else to stay stopped it is possible. If in the back of your mind you are thinking you'll drink again at some point then there is really no magic.
Sobriety requires more than just stopping. It's work - sounds like your family shoul be the ultimate motivator. It was for me to this point!
Glad you're here!
Living Sober
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 555
Hey blanderpip, welcome & congrats on the 35 days! You've found a great site for support.
Stopping booze is not the easiest thing in the beginning, but as I'm sure you've heard- it does get easier. I feel one of the biggest keys is to try and reinvent yourself. I, too, was a very heavy drinker for over 20 years, so I can appreciate some of your concerns.
Spend some time in here, and as you read through many of the posts, I think you'll see that most of us also have (had) the same type of concerns. Hopefully you'll find some ideas that will help you.
Towards my later part of the drinking, I was also having a few 'snips' in the morning, mainly to help quash the shakes. I think at that point it's best to get your arms around things, as they will only escalate from there.
Hope to see you in here often!
Stopping booze is not the easiest thing in the beginning, but as I'm sure you've heard- it does get easier. I feel one of the biggest keys is to try and reinvent yourself. I, too, was a very heavy drinker for over 20 years, so I can appreciate some of your concerns.
Spend some time in here, and as you read through many of the posts, I think you'll see that most of us also have (had) the same type of concerns. Hopefully you'll find some ideas that will help you.
Towards my later part of the drinking, I was also having a few 'snips' in the morning, mainly to help quash the shakes. I think at that point it's best to get your arms around things, as they will only escalate from there.
Hope to see you in here often!
Life is an unlikely miracle.
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: England
Posts: 1,859
Hi Blanderpip, welcome. If your cruise is going to be difficult for you, it might be best to cancel, as Dee said.
It would be a shame to undo all the work you have both already put in. And at some point in the future, you would only have to go through it all again.
The trouble with alcoholism is that it gets worse over time ,and from what I've read, withdrawals get worse too.
Glad you found us, there is tons of support and great resources here.
It would be a shame to undo all the work you have both already put in. And at some point in the future, you would only have to go through it all again.
The trouble with alcoholism is that it gets worse over time ,and from what I've read, withdrawals get worse too.
Glad you found us, there is tons of support and great resources here.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 7
Thanks everyone for the encouragement. We really do feel different this time. We haven't just stopped for say, 5 weeks. This time we haven't put a limit on how long we are going to be sober because this time we are serious.
It's now day 61 and I do get encouraged by so many comments on here. Thanks. We are going to get through the cruise enjoying non alcoholic cocktails and OJ and fizzy water!
It's now day 61 and I do get encouraged by so many comments on here. Thanks. We are going to get through the cruise enjoying non alcoholic cocktails and OJ and fizzy water!
Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: PA
Posts: 12,000
congrats on 35 days.
Rebook that cruise to something dry. There are sober cruises I think. Or just cancel it and find something else to do. Really!
Waking up and finishing last night's drink? Many here have done that. Be glad you're not at the picking up a can of beer and taking a swig with mold on top of it. Yeah, I've done that more than once.
OOPS, I missed your latest post. doh! I would still consider not going on the cruise. Congrats on your sober time and commitment.
Rebook that cruise to something dry. There are sober cruises I think. Or just cancel it and find something else to do. Really!
Waking up and finishing last night's drink? Many here have done that. Be glad you're not at the picking up a can of beer and taking a swig with mold on top of it. Yeah, I've done that more than once.
OOPS, I missed your latest post. doh! I would still consider not going on the cruise. Congrats on your sober time and commitment.
Administrator
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Dancing in the Light
Posts: 61,512
It's not hard at all to get through a Cruise sober. There is so much going on and so many activities to choose from, or not, that I have never even given a thought to drinking. I found the best evening activity on a Cruise was walking on the deck and watching the endless amount of stars in the sky. For a city girl, that's really a treat.
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