New to the forum
 

Hello all,

A little background on me...

I've been drinking the past 30 or so years. I started in college and have been a fairly heavy drinker since—especially on the weekends. I basically drank to escape, lower stress and felt it made anything I was doing more fun. Recently, I've decided to try and give it up and thought it might be a good idea to visit a forum with other like-minded people.

The reason I'm giving up alcohol is that I lost my job a few months back and found I increased my alcohol intake as a result. I gained weight (I'm a heavy guy already) and don't need to spend the money it takes to drink. No one wants to hire a middle-aged, fat man. :)

I used to be on anti-depressants to help with stress (which was not a good thing to take along with drinking) but decided to try life without them. I'm trying to increase my exercise and cut back on my calories as well.

I don't know if I can ever be the kind of drinker who only does it on special occasions. I tend to overdo to excess with most things which means two beers usually leads to six. I might have to quit as I did with tobacco a few years back.

I look forward to reading the board and the experiences of others.

Welcome Jeff :)

Welcome, Jeff :)

Welcome, Jeff :wave:

Not able to stop once you start? :( Yes, I can identify with that all right! :yikes:

But I found that, (for me anyway) that made it easier to give up. If I refuse the first one, I don't get the impossible cravings that attack once I've tasted it. Refusing the first is totally different to (trying to) refuse the second!

And, as my main tipple was wine, which is loaded with calories, I've lost weight too, so motivation's not been hard to find. .

If you can give up the fags, I'm sure you'll be ok with booze ;) Besides, you have all of us to support you now! :c007:

Welcome Jeff!

:welcome

Welcome to the forum Jeff. Lots of advice and good sense is available here!

Very kind of all to reply.

I'm entering day four without alcohol. I did miss it last night as Friday night is pizza and beer night. :)

I find my mood a bit edgy the last few days. I find myself annoyed with noise and such. No shakes or anything like that. I did take a sleeping pill last night which really helped after a couple of restless nights.

Welcome Jeff! This is a great forum and the members are fantastic! I also drank heavily for 30 years, beer is my poison. Good luck to you.

Nice to have you here!!!

Welcome to the family. I'm glad you joined us. :)

Welcome to SR Jeff!

Hi Jeff - welcome :)

I was pretty much always a heavy drinker but being stuck at home (I was retired in my 30s die to ill health) really ramped it up for me too.

flash forward a decade and I was drinking all day everyday - no matter what started me on drinking I was unquestionably an alcoholic.

That for me means I can never go back to normal drinking. To be honest I'm not sure I ever drank normally - as far back as I can remember I drank to get wasted.

anyway back to the topic, I think a sense of purpose is essential really.

I'm still at home, housebound some days/weeks, but I never lose that sense of purpose and that makes all the difference.

I know whatever comes up I can solve it - I don't need alcohol at all :)

D

Hi and welcome, jeff. Beer was always my thing and no, one was Never an option. After years of it I was BLESSED to find the family I have here. Welcome!!!!!

Hi Jeff - glad to have you with us.

I was also never able to moderate successfully. Trying to drink only on weekends or special occasions led me to total dependency at the end of my drinking days. I had no control, so to stop was my safest option. It feels great to be free. You can do it Jeff. :) I'm glad you reached out for support.

I've been "off drink" for 14 years. Have dried the occasional one drink. Never works. Mad cravings take hold til I've had my fill. It's "no, no,no...not one" for me. Day 5 about to begin.