Notices

New to the forum

Old 01-04-2014, 10:29 AM
  # 1 (permalink)  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Jeff1962's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 10
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.
Jeff1962 is offline  
Old 01-04-2014, 10:34 AM
  # 2 (permalink)  
Member
 
Twinings's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: uk
Posts: 382
Welcome Jeff
Twinings is offline  
Old 01-04-2014, 10:35 AM
  # 3 (permalink)  
Kaleidoscope eyes
 
KateL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: London
Posts: 5,243
Welcome, Jeff
KateL is offline  
Old 01-04-2014, 10:48 AM
  # 4 (permalink)  
Realising my life
 
HeadLump's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Dorset, England
Posts: 3,656
Welcome, Jeff

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

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!
HeadLump is offline  
Old 01-04-2014, 10:51 AM
  # 5 (permalink)  
Member
 
Opivotal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: New York
Posts: 35,731
Welcome Jeff!

Opivotal is offline  
Old 01-04-2014, 10:54 AM
  # 6 (permalink)  
Member
 
Mentium's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: North of England
Posts: 1,442
Welcome to the forum Jeff. Lots of advice and good sense is available here!
Mentium is offline  
Old 01-04-2014, 11:08 AM
  # 7 (permalink)  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Jeff1962's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 10
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.
Jeff1962 is offline  
Old 01-04-2014, 11:09 AM
  # 8 (permalink)  
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Posts: 196
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.
dirk626 is offline  
Old 01-04-2014, 11:51 AM
  # 9 (permalink)  
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 36
Nice to have you here!!!
kpatrick is offline  
Old 01-04-2014, 11:58 AM
  # 10 (permalink)  
bona fido dog-lover
 
least's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SF Bay area, CA
Posts: 99,673
Welcome to the family. I'm glad you joined us.
least is offline  
Old 01-04-2014, 12:21 PM
  # 11 (permalink)  
Member
 
HenryKrinkle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 334
Welcome to SR Jeff!
HenryKrinkle is offline  
Old 01-04-2014, 04:13 PM
  # 12 (permalink)  
Administrator
 
Dee74's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,058
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
Dee74 is offline  
Old 01-04-2014, 04:53 PM
  # 13 (permalink)  
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 388
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!!!!!
liberated is offline  
Old 01-04-2014, 04:57 PM
  # 14 (permalink)  
Community Greeter
 
Hevyn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 51,416
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.
Hevyn is offline  
Old 01-04-2014, 05:43 PM
  # 15 (permalink)  
Member
 
GLitz22's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 32
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.
GLitz22 is offline  

Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 03:20 AM.