What are you up to right now?
 

Hi Guys,

I'm new to the forum as some of you know and I'm getting used to feeling at home here. I guess I just wanted to break the ice a bit more since introducing myself yesterday.

This is a strange Xmas Eve for me. I'm at home alone and just sunk my second beer for the day. Soon to crack open another and think about starting dinner (it's nearly 8.30pm UK time).

Also, what are your plans during Xmas? Doing anything nice?

Ben

p.s sorry if this thread is in the wrong place. I wasn't sure where else to write as there are a lot of sub forums here but some are a bit quiet.

I'm sitting alone as well, Ben.

My sister has invited me to her place for lunch. First time I've been out on my own for a very long time, and am looking forward. She lives near the beach in Bondi, and am pleased to say I will not be part of the drunken revelry that is bound to take place. Makes me so happy to be able to report this back to you. I'll spot a few drowning drunks, for sure. Oh, woe. :(

Sobriety is better than anything you can imagine Ben and hope you remain with us, your own imaginings realised at last.

Happy Christmas, Ben.

I am enjoying my 6th sober Xmas eve. I drink grenadine and lemonade now. I am pleased that I will not be hungover tomorrow and instead will be doing Xmas day ParkRun.

Head on over to our virtual Christmas Party, Ben! Maybe pour out that beer? Don't set yourself up for a bad day tomorrow!

Sitting on my own eating too much chocolate. Going to bed soon.

Ben I thought you were giving up drinking?

Oh that sounds nice Steely, and what a lovely place too! I've got friends who live in Sydney not too far away from there. I'm hoping to go and visit once I have sorted out my problems.

H'mm, I tried last week to go dry. I had nothing to drink on Monday and Tuesday but my mood swings got the better of me and there have been too many festivities going. Alcohol is the devil on my shoulder at the moment.

Actually reading that back, I'm clearly looking for excuses not to quit aren't I?

Also, while I think of it, I've seen from you sig that you manged to kick valium as well. I had problems with that too and I flushed the last of what I had down the toilet a month ago. I was doing 20-30mg 3 times a week.

Merry Xmas too mate :o)

Hi Kaily,

Yes I am. From the 27th December and hopefully maintaining that abstinence for the foreseeable.

Ben

Wow! The 6th sober Xmas eve? Well done! I haven't known one since I was 18 and I'm in my 40s.

Hopefully next year I'll be able to say that I'm nearly 12 months sober. Let's see how I get on. ;o)

Ben

Well I was interested in joining you but I didn't think it was appropriate as I am still off the wagon.

The last thing I want to do is annoy the people I'm seeking out help from.

But, I'll gladly drop by. I'm just doing some cooking at the moment.

Good plan :)

Yes, I ditched the Valium Ben but finished up in Protracted withdrawal. It was a shocker. Congrats on ditching those evil little pills. Wolf in sheep's clothing.

My signature also states that I stopped smoking, but it didn't pan out for me. I'll have to delete it. :). I'm planning on stopping (again) before the new year arrives. 27th sounds pretty cool 😎

Maybe see you at Viking's party?

I'm waiting for my nails to dry, after stuffing a pizza delivery and watching Gavin and Stacy while I wait for the kids to go to sleep so I can do my bit downstairs!
Have a great Xmas Ben, unfortunately there's never a good time to ditch the booze although I choose Jan 1st, this gave me a good excuse to not drink because I was doing dry Jan and some time to get used to it before socialising much.

You hit the nail on the head mate - a wolf in sheeps clothing. They are horrible little buggers and I am pleased to hear that you're away from them.

I'll drop by Viking's thread :o)

Ben

Merry Xmas too. How long have you been off it?

Will be 1 year on the 1st Jan Ben and things in life in general have improved for the better in so many ways. I was a little dubious about the lead up to Xmas but in all honestly I just don't miss it anymore, because I feel so much better that I never want to go back to it, so its been good so far.
When you do stop it will take some getting used to for sure but you will, and in time it becomes less of an effort and more natural. Have you read any quit lit? I found it really helpful to understand the effects alcohol has on us and also to hear other people accounts of going sober.

Starting to settle down busy day of cleaning the house, basic maintenance on my heating system, checking voltage on car/truck batteries (freezing here) prepped for grilling/smoking boston butts and ribs tomorrow morning early (5am)

Getting ready to shower, eat dinner, really want a large milkshake after, then I'll catch some tv and might even play some games online it's been a while.

Home alone. Just me and my snake. Doing far too much online window shopping for a rug. Nothing alcohol has to offer me anymore. Just an increase in physical and mental pain. But I do think about it, sometimes. Wish I had an extra set of hands to move stuff around in my new place. Problem solving is not my strong suit if I'm honest with myself.

Anyway, may you be well and safe this holiday Ben. Thanks for posting.

Hi Ben, fellow Londoner here, well , born and raised there anyway. Doesn’t sound much fun thus drinking for you. It’s such a cruel irony that drinkers get stressed because of lack of alcohol and are trapped in that cycle. It sounds like you’re dependent on alcohol now unfortunately, and as a few recent threads here discuss, that’s irreversible I’m afraid. However, there is good news in that stopping totally means the cravings and mood swings start to fade. We’re all different, but this takes anything from a few weeks to several months. The cravings will still pop up from time to time albeit weaker than before.

As for me, I quit just under four years ago (31/12/2018) in my late forties. The health benefits are obvious, but to be honest, I wasn’t a pleasant guy as a drinker. I wasn’t violent or anything, just mean spirited, which meant my marriage ended recently. But because I’m a way more positive and nicer person now (without the alcohol), so many other good things happened, and very surprisingly I’m not on my own this Christmas - that would never have happened to the drinker me, no one would want that version of me.

It’s a tall order to quit at Xmas with all the hype around alcohol on TV, but give it some serious thought. Those mood swings will be holding you back from a much better life.

All the best for now and enjoy your Xmas :)

Hi Ben, at home with my wife and son, I'm listening to the radio and playing World of Warcraft.

Give yourself a present, and stop, today.
Drinking is a habit, not drinking is a habit.
But the thing is, drinking a little, is not a choice for us, but stopping, that can be done, for me, it was just making the choice.
I dont kick my dog, I dont drink.
Merry Christmas!