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Life without alcohol?
My New Years resolution is to give up drinking, Alcohol has been a major part of my life for the past 15/16 years, I'm a binge drinker this past, I only ever drank at the weekends but it is almost every weekend, I'm not a big drinker really about 6/7 beers in a sitting but the issue is it causes me bad anxiety the following day, I darn't leave the house or I have a panic attack, so I need to quit. Problem is what do I do at the weekends without alcohol?
A few beers at the weekend is like my little reward for an other wise crap week in a career I hate, I look forward to my beers all week, they are in fact the highlight of my week sadly. I did give it up before for 4 months when made redundant, didn't feel like it so go figure.
I want to give up drinking because of the anxiety which seems to be getting worse the older I get but nothing in life really gives me any joy if that makes sense, at the moment I am looking forward to a few beers tonight on NYE, take them away what is there to look forward to tonight? Crap TV? after that what is there to look forward to? Back to work next week? and after that? same crap week in week out.
As I say alcohol has been a major part of my life, how do I replace it? Sure I could go out for a meal at the weekends, go to cinema this that and the other, problem is I only earn min wage I can't afford it.
A few beers at the weekend is like my little reward for an other wise crap week in a career I hate, I look forward to my beers all week, they are in fact the highlight of my week sadly. I did give it up before for 4 months when made redundant, didn't feel like it so go figure.
I want to give up drinking because of the anxiety which seems to be getting worse the older I get but nothing in life really gives me any joy if that makes sense, at the moment I am looking forward to a few beers tonight on NYE, take them away what is there to look forward to tonight? Crap TV? after that what is there to look forward to? Back to work next week? and after that? same crap week in week out.
As I say alcohol has been a major part of my life, how do I replace it? Sure I could go out for a meal at the weekends, go to cinema this that and the other, problem is I only earn min wage I can't afford it.
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If you're not spending money on alcohol, then surely you'll have more money to spend on other stuff?
I don't really drink, for similar reasons, I get depressed, and being honest, I don't miss it. Give it a couple of weeks, and if you're feeling a lot better without the anxiety, it should make it easier to cut down/give up
dont make it a big deal otherwise it will feel like it is.
If you think that not drinking alcohol means that you can't go into a pub, why punish yourself? I found that another advantage was that I could go out in the car rather than spending a fortune on taxis. That reinforced the 'no alcohol' rule even more.
Now, the problem is of course that if your intention in going out is really to get bladdered and waking up not remembering what happened (hence the anxiety) you have other issues!
I managed to go without a drop for over 6 months and felt a lot better for it. Unfortunately I'm back on the booze again, but as you can see from another thread on here, I'm going to do something about it as soon as soon as we get into the New Year. I know I can do it - gave up smoking 2 years ago tomorrow.
there is a bit of advice I was given when I gave up smoking years ago. "remember if you slip, you haven't fallen" in other words if you do have a drink (or 2 or 10) one day don't give upgiving up. just go on from that day and continue with your plan to stop. One slip does not a failure make!:D
I don't really see the harm in having a few beers at the weekend. The anxiety you get after drinking is probably more to do with the weekend being nearly over and the thought of going back for another whole week doing a job you clearly hate.
I genuinely can't see myself ever starting to drink regularly again, I've realised how much I prefer the person I am when I'm sober, and I really don't feel like I'm missing out.
Try just substituting for a non or low alcohol beer and see how you go. You can still kick back and drink 6 pints of it, but you won't suffer the same as if it were proper booze
I'm in exactly the same situation myself. At work, I'm counting down the hours until I can drink just so I can get rid of the tediousness of my life. I also get anxiety the morning after drinking, and I think it's because I realise that it's becoming a problem and that it's the only think I look forward to, which makes me anxious. It sounds like you're in a rather similar situation.
Try to find another activity which you enjoy, and more importantly, which gives you a feeling a self-worth rather than a feeling of anxiety. I know it's easier said than done, but the small steps all add up.
Take up exersize of some sort of hobby.
Good way to build up a nice thirst...
i wish you the best of luck, i too am planning on giving up alcohol, as for subsituiting it, drink soft drinks,
when i gave up the booze, first time for 23 years... then re started 3 years ago, been off it again now for 12 months today.
i find walking the dog or just walking, will take your mind off it. and after a couple of weeks the craving will stop for you., the smell of booze makes me feel sick. and to be honest i do not miss it. .
I'm going to send the seller an email and ask him to import some more as I'm drinking so much of it!
You have to take a step back and look at ways you can improve your life, and give yourself something to look forward to at the weekend other than a good drinking session.
It doesn't have to cost heaps of money, you could join a running/walking/hiking club, a book group, take up some sort of sport, or learn a martial art - it would give you the chance to meet other people, broaden your social circle and may lead to invitations to other events.
Good luck.
I just went off alcohol
Don't see it as something that restricts you, just as how it is for now
Mostly I drank what I used have occasionaly in the boozy days, tonic water. People just assume you're drinking gin or vodka and don't make an issue of it. You can even rub some gin around the rim of the glass if you want to feel like you're indulging.
I will be joining you though in giving up again, or at least really cutting back. Good luck!
When I think about what I'm doing to my body I am certain there are quicker and less painful ways to kill myself.
I hated alcohol as a teen and never had a space for it as a young adult. I've had the year from hell (2012 that is) and it started as a glass once all my stuff was done. Then a glass every night, then two, then three....
I'm now roughly at a bottle and a half of red per night.
Things that I know help me, some may sound very sad but, there you go.
I put fizzy water into my over-sized wine glass and chug on that. I don't know why it helps, it's not like I'm pretending I'm drinking wine, I think it's just a part of the whole ritual. I've been surprised in the past at how effective that is.
I don't change my actions at all, just the content of my drink. I have a drinking buddy and it's, again, surprisingly easy to still see her and have a laugh on a Friday night with a cuppa in hand.
Download/buy a good book or film or series (I'm on Merlin first series right now and just finished the book Robopocalypse). I'm also a fan of 'find it' games or those silly games where you are serving food in a restaurant. They are irritating but, addicitive, I find two hours can fly by just like that. However, I have gone to bed and dreamed I'm still playing the game and serving pizza to angry customers who's tempers are fraying
Although may be drinking at home is not your thing - if it's only going out that you struggle with ask yourself if it is the drink you look forward to or getting out of the house and seeing your friends. Because you can still get out of the house and see your friends, that doesn't have to change, just the contents of your glass.
Good luck
Although at first I found it hard to imagine a life without alcohol, you soon get used to it and will feel happier and healthier for it. I have had a lot of people comment that I look much better since not drinking.
It can be a struggle at times. But getting through Xmas and waking up on New Years Day without a stinking hangover is an amazing feeling. And looking forward to achieving a year of sobriety on Saturday.
I still go to pubs as most of my friends are big drinkers and find that it is now much cheaper.
Enjoying a nice meal is now my substitute.
Just keep the reason you are doing it at the forefront of your mind. Good luck!