Battling the booze

[Kazzl]

When the black dog bites, many of us reach for a drink. It can ease the pain, help us relax, block out what's going on in our minds. If it's just the odd drink now and then, even one or two a night, there's no harm and maybe even welcome relief. But for some of us, many in fact, literally drowning our sorrows becomes a problem in itself. We drink more and more until the booze takes over, and drinking becomes all we want to do. 

That was me for a long time until I finally realised the combination of booze and depression would kill me. If I wanted to live, if I wanted to be able to manage my depression, I had to get sober. I did, nearly five years ago, and it's the hardest thing I've ever done.

If booze is controlling you and you're not controlling it, this thread is for you. If you want to regain control - get sober or moderate your drinking (which for many is harder than quitting) or if you're worried you are drinking too much, join us here.

On this thread I'll talk about my battle with the booze and offer advice and support to anyone who is struggling. I welcome anyone who's been there or is worried they are going there, to join in. And I hope others now living sober will come here to help our friends who are struggling.

One thing this thread is not is a place to discuss how much a drink or two helps you. It's not an anti-alcohol thread, but it's not a general discussion about alcohol either. It's for people who are genuinely worried about it or who want to control it, and it's a place of celebration (without judgment about drinkers) for those of us who are now living sober.

I hope anyone who's battling the booze will join us.

Cheers 😀

Kaz 

[Rhes]

Hi Geoff, thanks mate, yes I feel great, it seems to be sticking. Just went out and saw a band for the first time! It was good, very glad I was able to leave when I wanted to (early) as I get pretty tired out these days. Just needed a taste of live music, not a whole night of it 😂

Kaz! Thanks for checking in on me the other night, hope your team won the footy! I replied to you but it didn't post. I said something silly about the tv show I was watching, my dark sense of humour may have got me unpublished. Live and learn 😊 I hope you're well, great to hear from you again and do hope more join us on here. I love meeting others on the journey!

Gettingbetter, very pleased to meet you and thank you for your words of encouragement. I do hope you're going well and if I can be of support to you, I'll sure try 😊

Happy Friday night everyone, there's more to life isn't there! 👍

[geoff]

dear Rhes, can I say that it's important for you and everyone else at the moment to keep all the encouragement going from all of us, because with alcohol it can be a demon that will destroy anybody. Geoff. x

[Rhes]

Hi Geoff, yes I know what you're saying. When I have a chat with you guys it's a real relief as I know you know what it's like. I actually don't have any friends who've quit alcohol or drugs, they wouldn't even consider it. I must admit, I've been feeling like the odd one out, a bit of a killjoy at times. It is really great to have understanding people to talk to, as this is so important to me, more than people's opinion of me. Happy Saturday morning everyone 😊

[Moonstruck]

How great you're doing Res....good onya! Give yourself a pat on the back, cos no-one else will! ha ha...except we on here of course! Seriously though....hardly anyone over the past 3 years remembers what a hard thing it is to give up alcohol -or tells me what an achievement I've made - it has been hard - especially when I was using it for an emotional crutch, a medication to ease my emotional pain and anxiety - I relied on the bottle just "being there" whether I drank it or not. It's damn hard...at first...the hard part lasts different lengths of time for everyone...

Geoff I was lucky that my "trigger" was not being around grog, watching others drink, smelling it, seeing it, walking into pubs etc....made no difference to me - so I was grateful for that. My trigger was always emotional pain, especially from relationships or work stress - so it must be doubly hard for those whose trigger is to walk past a pub or watch a mate order a drink - don't know how they manage that one!

I didn't get too much teasing etc from friends (most of whom drink like fish)...people making a big deal and "forcing" a drink into my hand or anything.....got bored with it after a while I guess...no one turns a hair now! I was afraid I would "lose my personality, my fun part, my sense of humour, that I'd be boring to be around".....but they said NO, quite the contrary.....I am much more interesting and vibrant now! Fancy that...perhaps they were humouring me.

I did notice my weight, hair and skin improved...my face seemed much clearer, brighter....the downside is that when you are the only one sober....the people around you who are getting tipsy seem so SILLY! they laugh at things that aren't funny, they behave like idiots, they don't make much sense to talk to intelligently!!.......Still love them all though - well, I used to be just like that once too I guess!!...........Keep up the good work Rhes. Moon S

[Kazzl]

Hiya Moon, Rhes, Geoff, Gettingbetter, Sweetichick and anyone lurking. 😄

Nothing much to say really, just hi, hope you're having a good day. Happy to have such fine sober company.

Love to all

xx

[Rhes]

Hi Moon, thanks for telling me all that, really appreciate it. You've got a great attitude towards life and I bet that's really helped over the past 3 years. I can tell it takes a bit of time to be completely comfortable in this new way of life. I must say, I do have a small handful of close friends who are supportive. None of them live in the same city as me, I've moved to the city I'm in a bit over a year ago. So it's the socialising with peeps I don't know so well that I'm finding challenging. And because it's something I'm concentrating on a lot atm, I'm tempted to talk about it. I don't because no one else around me is giving up and it's not always a welcome topic! Hence feeling like a 'killjoy' at times. I'm great company first thing in the morning but who has parties then? 😂 Im pretty happy in my own company so it's not making me lonely or anything. Just makes me appreciate having this forum to come to, it's pretty damn cool and invaluable 😊

[Kazzl]

Morning all. Another hangover-free morning. Good innit. 😄

Love to all here.

Kaz

[geoff]

hi Moon, when I was depressed I could with-hold from drinking, because I had to drive home, as this was expected by my wife, and I also did it because of our 2 sons and their couple of friends who always tagged along with us, so I didn't want to be called an alcoholic by them but as soon as I got home then I was straight into it, so being around it didn't concern me, but mine also was for emotional reasons which was caused by depression but it didn't matter anyway, by then I was still called an alcoholic.
You can walk past a bottle shop if you know that you have alcohol at home, but just want to get home as soon as possible. Geoff.

[Rhes]

Right on Kaz, how good mornings are! Love to you back 🙂

I agree with you Geoff, it's all about the depression primarily. I can walk past bottlos, be in pubs, restaurants, the times I feel the urge is if I'm depressed, anxious or bored. I guess there's a lot to that saying, check if you're tired, hungry, angry? (don't know if I'm quoting it correctly)

[Rhes]

Hey, hope everyone is going well 🙂