365 days without booze... join me?
Discussion
J4CKO said:
Its weird how intially you think they are the wooden spoon, which they are to an extent, then you think they arent that bad, then you actually quite relish having one.
Totally. One of my former rituals was to get a pint after a run, which served as motivation initially but became a negative habit. Now I've replaced that with an AF cider or lager which I look forward to just as much. They're surprisingly good though. For those who have read more literature than me, or maybe have experienced life differently, does the "comedown" from alcohol (7-8 British strength pints - first drink in 3 weeks) simply elevate your existing mood and/or your subconscious mood and thoughts, or change it completely?
Can you be incredibly happy with life, but end up on a complete downer for a few days after a drink? Or is that only possible if you feel down/depressed/anxious already?
I'm not depressed, i'm not as happy as larry, somewhere in the middle, albeit not exactly where I want to be in life but hey ho, should've used contraception. Also suffer from anxiety but don't need medication, journaling and meditation gets me through the worst of it. But for last 72+ hours i've been on a complete downer, with heart palpitations and anxiety verging on panic attacks. Can this solely be caused by the booze? Or have these more serious thoughts and feelings been lingering somewhere in me already and all the alcohol has done is bring them to the surface?
Strange feeling how you can have a blast in the pub, consume 4 litres of liquid, then for the next 72+ hours question every single decision in life while struggling to stay seated and indoors having an over-whelming desire to just walk and run somewhere.
Anyway, back of it until the foreseeable!
Can you be incredibly happy with life, but end up on a complete downer for a few days after a drink? Or is that only possible if you feel down/depressed/anxious already?
I'm not depressed, i'm not as happy as larry, somewhere in the middle, albeit not exactly where I want to be in life but hey ho, should've used contraception. Also suffer from anxiety but don't need medication, journaling and meditation gets me through the worst of it. But for last 72+ hours i've been on a complete downer, with heart palpitations and anxiety verging on panic attacks. Can this solely be caused by the booze? Or have these more serious thoughts and feelings been lingering somewhere in me already and all the alcohol has done is bring them to the surface?
Strange feeling how you can have a blast in the pub, consume 4 litres of liquid, then for the next 72+ hours question every single decision in life while struggling to stay seated and indoors having an over-whelming desire to just walk and run somewhere.
Anyway, back of it until the foreseeable!
Edited by Throwaway4743 on Friday 3rd May 07:20
That is exactly where I was before I quit - alcohol will put a turbo on any anxiety. Quitting will really help - it takes a couple of months to get used to it but living without hangovers and alcohol induced anxiety is awesome.
This is my experience anyway . 7 months since my last drink and loving it .
This is my experience anyway . 7 months since my last drink and loving it .
@ Throwaway4743
Alcohol is actually a depressant.
Regular heavy drinking has been linked to depression.
Alcohol disrupts neurotransmitters in the brain that affect thoughts, feelings and behaviour.
It affects the part of your brain that controls inhibition, this leads to more confidence and a feeling of relaxation. It removes feelings of anxiety in the short term.
This short-lived feeling of relaxation usually disappears quickly. In some cases this can lead to increased alcohol use as time passes to avoid the low mood which can be caused in some people by long term drinking.
Throwaway, I don't know you. So, I cannot comment on what you're experiencing. There's help out there. If you feel that you need some support contact your GP immediately.
Alcohol is actually a depressant.
Regular heavy drinking has been linked to depression.
Alcohol disrupts neurotransmitters in the brain that affect thoughts, feelings and behaviour.
It affects the part of your brain that controls inhibition, this leads to more confidence and a feeling of relaxation. It removes feelings of anxiety in the short term.
This short-lived feeling of relaxation usually disappears quickly. In some cases this can lead to increased alcohol use as time passes to avoid the low mood which can be caused in some people by long term drinking.
Throwaway, I don't know you. So, I cannot comment on what you're experiencing. There's help out there. If you feel that you need some support contact your GP immediately.
Blib said:
@ Throwaway4743
Alcohol is actually a depressant.
Regular heavy drinking has been linked to depression.
Alcohol disrupts neurotransmitters in the brain that affect thoughts, feelings and behaviour.
It affects the part of your brain that controls inhibition, this leads to more confidence and a feeling of relaxation. It removes feelings of anxiety in the short term.
This short-lived feeling of relaxation usually disappears quickly. In some cases this can lead to increased alcohol use as time passes to avoid the low mood which can be caused in some people by long term drinking.
Throwaway, I don't know you. So, I cannot comment on what you're experiencing. There's help out there. If you feel that you need some support contact your GP immediately.
I think Throwaway4743's post although brief is a fantastically detailed and accurate description of the effects and risks of alcohol especially for people with vulnerabilities.Alcohol is actually a depressant.
Regular heavy drinking has been linked to depression.
Alcohol disrupts neurotransmitters in the brain that affect thoughts, feelings and behaviour.
It affects the part of your brain that controls inhibition, this leads to more confidence and a feeling of relaxation. It removes feelings of anxiety in the short term.
This short-lived feeling of relaxation usually disappears quickly. In some cases this can lead to increased alcohol use as time passes to avoid the low mood which can be caused in some people by long term drinking.
Throwaway, I don't know you. So, I cannot comment on what you're experiencing. There's help out there. If you feel that you need some support contact your GP immediately.
Has a few problems in his life. Has a drink. Feels better for a bit.
Because of the predisposition to anxiety and his life difficulties he experienced more severe and prolonged withdrawal effects from alcohol than most.
The lesson he takes is keep off it and get back on an even keel. Good choice.
It's so easy to take the lesson 'That felt good let's do it again' from the experience. Alcohol is very good, in the short term, at alleviating the come down, negative feelings and anxiety and that's how dependence arises.
I had three pints when out for a meal last night (wifes birthday) then a whisky when I got home. Woke up and felt a bit ropey, kind of did it as an experiment and surprising I dont feel like I failed or copped out. I am away next week in Tenerife so will be drinking but have to say the enthusiasm for getting hammered is not what it was.
Dont feel inclined to drink again tonight, had a couple of Becks Blue and was happy, I do enjoy the taste/texture and dont miss the alcohol.
Hard to explain but feels like progress, sort of liberating being ambivalent, almost reticent about drinking, does that make sense ?
Dont feel inclined to drink again tonight, had a couple of Becks Blue and was happy, I do enjoy the taste/texture and dont miss the alcohol.
Hard to explain but feels like progress, sort of liberating being ambivalent, almost reticent about drinking, does that make sense ?
Throwaway4743 said:
For those who have read more literature than me, or maybe have experienced life differently, does the "comedown" from alcohol (7-8 British strength pints - first drink in 3 weeks) simply elevate your existing mood and/or your subconscious mood and thoughts, or change it completely?
Can you be incredibly happy with life, but end up on a complete downer for a few days after a drink? Or is that only possible if you feel down/depressed/anxious already?
I'm not depressed, i'm not as happy as larry, somewhere in the middle, albeit not exactly where I want to be in life but hey ho, should've used contraception. Also suffer from anxiety but don't need medication, journaling and meditation gets me through the worst of it. But for last 72+ hours i've been on a complete downer, with heart palpitations and anxiety verging on panic attacks. Can this solely be caused by the booze? Or have these more serious thoughts and feelings been lingering somewhere in me already and all the alcohol has done is bring them to the surface?
Strange feeling how you can have a blast in the pub, consume 4 litres of liquid, then for the next 72+ hours question every single decision in life while struggling to stay seated and indoors having an over-whelming desire to just walk and run somewhere.
Anyway, back of it until the foreseeable!
Absolutely. It leaves me on a complete downer. It's much more noticeable these days.Can you be incredibly happy with life, but end up on a complete downer for a few days after a drink? Or is that only possible if you feel down/depressed/anxious already?
I'm not depressed, i'm not as happy as larry, somewhere in the middle, albeit not exactly where I want to be in life but hey ho, should've used contraception. Also suffer from anxiety but don't need medication, journaling and meditation gets me through the worst of it. But for last 72+ hours i've been on a complete downer, with heart palpitations and anxiety verging on panic attacks. Can this solely be caused by the booze? Or have these more serious thoughts and feelings been lingering somewhere in me already and all the alcohol has done is bring them to the surface?
Strange feeling how you can have a blast in the pub, consume 4 litres of liquid, then for the next 72+ hours question every single decision in life while struggling to stay seated and indoors having an over-whelming desire to just walk and run somewhere.
Anyway, back of it until the foreseeable!
Edited by Throwaway4743 on Friday 3rd May 07:20
J4CKO said:
I had three pints when out for a meal last night (wifes birthday) then a whisky when I got home. Woke up and felt a bit ropey, kind of did it as an experiment and surprising I dont feel like I failed or copped out. I am away next week in Tenerife so will be drinking but have to say the enthusiasm for getting hammered is not what it was.
Dont feel inclined to drink again tonight, had a couple of Becks Blue and was happy, I do enjoy the taste/texture and dont miss the alcohol.
Hard to explain but feels like progress, sort of liberating being ambivalent, almost reticent about drinking, does that make sense ?
It absolutely makes sense to me. I did 101 days up until April 11th and have drunk since, but am pretty ambivalent about whether I do or not. I have modified my approach and attitude towards alcohol and am delighted to have done so. Dont feel inclined to drink again tonight, had a couple of Becks Blue and was happy, I do enjoy the taste/texture and dont miss the alcohol.
Hard to explain but feels like progress, sort of liberating being ambivalent, almost reticent about drinking, does that make sense ?
I never planned to never drink again, just to break the habit cycle I was in.
I used to get anxiety quite bad on hangovers and, upon reflection, was probably quite anxious a lot of the time generally. I cut out caffeine completely and now no longer feel anxious and dont get major anxiety on hangovers any more. I do still get a bit of a downer even a few days afterwards though. Nothing serious just everything is a bit 'meh' evening after the immediate day after hangover has gone.
Had three pints and a Chinese on Monday evening, felt utterly f
king dreadful yesterday and can still feel it a bit today.
Kind of felt I didnt want to go from nothing to Tenerife in one go, I think it was in part the Chinese and not sleeping but also think have, in five weeks lost some of my tolerance.
Will have a few over there but dont want to feel like that again, has made me a bit wary of drinking. Quite happy on the zero stuff most of the time.
king dreadful yesterday and can still feel it a bit today.Kind of felt I didnt want to go from nothing to Tenerife in one go, I think it was in part the Chinese and not sleeping but also think have, in five weeks lost some of my tolerance.
Will have a few over there but dont want to feel like that again, has made me a bit wary of drinking. Quite happy on the zero stuff most of the time.
J4CKO said:
Kind of felt I didnt want to go from nothing to Tenerife in one go, I think it was in part the Chinese and not sleeping but also think have, in five weeks lost some of my tolerance.
Will have a few over there but dont want to feel like that again, has made me a bit wary of drinking. Quite happy on the zero stuff most of the time.
I'm intrigued as to why you feel that you have to drink when you go on holiday. Surely if you've been abstinent for five weeks and you feel rubbish after a few beers at the weekend you would perhaps want to keep sober in Tenerife. No judgment, I've had very similar thoughts (it's our wedding anniversary next Monday and I'm sure the wife will want some cocktails and wine with dinner, I don't know what I want to do yet!).Will have a few over there but dont want to feel like that again, has made me a bit wary of drinking. Quite happy on the zero stuff most of the time.
I'm on 94 dry days since I started tracking properly on 21 January and feel much better for it - I don't know if I want to be teetotal but I also don't want to break my streak (24 days just now) and I'm a bit into the gamification of the Try Dry app (which weirdly annoys my wife!).
Complicated, like so many things!
Edited by dirtbiker on Wednesday 8th May 15:00
Thatchers ZERO for me. Ice cold it's perfect and I will have one shortly.
Aside from that.. I had a ' proper drink ' last Friday and predictably I felt terrible on Saturday - properly rough. The idea of an occasional drink sits fine with me but the times I've drank I've really not enjoyed it like I used to. I think I used to enjoy it anyway.
Aside from that.. I had a ' proper drink ' last Friday and predictably I felt terrible on Saturday - properly rough. The idea of an occasional drink sits fine with me but the times I've drank I've really not enjoyed it like I used to. I think I used to enjoy it anyway.
Castrol for a knave said:
Part of the fun of not drinking, is trying all the new alcy free beers. Loads of them.
Always worth checking the label, they can be high in sugar. Erdinger and Brewdog are high and the ciders are very high.
Yes there is that but for me they’re an occasional “treat” not a regular indulgence. Always worth checking the label, they can be high in sugar. Erdinger and Brewdog are high and the ciders are very high.
I only ever have one or two in an evening - and that was never the case with booze
But the quality nowadays is remarkable. I’m still happy with lime and soda when out, but Guinness, Lucky Saint and (as I’ve now discovered) Erdinger all make a nice change.
J4CKO said:
Had three pints and a Chinese on Monday evening, felt utterly fking dreadful yesterday and can still feel it a bit today.
Kind of felt I didnt want to go from nothing to Tenerife in one go, I think it was in part the Chinese and not sleeping but also think have, in five weeks lost some of my tolerance.
Will have a few over there but dont want to feel like that again, has made me a bit wary of drinking. Quite happy on the zero stuff most of the time.
Are you sure it was the three pints that made you feel dreadful (which you've kind of already alluded to)? Serious question... obviously speaking for myself here but I just don't see 3 pints of beer making me feel the way you described the next day. I've noticed for myself, I can drink a fair bit of beer (somewhere near double figures) and feel absolutely fine the next day.king dreadful yesterday and can still feel it a bit today.Kind of felt I didnt want to go from nothing to Tenerife in one go, I think it was in part the Chinese and not sleeping but also think have, in five weeks lost some of my tolerance.
Will have a few over there but dont want to feel like that again, has made me a bit wary of drinking. Quite happy on the zero stuff most of the time.
Add a s
tty takeaway type thing instead of healthy, home cooked food, and I feel, to paraphrase, utterly fking dreadful. It happens every time I eat takeaways. Take from that what you will. BTW, not suggesting you don't try and cut down, just saying that crap food often makes you feel as bad or worse than too much booze.Edited by TameRacingDriver on Monday 13th May 20:21
Well, that's day / night one for me done after a binge at the weekend and upsetting a loved one.
Terrible night, no sleep, don't feel great today either.
Guess I've been functioning ok for the last ten years, with beer or wine as the last thing I did just about every night, when everybody is tucked away asleep.
My wife had been poorly for a long while, and it was my respite / reward when the day was done.
I feel ok about going forward, but can't really see a complete future without a few beers on special occasions. I've rarely had a drink that I didn't enjoy, but it's apparent, that the loss of inhibitions can lead to upsetting others.
I've no apparent health problems from doing this to myself, I just hope that turns out to be the long term case.
Onwards and upwards I guess, wish me luck.
Terrible night, no sleep, don't feel great today either.
Guess I've been functioning ok for the last ten years, with beer or wine as the last thing I did just about every night, when everybody is tucked away asleep.
My wife had been poorly for a long while, and it was my respite / reward when the day was done.
I feel ok about going forward, but can't really see a complete future without a few beers on special occasions. I've rarely had a drink that I didn't enjoy, but it's apparent, that the loss of inhibitions can lead to upsetting others.
I've no apparent health problems from doing this to myself, I just hope that turns out to be the long term case.
Onwards and upwards I guess, wish me luck.
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