As some of you will have discovered (on the Daily Tarot Page), I am currently in the process of giving up alcohol, and even as I type these words they fill me with dread! But alas the time has come for me, and unfortunately as I am not in a position to jet off to the Caribbean for some much needed intensive treatment for the next 6 weeks, I'm afraid it is just me, and my will power, which is a little worrying as it has never been my strong point! However, we have got through one day and very restless night, and today is my second day of battling it out in the name of survival... I'm sorry if I sound somewhat over-dramatic, but trust me, this is such new territory for me, I think I maybe going slightly mad!
So my request is as follows: As I can't afford a therapist, I would like to call upon the advice of anyone here who has any helpful or useful tips that could help me in any way, if so I would really appreciate your info.
Gemini xxx
I don't have personal experience with this, but I found this info. Good health!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.webmd.com/mental-health/alcohol-abuse/how-to-stop-drinking-alcohol
Follow these steps to stop drinking alcohol.
Identify your reasons. Make a list of the reasons you want to stop drinking alcohol. You might want to ask a trusted friend or family member to help you make the list complete. Keep this list so that you can renew your commitment from time to time. Use the form for identifying reasons to cut down on or stop alcohol use (What is a PDF document?) .
Make a plan. Set a date to stop drinking. Complete a plan to stop drinking alcohol. Post it in a place where you can see it often, such as on your refrigerator door or bathroom mirror. You might want to put it in more than one place. You also might want to put it on a card and keep it in your purse or wallet. See an example of a plan to stop drinking alcohol (What is a PDF document?) .
Share your plan with others. Talk with your family members and trusted friends about your plan. Let them know how they can help you to be successful.
Evaluate your progress. In your plan, identify when you will evaluate your progress. Try a plan for 30 days so that the new behavior becomes a habit. Review your reasons for stopping alcohol use. Write down the benefits that you are seeing. If you drank after successfully stopping (relapse), it does not mean that you have failed. Relapse is common. Begin again, using your experience to help you learn how to stick with your plan this time.
Continue your new behaviors. After trying this plan for 30 days, try it for another 30 days. Like anything else in life, it is not easy to change behavior, even when it might be in your best interest. But the more you practice new behaviors, the more likely it is that they will become habits. If you try this plan but are not successful, talk with your doctor about other ways to stop drinking alcohol.
Other things you can do
The following are other ideas that can help in your plan to stop using alcohol:
Avoid stumbling blocks. Many things can interfere with meeting your goal to cut down on or stop drinking. You might need to choose new friends or a new lifestyle if your current life revolves around alcohol use. To stay focused on your goal and succeed, see ideas to help you stop using alcohol on your own.
Attend a self-help group. Some people attend self-help groups to help them stick to their plan to cut down on or stop drinking. If you are not sure whether a self-help group is for you but would like to try, go to a group at least 3 times before you make your decision. There are different types of groups (such as men or women only, discussion, and speaker). Go to another group if the first one does not fit your needs.
Reward yourself. Use the money you once spent on drinking to do something fun with your family or friends. Go out to eat, see a movie, or play sports or a game.
Thank you so much for taking the time to post this information, it's very much appreciated :-)xxx
ReplyDeleteHi! Good luck Gemini. Get the book A Gentle Path Through the Twelve Steps by Patrick Carnes, Ph.D. and keep a journal - a few fastly written pages a day to get all the crud out of your head. Meetings are good and sometimes you have to go to a few different meetings before you find a group you like. You can do it!
ReplyDeleteGemini, good for you! I know it's strange to have a stranger on a blog say that they're proud of you, but I really am. It takes a big person to identify a problem and realize it's negative effect on your life. Whatever your reasons are for stopping, I wish you success and strength in accomplishing this. While, as a social drinker, I have no personal experience with it, I do have many friends that have struggled with one form or another of substance problems. It appears that the key to success at least initially is changing your habits and lifestyle to avoid the triggers that could cause you to slip up. Certain people, places, stress triggers, etc. can all be a factor in making a bad choice, or slipping up, so avoid them all, at least until you feel confident and stonger. It's ok to be selfish for awhile. You're doing something that will help everyone around you in the long run, so don't let anyone push your buttons. Best of luck to you!
ReplyDeleteGemini, getting worried about you! Hope you're OK.
ReplyDeleteMartwię się o Panią i życzę powodzenia!Bardzo lubię Pani blog,nie znam niestety języka angielskiego-korzystam z internetowego tłumaczenia.Pozdrawiam,Małgorzata z Polski.
ReplyDeleteTranslation? LOL
ReplyDeleteGemini! Check in with us! Hope all is well!
Hello guy's ;-) Thank you so very much for your concern, and I'm really sorry I've been neglecting the blog, but things have just been really shit in my life, and it's been totally up and down in evey way possible... and yes, that includes my drinking!
ReplyDeleteRight now I'm just trying to take stock of things again, and so will once again make an effort to stop drinking, but I think I may have to seek out some sort of professional help, as I've clearly proved I'm not capable on my own! Although in my defense I have cut down to two glasses of wine per night instead of one bottle... but yeah I know that's not the point is it?!!!!
Just a note to say best of luck Gemini. I know it must be very hard but I am sure that you can do it. A little poem for you - I learned it from a friend's greeting card many moons ago. Good luck Gemini.
ReplyDelete"Don't give up though the pace seems slow
You may succeed with another blow
Success is failure turned inside out
The silver tint of the cloud of doubt
Many a failure turns about when he might have won had he stuck it out
For you never can tell how close you are
It may be near when it seems far
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit
It's when things seem worst
That you must not quit"
Thank you so much, that poem is absolutely beautiful, and so real and touching :-) I am still finding it a struggle, but I do still keep trying and just hope one day I will find the strength to finally stop altogether. Once again thank you for your support and indeed for taking the time to think of me. Many thanks CFWB friend xxx
ReplyDeleteGemini, hope you're ok. It's hard. I know. Don't give up.
ReplyDeleteI can't claim I've conquered it... I'm still drinking a couple of glasses in the evening, but I am looking into other ways to try and help myself. Perhaps a group, or something along those lines.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words, and encouragement :-) x
You're not alone in this Gemini. On day three again... I'm told it gets easier with practice. :-)
ReplyDeleteWow... I'm rooting for you kid :-) It is so much harder than people really know, or perhaps even realise within their own lives. I wonder how many people have really looked at their own alcohol intake?
ReplyDeleteOne of my biggest problems is I still struggle to actually view myself as an alcoholic, which I know, is exactly what other's would confirm as being about as much as one can get to self-denial as it comes... or is it?
In the hardcore face of reality, I don't drink anymore than anyone else does, if going by real-life statistics is anything to go by. However, I do realise that my problem start with: What do I do if I don't have my glass of wine this evening? And so hence I believe that this is my real problem.
It's not about whether I'm addicted to alcohol, it's about whether I can practice control over my own decision making. So until I can say no to myself, and live, and practice my choice, only then will I know that I have personally conquered my own relationship with drink.
Good luck honey, and if you want to e-mail me in private about anything, and everything then seriously... please don't hesitate. I may not be much use, but sometimes it's just easier to sound off to someone who knows, but you don't know... hope that makes sense?
gemini.gemini16@gmail.com
All the very best my CFWB friend xxx