Drinking Culture

[ilovejafa]

Hello all,

I am not completely AF yet, but I am drinking about 20% per day as I used too, and the kudzu and CD hypnotherapy sessions have been inspiring me beyond belief! I want to distribute them to everyone I know, as most addictions I believe are deep seated issues that make drinking habit forming.

I don't want to blame our society or culture, but we seem to damn drink for any occasion.
We celebrate when we graduate from school, a birth of a new bub, a new job, a win for our local footy team and a drink to relax after work.

We also drink at a wake to celebrate a person's life, to relax while socialising, or to make us feel better when we are sad.

It is such a culture, and over 23+ years, I have had a drink on all all these occasions.
And then I just drank, because now it was a daily habit.

For me, breaking the daily (just existing) habit of an 'after work' drink seems to be the hardest goal I will ever acheive.

The MWO CD's tapes will pull me through, as soon as I feel a craving, I put on my headphones and go into lala land. lol
I think you have to believe in your AF program, whether it is sitting upsidedown on your head or meds or hypno Cds.
I am just trying to compute in my head why it has taken me so long of feeling numb from alcohol to now seeing a clearer vision and way.

Thank you members, I look forward to reading your comments, stories and inspirations.
Love, Jafa
:l

[rubywillow]

Drinking Culture

Your right about there being a culture to drink. I was actually raised in a society where drinking was still considered a sin, and when a woman drank, WOW! Just go ahead and mark her with a scarlet letter. If I have one regret, or thing I would change about my life, it would be to have had a better understanding of AL as an addiction when I was just starting to drink.

[Popeye]

Drinking Culture

Good post Jafa.
Most of us grew up with these ways of celebrating and mourning. As youngsters, we looked at our older relatives at weddings and such, seemingly having the best time, yet being protected from seeing the uglier side; all the time anticipating the day when we could join in.
These celebrations are fine, but I have had to adapt my own way of showing how I feel at these events, offering a handshake or a kiss and maybe a gift and then sharing some food and maybe catching up with friends I haven't spoken to in a while. An entirely more gentle approach than I am used to and a lot easier on mind and body. The rush I used to feel when I was leaving the house to attend these things has been replaced with a hope that I can enjoy a few hours and get back to my own place having learned a little more about myself. I don't feel out of place like I always thought I would and though there is always a little pressure to join in, it's easy for me to hold my ground. To be honest, there are times when I'd much rather stay at home but it's nice to make the effort now and then.
The clearer vision and way that you mentioned is one of the main reasons that I can keep myself straight. I'm not lost any more and dealing with life's pleasures and sorrows with a brighter outlook is that much easier.

[rubywillow]

Drinking Culture

Popeye, what a powerful post. Congratulations on the place your journey is taking you.

[aust_boy]

Drinking Culture

My being an Australian male has your point resonating clearly. I can remember all the times I would feel completely worthless the next day and confide in my father (my best friend) and just tell him I wanted to be like everyone else. I wanted to be 'normal'. My father would say "alcohol just doesn't suit you, you are not yourself when you drink you are someone else, someone else is at the wheel" This happened about 100 times or more, he tried to talk me through it for 3 years plus.

Yes it's a drinking culture, yes every celebratory - even work related! event revolves around alcohol, any excuse to drink in this culture really.

You know what I finally worked out? I used to think I was at a disadvanage not drinking. That I was missing out. In reality though, when I really thought about it with a sober mind - I am actually at an advantage. Not drinking will make you sharper and healthy not to mention all the other benefits. When I was in rehab they were saying that 3/4 of the people who go out and binge drink on the weekend would have livers well on the way to having cyrosis and be dead by 40. It's either the brain or the liver that goes first. Frontal lobe damage is not someting that I am particularly interested in aquiring either.

If you can shift your mindset to that above - that you are actually at an advantage rather than missing out if you don't drink you will save yourself a world of hurt and pain. Like I have said I had to learn everythig the hard way. Save yourself the pain - honestly.

Luck is for the ill prepared. So I wish you success.

As an aside. The reason I say things like "as I have said before" often when I post is some people would have read my posts and others not so I feel its only fair to provide some sort of reference point to those who haven't. For those who have read my other posts it's simply testament to my not being crazy and just repeating myself endlessly and consequently makes me feel better

[ilovejafa]

Drinking Culture

aust_boy;714252 wrote:
As an aside. The reason I say things like "as I have said before" often when I post is some people would have read my posts and others not so I feel its only fair to provide some sort of reference point to those who haven't. For those who have read my other posts it's simply testament to my not being crazy and just repeating myself endlessly and consequently makes me feel better

lol aussie boy @ being crazy.

Thank you Popeye, Rubywillow and Aussie boy; all inspiring relpies, and I am grateful that other people feel the same.

Cripes, I remember being shaken up after a slight car accident and the first response afterwards was "here, have a gin to settle the nerves!".
Every part of life has AL attached to it, as aussie said, even workplace functions.

But the funniest, and also private thing for me is when I endured 3 tries at IVF treatment. After all the procedure for a month, the final last hour after the embryo's had been finally implanted, we were taken into a relaxing lounge area with big recliner chairs and I was offered as much brandy as I wanted to relax so the embryo's had a chance to take! I mean, glass after glass! In fact, I really am just remembering this, as it was nearly 20 years ago, but it is an important point.

So I wonder why we all really struggle with AL when it is everywhere.

Jafa

[Angelcakes]

Drinking Culture

Oh jeepers...a couples of brandies for the embryos to take!!
Good post Jafa...it's true that those that don't drink seem to be in the minority. I've heard people describing other people "You know that guy, scruffy hair, black jeans, doesn't drink" "oh yeah, I know him, what's up with the not drinking?" LOL
Aussie boy - the changing thinking from deprivation to gratitude is something I haven't fully grasped yet but every day it's becoming clearer.

xo

[ilovejafa]

Drinking Culture

Hi Angelcakes,

Yep pretty funny, poor embryos lol. But I have 2 healthy children, 14 and 13! Thanks to the brandy

To think back now at it, it is real funny, and this was in a top private brisbane hospital.

No wonder we are on MWO (thankfully).
:thumbs:

I like all these aussie/kiwi contacts. I grew up north of Wellington in nz, but have lived in qld for 23 years.

Jafa

[Angelcakes]

Drinking Culture

ilovejafa;714742 wrote: Hi Angelcakes,

I like all these aussie/kiwi contacts. I grew up north of Wellington in nz, but have lived in qld for 23 years.

Jafa

I've just moved back after 3yrs in Auckland.
You should join us on The Next Day Thread, September.

[ilovejafa]

Drinking Culture

Angelcakes;714754 wrote: I've just moved back after 3yrs in Auckland.
You should join us on The Next Day Thread, September.

Hi angelcakes, what is Next Day Thread? And how and when?

[Angelcakes]

Drinking Culture

You'll find it in the general section, a lot of Aussies & Kiwis congregate there. Of course we get peoples from all over dropping in. And it's right there, right now...go have a read & drop in a line.

xo

[ilovejafa]

Drinking Culture

Thanks, I sure will