My recent 4 month experiment with Moderation

[Patrick]

My recent 4 month experiment with Moderation

I've said it before on another thread somewhere but in my opinion the very fact that we are here is enough proof that we cannot moderate.I've thought about it myself but after thinking about it on a rational level rather than a romantic "would'nt it be great to have one or two with the lads"level I knew that it would'nt be long before I was back to 8/10 pints a night and being over a 100 days free now I cant face doing the trauma of a first day/week/month all over again.(Plus I'm afraid of what Byrdie would do to me.:H)

[RunningCourage]

My recent 4 month experiment with Moderation

Patrick;1460696 wrote: I've said it before on another thread somewhere but in my opinion the very fact that we are here is enough proof that we cannot moderate.I've thought about it myself but after thinking about it on a rational level rather than a romantic "would'nt it be great to have one or two with the lads"level I knew that it would'nt be long before I was back to 8/10 pints a night and being over a 100 days free now I cant face doing the trauma of a first day/week/month all over again.(Plus I'm afraid of what Byrdie would do to me.:H)

:b&d:

[Patrick]

My recent 4 month experiment with Moderation

RunningCourage;1460703 wrote: :b&d:

:H:H:H
I wish :H

[kuya]

My recent 4 month experiment with Moderation

Patrick;1460711 wrote: :H:H:H
I wish :H

Yo Patrick.....I'm telling Byrdie! :H:H

[Patrick]

My recent 4 month experiment with Moderation

kuya;1460720 wrote: Yo Patrick.....I'm telling Byrdie! :H:H

stool pigeon:kissass:

[kuya]

My recent 4 month experiment with Moderation

Patrick;1460730 wrote: stool pigeon:kissass:

Byrdie and Patrick sittin ina tree

W H I P I N G

:H:H:H

[RunningCourage]

My recent 4 month experiment with Moderation

kuya;1460731 wrote: Byrdie and Patrick sittin ina tree

W H I P I N G

:H:H:H

:H:H :busted:

[patrice]

My recent 4 month experiment with Moderation

Sorry guys maybe I should have named this thread .. My S&M experience in moderation

Just kidding!

[Patrick]

My recent 4 month experiment with Moderation

kuya;1460731 wrote: Byrdie and Patrick sittin ina tree

W H I P I N G

:H:H:H

:H:H:H

[patrice]

My recent 4 month experiment with Moderation

X post Molly!

[kuya]

My recent 4 month experiment with Moderation

Sorry Patrice, I'm afraid Patrick and Arsey bring out the child in me

[NoSugar]

My recent 4 month experiment with Moderation

patrice;1460578 wrote: Hi all,

I just wanted to relay my recent experience with moderation.

In some ways I have successfully moderated my drinking to acceptable ( ie within the recommended guidelines) levels over the past few months, however this journey has left me absolutely EXHAUSTED!! and now I think I know why

Abstinence means making one BIG choice and sticking to it but moderation means making many small choices which requires SO much mental energy. First I had to define what moderation meant to me then I had to constantly prevent myself from having ' just one more'.
Reducing my dependence has involved making different choices at different times, sometimes saying Yes, but mostly having to say No. This has been totally exhausting.. However, quitting and abstinence means ONE decision, you always know what to do and if you stuff up only another ONE decision to get back on the horse, saving that precious mental energy which can then be directed to something else..

Just my little experience to add to the myriad here. I now choose complete abstinence and look forward expending my energy on other things

Take care all
Patrice

Thank you so much for this, Patrice. I also am so much more able to make 1 decision and not spend time and energy with additional plans, second guessing myself, etc. Your execution and report of your experiment is so good, I feel no need to try to replicate your findings. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

[Byrdlady]

My recent 4 month experiment with Moderation

Yall!! Behave over here!! How'd I get hitched to the whippin post???

Great thread! Molly yes, it was I who said that I never drank harder than the year I tried to moderate. The mind games, it WAS exhausting in every way. After all, didn't we all try to moderate BEFORE we got here? I know I did.

Once you can get that distance between you and AL, things come so much more in focus. You can't see it while you're in it, but once thru...it is just BETTER! I don't need AL and moreover, I don't want it. B

[Sunbeam]

My recent 4 month experiment with Moderation

I'm with you Patrice. I hadn't heard of the term "moderating" applied to drinking before I joined here. I had tried cutting back on my own, was more successful doing that with the support group here. But over time it truly wasn't worth the effort. My life was in no way better with alcohol, is definitely better without it now.

[Guitarista]

My recent 4 month experiment with Moderation

Great to see you Patrice.

Have a beautiful free year, free from the shackles and chains.

Rock on friend!

G bloke.