10% reduction technique

[mauritiusdodo]

10% reduction technique

Pooks;1353734 wrote: Really brave and admirable of you to reach out and ask for help, I was supposed to go to an alcohol support unit last year. They messed up my appt too so I never made another one. I don't know if Im lazy, self absorbed, selfish or just deep down not wanting to give up. I know I need to but the want has to be there and the motivation.
Anyway, well done yourself

I have been asking myself those questions for so long and not coming up with any answers so I have bitten the bullet, why don't you give it a go?

[JackieClaire]

10% reduction technique

Oooooohhh bugger. Don't you just hate it when that happens?

In fact Arghhhhhhhhhh.

Anyway let's think positive, you've got you foot over the doorstep.:goodjob:
IMHO hardest part over and done with. You know where it is and what the parking's like and you're eligible for all the treatments.

You're going to be one very busy Dodo when you get started.

[mauritiusdodo]

10% reduction technique

Yes I was disappointed but it hasn't put me off, they have some group sessions which sound just what I need and the most appropriate one is on a morning I don't have my little boy so I will start that one when the next set starts hopefully in 3 weeks time. I found all the staff welcoming and I wasn't intimidated at all going in, I felt really relaxed there

JackieClaire;1353804 wrote: Oooooohhh bugger. Don't you just hate it when that happens?

In fact Arghhhhhhhhhh.

Anyway let's think positive, you've got you foot over the doorstep.:goodjob:
IMHO hardest part over and done with. You know where it is and what the parking's like and you're eligible for all the treatments.

You're going to be one very busy Dodo when you get started.

[mauritiusdodo]

10% reduction technique

I fell a bit deflated after my AA meeting tonight, I know I can't expect them all to be perfect and they are all human but apart from the guy who tried to commit suicide all the stories I have heard have been positive and inspiring ones of people who have successfully quit and stayed off AL for years, tonight every next person had relapsed after a number of years and was starting the steps over again and I didn't want to hear that (although I appreciate it is probably common). At this stage in my recovery I want to hear that I can stop and stay stopped forever but yet I know that is unrealistic to presume.

Did that make sense? I think I need to take the people's experiences and file them in my head for future reference maybe?

Anyway I have my 500 ml bottle of white to drink now (i had no idea you could buy that size!!) and then tomorrow will be 400, I am still feeling ok about it although I did have a wobble earlier thinking about Saturday and celebrating my birthday without the usual ton of booze!!

[Sober Visitor]

10% reduction technique

mauritiusdodo;1353884 wrote: At this stage in my recovery I want to hear that I can stop and stay stopped forever but yet I know that is unrealistic to presume.

Hi Mauri,

I don't think it's unrealistic to presume at all! I believe we can all stop and stay stopped forever if we want to. That's my plan and I'm sticking to it!

You're doing great thus far, and I really admire your willingness to be open and try new things. You seem so committed to making it work this time and that's a key ingredient to success.

:goodjob:

Sheri

[Byrdlady]

10% reduction technique

I plan to stay stopped too!! I never want to dance with the Devil again...had enough....he wins...I get that now. (took 25 years, slow learner). B

[mauritiusdodo]

10% reduction technique

Sober Visitor;1353889 wrote: Hi Mauri,

I don't think it's unrealistic to presume at all! I believe we can all stop and stay stopped forever if we want to. That's my plan and I'm sticking to it!

You're doing great thus far, and I really admire your willingness to be open and try new things. You seem so committed to making it work this time and that's a key ingredient to success.

:goodjob:

Sheri

Thank you, I am trying to think positively I am very committed this time, just been looking at the menu for the restaurant we are going to on Saturday and they have Mocktails so I am really pleased, what I hate about the menu is the vast array of alcohol they offer!!! I am planning to order a pre dinner mocktail then pig out in a big way and hopefully I won't miss my usual pre-dinner cocktail, mid dinner wine, after dinner liqueur coffee and then wine chasers all evening!!!

I was thinking back to previous nights away with my DH and I was trying to cut down and pace myself with AL on most of them and always failed, this time I hope by eliminating my choice over drinking I will be able to relax and have a great time instead of stressing!! My problem is I have no idea what to do with alcohol removed from the equation, our usual nights away go something like this:

Arrive at hotel and check in, put bags in the room
Go to the bar for a large wine
Have a wander round the area we are staying in and try out a couple of the bars/pubs
Go back to the hotel and crack open some wine/bubbly
Have a long soak in the bath (me) and shower (dh), me with wine obviously
Get ready to go out whilst drinking more wine
Have a pre-dinner drink in the hotel bar before heading out to the restaurant
Have another pre-dinner drink in the restaurant
Wine with the meal
Cocktail or liqueuer coffee to finish
Head off to more bars for more drinks
Stagger back to the hotel (usually argue on the way)
Fall asleep (pass out)
Wake up with hangover from hell wishing to god I hadn't drunk and wondering if DH and I are speaking to each other
Either drag ourselves to breakfast dying a huge death or decide we can't face it and order continental to the room
Drive home feeling like we have wasted a night away, thrown heaps of cash down the nearest drain and bitterly regret having bothered at all!!

I hope this year I can break the habit and have a normal weekend with my lovely hubby, any suggestions as to alternative entertainment would be great (apart from the obvious )

[vlivengood]

10% reduction technique

Maur, you should start by having a few nights or day dates that you plan in which alcohol is NOT even an option, movies, bike ride to park with a picnic you pack with no alcohol, a friendly game of tennis or something at your local gym followed by lunch at a restaurant that does not serve alcohol (even if that means a fast food joint), hiking, evening in with a movie and popcorn or game night where you do not have AL in the house, dance lessons.... I am sure you can think up more for yourself but not knowing your area or you and hubby's interests I am really not sure but you get the point, then you to will get a chance to acclimate to spending time doing fun things without AL

PS, If I didn't know better I would swear you were stalking me and my hubby on one of our little vacations that played out exactly in that manner

[mauritiusdodo]

10% reduction technique

vlivengood;1353902 wrote: Maur, you should start by having a few nights or day dates that you plan in which alcohol is NOT even an option, movies, bike ride to park with a picnic you pack with no alcohol, a friendly game of tennis or something at your local gym followed by lunch at a restaurant that does not serve alcohol (even if that means a fast food joint), hiking, evening in with a movie and popcorn or game night where you do not have AL in the house, dance lessons.... I am sure you can think up more for yourself but not knowing your area or you and hubby's interests I am really not sure but you get the point, then you to will get a chance to acclimate to spending time doing fun things without AL

PS, If I didn't know better I would swear you were stalking me and my hubby on one of our little vacations that played out exactly in that manner

Lol i wonder how many other people have the same kind of nights out? Thanks some good suggestions there, we struggle to have much time away from the house as we only have my dh's parents to babysit but a movie or games night in without al would be a good start

[Sober Visitor]

10% reduction technique

Ugh...brings back lots of memories of how I used to be when I went out. I was always wanting to put dinner off for yet another round of drinks. I was like a bottomless pit some nights, not realizing it was hitting me until I stood up and tried to get from point A to point B. I one time fell down a whole flight of stairs--thumpity, thump, thump, thump--hit the light switch on my way down,turning the entire restuarant pitch black to the gasps of all the patrons, and then blamed it on my shoes :H, as I slurred my apology and tried to regain my composure--NOT!

Another time, I was on a blind date, had downed a bottle of wine beforehand to calm my nerves, and then had a few more drinks with my date at the bar before dinner. I got up to go to the bathroom, made my way there, but couldn't find my way back to where he was, nor could I remember what he looked like. :H I actually had to ask one of the wait staff to point me in the right direction. It was all downhill from there, but surprisingly he asked me out again! He was very much the care-taking type. :H

I don't miss those nights one bit, but the memories sure do serve a good purpose now to keep me away from the stuff!

Have a great night!

Sheri

[LibraryGirl]

10% reduction technique

I remember those kind of "vacations" too Mauri. My ex bf, from a while ago, and I did that sort of thing quite often. It was me that couldn't handle all that AL, but maybe it was because he didn't drink as much, lol, but god knows I made a fool out of myself on more than one occasion. Never want to go back to those pathetic days again.

[mauritiusdodo]

10% reduction technique

Sheri OMG did you hurt yourself fallign down the stairs? funny but not!!

Feel really well this morning, going to pack a picnic and take DH out for the day as the sun is shining and it's really warm for a change!

[Pooks]

10% reduction technique

mauritiusdodo;1353771 wrote: I have been asking myself those questions for so long and not coming up with any answers so I have bitten the bullet, why don't you give it a go?

Biting the bullet today Maur...wish me luck

[mauritiusdodo]

10% reduction technique

Pooks;1354079 wrote: Biting the bullet today Maur...wish me luck

Good luck and well done for taking the plunge :goodjob:

[mauritiusdodo]

10% reduction technique

Man this is getting hard now, I have been arguing with myself all day about how much I am going to drink tonight, I have bought a 750ml bottle of which I should drink 400 tonight and then 300 tomorrow so need to throw away 50ml and then measure out 300ml and stash out of sight somewhere (may have to enlist hubby to do that) but my little AL demon has been whispering to me all afternoon how I can just drink the whole bottle and then buy the 300ml again tomorrow OMG how do these thoughts sneak their way into my head?????

It is my turn to put DH to bed tonight, it has been a tough day again with him, trying to toilet train and it isn't going great, he is so strong willed! We went to Nostell Priory - a national trust park this morning and he behaved really well but as soon as we got home he was up to mischief, I tell you, if I crack this sobriety thing whilst I am coping with Damien The Omen it will be a major achievement!!!!