Trying to cut back and abstain

[evie]

Hi everyone!
I'm currently drinking about 10 units a night- vodka with fruit juice and fizzy water. I am aiming to cut down and stop all together. Any help? I posted the same thing on an AA websight and was just told to stop altogether. trouble is I find it so difficult. I would love to just stop.
I get down to about 6 units and then panic. Any thoughts? My aim is to be alcohol free by the end of August. Am i tackling this the wrong way? Do I just need to stop altogether?

[Sober Visitor]

Trying to cut back and abstain

Hi Evie,

I had tried to cut down for years without any success. I now understand why it was impossible for me. The only way for me to break free was to stop feeding my addiction. As long as I'm feeding it, even just one drink, I will not be able to stop craving it. The intense cravings and obsession is part of the addiction as well as the withdrawal process. Once you get past a period of abstaining, and work on changing your thinking patterns in terms of AL, the frequency and intensity of the cravings will diminish over time. You have to work and fight really hard in the beginning but it does get easier and you will come to realize how wonderful your life can be.

My mind used to play tricks on me all the time about how it would be best to cut down. Deep down I wasn't really ready to make the commitment to living sober. Coming to terms with that was actually the biggest hurdle for me to overcome. I wanted to have my cake and eat it too. That's just not possible for me, and I accept that now. I am so much happier sober than I ever was drinking, but I had to learn that for myself.

If you want to try again to cut back, perhaps the folks in the moderation threads will be able to assist you with guidlines to set during the period you are trying to cut back. You might also try using the Drink Tracker tool to monitor your consumption and help with accountability. I followed the supplements recommended in the book and found them to be a huge help with the cravings and anxiety and also relied on all the tools in the Tool Box. Perhaps you could start by posting about the steps you are going to take to become sober by August and all the reasons you want to quit. As they say, failure to plan is planning to fail. It doesn't work when everything is swirling around in our heads. It makes it too easy to slip and fall.

Best of luck, Evie! I'm rooting for you!

Sheri

[K9Lover]

Trying to cut back and abstain

Hi Evie and Welcome!

You've taken a great first step by coming here and posting. You'll find the majority of people here are aiming at becoming (or already are) completely alcohol free. As Sheri mentioned, there are also threads geared towards moderating, so I'm sure you'll be able to find a comfortable spot somewhere. Personally, I canNOT moderate, so I choose to remain completely free from alcohol. Oh believe me, I tried for years to cut down, cut back and tried every bargaining tool in the book. It didn't work! My night of "only" having 6 beers quickly became 12 as my inhibitions left after the first few. If only my good intentions could have worked, I'd be many years sober! As it is, I have 205 sober days under my belt, although I have been "quitting" for years. Many people do not get this on their first (or fiftieth) try, but just keep trying! If I were you I would probably cut back before completely abstaining, but I am no expert on detox, so please do what feels right for you. Are you able to go to a doctor for help?

I'm glad you're here and I hope to hear more from you!

K9

[FarfallaP]

Trying to cut back and abstain

Hii Evie,

I couldn't do it all at once,...for some strange reason, I actually thought I would somehow not be ME if I stopped altogether. So, I kept drinking a little bit less each night, and listening to the MWO cds at least an hour a day, plus READING on MWO from the Toolbox and the stories for another hour or more a day. I switched from wine AFTER dinner to diet ginger ale and ice cream bars. I added my own thoughts to the hypnosis cd, especially "I am really SOMETHING without my cocktail hour drinks." Then, one fine day, I finished up the gin, did NOT go to the liquor store, and had diet ginger ale for my pre-dinner cocktail. I have not drunk at home alone since then...and I have also altered the home environment a little bit, as some one else suggested.

[FarfallaP]

Trying to cut back and abstain

I lose long posts, so now do 2 short ones, if I can...one of my big triggers is hunger. We eat dinner at 5 pm now...not my previous 6:30ish, or later, depending on my "mood"/BA level. I permit myself sweets, (instead of wine), like nutter butters, & other cookies my hubby doesn't get tempted by. I veg out after dinner and try to truly RELAX, instead of drinking myself silly while trying to do more chores or "be constructive." I also have an apple and a glass of decaf ice tea at 4 pm, instead of nursing my hunger until previous "drink time" of 5 pm. Good luck, whichever way you do it. As I have discovered, I CAN still live - and be ME - without my "daily cocktail hour." So can YOU! The freedom is Wonderful. Sincerely, FF

[Pinecone]

Trying to cut back and abstain

Hi Evie,

I'm glad you found your way here!

There are alot of good ideas in the toolbox: https://www.mywayout.org/community/f1...box-27556.html

The concepts of "urge surfing" and "witching hour" were crucial to me in understanding what was going on.

Also, there is a huge connection between alcohol and panic/anxiety.

Welcome!:welcome:

[ITGeekChick]

Trying to cut back and abstain

Hi Evie!

I tried cutting down numerous times, but unfortunately wasn't able to stick with it and had to quit cold turkey. When I drink, something kicks on and I will not stop until I reach oblivion. I would even wake up in the middle of the night, stumble to the kitchen, and fix another drink! So I had my Dr prescribe Antabuse for me. Now I *can't* drink.

I hope you are able to find a method that works for you. I'm just over three weeks AF and starting to feel so much better! It is still a struggle, but worth it!

[Byrdlady]

Trying to cut back and abstain

I had to go cold turkey too. One drink just led to another. I had to cut off the head of the Beast. I had flu like symptoms for about 2 weeks...after that, no other physical effects, all mental ones. You can do it! If I can do it, you can too! B

[lolab]

Trying to cut back and abstain

When i quit after drinking vodka pretty consistently for quite some time ( most of the day and night ) I didn't dare stop cold turkey. I knew I couldn't taper on vodka because I would just keep drinking it. So I actually tapered for a week with beer, which I don't care too much for. I drank enough beer to keep the shakes away....probably 5 or so for a day or two then, down to 4, etc...It provided the alcohol I needed to keep it safe but didn't tempt me to over drink. Good luck to you! Of course, be careful and if you are concerned, talk to a dr. ok?

[FarfallaP]

Trying to cut back and abstain

Hi there!

Hi Evie,

Just wondering how you were doing...saw on another thread that you mentioned four children and being very busy, I only have three but when they were all at home I found it to be very very busy and often, quite stressful! And, sometimes/often I felt the AL helped me get through my tasks, which of course is not really a good method of coping. Some of the women who post here DO have many little ones at home, and I think probably have ideas for better ways of coping than I did...in fact, I think Kradle even has twins! Anyway let us know how you are. Sincerely, FF

[mauritiusdodo]

Trying to cut back and abstain

Evie where are you? hope you are ok?

[DfromCT]

Trying to cut back and abstain

evie;1351662 wrote: Hi everyone!
I'm currently drinking about 10 units a night- vodka with fruit juice and fizzy water. I am aiming to cut down and stop all together. Any help? I posted the same thing on an AA websight and was just told to stop altogether. trouble is I find it so difficult. I would love to just stop.
I get down to about 6 units and then panic. Any thoughts? My aim is to be alcohol free by the end of August. Am i tackling this the wrong way? Do I just need to stop altogether?

Hi, Evie. I joined here and purchased the extreme started kit in the store, read the book and anxiously awaited the starter kit's delivery. I also took RJ's advise and am working with an addiction specialist doctor (though he initially scoffed at the MWO program, and refused to give me a Topa 'script, putting me on Naltrexone instead). While awaiting the arrival of the starter kit, I tried to moderate with limited success. Once it arrived, I started taking the supplements and Nalterxone immediately, and that day went down to 4 units, the next day I was not planning on being day 1, but around 6 PM realized I not only didn't drink but didn't want to. I poured the glass of wine I had earmarked for dinner down the sink, and thus started my AF journey with a goal of 30 days...

The next day I gave away the remaining Heinekens in my fridge at my office apartment. I continue with the meds and supplements, and the Hypnotherapy (which is on CD, one comes with the starter pack, I bought more, but the one in the starter pack is more than sufficient, I wasted money buying more, IMHO). I'm now on day 13, still a newbie, but had a HUGE success last night, when I played golf and cards with my (drinking) buddies and didn't really consider drinking! On the drive home I realized that I had just as much fun as when I was drinking, if not more! And, best part is no worries about getting pulled over driving home!

So, Evie, my advise is to read the book and consider a starter kit to follow the program. I think it's critical to have a period of abstinence before trying to moderate. Frankly, I'm sure I'm going to go well past my 30 days, and seriously considering if it's worth attempting moderation. That's a choice we all have to make and learn for ourselves, but again, I think one needs at least 30 days AF to make that choice with a clear mind and body not filled with toxins.

GOOD LUCK.

[vlivengood]

Trying to cut back and abstain

Hey Maur - On Monday you asked me to let you know if I figured out to fight off the voices in my head that made me stop at the liquor store on the way home, failed Monday and Tuesday but then spent half the day on here reading the thread about why I hate/Loathe AL and got shivers from all I could relate to and HATED about my AL abuse - That day instead of exiting the freeway and getting in the far right lane to cruise into my liquor store I stayed in the middle and drove right past, did it again yesterday and plan to today - Fingers crossed - I have felt GREAT - not 100% still think I am working off last weekends binge but fog, anxiousness and overall hung over feeling GONE..... Let's hope I make it thru the weekend - how you holding up?