Gratitude - please add on!

[FarfallaP]

Gratitude - please add on!

Drinking Gal,

Oh, yes, when I remembered the tupperware cup full of gin, at my children's softball practices...I got cold shilvers, and felt covered with shame...

at the SAME time, I also got a dose of "euphoric recall," because the alcohol DID soften the edges of the experience, and while my husband coached the teams, I enjoyed the "mellowness" of the twilight, the fact that someone else was actually supervising the children, etc etc.

All of which would have been there without the AL, if I had been able to notice it...but, I tend to be a bit uptight, which is probably what got me hooked in the first place!!!

Anyway, thanks for empathizing. Did you try the Calms Forte? I think it costs abt. seven USD, at the drugstore. If I take it before bedtime, it helps. If I take it at 4 am or so, I have colorful dreams. Therefore, I recommend the bedtime dose!

Also, I simply cannot even drink decaf tea after lunch, or a lie awake for hours.

Good luck. FF

[Eve11]

Gratitude - please add on!

drinkingal;1371568 wrote:
I keep trying to come up with something to be grateful for (I'm sleeping terrible the last few nights) so I'm feeling a bit negative lately. hmm, there has to be something, I'll check back when I come up with it :dunno:

Hey DG,
I am forgetting your drinking patterns but if you are drinking nightly, alcohol does interfere with sleep. To sleep well we need that deep rapid eye movement sleep. Alcohol has been shown to increase non-REM sleep and reduce REM sleep during the first portion of the night. Because alcohol is metabolized rapidly, blood concentrations are negligible by the middle of the night which can result in withdrawal symptoms thereafter. These may include shallow sleep and multiple awakenings, REM rebound associated with nightmares or vivid dreams, sweating, and general activation.[this last paragraph was cited from a website about sleep problems with alcohol). Therefore, although alcohol may be effective in sleep induction, it impairs sleep during the second half of the night and can lead to a reduction in overall sleep time.

On a personal note, I never feel I have slept well enough when I've had drinks the night before. The nice thing about AF nights are how great I feel the next day. So, I do pay the piper for the couple of drinks I enjoy the night before when I moderate my drinking.
:l
Eve11

[drinkingal]

Gratitude - please add on!

Hi Eve, I'm taking a break from drinking at the moment and I'm finding my mind a bit overactive without the al to numb me out

FF I think you nailed it with the caffeine. Just this last week I've suddenly started drinking tea like a fiend, I don't even know why I'm doing it but it's like I'm substituting or something. DH keeps saying "well at least you're not drinking" but I have to put a stop to this because I'm feeling so wired up at times lol.

[LibraryGirl]

Gratitude - please add on!

FarfallaP;1370739 wrote: LG, I am glad that you got 26 responses, from busy college kids, no less! Isn't it odd how much energy it sometimes takes to START a project like that? good for you.

Today I am grateful that when I learned this morning that our daughter's flight will arrive next Saturday at 6:38 pm, instead of being grumpy at having my "cocktail hour" interrupted I was happy that I'll be sober and able to drive to pick her up! FF

Thanks FF. Yes, it takes a lot of oomph to begin with, lol. I am on vacation next week and I meant to bring some candy to help get more responses...unfortunately, I forgot.

[LibraryGirl]

Gratitude - please add on!

Eve11;1371783 wrote: Hey DG,
I am forgetting your drinking patterns but if you are drinking nightly, alcohol does interfere with sleep. To sleep well we need that deep rapid eye movement sleep. Alcohol has been shown to increase non-REM sleep and reduce REM sleep during the first portion of the night. Because alcohol is metabolized rapidly, blood concentrations are negligible by the middle of the night which can result in withdrawal symptoms thereafter. These may include shallow sleep and multiple awakenings, REM rebound associated with nightmares or vivid dreams, sweating, and general activation.[this last paragraph was cited from a website about sleep problems with alcohol). Therefore, although alcohol may be effective in sleep induction, it impairs sleep during the second half of the night and can lead to a reduction in overall sleep time.

On a personal note, I never feel I have slept well enough when I've had drinks the night before. The nice thing about AF nights are how great I feel the next day. So, I do pay the piper for the couple of drinks I enjoy the night before when I moderate my drinking.
:l
Eve11

It's so true. It was about day 11 for me when I slept soundly as soon as my head hit the pillow after going AF. I think when I was drinking to sleep, I was passing out but like Eve said I was missing my REM's. Would get them in the mornings if I had time enough to sleep, and if not, irritable as hell.

[drinkingal]

Gratitude - please add on!

Thanks LG, FF and eve! I'm just having trouble getting to sleep (which the al definitely helps with!) It sounds like I just need to give it more time and also sort out this caffeine issue as well.

[Nelz]

Gratitude - please add on!

Very grateful that it rained yesterday.......was raining when I went to bed...and now....its still raining!!! Just glorius past few months have been absolute hell on my business

[drinkingal]

Gratitude - please add on!

Today I am grateful that I managed a nap to catch up on some sleep (although I'll probably regret it later )

[patrice]

Gratitude - please add on!

Today I'm grateful that I stayed fairly calm when my 7 year old's behavior was appalling and I'm double grateful that I didn't pick up a drink after that..

[Eve11]

Gratitude - please add on!

drinkingal;1372152 wrote: I'm just having trouble getting to sleep (which the al

Hey DG,
Sorry, but the nurse comes out in me sometimes. I just wanted to clarify that people get fooled because they think alcohol relaxes them and helps them to sleep. Which it does, but there's a big but. When we drink it at night, it metabolizes and we go through withdrawals from it usually in the middle of the night. This can cause people to wake up become restless. Another thing is it prevents us from going into that deep REM sleep so we are not as rested the next day either. My advice is don't use AL to relax for sleep. I would do a lavender epsolm salt bath, or lavender bubble bath, or burn a lavender candle, do a quiet activity before bedtime like reading or journaling. There are many other natural remedies that can be googled as I'm running out of time.

Have a good day everyone.:l
Eve11

[FarfallaP]

Gratitude - please add on!

Silver lining

If every cloud has a silver lining, perhaps the silver lining to Tropical Storm Isaac has been the needed moisture which it brought to the drought-stricken parts of the US, as Nelz mentioned!

Even the slight sinus headache which I had this morning brought with it a silver lining...my first thought, upon awakening, was...OMG, did I have too much to drink last night??..and my second thought, was, no, thank goodness, I had no AL yesterday at all...(so, who'd have thought I could be Grateful for a sinus headache?)

Patrice, congrats on responding in a loving fashion to your 7 yr. old...it is so important, to not lose our cool with our children, and so very very hard, sometimes...plus, good for you on the self control to not reward yourself with AL. (I hope there was some chocolate nearby? Or maybe a peppermint??)

LG, I hope you have a wonderful vacation, and return rested and refreshed to your everyday activities.

DG, I have decided that iced tea fulills some of the psychological issues which underlie part of my attitude towards alcohol. Iced tea is reserved for grown-ups. It is often served in a pretty goblet. Frequently, it is garnished with mint leaves or a lemon slice. Many times, it is offered as a beverage at elegant luncheons or dinners.

The ONLY problem is that it keeps me awake! So, now I try to make myself a pot of Celestial Seasonings Wild Berry Zinger or Peppermint Tea every morning, to drink in the afternoon and evening. For restaurants, maybe I will try ordering seltzer water with lime, or Perrier water, ala Nancy Reagan...eventually...

Have a Happy Weekend, everyone.... FF

[FarfallaP]

Gratitude - please add on!

This morning I filled in the Sunday Jumble word puzzle in the newspaper in seven minutes. Two years ago it would have taken me all day!!

I am extremely grateful for the increased mental acuity I apparently have, since I gave up heavy daily drinking. (I hope it holds true in other areas of my life...only this tiny part has been consistently measured...)

Happy Sunday, one and all! FF

[Nelz]

Gratitude - please add on!

Very grateful for the most beautiful day today, and that wifey and I will be enjoying some much needed "two wheeled therapy" its food for the soul

[FarfallaP]

Gratitude - please add on!

Er, sorry to be so ignorant, but what exactly is ."two wheeled therapy" ...? motorcycle riding? If so, have fun and be careful...it must feel exhilarating. FF

[Nelz]

Gratitude - please add on!

FarfallaP;1372701 wrote: Er, sorry to be so ignorant, but what exactly is ."two wheeled therapy" ...? motorcycle riding? If so, have fun and be careful...it must feel exhilarating. FF

LOL, yes indeed, it is getting on my motorbike....thats me in my avatar....I live for being on that thing