Hi everyone!

[loopy-loo]

Hi, :new:
I first found this site after waking up in the middle of the night after a few too many glasses of wine feeling totally disgusted and ashamed of myself...again,and I thought enough was enough!! The site and all the stories were an inspiration to me,I didn't feel so alone and I wasn't the only one who had a professional career,kids,husband,home to manage and a drink problem!My "drink problem" is that I don't know when to stop.I don't drink every day but when I do have a drink I have absolutely no will power whatsoever and the more I have the more I want.It is pathetic really especially at 40! However I managed 23 A/F days ! I was so proud of myself and felt great.It was hard and it wasn't made any easier as I have a lot of friends who drink and I am often in social situations;"Go on just have one" they would say,but that's my problem,it is all or nothing!!
Over the last few weeks I have started drinking again,and have tried my best to drink in moderation! But in the past few days I have slipped back into my drunken ways-I am so angry with myself,my husband is so disappointed in me and I feel ashamed and hate myself so much! I am so disciplined in so many areas of my life but I can't seem to get a grip with alcohol!:upset: With Christmas looming I am at a loss as to what to do-can I survive Xmas without a drink? I am sure I can but it is the social situations I dread and the questions-why aren't you drinking? Are you ill? As you can imagine I have a reputation for liking a drink! I feel like I am rambling now but it has helped to write things down,so thank you for listening and please forgive me for going on and on!!

[kaponium]

Hi everyone!

Welcome loops! Great to have you here - you are dead right in that you are not alone! It is a difficult time of year to start stopping!! But, hell ANY TIME IS!! I know for me - as you put it , quite simply, "enough was enough" - I was sick and tired of being sick and tired, the shame and anxiety just got tooooooo dam much, I was behaving TOTALLY out of character more and more, and I started to CARE that I didn't CARE anymore, if you know what I mean....

Anyway, keep reading and posting - and once again - a great big welcome - you have taken the first and vital step towards a new and amazing lifestyle, AF - and believe me, it IS amazing!!!

The first 5 days are often very hard for many of us, but they DO pass, and clarity does return!

Bless you x

[keepwalking]

Hi everyone!

welcome LL, you wil find lots oh help here, you have already made great progress in that you have admitted you cannot control drink!! well done you now just have to accept that on a deep level and move fforward slowly. Drive when you go out or say you are on anti biotics for a throat infection, any excuse will do to get you through christmas and then tell folk you are having a months detox in jan and at the end of that say you prefer life without A so have given it up. They will be so jealous Many of them will be wishing they could do the same and wake up fresh every day. Can be a bumpy road but you have many passengers here who will take the journey with you, you are not alone> get the mwo book for inspiration and good luck xx

[maddiva]

Hi everyone!

Good luck to you over the Christmas Period. You can do it.....

[hulagirl]

Hi everyone!

Hi Loopy, Keep coming around this site and reading our shared stories, our shared successes and shared failures. It will give you some insight on how to get started in making decisions for the life you want. Write when you need to. We're a great group of listeners.

[AMELIA]

Hi everyone!

Hi Loopy Loo,
Welcome to the site! Keep on popping in and read, read, read as Hulagirls suggests.
Become part of the community and learn about what is going on for others like you....
Vent when you need to.

[Arnica]

Hi everyone!

I can relate Loopy loo. I can go days without drinking, but when I do....look out. You think I was trying to break a record or something. I also have friends that are pushy with the drinks or will just stick a drink in my hand. It is all or nothing for me to. I plan on listenig to the cd for social situations and the supplements are helping me a lot. I should download the book today too. I think sometimes why am I quitting during the holidays, but then I think there is always a reason to drink.......St Patricks Day, summer BBQs, camping, Octoberfest, weddings, birthdays, etc. etc. I guess my big wake up call was my younger sister decided she had a drinking problem and it really made me evaluate my own situation. You can do it Loop Loo!

[ezzmae]

Hi everyone!

I am also the same. I am great, live a great life, feel so happy, can go most of the week without a drink and then I have just one and everything is ruined. My goal is to remain AF for as long as I can. What happens to me is that after a binge I feel terrible but as the AL leaves my system I start to feel better, after 5 days I can convince myself that it wasn't as bad as I thought and then the cycle starts all over again. But by acknowledging my cycle I hope that I can break it.

Once your friends realise that you are serious they should stop egging you on to drink, if they don't them you must ask yourself why. Maybe they are not good friends, or maybe they also feel bad about how much they drink and need a drinking buddy to make themselves feel better.

[Aileen]

Hi everyone!

Hey! Loopy-Loo,

How did you fair on Christmas? If you made it 23 days, that was a great accomplishment. I have been drinking 30 yrs and trying to quit off and on for about 17 yrs. You are an inspiration, even if you stumbled, don't give up, you can do it. I also have a great job etc., but, alcohol has had a hold on me since mid teens. I have never been able to go 23 days, am on day 5 and already celebrating. This time I haven't even missed drinking.

Good Luck,
Aileen:
goodjob: