Less Alcohol ~ OCTOBER 2021 ~ One Day At A Time šŸ

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  • Womona
    Womona Posts: 1,776 Member
    Has anyone done Annie Grace's 30 Day Alcohol Experiment? Or read This Naked Mind?

    I've part of a similar thread in another forum for a few years, and that's the go to resource that everyone uses there. It's what I did when I was trying to cut back, and it was hugely helpful in helping me figure out what relationship I wanted with alcohol.

    I'm a neuropsychologist with training in addiction, and even then, I learned A LOT about how alcohol affects the body and brain.

    Some people did it and decided to quit, like me, and some people decided to moderate, like my DH who drank even more than I did, and is an extremely moderate drinker now.

    I did the Annie Grace 30 day and it was really insightful. I learned a lot. It was never my goal to stop drinking entirely, but it did help me moderate significantly. Iā€™m pretty sure I read the book too, but I read so many, I forgot! Iā€™ve been known to buy a second copy of a book Iā€™ve read years ago, and about a quarter of the way through, said ā€œhey, Iā€™ve read this before!ā€
  • Womona
    Womona Posts: 1,776 Member
    Had a small glass of wine after work last night. Yummy but not worth the bad sleep. In the final stretch of the Sugar/alcohol detox. Weight is still coming down, despite the little bit of wine! Whew!
  • Lilylady3k
    Lilylady3k Posts: 4,007 Member
    edited October 2021
    Womona wrote: Ā»
    @Lilylady3k you pose two really interesting questions. Clearly you want to help and comfort your DH- could it be that you donā€™t want him to feel so alone in his misery that you ā€œkeep him companyā€ while he drinks? Or is there some other power dynamic at work that makes you fearful of saying no? Or maybe heā€™s irresistible on many many levels šŸ˜˜.

    The other is itā€™s so hard to watch our spouses miserable in a job they absolutely hate. In absence of finding another job to ride out until heā€™s retired, you could probably help here by getting engaged in the community with him. For example, you sign yourselves up for a bowling league, Rotary, ballroom dancing, etc. Something enjoyable where he can be around other people in the community. It may not be your dram destination but at least it will make living there worthwhile.

    @Womona - Thanks for the insights. Yes I've actually found a couple of clubs that I encouraged him to get involved in ... which he looks forward to. Trying to find other interests but his interests (history, economics) don't lean toward much interaction with groups of people (and hates crowds). Retirement ... he no longer needs to work but has a really good job that pays extremely well.
    The check marks for retirement:
    - Do you have enough? YES
    - Have you had enough? YES
    - Do you have something else that you want to do? NO So he is continuing to work for the medical insurance until we pull the trigger and make the decision of what is next.


    My involvement with the drinking is that I'm a sucker for a really good bottle of wine. He does not buy crap and we can afford the nicer bottles. I like exploring new wines. When I go over 2 though it is usually because I'm out (like vacation and drinking throughout the day ... brewery at lunch and wine at dinner). I'm doing pretty good but just don't want to be a daily drinker. So right now at home I'm checking out the bottle, taking a sip of his before making my decision to drink or not. Avoiding the wine at book club because that is usually just the basics available at restaurants LOL

    Last night I had 1 glass from each bottle of French Chablis (2 different vineyards).
  • dawnbgethealthy
    dawnbgethealthy Posts: 7,895 Member
    @Womona

    So what do you do with the sailboat in the winter?
    I know that you are on the East Coast somewhere. Do you drain it all out and take it to a boat storage place?
  • dawnbgethealthy
    dawnbgethealthy Posts: 7,895 Member
    @MissMay

    Sorry that the drama was around you : - (

    I hate drama too and avoid it if at all possible.

    Big hugs!
  • globalhiker
    globalhiker Posts: 1,691 Member
    Busy with work meetings in the early morning so late posting...reading through everyone's really insightful messages. And my take-away is no matter how wonderful the flavor or experience it is that wine or other drinks give us-and the pleasure factor- what is most important is the effect on our overall well-being and health.

    Breaking the habit means getting to happiness and to the end goals we all want.
  • globalhiker
    globalhiker Posts: 1,691 Member
    @SavageMrsMoose: https://alpineweddingphotography.com/. Hotel Telluride is where we stayed off-season. Best of luck to you.
  • Womona
    Womona Posts: 1,776 Member
    @Womona

    So what do you do with the sailboat in the winter?
    I know that you are on the East Coast somewhere. Do you drain it all out and take it to a boat storage place?

    She is now in my driveway! Sheā€™s a day sailor on a trailer, so no plumbing, gas lines etc to flush out. We gave her a final washing, put the cover on, and hope no one backs into her when we pull out of the garage! Next season she will be in a slip at the Marina, which should make life SO much easier. Hooking that trailer up, getting the car in place juuuuust right for the tow hitch to meet the trailer is a royal pain in the butt.
  • LisaStapleton83
    LisaStapleton83 Posts: 43 Member
    edited October 2021
    lmlmrn wrote: Ā»
    Hello to everyone
    I read all the posts but I am struggling with posting myself. Guilt? My head is not in a good place and I am going to blame it on the new meds and the side effects. One which is depression, I am trying to work through it and all the literature says these feeling/thoughts, and other physical troubles will subside in about 4 weeks. I am on day 11.

    You all have such inspiring posts I know I will be back to normal soon. I am so inspired.

    It will pass and your mood will stabilise. YOu can help the process by getting plenty of exercise, plenty of sleep and good natural foods. Try and steer clear of too much processed stuff. And obviously, alcohol and depression DO NOT mix....

    Journaling helped me when I suffered with depression, writing things down was very therapeutic....how I was feeling and why, things I was grateful for...memories, dreams....things I was strugglinng with. Also helpful was making plans for the future, small things at first then bigger...it helps to have things to look forward to. You do have a future waiting for you and you can make it better than the way things are for you now...Be kind to yourself and feel free to add me if you want someone to talk to. xx
  • MissMay
    MissMay Posts: 3,750 Member
    @lmlmrn PAINT PAINT PAINT that is my prescription for YOU.
    ā¤šŸŽØšŸ‘
  • SavageMrsMoose
    SavageMrsMoose Posts: 631 Member
    @Lilylady3k Are you an Ole Miss fan
  • Lilylady3k
    Lilylady3k Posts: 4,007 Member
    edited October 2021
    @Lilylady3k Are you an Ole Miss fan

    @SavageMrsMoose - Cruel LOL
    No not at all ... except when they are playing Bama!

    It was painful to watch LSU lose to Ole Miss this past weekend.