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LESS Alcohol ~ FEBRUARY 2025 ~ One Day at A Time

MissMay
MissMay Posts: 3,891 Member
Do you want to drink LESS? Completely stop or just cut back?

Cutting back can mean ONE less drink a day, week or month. Or deciding to drink on only weekends or at special occasions.

On the flip side, maybe you could use this nudge to finally get to that completely sober point and be all in-alcohol free.

Join us in drinking LESS (whatever that means for you) as we continue to support and learn from each other.
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Replies

  • SurferGirl1982
    SurferGirl1982 Posts: 710 Member
    "Surfing" into February *LOL* After yesterday's win, I feel pretty confident!

    @tobinross I'm with you and the whole bunch! And, congrats on having your cigar without the whiskey.
    You know I most likely wouldn't have been able to do that 😕 Especially with whiskey being my favorite. I'm happy to see so many of you are back!
    chicbuc wrote: »
    My biggest problem comes if I allow myself a drink night at home. It turns into more every time. So no drinking at home!

    @chicbuc Our drinking patterns have a lot of similarities. For me, though, the only time that I do drink is at home. My husband isn't into bars or gambling. And we don't have a major social life. We both relocated here. So, we don't have family or many friends here. We don't even socialize with our neighbors. We live in a 55+ community and most people just stay to themselves. The only time that I drink while I'm out is when I go gambling across the street and an occasional drink at a restaurant.

    I can relate to your saying that when you drink at home that it turns into more every time. I mentioned that when I'm coming off of a streak, I'll just drink a half pint for two or three days. Then I decide to start a little earlier, so I'll buy a pint and dump out some at the end of the night for a couple of days. Before I know it, I'm drinking the whole pint. And, at times, I would start drinking earlier (5-o'clock somewhere thing), so I'd buy a fifth. And, then, that was all she wrote.

    For most people that develop a problem with moderating their alcohol, it is a slow progression. I was once a moderate drinker. But I was working full-time, so I'd have a couple after work. I also worked swing and graveyard shifts (at times) and would have a few to unwind.

    It never really affected my life either. I didn't miss work, get into trouble, or be mean. I too was a "fun drunk". I also don't have an "off" switch. Once I start drinking, I drink until it's time to go to bed. Although I do tend to pace myself. In the summer, I used to go to the liquor store around 1pm and drink all day. But I was out in the yard working. So I was more like just sipping.

    Then, I retired early. I think I was around 55. We were doing pretty good financially and I couldn't find a decent job in this valley. When you don't have to get up to go to work...it can get out of hand real quick!
    TIP: ten minutes of youtube videos before bed (Sober Again...series) did help my motivation a lot in months 1-3 FYI. Now I am intrigued to see what month 6 AF improvements will bring.

    @globalhiker Thanks for the tip...I will check it out! It's also good to know that being AF has reduced your stress. I can see that. Alcohol does cause anxiety. I guess it messes up our brain chemistry. I hope I experience the same thing. Maybe I can get back to driving again! I used to drive for a living and I used to drive between SoCal and Southern OR (a 12-hr drive) sometimes several times a year all by myself. But I've developed a phobia and I suspect alcohol is the culprit!

    @MissMay I got a kick out of you using my sentence. I especially like the purple sign you made!

    @NonnieDoiron I hope you're MIL is OK. Try to get some rest!

    Have a great day everyone!
  • Michieb125
    Michieb125 Posts: 1,018 Member
    Here we go Day 1! Thank you @MissMay for caring about us so much and opening up another month to support our Less Alcohol goals! You guys are my second family ☺️. Way to hold yourself to the line during said potential negative interactions with individual.

    Happy 2nd anniversary to you too, @itladyee! I started mid-February 2023 right after you. I had been lurking for a couple of months and happy I jumped in with you through the ups and downs. We’re better together.

    @globalhiker no hate! A great share. It is so true how stress and anxiety go hand in hand with a regular drinkers lifestyle.
    I tripled my ‘days off’ in January from December and my anxiety has been dialed way down….a feeling worth holding onto.

    @tobinross way to show up prepared for a NA night at your friends place. Good to see you here today.

    @Womona you had such a great January - way to go!

    @chicbuc loved hearing about your background which led you here. In my 40’s and early 50’s we had many parties with my young adult kids before they were married off…..I get how fun it is to drink and hang with them! Now they are doing LA on their own. So interesting! Enjoy those grandkids.