![]() A consoling pal (“Let’s be miserable together”). Closer to “normal”.Ī drink became a reward (“Let’s celebrate this!”). To make me funny, to get me out of my head long enough to hook up with someone, to make me as bubbly and effervescent as the Champagne (fine, prosecco) I held aloft in my right hand. Sure, I could rely on a drink to help me creep out of my shell. She can’t be having another baby, can she? Is that really a good idea?įour nine-month stints of zero drinking, plus another just-over-three-years of nursing my four kids (and drinking very little)… and, yeah, I had absolutely zero interest in stopping for good at any of those points. Only a few more weeks until you can get this baby out and have some fizz, the world told me.īecause of its prevalence in every social engagement at the time, not drinking on a night out immediately aroused suspicion. ![]() ![]() But things were different then: I remember being made to feel my ability to give up alcohol for nine months was some kind of massive sacrifice/achievement. Here’s the funny part: I could have given up for good over a decade ago, in one of the Sliding Doors versions of my life, when I discovered I was pregnant with my first child at 27. To the point where I’d reminisce over the “horrific hangovers” of my twenties and thirties with fondness. Maybe poison is unfair – especially because I continued to drink long after I started waking up feeling like I’d been clubbed over the head after one glass of wine – but it was bad. (There is something wonderful about rediscovering yourself, isn’t there?) So, if I didn’t “need” to stop drinking – not really, not desperately – why do I feel so much better now? More energised, focused, creative, happy, determined. Look, I could be kind of aggressive when tipsy I may be a tad sanctimonious when sober. My husband, still in disbelief, asked me how my virgin piña colada compared to the “real deal”. The next month, in Portugal, poolside with the kids and in full holiday mode, I wasn’t the slightest bit tempted. I didn’t have a drop at any event I attended in July, including a wine tasting evening. I didn’t drink on my birthday, or gaze longingly in the direction of sexy-looking Bellinis. (Fair point: if you’re going to drink, like ever, then that’s the place to do it.)īut, I was really done. “I’m taking you to Cipriani for your birthday. The idea of not drinking again, ever, is inconceivable to him.Īudible sigh. You can also use the diary to identify triggers and danger times.“Until when?” he replied, a veteran of the “let’s reset my alcohol-saturated body by giving up for a month” approach. the time and place you used alcohol or drugs.If your goal is to cut down, you could use our alcohol and drug diary (PDF, 1 page, 37KB) to track how much you are using. For example, "No, thanks, I'm not drinking tonight" or "I don't feel like doing that right now." Keep track of your use When saying 'no', use confident body language and a clear, firm voice. If they do have a problem, you may have to leave the situation if you think you are at risk of a slip-up. Some people will not have a problem with you saying 'no'. If you have stopped alcohol or drug use, learning how to say 'no' is a useful skill. Do this on a piece of paper or download and print our decisional balance worksheet (PDF, 1 page, 59KB). It might be helpful to write down the pros and cons of making a change and not making a change. If you have decided to stop drinking or taking drugs, remind yourself of the reasons for this. Think about how you would feel the following day, if you give in to the urge. Think about the way you felt and the problems you had before you made the change. Relaxation techniques can help take your mind off cravings. Often it’s enough just to do something for a few minutes until the craving dies down. Distract yourselfĭistract yourself with another activity. Delay acting on a cravingĭecide not to act on a craving for 30 minutes. These ways of coping and distractions may help. Weigh up the short-term discomfort of resisting a craving with the problems of giving in to it. You may feel a desire to just give in.Ĭravings may feel difficult to resist. When the urge to drink or take drugs is strong, you may briefly forget the reasons you wanted to change. If you change your regular alcohol or drugs use, you may have cravings. keep away from people who might try to encourage you to drink or take drugs.avoid social situations where you would normally drink or take drugs.limit your access to alcohol or drugs at home.Giving up or cutting down means resisting the urge to use alcohol or drugs. As time goes on, the cravings will get less intense and things should get a little easier. Especially if it has been a big part of your life for a long time. In the early stages, there may be many times when you have the urge to use alcohol or drugs.Īt times like these, you may doubt your decision to change.
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