I recently gave up booze, not because I have a problem but because I was worried it may become one (my Dad was an alcoholic), and also because I want to move to a country where it is cultrally frowned on, but I am finding it really hard at the moment because I'm stressed and I really want a drink. I know that makes me sound like an alcoholic but I just want to unwind. Any advice from any non-drinkers on how to cope?
2006-10-11 06:23:31 · 16 answers · asked by No_More_Drama 4 in Food & Drink ➔ Non-Alcoholic Drinks
FYI I am not stressed BECAUSE I want a drink, I am stressed cos my life is really difficult at the moment.
2006-10-11 06:47:28 · update #1
i did but every now and then i cheat
2006-10-11 06:39:04 · answer #1 · answered by Shanna W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I stopped drinking about six years ago now, and believe me, I could drink for England - a litre and a half of Scotch a day! (Yes!!!) and for no reason other than I was told that if I didn't stop I'd die pretty soon and pretty painfully (!) I stopped. Dead.(Bad choice of word, but I just stopped dead). Much to my surprise, the only thing I fancied to drink from then onwards was.... tea! Fortunately I had no ill effects from the dead stop without medical help, and as far as I know my liver and kidneys are recovering gradually. I suffered no symptoms of any liver or kidney troubles, so I don't really know what the real results of giving up drinking actually are - except that the share value of Threshers has dropped significantly......
2006-10-11 13:42:45 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm sorry to break this to you, but you ARE an addict!
If you are stressed out because you can't have a drink and you feel you need one to unwind then you ARE addicted!
Try to look at it this way.
I am not drinking to unwind, I am ONLY wound up because I crave a drink. If I have a drink then the ONLY thing I will be doing is feeding my craving. Which in turn will make me crave more and the circle continues.
You DO NOT need to drink alcohol.
You never needed before you started drinking it! Perhaps 20yrs without craving it at all!
So you don't need it now.
You only want it because you are addicted.
Accept this fact and you can start to get on with your life.
Okay... so are you now saying that when you have a drink, all your problems go away? No, ofcourse they don't. Now you have problems and to add to that you are addicted to drink to ease the worry of all your other problems!
did you have any difficult times when you were a child?
Did you come through them?
Did you do it by drinking alcohol?
You still got through it though?
2006-10-11 13:31:58 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
Best advice I can offer is to join AA, or Alateen (don't know how old you are).
I understand that you believe you are not an alcoholic, but it is, and has, affected your life (you are concerned about your intake, and your father was one).
When you are with others that have the same concerns you will be encouraged. Sometimes we need the help of others to keep us strong in our resolutions.
And don't just try one group and leave if you don't feel it helps. Sometimes it takes trying one group at least 3 times (different people may attend each week before you finally click with someone), or trying different groups before you find one you fit in with.
God bless.
2006-10-11 13:37:00 · answer #4 · answered by CarolynJayne 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are other ways to beat stress besides drinking. Exercise is a great way (it releases endorphins, or "feel good" chemicals in the brain) and you get in great shape. Doing another leisure activity that you enjoy and has no association with what's stressing you out is also good. Find a good friend who doesn't drink and hang out together. Get creative.
2006-10-11 13:34:51 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi, I gave up drinking, all the fun i had, all caught up with me, and now my health took a bad beating, now i am on medication to save whatever little is remaining on my liver and kidneys.
Well, just have will power, have lots of gum, find something else that would keep your mind away from it, i played games (Xbox, PS2), watched lots of TV and after a year of being sober, now i am a social drinker, now i am happy not drinking.
Peace be with you. Take control of yourself
2006-10-11 13:34:54 · answer #6 · answered by Arun M 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I gave up drinking when I had health problems in 1998..I went thro the millennium and parents dying divorce ..having to sell the home I loved...lots of things...without going back to drink..Its a habit and like all habits when you break the habit it takes time to adjust...alcohol is a drug and like drugs keeps luring you back...if you don't want to return to drinking be firm with yours self ..no kidding yourself just one then I`ll go back on the wagon...good luck what ever you decide.
2006-10-11 13:34:03 · answer #7 · answered by Lily 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
if its just the social side of drink that's bothering you like your friends going out and getting plastered while your at home on a sat night, maybe you should take up a past time and make some friends who don't socialise like that pretty soon you will have forgotten all about drink and what your life used to be like
2006-10-12 10:13:00 · answer #8 · answered by pixiepar 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Exercise, read, move !! I went thru the Navy's rehab program way back in 1995... we did lots of exercise, ate right, and went to meetings.
Unwind eh ? Warm bath, hot shower, nice cup of cocoa ? Or just sit here on Yahoo! Answers and laugh at the foolishness of others !!
2006-10-11 13:35:49 · answer #9 · answered by mariner31 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You need a self -help program like A.A.All you need is a desire to to stop drinking for it to work.Will power alone is not the answer.
2006-10-11 17:12:52 · answer #10 · answered by tom n 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I find that exercise helps take your mind off drink.
2006-10-11 13:33:39 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋