Giving up Alcohol

[Fireside_Hindu]

Periodically over the last year or so I've played with the idea of giving up alcohol for good. I'm not and never have been a heavy drinker but I have always enjoyed the way it makes me feel in the past.

As I've gotten older I've found that while it still makes me feel good initially, later in the evening and even the next day, it makes me a little sick. (I'm talking about one or two glasses of wine, not a crazy binge). I had heard that for some people, regardless of their tolerance level, booze gets harder on the system as they age, so maybe that's what I'm running into.

My hesitancy for giving it up before now had to do with just figuring I didn't have the will power to follow through especially if my partner still drinks. But last night I told him about what I'd been thinking and he was completely supportive and promised to help me avoid temptation. So having that support system will really help I think. So starting today, I'm giving up the sauce.

Has anyone here given up booze for good? What were your reasons? How difficult was it?

 

[wizanda]

Has anyone here given up booze for good?

Given up drinking 13 years ago.

What were your reasons?

Waking up in the morning with regrets, due to doing or allowing things, that I'd not normally allow.

How difficult was it?

The difficulties are society is driven by Alcoholism: adverts, soap operas, events, everything seems to function around it... So to begin it is a culture shock.

Yet with the right reasoning behind any logic, there is no reason to do something....

Thus my own method was to understand: if there was a fish tank with over a year old water in it, would you drink it? (Beer)

What effect do you think it would have drinking old stagnant water?

If there was a pile of potatoes sitting rotting for 3 years would you eat or drink it? (Vodka)

When it is a hot sunny day, and you have the option of a pint of beer or a glass of fresh orange juice; one makes you sweat like a pig, the other refreshes us with life force....

Then it made sense, the religions often refer to God as being without death; we're continuously choosing things that lower our conscious frequency by taking in death, when there is no need.

 

[Nietzsche]

Thus my own method was to understand: if there was a fish tank with over a year old water in it, would you drink it? (Beer)

What effect do you think it would have drinking old stagnant water?

If there was a pile of potatoes sitting rotting for 3 years would you eat or drink it? (Vodka)

...you don't actually have the first idea as to how alcohol is made, do you?

 

[Vinayaka]

Periodically over the last year or so I've played with the idea of giving up alcohol for good. I'm not and never have been a heavy drinker but I have always enjoyed the way it makes me feel in the past.

As I've gotten older I've found that while it still makes me feel good initially, later in the evening and even the next day, it makes me a little sick. (I'm talking about one or two glasses of wine, not a crazy binge). I had heard that for some people, regardless of their tolerance level, booze gets harder on the system as they age, so maybe that's what I'm running into.

My hesitancy for giving it up before now had to do with just figuring I didn't have the will power to follow through especially if my partner still drinks. But last night I told him about what I'd been thinking and he was completely supportive and promised to help me avoid temptation. So having that support system will really help I think. So starting today, I'm giving up the sauce.

Has anyone here given up booze for good? What were your reasons? How difficult was it?

I never gave it up, still haven't but also haven't had a beer in maybe 4 years. As I aged, I could definitely feel the after effect more and more. It was either the age, or perhaps the sensitivity to body changes, moods, etc. due to a lengthy time at sadhana. Half a light beer, or half a small glass of wine will make me tippy/dizzy/hung over. So it's quite not worth it.

Each person's reaction to the stuff differs.

 

[CogentPhilosopher]

Periodically over the last year or so I've played with the idea of giving up alcohol for good. I'm not and never have been a heavy drinker but I have always enjoyed the way it makes me feel in the past.

As I've gotten older I've found that while it still makes me feel good initially, later in the evening and even the next day, it makes me a little sick. (I'm talking about one or two glasses of wine, not a crazy binge). I had heard that for some people, regardless of their tolerance level, booze gets harder on the system as they age, so maybe that's what I'm running into.

My hesitancy for giving it up before now had to do with just figuring I didn't have the will power to follow through especially if my partner still drinks. But last night I told him about what I'd been thinking and he was completely supportive and promised to help me avoid temptation. So having that support system will really help I think. So starting today, I'm giving up the sauce.

Has anyone here given up booze for good? What were your reasons? How difficult was it?

I have never drank alcohol. But I really hope you get off it.

 

[CogentPhilosopher]

...you don't actually have the first idea as to how alcohol is made, do you?

Are you really surprised at this point?

 

[Kilgore Trout]

I found it was very easy to give up drinking once I started shooting up.

 

[BSM1]

Haven't had a drink since 1974; recovering alcoholic (you are never a "recovered" alcoholic until you draw your last breath sober). I would still like to have a rum-and-coke, a beer, or a glass of wine every now and then, and I'm 100 % sure I can control. However, I am also 100% certain that I can't take that chance.

 

[Nietzsche]

Periodically over the last year or so I've played with the idea of giving up alcohol for good. I'm not and never have been a heavy drinker but I have always enjoyed the way it makes me feel in the past.

As I've gotten older I've found that while it still makes me feel good initially, later in the evening and even the next day, it makes me a little sick. (I'm talking about one or two glasses of wine, not a crazy binge). I had heard that for some people, regardless of their tolerance level, booze gets harder on the system as they age, so maybe that's what I'm running into.

My hesitancy for giving it up before now had to do with just figuring I didn't have the will power to follow through especially if my partner still drinks. But last night I told him about what I'd been thinking and he was completely supportive and promised to help me avoid temptation. So having that support system will really help I think. So starting today, I'm giving up the sauce.

Have you considered the problem may not be alcohol itself but what in particular you're drinking? While all alcohol proper(as in the ethanol you consume regardless of whether it's beer, wine, liquour so on) is the same, you may be having a bad reaction to the other things in the drink itself. For instance, some people respond poorly to the tannin in wine, beer and such.

Alternatively, your problem could also be as simple as not drinking enough of something else along with the alcohol. You could be dehydrating.

I'm not trying to talk you out of this, mind, I'm just pointing out other factors that may be the problem

 

[bobhikes]

My vice is tobacco, specifically pipes and cigars. The whole process of smoking one calms my nerves, I can actually feel the stress melt away but, it bothers all my family, it actually will give me a headache the next day(nose issues). I used to smoke everyday, I gave that up with the birth of my kids but it wasn't long, till on trips(for work) without the family I would occasionally smoke. Today I'm smoking about twice a month. I know its not alcohol but its a similar addicting vise that I wish I could drop completely. The benefit I get of stress release is just to tempting.

I Stopped smoking because
It was dangerous to my family
It annoyed my family
It saved money
I could only do it outside(winters were not fun)
It caused problems for me
It could cause cancer

I started smoking again
Because I needed the relief

Hope it helps

 

[A Vestigial Mote]

...you don't actually have the first idea as to how alcohol is made, do you?

Well, to be fair, the process involves fermentation of the subject at hand, regardless. Basically - the process of rotting. The excretions of the little guys getting their feasting done.

That reaction you first have to the fumes and heaviness of your very first drink? That's your body trying to tell you that what you are ingesting is not something you're supposed to be ingesting. Hence the reason people also throw-up when they've drunk too much. The body is, once again, trying out a method of rejection, to see if it can get one to stick.

Eventually the body throws in the towel. Not much to be proud of about it.

 

[Guy Threepwood]

My vice is tobacco, specifically pipes and cigars. The whole process of smoking one calms my nerves, I can actually feel the stress melt away but, it bothers all my family, it actually will give me a headache the next day(nose issues). I used to smoke everyday, I gave that up with the birth of my kids but it wasn't long, till on trips(for work) without the family I would occasionally smoke. Today I'm smoking about twice a month. I know its not alcohol but its a similar addicting vise that I wish I could drop completely. The benefit I get of stress release is just to tempting.

I Stopped smoking because
It was dangerous to my family
It annoyed my family
It saved money
I could only do it outside(winters were not fun)
It caused problems for me
It could cause cancer

I started smoking again
Because I needed the relief

Hope it helps

Yes, I gave up smoking for similar reasons, >15 years ago I think

And I'm glad for the convenience and freedom of it, but I don't think you can completely write off the benefits- e.g. stress relief, appetite suppression. I don't think it's complete coincidence that we have an obesity epidemic appearing as people have quit smoking..

 

[Nietzsche]

Well, to be fair, the process involves fermentation of the subject at hand, regardless. Basically - the process of rotting. The excretions of the little guys getting their feasting done.

Yes.

That reaction you first have to the fumes and heaviness of your very first drink? That's your body trying to tell you that what you are ingesting is not something you're supposed to be ingesting. Hence the reason people also throw-up when they've drunk too much. The body is, once again, trying out a method of rejection, to see if it can get one to stick.

Eventually the body throws in the towel. Not much to be proud of about it.

And yet we're not the only creature that drinks. Other apes intentionally allow fruit to rot to get drunk. Not to mention that, purely from a historical standpoint, alcohol was vital to human civilization;.

It is an extremely effective method of long-term storage for various types of crops, and until very recently it was far, far safer than just drinking the water around you. In fact there are still plenty parts of the world where you're better off forgoing the water and just drinking alcohol, so as not to catch some horrid disease.

I was mostly trying to rebut Wiz's needlessly negative view of alcohol.

 

[A Vestigial Mote]

Yes.


And yet we're not the only creature that drinks. Other apes intentionally allow fruit to rot to get drunk. Not to mention that, purely from a historical standpoint, alcohol was vital to human civilization;.

It is an extremely effective method of long-term storage for various types of crops, and until very recently it was far, far safer than just drinking the water around you. In fact there are still plenty parts of the world where you're better off forgoing the water and just drinking alcohol, so as not to catch some horrid disease.

I was mostly trying to rebut Wiz's needlessly negative view of alcohol.

Yeah, I didn't mean to belittle the positive aspects of alcohol - though it probably read like I was on a bashing spree. I partake myself on occasion, and don't really have issues with its usage... but I do keep an ever-standing reverence for its toxicity, top of mind.

I almost responded saying that drinking a crap-load of water after an evening getting buzzed is an almost sure-fire way to avoid negative effects the next morning - but thought it might sound insensitive, or like I was trying to enable something. Also not sure how much different individuals are on that point - it always works for me, but may not for others.

 

[Nietzsche]

it always works for me, but may not for others.

Same here, and I drink a lot. Staying hydrated(and ensuring that you eat at least a little) is the key to avoiding hangovers and other deleterious effects.

 

[Fireside_Hindu]

Thanks to everyone for your responses be they informative or funny (or both!)

I'll admit that I don't drink as much water as I should on the daily so it is possible that is contributing to how I feel even after a few glasses of wine. Another motivation for giving it up is the extra calories.

Like others here, I appreciate the stress relief that comes with a glass or two as I tend to be an anxious person. On the other hand I wonder if it would be better for me to put more effort into other kinds of stress management. (meditation for example). I do worry that I might just exchange one substance for another. My mom quit smoking after 15 years but then started drinking more and more. She's got it under control now, but for a while we were worried about her.

I've tried the whole - "I'll only have one drink a week". But that falls apart after a while. I might be an all or nothing type of person when it comes to this kind of thing.

 

[ADigitalArtist]

Thanks to everyone for your responses be they informative or funny (or both!)

I'll admit that I don't drink as much water as I should on the daily so it is possible that is contributing to how I feel even after a few glasses of wine. Another motivation for giving it up is the extra calories.

Like others here, I appreciate the stress relief that comes with a glass or two as I tend to be an anxious person. On the other hand I wonder if it would be better for me to put more effort into other kinds of stress management. (meditation for example). I do worry that I might just exchange one substance for another. My mom quit smoking after 15 years but then started drinking more and more. She's got it under control now, but for a while we were worried about her.

I've tried the whole - "I'll only have one drink a week". But that falls apart after a while. I might be an all or nothing type of person when it comes to this kind of thing.

For me alcohol really hurts my reflux so I switched it out for a half hour of meditation, exercise or both. Instead of sitting and watching a show with a beer or wine, I got a lot more relaxed and felt accomplished.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

I'm cutting back drinking and considering stopping altogether. It's hard for me since I do tend to do it as a form of coping. But it tends to end up backfiring on me and making me more depressed and angry after the initial high wears off. I should've stayed true to straight edge in the first place instead of giving into urges and peer pressure. Just wasting money on things that don't actually help or leave me worse off.

 

[SomeRandom]

Good luck to you!
Find alternatives that suit you and make sure you have distractions if you ever get the urge.
Your choice is your choice. People around you might think it's odd but who cares?

Personally I like to drink on weekends only. It gives me at least a tiny bit of discipline. I absolutely do not drink during the week. Unless I'm at one of the dads' places for dinner lol.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

After I started on hormones and the emotional changes began to set in, I pretty much lost any desires or urges for alcohol. An occasional cocktail I may have again, when I can afford to make them, but I've not even had a single drink since the last time I drank, late last year/early this year (and that was only a "what the hell?" moment).