Drinking ..................or not!!

15 Aug 2005

OK - I have been pondering now for ages about actually posting this. I may even regret posting it - but here goes. I got very drunk at the weekend (as some of you know!). I even fell over, banged my head on the ground (very hard apparantley) but don't have any recollection of it! How bad is that? I am now giving serious thought to my level of drinking and need to find out how best to tackle it. I find that once I begin drinking, I just carry on - I don't always know when to stop but wish I did. Having blackouts is not good either.
I have a very good friend who will go out, have 2 drinks and thats it. I say I will have 2 drinks, then say "oh go on, I will have one more" which then leads into 4, 5 or more ! I don't get pissed all the time - but I get pissed more often than I should. I am now wondering how to handle social events. I am due to go to the Leics Munch soon, but am contempating cancelling as there will be lots of alcohol about and it's a long night. I am wondering if I could go and control my drinking - but as I have tried this before - and failed - I don't see that as a solution.
So..................there you go! This is what I have been pondering over and over since last night. I have a very good friend from this site, Corrie. She is on holiday in Egypt at the moment or else I would have been having this serious talk with her right now. Thats me done now - bye xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

15 Aug 2005

You could try alternating having a soft drink in between alcoholic drinks lol I know a few who do this when out 4 a long time or out with boss etc and not wanting 2 do something 2 regret lol this may help
Mr goodtimez

15 Aug 2005

hi bernie, got to admit at being a bit of a lightweight on the booze these days. so any night i think might go past the 3 pint wobbly head stage i start split drinking, 2 pints then a soft drink. i find it has two benefits, firstly i don't have to stumble my way to bed early and miss the fun (or pass out in the corner), secondly i rarely get a hangover worship

so i dont have to spend the following day in bed (or semi concious in a corner).
so it takes a little will power to not say 'pint of stella' when asked, and it might not fix things if you have a serious drink problem, but give it a try-it might just work

15 Aug 2005

Bernie,
I sympathise with you and as I was there I can testify that you sure hit the ground hard being drunk probably stopped you from hurting yourself too much as you were totally relaxed (although I did piss myself coz it was very Chaplinesque)
I have two states of being pissed........... falling down rolling drunk and merry, happy go lucky drunk. I learned years ago that to avoid the former I have to have a good meal a couple of hours before I start drinking. It seems to stop me getting totally wasted and I end up having a good night out and sober enough to remember getting home.
For munch days, I try and avoid drink the day before and NEVER drink during the day of a munch (if we all meet up in the afternoon for example). That's the plan anyway, doesn't always hapen that way though. Daytime drinking wipes me out completely and ruins the evening. So I guess if I want a cracking night out, for me it's a case of wait till I get to where I'm going and start drinking from that point on.
My one saving grace is that I never suffer from hangovers... lucky me I guess.

15 Aug 2005

Oh Bernie :therethere:
Firstly good on you for not only confronting your worries, but for posting them too. That's gotta be one of the most open, honest frank posts I've seen on here kiss

I really don't have an answer - so many things running through my head right now, and not all of it the same or even consistant advice.
I suppose that if you are that worried about how you will be at the Leics munch, if you don't trust yourself not to end up drinking too much, then I would pull out.
Munches are there for everyone to be comfortable - usually that's in a sexual context (purely social blah blah blah). But it can also be taken in any context. You have to be comfortable there to get the full benefit and enjoyment from a munch. If you're going to be, then this munch might just be too early for you.
I don't know how far you feel about the drinking lark - whether you feel you do have a serious problem, or if you just want to know how not to get carried away once you start feeling a bit tipsy.
If you feel it's becoming more and more of a problem, then there are places you can turn to. I would strongly advise turning to them, especially in the first few months if you intend of giving up completely.
If you just want to stop getting carried away, then only go to a munch with someone you trust completely, ie Corrie. Just take a certain amount of money out with you, no more, once it's gone then stop drinking - give your taxi money to Corrie beforehand so you don't end up spending that. The only thing with this tho, is that you have to trust yourself not to accept drinks from anyone else, don't get caught up in any 'rounds', just buy your own drinks etc.
If you do pull out of this munch, noone is going to blame you or make you feel bad - there will be LOADS of other munches for you to go to when you're feeling a little bit more confident in yourself about it all.
Good luck Bernie, have a long think about it and only put yourself in situations that you KNOW you will be able to control.
:kiss:

15 Aug 2005

Bernie,
We wish you luck babe and hope that you get things sorted. If you do think that the drinking is becoming a problem then you need to get it sorted. Before I met Mr Tiggs I didnt realise how much I drank. Everytime Mr Tiggs came home at the beginning of our relationship I would have a beer or a drink of some kind in my hand. It wasnt good.
After talking I realised just how much I drank and I did give it up, I now very rarely drink during the day (unless I go out on a special occasion, lunchtime) and as for drinking of an even again I may have a drink or two at the weekend.
If you decide that the drinking has got a little out of control all you can do is turn to people so that they can help you through it. As Mischief said, go out with people you can trust and people who know that you dont want to go over board with the drinking.
Good luck babe and hope to see you soon
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15 Aug 2005

Go to Leicester, buy the normal amount you would, and..........
I'll help you with drinking them by swapping them for my pepsi's.... everyones happy then!
Seriously though. I haven't got enough time to write a proper reply as i am supposed to be on delivery... but Misschiefs reply seemed spot on... and if you need a "beer bouncer " at leicester , give me a shout... and if i see you with a beer after you've said no more.... i'll knock your arm everytime you go to take a sip...
lol

15 Aug 2005

This sounds oddly familiar, though in my case it was ridiculous hangovers rather than blackouts and UDIs (Unidentified Drinking Injuries - where you wake up thinking 'Ouch, how did I do that?').
Personally, I went from a regular heavy drinker to practically teetotal overnight with very little difficulty apart from gaining an addiction to tea (up to a gallon a day at times). My decision to give up booze was mainly based on the fact that I don't think there's a lot of point drinking alcohol unless you intend to get drunk. These days I have a very occasional pint of shandy or possibly a single small glass of wine, and even then I'm such a lightweight that two pints of shandy is enough to get me (an eighteen stone bloke) noticably tipsy. redface

Turning to more practical suggestions - have you ever tried going out and not drinking any alcohol? I always found it easier to stay completely sober than to rely on my willpower after a couple of drinks, and although it's initially quite odd to be the sober one in a group it can also be quite interesting - you'll be the one with a perfect memory of the previous evening's events.

15 Aug 2005

I think it was brave of you to post this and for that you have my admiration...
If you feel you have a problem then at least you have realised it and are looking at doing something about it.... I felt i had a problem a few years back and had the help of my friends to get thru it.. that is why i don't drink that much at munches... or drink shandy or even just coke or water......
please don't consider pulling out of the munch, at least you have made us all more aware of your situation, friends were there to help me and i am sure we will there to help you....
if you want someone to talk to, i know i am a poor replacement for corrie... but if you fancy a chinwag pm me...
sean xxxxxxxxxxxx

15 Aug 2005

Quote by postie
Go to Leicester, buy the normal amount you would, and..........
I'll help you with drinking them by swapping them for my pepsi's.... everyones happy then!
Seriously though. I haven't got enough time to write a proper reply as i am supposed to be on delivery... but Misschiefs reply seemed spot on... and if you need a "beer bouncer " at leicester , give me a shout... and if i see you with a beer after you've said no more.... i'll knock your arm everytime you go to take a sip...

or kick it over when you go for a piss bolt

15 Aug 2005

HI and Well done for thinking you needed help,
you could try drinking weaker drinks go down to alco pops or lower strength beer,but it
really comes down to will power.
Most of my family have been heavy drinkers people who drink and dont stop and thats
fine for them, but when you reach the point that you cant remember things and falling down
its time to think again i got drunk once and never repeated the incident lol ( the one in a million) who really stuck to it.
I have one drink and nurse it all night but if its a something nice i might down it and be
tipsy for half and hour.
all the advice given is resonable
but dont be afraid to go places
lisamarie

15 Aug 2005

Quote by LisaMarie
HI and Well done for thinking you needed help,
you could try drinking weaker drinks go down to alco pops or lower strength beer,but it
really comes down to will power.
Most of my family have been heavy drinkers people who drink and dont stop and thats
fine for them, but when you reach the point that you cant remember things and falling down
its time to think again i got drunk once and never repeated the incident lol ( the one in a million) who really stuck to it.
I have one drink and nurse it all night but if its a something nice i might down it and be
tipsy for half and hour.
all the advice given is resonable
but dont be afraid to go places
lisamarie

one drink all night, what a cheap date. i like you more every day rotflmao

15 Aug 2005

I've got drunk many times and not remembered the night b4, mostly in my younger days, i even woke up in a fish pond once after a party confused

I did used to drink way to much so i decided to put a stop to it, so i drink less now lol
Tho i think everyone gets drunk every now and again its only human to over do it sometimes

15 Aug 2005

Brave posting, i take my hat off to u!!!!!
Im not a big drinker so really dont know wot u are going thru, but all i can say is that we are all here for u wotever u decide :rose:

15 Aug 2005

I am surprised you can get that drunk Bernie considering how much you talk rotflmao

Seriously though, alternating alcoholic drinks with soft drinks would be a good idea, the same as a drink bouncer... Just make sure your drink bouncer isn't drinking though lol

Shireen
xxx

15 Aug 2005

Bernie hun i understand we are shareing a lift etc to leics munch and after sat i am not drinking like it again either .
so how about we go to leics and keep an eye other it may help us both not to make fools of ourselves and stay safe. Just alternate the booze with soft drinks and start later maybe ?

15 Aug 2005

Quote by fembernie
OK - I have been pondering now for ages about actually posting this. I may even regret posting it - but here goes. I got very drunk at the weekend (as some of you know!). I even fell over, banged my head on the ground (very hard apparantley) but don't have any recollection of it! How bad is that? I am now giving serious thought to my level of drinking and need to find out how best to tackle it. I find that once I begin drinking, I just carry on - I don't always know when to stop but wish I did. Having blackouts is not good either.
I have a very good friend who will go out, have 2 drinks and thats it. I say I will have 2 drinks, then say "oh go on, I will have one more" which then leads into 4, 5 or more ! I don't get pissed all the time - but I get pissed more often than I should. I am now wondering how to handle social events. I am due to go to the Leics Munch soon, but am contempating cancelling as there will be lots of alcohol about and it's a long night. I am wondering if I could go and control my drinking - but as I have tried this before - and failed - I don't see that as a solution.
So..................there you go! This is what I have been pondering over and over since last night. I have a very good friend from this site, Corrie. She is on holiday in Egypt at the moment or else I would have been having this serious talk with her right now. Thats me done now - bye xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

WILLPOWER !!! The only way is to stop drinking alcohol now, any kind of soft drink or tap water, bottled water,tea, coffee or milk, the only person who can do it is yourself, fortunately for me, I have never had a problem with drink as I don't like it anyhow, but you will have to stop immediately, or be in serious trouble. rolleyes

:roll: :roll:

15 Aug 2005

For me, I embarrassed myself and could not remember anything about it.. I lost 8 hours of my life . I had to be told or piece it together. I found that having been so ashamed to show my face my own will power kicked in and I vowed never to get that drunk again.
Peoples will power is so fantastically strong- if you decide you ain't gonna do somethoing then you wont but YOU have to decide. Don't let any one decide for you and don't do it for anyone else. If i'm tempted (used to smoke but gave up this way... Took me 24 hours) i say aloud (or quietly) to myself " 1 2 3 stop" sounds like bullshit but it works.... That and thinking back to last time I got so drunk.
Good luck

15 Aug 2005

Bernie.
Having witnessed ya falling over sat nite as well as helping you into bed (innocently of course).... I know how much you had.... it takes a brave person to come on here and post what you have... recognizing that there is a problem is half the battle... now the tough part is getting to the other side... as several on here can vouch.. i am willing to help you out as a friend and give you the kick in ya arse when you need it as well as the shoulder to cry on...
So pls dont cancel going to the munch... there will be PLENTY of ppl there to help out and watch out for you... while this is SH, we all typically look out for one another when we are out having fun... so have ya bags packed and be ready to go sat morn...see ya soon luv..
LastofaDyingBreed

15 Aug 2005

Thanks to all who have posted here - and to those who sent me PMs and texts too. xxxx