The benefits of giving up alcohol

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mrs shanksi
mrs shanksi
Jul 2020
1:44pm, 4 Jul 2020
10,935 posts
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mrs shanksi
Well done sweetpeas and congrats on one month WP!

Great going everyone, I've just had my first run in the hills since lockdown and it was amazing!
LindsD
LindsD
Jul 2020
2:03pm, 4 Jul 2020
38,595 posts
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LindsD
Brilliant everyone
Joopsy
Joopsy
Jul 2020
2:09pm, 4 Jul 2020
10,194 posts
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Joopsy
I’ve just had the week from hell at work and can only imagine the state I’d have been in 20 years ago with pubs opening up today.

Instead we did what we do every Friday night now, put on the disco lights and listen to Clint Boons disco rescue as he knocks out some cracking tunes and I get some steps in! Mrs J has started drink non alcoholic beers as they are half the calories and she’s not bothered about getting drunk. Having seen 200 of my team lose their jobs this week with another 200 to follow I’ve been asked a few times how I get through this without drinking alcohol. That’s simple, I don’t need to drink alcohol, it offers no attraction and no benefits for me at all, not one.
LindsD
LindsD
Jul 2020
2:14pm, 4 Jul 2020
38,597 posts
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LindsD
That ^

And sorry, Joops

We went past a large pub about 12 and it was v quiet
Joopsy
Joopsy
Jul 2020
2:15pm, 4 Jul 2020
10,195 posts
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Joopsy
Thanks Linds, I’m one of the lucky ones who still has a job, in many ways that has made it even harder.
mrs shanksi
mrs shanksi
Jul 2020
2:20pm, 4 Jul 2020
10,941 posts
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mrs shanksi
That's so tough Joops x
LindsD
LindsD
Jul 2020
3:26pm, 4 Jul 2020
38,599 posts
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LindsD
I know what you mean.
Derby Tup
Derby Tup
Jul 2020
3:28pm, 4 Jul 2020
44,017 posts
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Derby Tup
One of the really sad things about 2020 is we went into it polarised and will more than likely come out of it even more polarised. Thoughts with your colleagues Joopsy and with you. Been there; got the brown envelopes
iaincr
iaincr
Jul 2020
4:22pm, 4 Jul 2020
665 posts
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iaincr
that suck joops,

I have freinds who are going through tough times in their life right now and turning to drinking to "help" them get through it. I now need to bite my tongue because as we all know and can see, the one thing it is not doing is helping them get through it. When I try and very gently point this out I have been accused of being a non drinking evangelist - like it is a bad thing!- to avoid argument and conflict I now just don't comment!

I feel so lucky that I cannot drink like normal people and have had to abstain.
Wombling Plodder (Welsh Womble)
Wombling Plodder (Welsh Womble)
Jul 2020
4:56pm, 4 Jul 2020
3,183 posts
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Wombling Plodder (Welsh Womble)
Sorry to hear that Joops, it is tough. I work in HR and have been through my fair share of redundancy programmes and have been made redundant too - it is never easy. I am now having to support clients with making these difficult decisions :-(

Iain, that would have been me a while ago - that glass (Or more) always seemed like a good idea and I often had a go at OH when he commented on my drinking. I liked oblivion as I didn’t have to face anything - or so I thought, all that badness comes out eventually. I am also having to bite my tongue re alcohol at the moment - and have had to unfollow certain individuals on Facebook who think that the alcohol will deal with their problems - some have been ‘holiday’ drinking but don’t see that this ‘holiday’ has lasted over 100 days. I do feel like a bit of a hypocrite as I am only 1 month AF and know that I could trip up at any point.

About This Thread

Maintained by HappyG(rrr)
Looks as though this thread has become popular again, here in 2010 (it's now 2024, and it started in 2008, so I think "ever popular" might be more apt! :-) G ) :-) Good Luck everyone.

A recent plea for those struggling to "reach out" as they say in US of A!

"Anyone not feeling strong and confident, please shout out. Or fmail. Or any other comms that works. Don't drink alcohol when you don't want to, for lack of someone to talk to. Pick up the phone, not the bottle."

Some acronyms, in case people use them:
JFT - Just for today
ODAAT - One day at a time
KIS - Keep it simple
TBOGUA - The Benefits Of Giving Up Alcohol (the title of this thread!)

New feature: article/blog of the month (period may change randomly!) Swittle's wonderful 14,611 days blog: (see links below)

Linking Joopsy's 17 year blog too, cos it's awesome!

There is a GREAT article summarising some of the benefits, to save you having to trawl through the thread (includes links to helpful apps and other resources).

And a great list of Alternative Drinks started by the lovely LindsD:

Please add to these articles and make them as valuable as possible! Thanks! :-) G

And one from way back when...
Dirt Monkey's brilliant blog on TBOGUA too - go try this...

Rebel has recommended a couple of good books:
The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober: THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
by Catherine Gray

The Alcohol Experiment: 30 Days to Take Control, Cut Down or Give Up For Good
by Annie Grace

A great response from a health professional in Ireland responding to a question from a Guardian reader about why the warnings on alcoholic drinks that are coming in:

theguardian.com

"Alcohol is responsible for at least 1,000 cancer cases every year in Ireland, with one in eight breast cancer cases arising from alcohol use. Even one to two drinks per day increases the risk of developing cancer, and that risk is the same whether those drinks are wine, spirits or beer. Unfortunately, there is a very low level of public awareness that alcohol has been classed as a Group 1 carcinogen, meaning it is carcinogenic to humans. That is why Ireland has passed legislation that provides for health information labels on alcohol products, including warnings about cancer, liver disease and the danger of drinking in pregnancy. It is unsurprising that the alcohol industry, which promotes its products with carefully crafted myths of good times for all, is objecting to the mandatory provision of facts (Anger brews in Italy over Ireland’s plans for alcohol health warnings, 12 January).
Dr Sheila Gilheany
CEO, Alcohol Action Ireland
"

And the all important fabulous services:
Alcoholics Anonymous
National Helpline (FREE) 0800 9177 650
help@aamail.org

Al Anon
020 7403 0888

medal medal Contact TBOGUA medal medal

We're adding in our own Fetch offer of one to one contact too, for anyone who doesn't want to post in the thread for whatever reason. Please feel free to fmail ANY of the names listed below.

- - - -
HappyG(rrr)
Oscar the grouch
mrs shanksi
Derby Tup
iaincr
Love Lettuce
DocM
LindsD
GeneHunt59
GregP star
Joopsy star

Note: we're none of us experts, but we're happy to listen, to answer any questions and to offer support if you think it would help you. Except star marked above. Who are experts! :-)

(Note II: at Christmas some names may change a bit, but I'm sure you can still find us to fmail!)

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FE accepts no responsibility for external links. Or anything, really.

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