The benefits of giving up alcohol

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31 contributors in last 30 days
Dec 2022
8:46am, 6 Dec 2022
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Winniefree
I’m here
Dec 2022
8:47am, 6 Dec 2022
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GeneHunt59
I'm in.
Dec 2022
10:09am, 6 Dec 2022
3,041 posts
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Looby Loo
I’m in.
Dec 2022
11:18am, 6 Dec 2022
800 posts
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Hibeedeb
I’m in. I slept really badly - up for a couple of hours in the night - but I don’t think it was anything to do with not drinking - I generally don’t sleep well. I’m hoping for some improvement, but it’s early days.
WA
Dec 2022
11:26am, 6 Dec 2022
10,451 posts
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WA
I was up for a couple of hours too last night. It seems to come in cycles - I'll sleep really well for a while then have a few very disturbed nights and then sleep well again. Overall there's been a huge improvement in my sleep patterns since stopping drinking- pretty much every night was a disturbed night then.
Dec 2022
11:32am, 6 Dec 2022
57,535 posts
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Derby Tup
I’ve never slept well and tbh stopping drinking made no difference. I won’t be going back though ;-)
Dec 2022
3:37pm, 6 Dec 2022
44,950 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
They say it can be disruptive for a few weeks if you are completely abstaining after "normally" drinking, then it settles down. But if not sleeping is due to anxiety or other physical discomfort then not drinking is probably not going to help with that.

I'm lucky, I sleep like a log. Things I have done in the past include: writing things down that are worrying me, and putting them to one side for the morning; not looking at screens for at least an hour; reading a book (often fall asleep doing that!); not watching TV but being upstairs; listening to music (quietly in background, not something totally banging!); not drinking too much water or other drinks after 6pm (and no caffeine after about 2 or 3pm either).

I go to my bed often as early as 9 or 10 and am asleep in an hour, but then sleep soundly. If I am sleepy on the sofa watching telly with missus, I will take myself off to bed. Dropping off on the sofa is the worst for me. Makes me really grumpy (and I think spoils the "proper" sleep you would have got if you'd fallen asleep in bed!)

Anyhoo, welcome to The Benefits of Giving Up Insomnia thread! :-) G
Dec 2022
3:39pm, 6 Dec 2022
44,951 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
Oh and other forms of quieting the mind - mindfulness practice and even if not guided mindfulness, just doing the things in meditation - check in with each part of the body, actively relax each part, focus on the breath in and out etc. That can be quite calming and quietens the mind down and prepares for sleep too. It's a modern (or ancient!) version of "counting sheep". :-) G
Dec 2022
5:12pm, 6 Dec 2022
14,529 posts
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mrs shanksi
Lots of good advice there HappyG. I always read in bed while listening to the radio. I usually sleep well unless I have something I'm anxious about.
Dec 2022
5:40am, 7 Dec 2022
15,991 posts
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UltraDunc
I’m in today and exercised

About This Thread

Maintained by HappyG(rrr)
Looks as though this thread has become popular again, here in 2010 (it's now 2023, 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!)

Useful Links

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

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