I am giving up drinking

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

No, seriously, I have to stop drinking, at least until the end of the tour. It is wrecking both my health and my life at the moment. (Stuff happened after the picnic on Saturday which has had and is still having serious repercussions on a lot of things.)

So, I don't know how much time I'm going to be hanging around this forum for the next little bit. It's fun, but so *much* of it seems to revolve around drinking, and even the discussion of drinking, and that only makes me want to start up again.

So, *PLEASE*, I am asking those of you know know me IRL to be supportive about this. OK? Thanks.

― Kate the Saint, Tuesday, 24 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

well kate, i don't know you IRL, although i'm sure i'll meet you at triggerfest and at lollies on the 18th, so i'll just express support on here for now. i hope you stay on the forums, and just avoid the drinking ones or something

― gareth, Tuesday, 24 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Stopped drinking last year after 15 years of sustained, endless alcohol abuse. Feel free to e-mail about this topic.

― dave q, Tuesday, 24 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

My father is a rampant and nasty alcholic . I support you as well Kate .

― anthony, Tuesday, 24 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Strangely, I now share a flat (temporarily) with three raging drunks. Some people in my position would find this unbearable temptation, but for me it works as aversion therapy. Seeing these lunatics would put anyone off drinking.

― dave q, Tuesday, 24 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

still, not drinking on tour? are you going to give up playing through an amp as well? :-)

― Alasdair, Tuesday, 24 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Good for you, Kate, that takes guts.

― Patrick, Tuesday, 24 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

You know I'll be there for you Kate, as ever. No matter what happens, and as long as I'm needed.

― Paul Strange, Tuesday, 24 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

kate - same as above, email if you need to talk - have been sober, but still obnoxious, for almost 3 years - it does get easier after a while, and yr life does stop revolving/revolving around it as well - life does not get any easier, but you do get to give more shit, enjoy more of it, remember it etc. Congrats, good luck, stay in touch ok.

― Geoff, Tuesday, 24 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Good luck Kate!

― DG, Tuesday, 24 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Hurrah for Kate indeed. I promise not to dare her to any particular heights. ;-)

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 24 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I started going to parties and not drinking. It often just as fun, everyone else is drunk after all, and thats what counts. You can still be offensive to them with no reprocissions, and even get them to do fun things like talk about clowns and poodles and stuff

― Mike Hanley, Tuesday, 24 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Kate, I wish you every luck in staying on the wagon and I promise not to wave beer in your face the next time I see you.

― Richard Tunnicliffe, Tuesday, 24 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Kate - best of luck. I have immense respect for someone who can step back and say that enough is enough, god knows I can't. I know you'll make it.

― Dave M., Tuesday, 24 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Great idea Kate. I did not drink this month up to now. But I am definitely going to restart the next. At parties it is a little boring not to drink, everyone around you gets drunk and talks bullshit and you just get annoyed. But the good thing is you usually leave parties much earlier and are fitter the next morning. Nevertheless a big problem is to find a good substitute drink in the evening. There is hardly any non-sweet drink without alcohol around except water and milk which are not really too exciting. There is: 1. Ayran, which is a very refreshing joghurt-water-salt mix drink from Turkey. 2. Beer without alcohol, there is a good one from Henninger around here which almost tastes like real beer. 3. Tomato and other veggie juices which I can only drink in very small quantities. If you any others please tell me. No wine without alcohol please that is really rubbish.

Good luck.

― alex in mainhattan, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Thanks for all the kind words, everyone. It's going to be really tough trying to do this, right through holidays and Triggerfests and tours and everything (The last tour I came home with my kidneys bleeding. not exactly something I plan on repeating, even if it means going sans amp and turning into the token wibbling folkie... no, wait, that's Sarah.)

I can and have gone without drinking at all for months, even a year and a half once, so I know that I can do it. It just really takes making the decision and sticking to it, even when you're feeling shy and incapacitated.

Chances are I won't be as "fun". Please don't hold that against me.

Oh, and when I'm not drinking booze, I usually stick to drinking tonic water. Taste associations are so strong that I *feel* like I'm doing something naughty and drinking when I'm having tonic water, even plain. And it's not something I'm tempted to chug down like I chug sodapop. The only problem is that *all* tonic water in the UK seems to contain saccharine... jeez! That's even more poisonous than Quinine! sheesh!

― Kate the Saint, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

eleven years pass...

Decided the 31st was a good day to start on, didn't see a devoted thread. Feel great physically, aside from the lack of crippling drug withdrawal don't feel too much better emotionally. Enjoyimg doing it mostly as I'm less of a dick to people I love, and (slightly) as an up middle finger to those who thought I couldn't. Anyone else not drinking?

― albvivertine, Monday, 7 January 2013 14:55 (thirteen years ago)

i'm trying, but i'm getting proper help soon and i'm determined to make this thing work. if it's any help i've never felt any better emotionally after only a week off

― Manhattan Transfer Window (Noodle Vague), Monday, 7 January 2013 14:57 (thirteen years ago)

Well same, tbh. Sad, but dealing things sad. Much, much stronger and after only a week not esp tempted (PS first real break in abt 17 years, fuck)

― albvivertine, Monday, 7 January 2013 15:09 (thirteen years ago)

have been drunk at least twice a week for pretty much all of 25 years, time to get out of this game

― Manhattan Transfer Window (Noodle Vague), Monday, 7 January 2013 15:10 (thirteen years ago)

Best of luck

― albvivertine, Monday, 7 January 2013 15:15 (thirteen years ago)

you too

― Manhattan Transfer Window (Noodle Vague), Monday, 7 January 2013 15:16 (thirteen years ago)

Oh please, a week off is like a 20 minute break for a habituated body. Give it a month off and then tell us again.

― grossly incorrect register (in orbit), Monday, 7 January 2013 15:24 (thirteen years ago)

i like that phrase, "habituated body" :) everything all unshiny and habitual and passive

― Manhattan Transfer Window (Noodle Vague), Monday, 7 January 2013 15:28 (thirteen years ago)

i've been totally thinking about this for a while. got off the sauce for about a month last year and felt SO GOOD EVERY DAY.

on the other hand even just cutting down for the last couple months, my local bartender is literally calling me "when are you coming back! we miss you!" lol between her and my alkie friends it's hard to make this actually happen

― messiahwannabe, Monday, 7 January 2013 15:41 (thirteen years ago)

that is some pretty dedicated enabling

― let's bitch about our stupid, annoying co-ilxors (darraghmac), Monday, 7 January 2013 17:53 (thirteen years ago)

2012 Enabler of the Year

― Sneezy Jean (Matt P), Monday, 7 January 2013 18:17 (thirteen years ago)

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2013/01/chuck-hagel-hawk/
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2013/01/brennan-cia/

― goole, Monday, 7 January 2013 20:02 (thirteen years ago)

oh fuck wrong thread! sorry. carry on not drinking.

― goole, Monday, 7 January 2013 20:03 (thirteen years ago)

can't be done

― bant me til I fart (cozen), Monday, 7 January 2013 20:37 (thirteen years ago)

four months pass...

So I'm giving up drinking. This is a really good thing I feel very positive about and I'm just putting it out there so that I'm accountable and yeah. Should be interesting.

― Airwrecka Bliptrap Blapmantis (ENBB), Friday, 24 May 2013 16:41 (thirteen years ago)

Best of luck. The hard part is def the changing of old habits and the loss of that go-to answer in certain situations where alcohol was always there for you in the past. Just remember that the harder it is at first, the more benefit you'll be getting out of your success.

― Aimless, Friday, 24 May 2013 17:02 (thirteen years ago)

Good luck and be strong! I did it abt 18 mos ago with almost-total success. Unfortunately, some of the hardest times have been after the one-year mark, which i didn't expect. I guess the novelty wears off and then it can be more like a daily grind at times. But it feels great. Much better sleep, lost weight, saving $$$ etc. focus on those positives!!

― tobo73, Saturday, 25 May 2013 15:54 (thirteen years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.