mcmonkeyplc
Junior Member
General Martok Qapla!
Posts: 3,082
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Post by mcmonkeyplc on Apr 27, 2022 8:03:47 GMT
Timely bump, I just had my first 5 pint session of this year. It will be the last :/
Damn work drinks.
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Goban
New Member
Posts: 320
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Post by Goban on Apr 27, 2022 8:08:27 GMT
Just catching up on this thread, a lot of what you guys are saying is ringing true for me.
I've always liked a drink, and mostly had it under relative control. But since my divorce I don't really have much of a tether, especially when my kids aren't with me. A glass of wine ends up being a bottle etc etc. Oddly enough smoking helps, daft fuck that I am I seem to need a vice. Obviously not a long term solution.
If I don't have any in the house I'm mostly ok, so I think I need to restrict my drinking to when I'm out.
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Post by Dougs on Apr 27, 2022 8:11:01 GMT
Like most drinkers, mine is habitual. Get past 6pm during the week and I'm fine. Same with weekends, starting way too early which is intended to then finish early but that doesn't happen as I like a drink. If I was able to hold off until 7/8 it would likely only be a couple.
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Post by quadfather on Apr 27, 2022 8:20:37 GMT
My current issue is the weekends. I'm still processing a lot of shit at the moment, and end up having a bit of a drunken haze throughout. The problem is, that knackers me and makes me feel rough as fuck for monday/Tuesday. Need to tackle that
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Post by Dougs on Apr 27, 2022 9:41:12 GMT
It's hard man, know exactly how you feel. I know we shouldn't equate stress relief with booze, but the fact is, most of us do. It's really about finding another way to head that off - going for a run, meditation or whatever.
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Post by quadfather on Apr 27, 2022 10:18:03 GMT
It's hard man, know exactly how you feel. I know we shouldn't equate stress relief with booze, but the fact is, most of us do. It's really about finding another way to head that off - going for a run, meditation or whatever. Yeah, it does depend what it is I'm working on in my head. Sometimes I'll drink loads. Sometimes, I'll sit in the garden with a book or just listen to the birds and have a smoke. Or just sit at the allotment, or play the bass for the band practice. I try to mix it all up and it generally works, but with booze, once I've had 1 or 2, that's it - can't drive for the rest of the day, so I just make sure I've got everything done that needs doing, crack open a few cans and generally had a relaxing time. But yeah, trying to mix it up. doesn't help that it's getting sunny and I've got a lovely little sun trap garden + the allotment. After a week of stressy work, and wake up saturday and it's glorious sunshine and everyone's out and about - and this one is probably key = *I'm on my own so make my own decisions*, you're basically going to have a drink. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2022 12:20:39 GMT
My drinking has slowed down recently but it's necessary. My brain has started to go to awfully dark places once I've had a couple of beers / glasses of wine, so if I want to keep my head above water, I don't do it.
Case in point, I got another bottle of malt through work two weeks ago and haven't even opened it yet. Normally it would have lasted about a day before being poured down my throat.
It is hard though. The best thing for me, is that the boy has rowing early on a sat, which I have to be there for (and cycle alongside for two hours) so I can't on a Friday, and because I'm doing that on a Sat, my long runs need to be on a Sunday, so that counts Sat night out as well.
Week nights are problematic but I've stepped the running up a notch again and now I basically stay off it becuase I want to run the next morning. I've signed up for a silly Lord of the Rings challenge which gives me a cool medal etc but I've only got limited time to do the distance, so I'm out most mornings now. I need a reason not to drink, or I can't help myself.
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Post by quadfather on Apr 27, 2022 12:39:52 GMT
Sounds like that's more related to what's going on in your mind/life than anything else. Same as me with the grief stuff I'm working through. Sometimes I can get through it fine, other times when life is being a twat, I'll have a drink. Shrug.
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Post by Dougs on Apr 27, 2022 12:42:11 GMT
I rarely have such excuses, i am just a piss head!
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Post by quadfather on Apr 27, 2022 12:44:42 GMT
I rarely have such excuses, i am just a piss head! Hah me too. Do you drink every day? |
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Post by Dougs on Apr 27, 2022 12:49:42 GMT
No, but usually 4/5 out of 7. Which is my first thing to address.
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Post by elstoof on Apr 27, 2022 12:51:11 GMT
I just fucking love booze. I love the taste, I love the ritual of preparing a drink, I love holding a drink in my hand, I love buying bottles to replenish the drinks cabinet, I love thinking about what wines to fill the rack with
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Post by drhickman1983 on Apr 27, 2022 12:57:20 GMT
I've managed to mostly stop drinking when I have work the next day.
I'd like to say I've been sleeping better but that's not really true. The lack of hangover is useful though, and I've been able to spend more time watching things and reading. I don't really like watching films pissed. Like a single beer is okay but if I'm drunk I figure there is no point watching anything new as it'll just be forgotten.
Still really looking forward to my drink on the weekend though.
I find wine self limiting, as opening and committing to a bottle is harder for me to do than cracking open another can of beer. If wine came in 330ml cans I'd find it harder to stop.
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Post by Dougs on Apr 27, 2022 13:00:52 GMT
I just fucking love booze. I love the taste, I love the ritual of preparing a drink, I love holding a drink in my hand, I love buying bottles to replenish the drinks cabinet, I love thinking about what wines to fill the rack with Yes to all of this. Alarmed myself the other day when I was out for a pre-dinner drink and asked what gins they had, only to find that I had 3 times more at home and a better selection of distilleries. Whoops. |
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Post by quadfather on Apr 27, 2022 13:03:45 GMT
That's another thing. Spirits. I love a drink regularly but I can't get on with spirits hardly at all. I can have one, two tops of a single something but as I hardly touch spirits it fucks me up badly the next day. I have some spirits in a cabinet which stay there for ages.
Cider, on the other hand, I can drink like water
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Post by dfunked on Apr 27, 2022 13:07:12 GMT
If I drink any more than a pint of cider I seem to get an instant case of explosive shits, so rarely have a problem with overconsumption of that at least...
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Post by elstoof on Apr 27, 2022 13:08:58 GMT
From time to time I’ll ask myself, could I stop drinking? I believe I could, I just don’t want to. There is a fine line between enjoyment and dependency though, I’ve seen enough of the latter in the family to recognise it, I don’t think I’ve ever “needed” a drink
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Post by quadfather on Apr 27, 2022 13:12:14 GMT
If I drink any more than a pint of cider I seem to get an instant case of explosive shits, so rarely have a problem with overconsumption of that at least... That's what I get if I drink spirits! |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2022 13:17:54 GMT
Sounds like that's more related to what's going on in your mind/life than anything else. Same as me with the grief stuff I'm working through. Sometimes I can get through it fine, other times when life is being a twat, I'll have a drink. Shrug. Yeah probably. Couple of drinks in and I lose the mental willpower to keep a lid on this shit. That's probably why I'm writing more than ever just now. Trying to get it out my fucking head.
I do enjoy booze though that's the thing, and I don't ever feel I need it, which is why it's shit it's having such a shitty effect on me just now. Safest thing is to try and stay off it I think. I even managed a family gathering last weekend without one, and I'd normally have about fifty to get me through.
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Post by quadfather on Apr 27, 2022 13:18:51 GMT
From time to time I’ll ask myself, could I stop drinking? I believe I could, I just don’t want to. There is a fine line between enjoyment and dependency though, I’ve seen enough of the latter in the family to recognise it, I don’t think I’ve ever “needed” a drink Yeah, I have the same thoughts too occasionally. I had a tooth extracted some time ago, and I wanted to make sure I avoided any infections, so I didn't drink any alcohol for about 2-3 weeks. This is the first time I've not had a drink every day for years and years. First few days, I just got a crappy irritable nights sleep for a while, then it was ok for the remainder. In fact, the main issue was I generally avoided the pub during this time, and because I live on my own, it was a bit crap not seeing that many people. Didn't feel particularly ill or anything or had any withdrawal. Was just more bored tbh. I'm sure my liver appreciated the break though. The other thing is, I have to get everything done in the day before I have a drink - so work obviously, then any driving, shopping, chores, cleaning, whatever - they all need doing first. Even at the weekend, they all need doing first and if I finish around 3-4pm, that's when I'll have a drink. Whereas I know other people that hit it first thing in the morning. Now I class that as pretty dependent. I don't know how people could drink first thing and then go do a job. I know people do, but I'm in IT project management - it'd be a joke! Fuck all would get done and I'd probably get the sack. |
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Post by quadfather on Apr 27, 2022 13:20:19 GMT
Sounds like that's more related to what's going on in your mind/life than anything else. Same as me with the grief stuff I'm working through. Sometimes I can get through it fine, other times when life is being a twat, I'll have a drink. Shrug. Yeah probably. Couple of drinks in and I lose the mental willpower to keep a lid on this shit. That's probably why I'm writing more than ever just now. Trying to get it out my fucking head.
I do enjoy booze though that's the thing, and I don't ever feel I need it, which is why it's shit it's having such a shitty effect on me just now. Safest thing is to try and stay off it I think. I even managed a family gathering last weekend without one, and I'd normally have about fifty to get me through.
haha family gatherings. Fucking nightmare  Seems the booze is letting stuff out whether you want it to or not. Again, sounds like getting that stuff out and dealt with without booze, and then have a drink afterwards would be better. But everyone's different of course. |
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Post by drhickman1983 on Apr 27, 2022 13:26:03 GMT
Not so much recently, and I've never *needed* to drink every day, but I have felt the *need* to drink fairly frequently at times. Like there have been days where tried not to drink, but have been come over by an irresistible compulsion to walk to the offy and get a few beers.
Most of the time I drink because I like it. Even if I occasionally end up feeling some kind of maudlin self-hatred.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2022 13:33:40 GMT
quadfather You're right of course, I should really stop refusing to deal with this shit but I'm a stubborn bastard. Besides, I've always had it. I kind of think I need it. Just wish it would abate a little.
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Post by Dougs on Apr 27, 2022 13:36:05 GMT
From time to time I’ll ask myself, could I stop drinking? I believe I could, I just don’t want to. There is a fine line between enjoyment and dependency though, I’ve seen enough of the latter in the family to recognise it, I don’t think I’ve ever “needed” a drink I will admit that from time to time, stress levels have meant that I definitely "needed" a drink just to chill out. But they are relatively few and far between. I just like drinking, I especially like the social aspect. I am never more at home than when in a pub chewing the fat. It's the home drinking that I need to curb - just me and the wife, casually knocking back a bottle each on top of a few beers/gins. It ain't necessary or even that enjoyable a lot of the time. It's just habit. |
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Post by quadfather on Apr 27, 2022 13:38:01 GMT
quadfather You're right of course, I should really stop refusing to deal with this shit but I'm a stubborn bastard. Besides, I've always had it. I kind of think I need it. Just wish it would abate a little. Yeah, only you can decide what to do about it. If I need to get something out that's difficult to talk about, I have a mate who is quite different to me in the way he thinks about things. I always run stuff past him, and he does vice versa. Don't always get a way forward, but it helps picture whatever it is that needs doing and his opinion is always different to mine, so it helps get some perspective that I don't always see. Then, we generally get pissed. |
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Post by elstoof on Apr 27, 2022 13:42:47 GMT
Oh yeah, I mainly drink at home and often I’ll enjoy it a bit too much. It’s like sticking on another record for me, or watching the next episode of the show you’re bingeing
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Post by quadfather on Apr 27, 2022 13:43:50 GMT
From time to time I’ll ask myself, could I stop drinking? I believe I could, I just don’t want to. There is a fine line between enjoyment and dependency though, I’ve seen enough of the latter in the family to recognise it, I don’t think I’ve ever “needed” a drink I will admit that from time to time, stress levels have meant that I definitely "needed" a drink just to chill out. But they are relatively few and far between. I just like drinking, I especially like the social aspect. I am never more at home than when in a pub chewing the fat. It's the home drinking that I need to curb - just me and the wife, casually knocking back a bottle each on top of a few beers/gins. It ain't necessary or even that enjoyable a lot of the time. It's just habit. What are you doing when you're knocking back the bottle? Telly? I find that's important too, what you do when you drink. I don't watch telly, so when I drink it's either at the pub, socially, or at home with some mates. But, as another example, yesterday was a spiteful bastard at work, and I was bloody glad when I got home, still stressed after stupid fucking motorway traffic. I could have not had a drink then, but my mindset was full of bastards at work, and bastards on the commute. I had to balance that out somehow. At this point, some people go for a run, or go to the gym, and I'm sure that works, but I'm not a gym person. I am the person that when faced with relentless bastards all day long, I will go home, close and lock the door, roll a fat smoke and crack a can. That, 100% does it, every single time. Whereas on a quiet sunday, I might pootle on the music instruments for a few hours (because I haven't been faced with relentless bastards) and I might have a drink then, or I might wait till the pub later. It's the relentless bastards isn't it. |
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Post by Dougs on Apr 27, 2022 13:54:16 GMT
Yeah, usually cooking and eating dinner, then TV/film. I can generally do without it for the latter - but booze and food are intrinsically linked for me. Love hiding myself away, cooking with a few beers/glasses of wine (especially Sat and Sundays) and then enjoying the meal, made better by wine. Which I don't really have an issue with at the weekends. As I say, if I can cut out the mid-week few here or there and moderate weekends, I'm halfway there. Moderation is key...and I'm no good at it.
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H-alphaFox
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Post by H-alphaFox on Apr 27, 2022 13:58:24 GMT
I normally look forward to a beer or 3 after all is said and done for the day, lately it's been a good tool to knock the anxiety on the head on the bad days. But it's certainly habitual and something I should work on.
But I'll try and cut the cigs first, handle one thing at a time.
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Post by quadfather on Apr 27, 2022 13:59:23 GMT
Yeah, usually cooking and eating dinner, then TV/film. I can generally do without it for the latter - but booze and food are intrinsically linked for me. Love hiding myself away, cooking with a few beers/glasses of wine (especially Sat and Sundays) and then enjoying the meal, made better by wine. Which I don't really have an issue with at the weekends. As I say, if I can cut out the mid-week few here or there and moderate weekends, I'm halfway there. Moderation is key...and I'm no good at it. Yeah, good shout - cooking. I like to cook with a drink. ah fuck it, I'm just going to drink. Balls to it. |
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