help me not drink tonight!

[Jamous]

I tend to drink way too much when I drink. So I am trying to quit for a little while. Maybe a month. I only drink at night and recently I have been drinking too much one night, then the next day I have plenty of will power not to drink when it comes the time I generally would. However, come the second night, it starts to seem like I'd rather not give up drinking. Then I binge... cycle repeats.

So, this being the second day today (didn't drink last night), I want to do everything I can to NOT drink tonight. Does anybody have any advice about what I could try when the night rolls around?

Thanks guys,
Jamous

[bluedragon]

Really, I am dealing with this problem very often, but then again, I should say almost everybody I know is. My parents will always have a glass of whine with dinner (and sometimes at lunch too). But they consider it harmless. Many people drink daily but consider it OK. I think it's not. That's why I usually don't drink but I do have periods when I simply need, want, crave to relax, by any means possible, and even though I know quite a few natural relaxation means, I find it easier to chose drinking. However, this is caused by a few mistakes. I'm sorry but I've been writing two articles about this lately, as well as one on addictions in general, and yesterday, my very first article for ezinearticles. So forgive me if, instead of repeating this advice briefly and incompletely, I send you to this link. These are the techniques I use, and they are damn effective, at least for me.
Overcoming Alcohol Addiction by Being Smart
May it serve you well.

[fdr]

You're on the right path by looking for a positive substitute for the habit. Good for you! 30 days of not drinking... you could start a blog, "The Alcohol-Free Experiment".

A couple of ideas:

Exercise -- go out for a walk; can do wonders to clear the mind
Hang out with a supportive friend
Create something -- cook, write, paint, build, etc.

I know someone will say "go to an AA meeting." This may or may not be right for you.

[MariaG]

Hey Jamous. First of all, it's great that you're trying to change this destructive habit and have asked for help! That's such an important step.

From your message I'm guessing that you are planning to go out to a place where alcohol is available - maybe a bar or club. I know this is hard, but you have to stay away from those types of situations. If you are a true binge drinker, you won't be able to stop at just a drink or two. Stay away from places that serve alcohol altogether. Try meeting friends at a coffee shop, or at your home.

If you find that you can't stay away from drinking, get help. Everyone knows about AA, but there are lots of other programs depending on your needs. Your doctor or a local counselor can help you find a good program for you.

I'll be sending some good energy your way today.

[oberlee]

I am currently in the same boat. There are some things to keep in mind, though. First of all, don't beat yourself up too much over it. Not to say you should ignore the part of you that feels bad, but if you follow LOA, especially Abraham stuff, you'll know what I'm talking about. I like to say, "OK, I drank too much last night and I had a great time, and I'm happy I did, despite how I feel now, and tonight I'll have fun another way." Or, if you didn't have a good time, then, "well, I am glad I can see now that drinking that much doesn't mean I'll have a good time, and so tonight I can do something else more fun."

Now, I'm not talking about serious addiction, here, I'm talking about plain-old self-discipline. If it's more serious than this (i.e., you canNOT simply refrain), then get professional help.

If it's a behavioral addiction (I made that up--make sense?), like mine, then notice which behaviors, or triggers, you associate with drinking and STAY AWAY. For instance, unfortunately, hanging out talking with my boyfriend in the evening (only in the evening) is a common trigger that involves drinking. However, if we are watching a movie or playing on the computer together, I don't feel the need to drink. I also realize that sometimes the trigger diminishes with time. If I'm hanging out at home, having exercised and done all my stuff, and it's still early, I'll want a drink. But if I keep myself busy until it's after 10pm or so, then usually I don't feel the urge. Maybe your trigger is going to a bar, or hanging out with friends. Just try and fill your time otherwise. Exercising late at night (9 or 10pm) helps me, actually, because I put it off until after exercising, and by that time I don't need to.

Good luck!

[bluedragon]

Originally Posted by oberlee

Now, I'm not talking about serious addiction, here, I'm talking about plain-old self-discipline. If it's more serious than this (i.e., you canNOT simply refrain), then get professional help.

I was thinking the same thing before - separating the "I think I have a tip or two about addictions" advice from the advice to seek professional help in case the addiction is more severe. But I thought again, and I said No - you can never know whether it is the case or not, and general old-fashioned advice often can work for anybody, and the fact that your situation is more dramatic doesn't mean you shouldn't do those simple things too. Maybe seek professional help, but still, do a few things for yourself. Otherwise, even if you do get into a program, after you get out and you're on your own again, what do you do?
Besides, every time I drank, I was one of those people who just couldn't refrain. And I wasn't even addicted, I was doing it purely for pleasure. I just wanted to feel that euphoria, I felt it helped me with my creativity, I could think about stuff in a different way. I mean, I could have refrained if I had to drive somewhere, for example, or if I had nothing to drink - I wouldn't have gone nowhere to buy alcohol. But since I already had it and I believed it was alright to drink that evening, I simply could not refrain or I would have gone crazy. However, when I am focusing mostly on what I can do without the alcohol, then I do not leave myself the option of drinking, and therefore it is much easier to refrain. Now I can sit at my desk and there can be a bottle of Johnie Walker and one of coke, and a beautiful glass near them, and I am not in the least bit tempted. It's all about you attitude, knowing the alternatives that help relax (hot shower, herbal teas, working out, running, tai chi), doing them BEFORE you begin to feel the craving for alcohol, and remembering that you can feel good even without alcohol, and even while going through withdrawal symptoms, as long as you remove the option of drinking from your mind (at least for one evening).

[The Cloud]

My uncle is a recovered alcoholic, and he had a quote that he says changed his life. "I can always drink tomorrow." Just remember, if you can get through the night, you can always drink tomorrow.

[aussieNickuss]

Don't mean to offend, but why is it so physically hard for people to stop consuming something? (and that includes drinking, smoking and any other bad habit)

If you don't want to drink tonight....tip all the alcohol in your house down the drain, don't go anywhere near a pub or bottle-o (surely that's not hard to do) and then stay at home for the night.....lock yourself in the house if you have to.

Remember....it's YOU who has to physically lift the bottle and pour the contents into your mouth!! By not doing that action....you're not drinking...simple!!!

[Lauxa]

Hey Jamous, how'd it go last night? Did you drink? Did you want to drink? What did you do instead?

[The Cloud]

Originally Posted by aussieNickuss

If you don't want to drink tonight....tip all the alcohol in your house down the drain, don't go anywhere near a pub or bottle-o (surely that's not hard to do)

You'd be surprised at how hard that actually is.

[lifetimelearner]

how are you doing jamous?

[Bintang]

Originally Posted by aussieNickuss

Don't mean to offend, but why is it so physically hard for people to stop consuming something? (and that includes drinking, smoking and any other bad habit)

If you don't want to drink tonight....tip all the alcohol in your house down the drain, don't go anywhere near a pub or bottle-o (surely that's not hard to do) and then stay at home for the night.....lock yourself in the house if you have to.

Remember....it's YOU who has to physically lift the bottle and pour the contents into your mouth!! By not doing that action....you're not drinking...simple!!!

That`s SO much easier said than done....it`s not a question of pouring everything out for one night, because the problem and the craving is just going to reappear the next day....

Jamous....what do you drink? Just beer or even spirits? If it`s just beer, the moment the craving comes, go for a diet coke, or something fizzy you like... I find it helps a lot. And then if you really want a drink, try the low alcohol beers....I love a beer in the evening, after work, when I get home...but then one beer turns into 2, 3, 4...Sometimes that`s all I think about....sometimes Im amazed at myself when it comes to night and I havent even had the craving nor the thought about drinking my beer. This happens when Im totally concentrating on something else that REALLY interests me.... a new love, a new hobby, a new project....

Probably like any other `addiction or craving` it could also be because you have nothing else important in life to think about. Try to start something which you like and which you`ve been putting off....I know it`s difficult.... The thing is to find a balance - which is one of the hardest things in life (I find)....well, especially for people like me who go to extremes in all things...All or nothing!!!

How did it go today?

[Wombels]

|| Dr Joe Dispenza ||

Dig in to this, it will bring understanding which might help you out,

Good luck,

Greets Wombels

[JGrace]

You might want to check this out

Natural cures for Alcoholism « Flourishing In Crisis

[sk8joyful]

Originally Posted by Jamous

Then I binge... cycle repeats.

So, this being the second day today (didn't drink last night),
I want to do everything I can to NOT drink tonight.
Does anybody have any advice about what I could try when the night rolls around?

Thanks guys,
Jamous

(instead drinking/wasting your life away), What 100 Positive, Constructive & meaningful... activities would you like to enjoy?