Alcohol Curtailment

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

Dude, reading some of those withdrawal stories was crazy. I went through none of that. Maybe a little irritability and this lethargy thing. But, sheeeit. Cold sweats, seizures? That's rough.

I also talked to a guy that I work with who is in AA and that [expletive] sounds intense. Like admitting that you're powerless? Turning over to a higher power? No thanks. I asked him about like, if he really felt that way, like he couldn't control drinking even with the help of medines that would make him sick if he drank or hypnosis or simply re-wiring his brain and he said, more or less, his wife made him do it and that he did have to admit that he was drinking way too much and having a difficult time controlling it. I believe that, I had to talk to him about smelling like alcohol at the office. So, I know he was struggling. And, all the more power to those that go that route. It certainly wasn't a path I wanted to go down or felt necessary to do though.

Hard stuff? I have never been much into it. I heard stories of relatives that were abusive drunks in younger years - but when I knew them they were sweet and docile occasional beer drinker. whiskey can make people mean.

Some people are predisposed to addiction and alcoholism. I know that is what we were taught in school, but I find it be true. It is like a time bomb waiting to go off with alcohol. Also, there is such a thing as a high-functioning alcoholic. Can drink a lot and mask the problems (at least on the surface)

https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/add ... lcoholic#1 I have some of those signs, mainly the numerical limits being hit.

This guy was a high functioning alcoholic, no doubt. Very successful in life and business. Made it until his 60s when a lot of stress hit him before it ever became obvious he was struggling. But, when it happened, it happened hard. He was a vodka drinker, so, yeah, the hard stuff. I don't think he was abusive to his wife or children. They all have good relationships at least outwardly and I have no reason to think it's fake. But, he'd apparently have trouble sleeping, get up at 3-4 am and drink half a bottle of vodka to help him get back to sleep. Fell down a couple times and put some pretty good gashes on his forehead/hand.

Regarding pre-disposition to addiction, I don't know how I feel about that. There are certain genes, apparently, that make it more likely. But, there are people with those genes that never have an issue. Even with increased risk, genetically speaking, there's still an awful lot of user control included.

Regarding addiction, I'll say that's the main reason I wanted to take a step back. Forget what's normal. Forget the numbers. I've chronicled on here throughout my time alcohol use. A lot of time it was heavy. When the kids were born, it cut way back. Recently, it had ramped up again and one sunday morning, I woke up after going out the night before with Mrs. AW and was like...god damn, all I want is a [expletive] bloody mary, mimosa, and about 10 beers to get through the day. And, here's the plan: take the family out to brunch, I can get the mimosa and bloody mary. Then we can go to the mother in laws and use her pool and clubhouse (and drink her beer since i had none and there's no beer sold on sunday) and we can cook dinner at our house and drink the beer I take from the M-I-L and if that runs out then just drink bourbon.

I'm not sure what addiction is, but that hit a little too close for comfort so I just decided to quit at that moment. It was actually a really good plan. The kids would have loved it. The wife would have enjoyed it. M-I-L would have gladly had us over. But, it would have been done solely and selfishly for the purpose of being able to drink. And, that was pathetic.

[haltz]

I didn't lose weight after I stopped drinking until I made a concerted effort to do so. I put a little on, in fact. I was eating more and craving sweets in the immediate aftermath of sobriety. I also feel less energetic in the mornings sometimes. There was something about waking up feeling guilty with a headache or still half in the bag that created a sense of urgency. Now I can sleep for a long time if I let myself which can lead to feeling groggy and lethargic. The weird dreams I had at first have ceased.

I never really had any physical withdrawals, but I checked into an outpatient treatment center and took some medicine for a little over a month at first which may have helped with that. I also was more of a binge drinker that liked to accompany those runs with performance enhancing stimulants. These sessions alone could easily be 30+ drinks, especially if I didn't have to work the next day. Work also involved drinking. I'd take a day to recover sometimes before I did it all over again and luckily never really messed with opiates. For all the nonsense I did on a regular basis I never felt it physically. I know some people that have, but they were the kind of drunks that maintained an uninterrupted BAC for years. A good friend of mine and former coworker used to wake up in the middle of the night to take shots of crown royal of all things and estimated he was some level of drunk for six years straight and only took steps to quit after he was admitted with pancreatitis at age 32.

Meetings really work for some people, but they're not my thing. I have a therapist that I've talked to off and on for a decade and I make an appointment if I'm feeling squirrelly. I don't want to drink - I've been offered to try a '45 Haut Brion and '71 DRC in the last few months that I've politely declined, but I do deal with some anxiety that I never really knew I had until the last few years and sometimes I think it would be nice to be able to take the edge off somehow. Going to the batting cages or shooting free throws or making a bookcase or something along those lines seems to help.

I'm not sure what addiction is

My favorite definition is the simple "continued use in the face of negative consequences"

[JCShutout]

I know I don't drink much, and this isn't meant as judgy, I'm honestly surprised: 30 drinks a week? Is that normal for most people? I literally might have had 30 drinks in the last 3-4 years. I figured those who did drink regularly might be closer to 5-10/week. I had no idea folks approached that much.

It's by most any standard too much. I'll touch on 'normal' in a second. But, 30 drinks can be accomplished surprisingly easy. Let's say 3 beers on Thursday night after work. 2 beers Friday afternoon before going out to dinner. 2 beers at dinner. 2 beers when you get home and a double shot of bourbon before bed. We're up to 11 with all of saturday and sunday to go. Say 13 beers on a saturday starting at noonish and drinking until about 1 am. That's like a beer an hour and gets you up to 24. Then, a couple mimosas Sunday at brunch and four beers over the course of the afternoon at a pool or something. Wala, you've drank 30 drinks without ever getting out of control and without ever affecting the ability to show up to work Monday-Friday.

That doesn’t seem easy. Just reading that sounds exhausting. I haven’t drank beer in years, but I think I’d feel constantly full and bloated.

I don’t mean to sound judgy, I’m honestly just surprised. I find I just don’t have the time for it. I don’t want to have etoh in my system at work, so that limits me to weekends. I train (and sometimes teach too) martial arts on Saturday morning, so that excludes Fridays. Most saturdays I’m just hanging out with my wife or doing a project or coming back from a hike or reading, or cleaning/housework and even if I plan on having a drink I often forget. I mean, I like a nice whiskey occasionally, but again, I often forget. Whiskey is so pricy at restaurants that I figure it’s not worth it, because I have a few higher quality options at home.

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

Well, to be fair, you can hang out with your wife or do a project or read or whatever and have a beer(s). I'm not recommending it, but if you're used to it, it's not exhausting and the body does a fine job excreting booze to prevent that bloated feeling. Of course, if you haven't drank beer in years, yeah, you'd feel pretty gross. Undoubtedly the body builds up a tolerance to the alcohol and the physical dimensions (for lack of a better word, I guess) of the stomach and bladder adjust as well.

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

Appreciate the insight haltz. I've been trying to find some sort of hobby that can be done around the house to burn some energy/deal with anxiety/fill time. I've got a little shop in my garage mostly to fix [expletive] that breaks around the house, usually unsuccessfully, and have thought about getting into making some stuff...or something.

[Popeye_Card]

I typically have 20-25 drinks a week. 90-95% beer, with some wine and occasionally whiskey. 1-2 beers a night, 5-6 on weekends including Friday. Pretty easy to hit that 20-25 mark.

But I very rarely get drunk. Maybe once a year. Hardly ever buzzed. Maybe once a month. Even the 6 on a weekend starts at lunch, another beer or two in the afternoon while I’m working in the yard or in the shop, and then 3 or so with dinner and through the evening. Pretty much just keeps up with metabolism. It is hard for me to even get drunk drinking beer only. I start getting full/bloated before the alcohol catches up.

Sometimes I think I should curtail my consumption, but I don’t really have an incentive. I drink water, black coffee, and beer. I don’t really see value in switching to soda or tea or whatever instead.

[cardsfantx]

I typically have 20-25 drinks a week. 90-95% beer, with some wine and occasionally whiskey. 1-2 beers a night, 5-6 on weekends including Friday. Pretty easy to hit that 20-25 mark.

But I very rarely get drunk. Maybe once a year. Hardly ever buzzed. Maybe once a month. Even the 6 on a weekend starts at lunch, another beer or two in the afternoon while I’m working in the yard or in the shop, and then 3 or so with dinner and through the evening. Pretty much just keeps up with metabolism. It is hard for me to even get drunk drinking beer only. I start getting full/bloated before the alcohol catches up.

Sometimes I think I should curtail my consumption, but I don’t really have an incentive. I drink water, black coffee, and beer. I don’t really see value in switching to soda or tea or whatever instead.

yeah, it's easier than you think to put up a large number per week...

I've cut out liquor, as I can't really handle myself like a man in his 40's should while drinking it, so strictly beer...

with 3 small kids screaming lol? I'll have 1 as soon as I walk in the door. 2 more with dinner. kids go to bed at 9ish? have 2 more, then shower/go to bed myself. that's 5 right there in 1 day (and sometimes that 1 when you walk in the door/2 before bed can lead to 1-2 more in either place)

I get home at 4ish and go to bed at 11ish, so 5 is not a lot per se...you're def not getting a buzz/certainly not drunk.

and on the weekend/watching sports? easily add in 2-3 more per day...

so 5 x the 5 weekdays, and 8 x the 2 weekend days?

that's 41 beers, and that may be a bit conservative...

now you guys know why I drink Busch light

[thrill]

I used to be a 20+ drink a week guy until I started smoking weed regularly again. Now I'll get a drink if I'm out with friends, but I'm probably 1-2 a week at this point. I have lost 25 pounds with very little above and beyond that. I'm regulating sugar/carbs, but I'm not being strictly/keto about it. I still eat fast food once or twice a week.

I do deal with some anxiety that I never really knew I had until the last few years and sometimes I think it would be nice to be able to take the edge off somehow. Going to the batting cages or shooting free throws or making a bookcase or something along those lines seems to help.

I'm still using weed for this crutch. I have a cousin who runs all the time. My aunt and uncle will always joke about how they'll ask him to do something or come to an event and he'll "have" to run first. It's funny because they think he's just a fitness freak, but it's pretty obvious he's channeled his anxiety into running. That's how I wish I handled it. Gritting my teeth and just trying to make it to vape o'clock isn't as healthy has a 5 minute mile once or twice a day.

[JCShutout]

Well, to be fair, you can hang out with your wife or do a project or read or whatever and have a beer(s). I'm not recommending it, but if you're used to it, it's not exhausting and the body does a fine job excreting booze to prevent that bloated feeling. Of course, if you haven't drank beer in years, yeah, you'd feel pretty gross. Undoubtedly the body builds up a tolerance to the alcohol and the physical dimensions (for lack of a better word, I guess) of the stomach and bladder adjust as well.

I guess, but when doing projects or working out, I don’t want to have to worry about where my drink is or if it will get warm or flat, or if grass clippings, sawdust or paint might get in it, etc. 12 drinks a day sounds exhausting because I think I’d feel really full if I drank that much water in a day. I certainly don’t drink 12 oz of water every hour. If it works for you, then great, but I think I’d feel lethargic with all those depressants in my system and be way less productive.

Also are you all rich? Drinking that much sounds expensive.

And yeah, Re: thrills, I guess exercise is my crutch. An hour or more per day of some physical activity, so we all have something. I often go for a ruck (hike/walk with 50lbs in my back) as a way to curb anxiety.

[Freed Roger]

My daughter's friend saw me cutting the grass with beer in my hand and says he wants to have my life when he grows up.

That doesn't bother me. It is all within reason. If I am going to do a big workout later or have something to be sharp for later in the day, i dont drink. I also watch what i eat then too. But if the coast is generally clear, for the afternoon or evening, one beer an hour seems reasonable on a weekend.

W/r/t drinking, I guess I don't worry about being all that productive, except for when I am trying to be productive. Being productive all the damn time is not healthy.