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I volunteered information about not drinking in lockdown and now getting a lot of questions so if you don’t mind I’ll write a thread and then you can all read it? Ok
I stopped drinking in lockdown 1.
Context; I live alone, I love a glass of wine or V&T in the evenings. (Cont)
I stopped drinking in lockdown 1.
Context; I live alone, I love a glass of wine or V&T in the evenings. (Cont)
2 - I’ve never been a big drinker but after my last relationship I was miserable & I definitely increased the amount I drank at home in the evenings. By most people’s standards it’s not a lot but I found I regularly drank and evenings without one drink at least became rare.
3 - I’ve also also suffered with mild depression that gets worse in the winter - and noticed for a few years that alcohol made my mood worse and hangovers, even if mild, gave me very bad anxiety.
4 - the final factor was sleep. Over the last few years my quality of sleep has been directly proportional to the amount I do or don’t drink. By the time lockdown 1 came, any alcohol at all would mean about 3 hrs of sleep before lying awake until morning with irrational anxiety.
5 So, faced with the prospect of being alone for months I was genuinely scared I’d lose control of my alcohol consumption. I didn’t know at the time I’d lose my job or anything else would happen I just knew I wanted to sleep well and be healthy. My weight had crept up a bit too.
6 So, after a few false starts where I’d stop drinking for a few days/week at a time, then celebrate with wine 
I stopped for good. It wasn’t easy - and in hindsight, struggling to not drink made me determined I was doing the right thing by giving it up.
I stopped for good. It wasn’t easy - and in hindsight, struggling to not drink made me determined I was doing the right thing by giving it up.
7 - There are many places you can get help with drinking, for me it was talking to my friends who are tee total, and simply not having the first drink of the evening a day at a time.
Now let me tell you the benefits!!
Now let me tell you the benefits!!
8- Firstly; sleep. I sleep through, & when I wake I am fresh, clear headed and I don’t have any anxiety. I don’t lie awake at night and although it took me a while to get off to sleep I started sleeping really properly about 4 months after I stopped. The change is enormous.
9 - my mood is transformed. Where I was short tempered I am no longer irritable. I am calm. I have peace and I’ve even started meditation and picked up reading again because I am not tired and don’t fall asleep when I try and switch off.
10 - my health - I lost 9kgs immediately. I discovered I only struggle with my weight because I like wine! My skin is 5/10 years younger and I have 2 chins instead of 5! That’s all vanity but I genuinely feel lighter and like myself more because I know I’m looking after my body.
11 - ability to deal with adversity - also transformed. When my contract wasn’t renewed by talkSPORT I was able to cope. I was angry & sad but I am able to see the bigger picture and step away from people & places that I now recognise as being places of negativity for me.
12. Resources. - there are so many! The NHS can help. There are books & podcasts on sobriety. There are alcohol helplines. There is Alcoholics Anonymous. Don’t be scared to Google about it and read other people’s stories of stopping drinking. Even if you’re just curious!
All I can say is you don’t have to look at not drinking as a permanent thing - but once I’d discovered how much better my life is without it I am doubtful I’ll even go back, because the benefits are so many and also there are so so many people who don’t drink it’s insane.
So if you’re genuinely worried about this next lockdown then I’d urge you to try it. Try not drinking for an evening. When you get up the next day, try not the drink the next day. Just don’t have the first one then you can’t have a second or a tenth!
I hope this doesn’t come across as pious or righteous or boring. Its twitter so you can simply scroll past if you’re not interested. If you have questions then ask me. I’m happy to try and help answer then. Lots of love peeps.
Sorry sorry. One more thing. I STILL like the ritual of having an early evening drink so I have a @SodaStreamUK, I make lemon & elderflower cordials, I mix a combinations of soda, squash, tonic, juices, pressés. I also love @LaBrewery kombucha. Deelish!
