Hello @BPDSurvivor, Thank you for sharing your lived experience. I can relate.
I too have made the choice to be abstinent from all alcohol due to moderation not being possible for me in a safe manner. I do appreciate that there is no one way for everybody and the journey is so individual.
Great question! This is a hard one to answer as every member goes through a process of working this out for themselves. Some things that help you figure this out are to aim for a period of not drinking. For example 30 days is a common amount of time. After then, some members give themselves the option to go back to drinking. It is common for people who have a history of heavy drinking, as well as mental health concerns, family conflict and life-stress to struggle to moderate. This is because there are a lot of other factors making it difficult for them.
If you'd like to start reducing your drinking, we do recommend you see your local GP before you start. There might be some withdrawal symptoms, which the doctor can help you with.
We have a fantastic blog available which provides you FAQs about quitting alcohol - Understanding alcohol. Some of the questions we cover include the following -
How much alcohol is safe to drink?
How does alcohol affect our bodies?
What are the first steps to take to stop drinking alcohol?
It’s not easy to cut back or give up something that’s incorporated into your daily dinner, socialising, or relaxation routine. We know how hard it is for the community and our Daybreak members to change their relationship with alcohol, but we also know the huge benefits that come from a life with less or no booze; weight loss, mental clarity, no hangovers, peace of mind, and much more time to focus on your goals.
See below for a compilation list of resources for anyone seeking help in giving up or reducing their alcohol use:
Books about giving up alcohol -
High Sobriety by Jill Stark This Naked Mind by Annie Grace Blackout by Sarah Hepola The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober by Catherine Gray
Documentaires, TV series and Movies to help you give up alcohol
Risky Drinking Drugged: High on Alcohol Drinking to Oblivion by Louis Theroux Addicted Australia
Ammm moderation may work in the beginning like having a glass or 2 on a Friday night and then you find you have had 2 glasses of wine each night over the weekend
@Former-Member @BPDSurvivor My relationship with alcohol has definately changed over the years. I can also relate to having times of abstinence due to realising it was impacting my life in ways that were not helpful. I love that this HSM has such a unique way of looking at starting these conversations for the individual.
