Hi I’m Yvette and it’s been 7 months since my last drink. There was a time when 7 days between drinks felt like an almost impossible feat. My brain was wired for the Groundhog Day, one-size-fits all solution of ‘wine’.
Good day? Wine. Bad day? Wine. Going out? Wine. Staying in? Wine. Happy? Wine. Sad? Wine. Hangover? Hair of the dog that bit me…Wine! Wine was the answer at least for most of the questions in my mind.
Wine was friend. Always there. I could buy it! The novelty of this fact has never worn off. I can buy it? Whenever I want? Wherever I want? With wine as always is Garth/ Yvette. Of course it started off as a relationship full of fun and parties. Hangovers were minimal (oh to be young) and drinking almost an expectation. Slowly it slid into a co-dependent relationship. ‘I can’t go out without you!’ ‘Who am I without you?’ ‘You complete me’ ‘ Tomorrow? Never heard of it!’ ‘Please Sir, can I have some more?’
Hangovers got sharper, I was Flaky Flakerson. Slept through everything, rarely answered my phone, was late/ absent/ out of it for so many things. Still I drank. I tried tempering it with ‘only on the weekend’, ‘only 3 drinks’, ‘only as a celebration’. Soon the lines become blurry; ‘Thursday’s the weekend right?’ ‘ 3 giant glasses is still 3 right?’ ‘I’m celebrating having a crap day!’ You don’t negotiate with terrorists.
Drinking was a short-term solution to an ever-present problem; humans have feelings! It’s much more comfortable not to sit with the feelings of anxiety, anger or sadness but to wallpaper over them with the numbing effects of alcohol. The problem is those feelings are still lurking there under that paper-thin wallpaper and can’t be avoided forever.
I wish I could be a take it or leave person and enjoy a drink ‘now and then’ but I’m more of an all or nothing person and so (incredibly slowly) realised that if’s it’s all or nothing, it’s going to have to be nothing as all is not working. My hangovers become extreme. My body was clearly telling me enough was enough. I spent 2 days in bed throwing up after a party in July and after that decided, ‘perhaps a break is in order’.
I didn’t set any grand plans just that I’d try not to drink for a while. Initially it was hard; it was such a default program in my brain. I avoided social occasions for a while, I stocked up on Soda Water and Ginger Beer. I was shocked by the strong feelings I felt. I thought I wasn’t an emotional person anymore but I felt rage and despair and I cried. It wasn’t fun to feel that but a feeling fully felt dissipates, whereas what you resist persists. The days became weeks and the weeks became months and it became easier, the mood swings settled and I went out again into the public arena. On time, present and without my co-dependent friend, Winey Winerson. Maybe one day I can enjoy a drink now and again but until then…make mine what the French call, ‘sans alcool’.
Weave the Future Magical 
Congratulations on 7 months! 🙂
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Thank you! Congrats to you too xxx Yvette
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Congrats Yvette and thanks for the honesty!
I’ve similarly not drunk for a few months and I feel a whole lot better.
I’m making better decisions, I’ve trimmed down, saved money, and I feel healthier.
The most surprising thing is that I don’t miss it.
I coupled this grog detox with a reduction in coffee- from four double shots/ day (yikes!) to one double in the morning.
The steady caffeine reduction left me with a mild headache, which worked out perfectly for my alcohol freeze: Because of the headache, I never felt like drinking!
My best bit of advice, especially for the beer drinker: replace the alcohol with a thirst quencher like sparkling water or iced water. So much of my relationship with beer was based on the fact that it was cold and quenched my thirst. It was the first thing I drank after a big day at work or a hot day with friends; my brain told me if I was thirsty I needed a beer. Change this thought pattern!
All the best for this humane, thought provoking and life affirming blog! David xx
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Thanks for your comment David! So true about quenching your thirst being so important to stop even starting drinking. Must’ve been tricky to cut down on caffeination at the same time but worked out well to deter the drinking due to headache. Thanks for reading and commenting and I hope we both continue to enjoy the the benefits of being non-drinkers. Cheers! X
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Congratulations Yvette! Very proud of the way you have handled this. You are looking great, fit and enjoying yourself. xxx
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Thanks! I feel much better for it x
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Congratulations on 7 months! That’s no small feat. It seems as though you’ve done a lot of introspection and growing since then. Cheers to that (with sparkling water, of course)!
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Beautiful message and beautifully written. Congratulations darling xx Please keep blogging it really suits you! Witty and wise!
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Thanks Hannah! I appreciate you reading and commenting. Hope all’s wonderful with you. Much love xxx
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Reblogged this on Weave the future magical and commented:
Reposting this blog originally published March 2017 to celebrate my 4 year Soberversary in July. Ginger beer cheers to many more!
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Really enjoyed, if that’s the right word, this really honest and heartfelt reflection on all you have been through and how you are progressing. And sense of humour still intact! It’s not a bad world, is it? And you have your place in it. Continued joys
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Bless you Enda! Thanks 🙏 so much for your continued support. You gotta have a lafff don’t you? Much love 💕
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