I started this story about 6 times. I had no idea where to start...
I think this is because I never really thought of myself as a problem drinker. I wasn’t sat at home drinking a bottle of wine a night when the kids went to bed. I never had a rock bottom. I could quite happily go without alcohol for a couple of weeks at a time, so surely there was no issue?
Looking back I was definitely a classic tick all the boxes, ladette binge drinker.
When I would go on a night out I was out out, with no stop button. I wasn't a Mum for the night and I would quite happily drink six pints on a night out with no food in my stomach.
I was never a horrible nasty drunk, I just became louder and louder and spent most of the evening loudly talking over people because I was the entertainment, right?
The problem was the older I got, the more nights I just wouldn’t have a clue how I got home. Waking up the next day with sick in a carrier bag by the side of my bed (classy).
My decision to take a break came after a friends birthday night out. We had gone out for a meal and drinks in between lockdowns (the time we could go out as a six) I had been working since 6am and walked through the door at 6pm, threw my clothes on (no food in my stomach, again) and headed out. That night I had a bit of tapas and seven pints of strong lager, woke up the next day and felt horrendous.
I’d had enough...
I was bored with the hangovers, bored of the booze and bored of not remembering how the hell I’d got home.
I’d been listening to Over The Influence on the way to work, and Freddie and Sharon’s journey just resonated with me so much. I went back to the beginning of the podcast and I challenged myself to do 90 days alcohol-free.
The first month or so was tough.
I totally emersed myself in quit lit, podcasts, Instagram accounts, and trying all of the different AF lagers. Basically, anything I could get my hands on to help me get my head around an alcohol-free life.
I then joined OTI and met a like-minded group of wonderful ladies on the same journey as me. We regularly check in with each other just to see how we all are. These ladies have been a huge support, so if it’s something you are thinking about I’d highly recommend OTI as a tool to help you.
The clarity of mind I now have is unbelievable, I wake up every morning with a huge smile on my face. Fresh as a daisy and ready to start a new day. Don’t even get me started on hangover-free weekends! I have more time than ever and have taken up my new hobby of Wild Swimming in rivers lakes and the sea.
I am going for 365 days AF.
Will I ever drink again? Never is a long time to get my head around. But honestly?
Well you can’t swim in a lake watching the sunrise over your head with a hangover, can you?
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