The one thing that has had the biggest effect on my mental (and physical) health is stopping drinking alcohol. Credit is deserved here for Slinger who kept persevering, telling me to stop as it is a depressant. But here's the thing. When you are abusing alcohol you don't listen and you surround yourself with others who also abuse it. They won't let you leave the club without a fight as it forces them to look at their own problems and alcohol dependency. Can't be having that can we. Can't have one of the club seeing the light and leaving.
I am verging on two months now without alcohol. I feel better mentally now than I can remember. I have re found enthusiasm for all things in my life and have not put as much thought and energy into my family and work for many many years.
Feeling good is quite addictive actually and i will not allow myself to drift back to how i was. Oh no not another bloody addiction. I have gone from severe weekend binge drinkng to nothing and there were no withdrawal symptoms such as with stopping smoking. I'm not overweight but I have dropped a trouser size back to 32" waist which is what i was in my 20's. Happy days, I knew saving those old clothes was going to pay off
I have a bit of psoriasis on my shins and that has started to improve too. I didn't used to think I had a problem with just binge drinking on a weekend. But since stopping I have noticed that the detrimental effects would last all week - until the next high of getting pissed. But it was not a high as over the last few years it brought with it some grumpiness and feelings that the whole world was plotting against me.
Don't worry, I'm not going to turn into one of those annoying ex drinkers who is constantly preaching.
