Allen Carr – Easy way to Stop Drinking
While this one is written specifically for those of you who have decided you want to totally stop drinking. Again, like his other book, it concentrates on the cognitive aspects of your alcohol problems – what you are telling yourself internally about alcohol.
Hi All,
Im a 33 year old music producer in London. I’ve been binge drinking heavily for years. I work in the party environment so its been really hard to break my habits. I only drink on the weekends but have long fallen into the pattern of ’saving’ my units for fridays and saturdays. The trouble is the weekend roles around and the ’switch’ is flipped and I drink till im drunk every weekend. I’ve read Allen’s book twice now and about to read it for the third time. I know everything he says makes sense; Alcohol is a poison, it does taste disgusting and it does chip away at your self respect. As some have said my trouble is in trying to convince myself that alcohol ‘does nothing for you’ – but it does it gets you drunk. Allen puts it akin to enjoying it would be like ‘hitting oneself over the head with a mallet’. I don’t know why but every weekend I have that pathological need to do just that??
I eat well and exercise well which just makes it worse because by the following friday you feel great and your brain has conveniently forgotten the terrible hangover feelings of the previous weekend so you’re ready to go for it again. I’m constantly angry with myself and am currently feeling terrible after a two day binge, really really really want alcohol out of my life
Good luck to everyone else although as Allen maintains there is nothing to quit if we realize it does nothing for us. x
Well after many years of drinking between the hours of 7pm till 10pm, i have had enough. i have a full time job am a nice person with friend, but there is this dark secret of mone, only known by my husband and son, so sorry fellas. , and I know my drinking has caused grief for them.
Well tomorrow I am off to allen carr . for his stop drinking course, I read the book and felt inspired, but I need to have it said to me. I gave up smoking this way many yeas ago with little pain and I am so pleased about this, best thing I ever did, so now tomorrw we shall she, Keep hopeful out there and I will let you know how it went xx
Nice going Mel! You are doing the right thing! I can’t speak for the Allen Carr course, but I can speak for the book. It has been 16 days since I finished the book and had my final drink. I have not been tempted to drink since. Yes, I have had brief periods during which I felt an emptiness inside at the end of the day, but not a craving to drink. All this for a person who found it difficult to string 3 or 4 days together without drinking.
Here is where it gets fun. The payoff has been incredible. I sleep all the way through the night. My concentration and wit is returning; it seems to come out of nowhere, exactly when I need it. I don’t fear seeing a police car any more when I’m driving. I can rely on my weekly budget because my money doesn’t vanish at the bars night after night. The house is no longer a mess. I am ontime for work every day. The future is bright again. The future is mine again. There is no despair and I am really stoked about restructuring my daily life on my own terms. Amazing. I wish you the very best.
forgot to say
THERE IS NOTHING TO MISS XXX
Hi everyone,
I haven’t read all the comments but I came across this site searching for testomonies on people that have read the book and have indeed stop.
I’m not an alcholic myself but since an early age have lived with an alcholic. My father has been an alcholic for more than 27 years now. He has tried to stop before but he never goes longer than 6 months.
He’s a hardcore alcoholic up to the point where he goes out at 11am gets drunk by 1pm comes home, eats and has a nap and then goes out again at about 5pm gets drunk and come home at about 8pm! Obviously he’s unemployed and depressed.
I can’t beging to tell you how painful it has been for me growing up in that enviroment. Seeing that person you love the most distroy himself in such manner and Watching your heroe disapear an become.
So for those who feel that they need a drink to help them deal with things in their life I suggest they think abouttheir family first or just think of me and all the pain I’ve been through. Look at yourself through a little girls eyes filled with pain, dissapointment, resentfullness,
hope my expirience helps someone give that first step to freedom.
Liliya
1 week in no problems, , Lilya letter is heartbreaking x
Yes, I hope Lilya’s father can get the help he needs. For himself and for his family. Best of luck, Lilya.
Mel, I’m glad to hear that your week went well. Stay at it. You may feel a little out of sorts on some days, but it only gets better. You are getting your life back in the process. Nice going!
In a few days, it will be 4 weeks since I finished the book and had my last drink. Amazingly, I went to a baseball game yesterday and did not drink alcohol. Incredible! That was a huge test in my world. I even went to the gym and swam laps after returning from the game. Listen, people, that just didn’t happen when I was a drinker. In the past, I would have written off the rest of the day and spent it in a fog, drinking well into the evening.
This book teaches you to break associations you have between drinking and life events such as sporting events, birthdays, holidays and weddings. It eliminates the ‘desire’ to drink alcohol. You can still do all the great things this life has to offer, only now you will remember them.
For you folks struggling with loved ones who drink, I wish you happiness and I hope things improve for you.
For those of you searching for a way out of this drinking prison, please give this book a try. In a few short weeks, you’ll see what I mean.
Have a nice week, everyone.
So glad to have read these comments. Finished the Allen Carr book yesterday. All the way through I was thinking ‘great! I don’t have to quit drinking yet…’ I forced myself to have my final bottle last night (note, bottle not glass) and so this is day 1 of being free.
Must say, the little gremlin is sitting on my shoulder a bit – I’m already thinking ‘how am I going to go to my friend’s birthday party and not drink?’ I don’t know, but I’m going to do it. I wanted to read the book again, but I also wanted to drink my last drink, so I’ve done it now. I didn’t see any point in putting it off any longer.
I now know there’s no point in my cutting down, I couldn’t go more than 2 days without a drink. I turned 42 last week, and I’ve been drinking since I was 14. I want to LIVE!! I want to get my looks back, and lose all this bloatedness. Ugh. I haven’t said this to anyone, but twice during the past couple of months I have got in my car and driven whilst being completely over the limit. How would I be feeling now if I’d killed someone and ruined their family’s lives? How would I be feeling if I’d been arrested for death by dangerous driving? Jesus, that was a wake up call.
I stopped smoking 6 and a half years ago through hypnosis, after a few years of trying other methods (including Allen Carr, which didn’t really work for me). I smoked from 12 – 35 and didn’t think I could enjoy life without a fag – how ridiculous now looking back. I want to feel that relief about not drinking. I think if you are determined to stop doing something that is making you ill and miserable, but is highly addictive – and legal (!) you will eventually do it. Doesn’t matter if you try and fail, if you want to stop – you will.
“Isn’t it great! My life is no longer dominated by DEVASTATION!”
We can do it!
3 weeks in and still doing fine, manging to run again up to 6 miles today. Not feeling so tired, looking a hell of alot better., feels great, why the hell did’t i do this a long time ago. Old interests are comming back, doing so much more. I realy havent felt like a drink, my attitude has shifted and I see it in a different light.lease read this book it can help
Finished Allen’s book in March/09 and it worked. Am a fifty year old woman and have been drinking since I was in my twenties with an increasing intensity the last 10 years or so – I loved my wine and it was a nice break from work, caring for my elderly mother and my own family, etc., etc., etc,.. But, it really is devastation. It robs you of all your simple pleasures, energy, confidence and any hope for joy. As Allen wrote so perfectly, “don’t morn the enemy”. It was such a crutch for so long, I couldn’t imagine what I would do or how I would unwind each night w/ my Chardonnay. I have rediscovered old and simple pleasures that naturally help me to relax – things that I had no energy or time for since I was in such an all consuming relationship w/ alcohol. When I first bought the book, I was extremely skeptical (particularly given the title) but it worked. The only problem was it worked so well I became a bit over confident and thought I could have an occasional drink…I can’t so then I went back and reread the chapter on “Quit or cut down” which brought back all of the confidence I had after just completing the book. The “little monster” crept up on my shoulder more than just occasionally…I think the little monster is more prevalant than Allen high lites in his book, but I’m sure its different for everyone but it did make me begin to question whether or not the book really worked which led to my testing the “just a couple of drinks theory”. Bottom line I’ve found I need to read and re-read different parts at differrent times but it never fails to bolster my confidence and scare the little monster off my back. Looking forward to the day when he is gone for good. Good luck everyone.
last night I said to my husband no more drinking as we had a BBQ over the wkend and I did what I do best “kick off”. I am so ashamed of myself as I know my husband’s family heard me telling him to leave!! So after waking up this morning I decided to go on the internet to see if there is anything that may be able to help me hence being on this website. After reading the above messages, do I need to read this book before I start to stop as I keep reading “last drink”?
Jane-
I was still drinking when I bought this book. I actually stopped before I finished the book – to my astonishment. Again- I was extremely sceptical, and this worked and continues to work. He in fact recommends that you continue to drink, or rather recommends, not changing your drinking habits/routine until you finish the book. Its a whole new way of looking at drinking and removes the shame- of which I had plenty. Its your choice. It really does not require willpower or a feeling of deprivation. If anyone ever tried to tell me that such a method existed I would NEVER have believed it. Good luck.
PS: I am not writing at 3:00 AM in the morning, I’m writing from the USA and the time difference is reflected!
I read Allen Carr’s easy way to control alcohol ages ago – and found it really motivating and inspiring. I borrowed it from the library so I don’t have my own copy – even so I still remember things from it that encourage me to stay away from the booze, and every bit of help is useful in this battle. He’s a character – amusing and friendly – and he knows his stuff – having been addicted to alcohol (and cigarettes) himself – he delivers a persuasive argument, and made me view alcohol in a completely new way. If such a life and soul bloke as that can be happy with his fruit cordial, then I’m going to be happy with mine.
Hi All, just back from a stag weekend and having the usual “fear” after drinking way to much. Am 34 now and recently broken up with my fiancee due in no small manner to the effects of drinking too much. The brain doesn’t seem to see the point in going out for a drink. Have started smoking too while drinking but that I have no problem in wanting to give up. The drinking though I am filled with these thoughts of how can attend x,y or z and not have a drink – you know the usual rubbish you fill your mind with. Can’t seem to get through a full week without going to the pub in fact I can’t remember the last time I went a week without drinking. Financially it’s causing great problems for me as I seem to drink until I’m piddly-eyed and penniless but can always find money to drink. Having said all of that I wouldn’t class myself as an alcoholic although I would definitely say I have sh…t impulse control. The drinking invariably leads to drunk dialing or texting. Going to go onto amazon and buy alan carr’s book – because I work for myself and I think I would like to life a long an healthy life. I’d also like to give it another try with my ex but am unwilling to do so until I have control over the demon inside. Anyway – it has helped to read all the comments above so thanks for the honesty, please god I’ll be back on the site with good news in the not so distant future
Joe I am just like you. I thought that there is no way that a stupid book was going to help. I thought that I LOVED alcohol, especially that first cold beer after a long day. Just a bit of background – I own my own farming business, pretty much do whatever I want during the day and night etc and drinking was a big part of that. Anyway alcohol was taking control of me. Several car accidents, fights etc, damaging my relationship as well. So anyway my sister sent me the book. I used it to save my relationship – I told my girlfriend to give me one last shot and giving up and letting me read the book. The scariest part is that I had tried so many times before and had failed. Believe it or not it worked. Now when I get offered a drink from friends or at any of the many functions that I attend I find it amusing. It is so funny in a bad sort of way to me how I got suckered into drinking. Now I see other people drinking and I feel so sorry for them. When I hear then talking about the refinement of certain wines etc it sounds comical and ridiculous. True it has only been 4 months now that I have not had a drink but I know deep down that I never will. For those of you thinking of reading the book – give it a go. It really works.
Hi
Read the book about a year ago, but only got halfway through. My drinking has esculated recently, my excuse is im finding my new job very stressful. I have been drinking more indoors, but worse still, when ive gone out ive ended up getting blind drunk and doing all sorts of stuff. The embarressment and shame is awful, and I seem to carry it with me where ever I go. I have ended up in dangerous situations and my life is chaos, I am quietly going insane I feel. My reasons for not stopping completely are flimsey and Ive managed it for 2 weeks or so and felt bored as the same mindset goes on whatever. Im going to re read the book properly and am considering the course as I am so not the person I want to be. If anyone has any advice, I would be grateful. Thanks x
I finished Allen’s book almost ONE YEAR ago, August 9, 2008, had my final drink, and haven’t had a drink since.
I never considered myself an alcoholic, but I definitely had a “drinking problem”. Like a lot of young, single people, I got drunk every weekend. It never caused problems with my job (except working hungover on Mondays) never crashed a car, I never drank in the morning, I didn’t drink every day… But when I went out in social situations I drank. A LOT. And that was a minimum of every weekend. Sometimes I’d throw in “taco-tuesday” and “Sunday-funday”. So 2-4 days a week. My idea of a vacation was 3 or 4 days in Vegas or Lake Havasu drunk pretty much all day, and all night if I could make it.
I suspect there are thousands if not MILLIONS of people who drink like this. Not DUI-getting, homeless alcoholics, but fully functional productive members of society, able to hold down a decent job just fine. But who party a lot on weekends and sometimes weekdays. Sound like you?
It’s not that there are NO benefits to drinking. It’s that everything you USE alcohol for, you can LEARN to do sober and then, AFTER you learn how sober, there are no benefits. That means there is an adjustment period where you must go out in social situations and learn to be outgoing without booze. At first it’s hard. Brutally hard! But after about 6 months it’s easy and, you can’t believe it was even an issue.
I’m a single man. I will fully admit, my main purpose in drinking is that it made it easier to talk to girls and easier to go dance with them, and easier to “hook-up”. I suspect I’m not alone in that regard.
I never wanted to drink in those 6 months during the adjustment. I wanted the benefits. I wanted the BALLS to go talk to that girl, or dance with that other one. I had to grow those balls sober without the booze crutch. But it’s sooooooooooo worth it!
The first 6 months or so I was not myself at a bar and I really had a mental battle convincing myself it would be worth it once I made it through the adjustment period. I’m over the hump now. And now I am MORE social out at bars and clubs now. I talk to MORE girls, not less. I am MORE inclined to dance. I get all of the perceived ‘benefits’ of drinking. BUT WITH NO DRAWBACKS! That drunk guy that went up to the hot girl and talked to her 10 minutes ago, and now is out dancing with her?? That’s ME! Only I’m not drunk. That’s the thing, you think booze gives you courage – and it does short-term, but it STEALS YOUR CONFIDENCE in the long run. The only way to have TRUE courage, true confidence is to FACE your damn fears, not drink AROUND them! MOST people have more “social anxiety” then they want to admit. I admit it, I was AFRAID to talk to girls without being drunk first. MOST guys I know are in that exact same boat. All my friends are. How AWESOME, how amazing that I can do all the things I once had to drink up “liquid courage” for before, and do them all now with nothing more than a glass of water!? The things my friends can only do after pouring $40 of beer down their throats. I can do those things now SOBER. It’s effing AMAZING. I wouldn’t have believed it was possible a year ago. I didn’t. Now I do.
I was desperate to quit drinking almost 2 and a half years ago. I has started having a drink in the morning to help me through and knew I was in deep trouble. I started Carrs book and drank right through reading it. I was absolutly terrified to finish as I would have to give up my friend of over 30 years. I sat with my final glass of wine with tears pouring down my face but thanfully it was the last time I put the evil stuff to my lips. Has my life changed? You bet, in every way but the most important change is Im now proud of myself again and can look at myself in the mirror. If you think you have a drinking problem read the book. It works
I took the course yesterday and it was really good. I feel completely different today. I got up early, went grocery shopping then got home and cleaned my house from top to bottom (long, long overdue). The vista looks great from my clear sober head. i would really recommend either the book or the course. I’d read the book and it worked for a month, back in June, but I needed to have it reiterated for me face to face. Vicki, I recommend you take the course and give yourself the chance to be the person you deserve to be. Good luck and keep posting all the folk that are doing well as it’s great encouragement for those considering the course/book to see it working. There are plenty of testimonials on Alan Carr’s not smoking course/book but it’s difficult to find those on his alcohol method. I guess there’s a stigma attached to alcohol. For instance I would never sit reading the alcohol book on public transport yet would have no problem with the smoking book… Good luck everyone. I truly feel positive and that there is no need for me to ever drink again, what a huge relief!! x
Lucky you Claire,
I am delighted for you that you have such positive success.
I read the book while on holiday (last week in July) and when I finished it I was convinced that I would never drink again. That’s because I really want to feel like never wanting to drink again. But I failed in my conviction and gave in to my desire to have a bottle of wine with my dinner, 2 days back home. All I can say is, I will never give up trying. Tomorrow is D-Day again and maybe I should read the book again. It’s good to have this website to read about the struggle people go through, it’s good to feel like I’m not alone battling with this huge struggle. I did manage to stop smoking, I know I can beat this….I’ll just keep trying. Best wishes to everyone here and thanks.
Over a week since the course and still going strong. The penny has finally dropped and it’s really a no brainer. Went to a party last night, drove there and back and watched with an almost fascination at people getting so drunk. Didn’t have a problem having a laugh, actually enjoyed it more I would say. Up and about very early this morning getting stuff done round the house. Usually a party like that would have wiped out the entire Sunday. Not anymore.
Well done Claire,
I look forward to the day I’ll be doing the same. I’ve been invited to the country next week to see an old friend. We have been good friends since our teenage years. In those days we never drank alcohol, just tea. We had great times together, loved and enjoyed life to the full. Both of us in our adult years have become too fond of wine, so we’ve lots to talk about and much to accomplish. I can remember well those days of never drinking and never thinking about it….I am so looking forward to getting back to living like that again.
Enjoy your trip Deirdre. If you really do want to forget about alcohol and get on with life then I couldn’t recommend Alan Carr enough. I feel that life’s just starting properly after over 20 years of alcohol induced chaos! So good luck, it’s worth it. x
Hi Everyone,
I was just searching the web and came across this site and thought that i’d let you all know that I attended the London Allen Carr’s Easyway to Stop Drinking course back in April 2006 and I have never looked back since. I dread to think what my life would have been like now if I hadn’t quit after that course. Life is so so so much more enjoyable without drink and I don’t miss it one bit. Good luck to you all, you’ll never regret quitting : )
I am just getting started and am optimistic. I appreciate reading positive comments. It is time.
I am booked to go to the Allen Carr Stop drinking course in 10 days. I keep thinking that I am not ready ,although I have another hangover this morning.
Is there something I should be doing to prepare myself ? I bought the book but cant finish it.
Shall I postpone the course and not waste my money ?
I have read the book twice now & am on my third read. everytime I read it another part clicks, especially the part, about using willpower you still have the desire to drink, remove the desire to drink you dont need willpower-brilliant.. sounds confusing but once you remove all the bits of drinking that you thought it does for you it does become clear.
6 months now without any alcohol & I cant believe the new life I have. Cant wait for the year is up then will stop counting, used to be days then weeks now months, have even got to the point where I forget about it.
I tried aa meetings even stayed in the priory for a month came out went straight on a binge.!! lost my job lost my licence relationships money nearly my health, managed to keep hold of family, & starting to rebuild my life back up.. Do not fancy going back to that way of thinking.
So much more to say, but would be here all day, I do believe I could help people, but you have to know in yourself, we all pretend the lies the tricks-even to our selfs!!
I am going to keep reading this book as many times as I can so I no it of by heart.
Hope this helps
Carl.
Reading the book over and over again is good, but one thing that helped me is when he is talking about moving on. To me that is key, moving on and letting your life recalibrate without it. Re-reading the book is cool, but at some point you have to move on to something else in your life, before you know it you forget you drank
Friday’s are usually my drinking days – actually the whole weekend. I broke down Wednesday night crying as to why I was drinking and couldn’t stop. I don’t drink everyday, but I don’t want to drink at all. My daughter and I went to the bookstore yesterday; I bought and read the book yesterday also. I had nothing to drink last night – I felt wonderful after I read the book and I feel wonderful this morning. I don’t want another drink. Can it really be this easy?
I have read the book twice now and am back to drinking the first time I lasted about 5 monthes. The second time about 4 months. What am I doing wrong I still want to drink. Any help?
I have read it twice and lasted the first time several weeks and this time 1 week. I am also trying to figure out what I’m doing wrong.
Kelli and Linda,
I finished the book about 1.5 years ago and have not desired a drop since. The key is to embrace the thinking change his book provides. Understand that we have been brain washed, that it is devestation and really provides nothing of value for us. I was in deep, daily and a great amount, and I have been free for about a year and a half. It comes down to you making up your mind,
josh
Hi all, just a quick question, I have read Allen Carrs How to control Alcohol a few times & noticed Allen Carrs How to stop Drinking? is there any diffreence in the two books.?
Many thanks, Thanks for all the feed back, it does help.
Carl.