Posted by Andrew on 16/6/2011, 6:12 am, in reply to "Needs some tips guys :) (Progress included)"

Hi George Good to hear from you, and well done for working on it and improving. Your posting contains a mixed message: "I'm slightly anxious", and "I'm getting desperate". The reality is that you have managed OK in the past, and you will manage OK again. The biggest problem is all the worrying in advance, cos it means you turn up at the party all in a state, and cannot enjoy it. Can i suggest that you sit down and think of some strategies e.g. 1. The weather is hot, so if you cut down on drinking during the day, you will not need to go for quite a while. 2. can you turn up late? That cuts down the time you are there, and by the time you arrive, people are getting well oiled. 3. you mention loading up on drink: I assume cos you end up more relaxed. You can still do that or, is it worth cutting down on the drinking? It does not have to be obvious: accept a drink, but go slow. If necessary, mention an upset stomach as the reason. 4. if there are 35+ in a small house, no-one will notice if you slip away for a while. You can find a reason to do so. 5. try some shorts instead of beer; you'll get tanked up but on no volume. Everytime you start to worry about it, deliberately stop that train of thought and think instead of the good things about it. By seeing the party in a positive light, and arriving in that positive frame of mind, you will be more confident and more able to go. Enjoy yourself Andrew

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