Anybody else doing Sober October?

[Trodincatsickagain]

I know there’s been a long running thread for years for dry January but I fancy having a break through October, in preparation for Xmas, give the liver a break beforehand - that is all meant very tongue in cheek 😜

Anyone fancy joining?

Here for the roll call. Well done everyone! Having some fancy herbal tea which seemed an extravagant purchase but is much cheaper than booze!

Yes please to cake 🧁 @HotTiredDog it sounds amazing. I ended up eating 2 twirl bars last night on top of the crisps and chunks of cheese. Good job I don’t eat that way often!

@HotTiredDog - I’d love a piece of cake please 😁.
As for the sofa, we’ll see, too late now so I’ll have to get used to it.
Thanks for the hugs and pleased I’ve stayed strong and not had a drink x

Oh yes, looks like we have ticked another day off - woohoo! Cake power!!

More seriously, my secret was coming up to bed early; I’ve got some chronic illnesses that can cause pain, and tonight was a cracker - although there’s usually chocolate up here, there’s no alcohol 😁
I think that’s one of the reasons why I got in the habit of drinking, to try to take a bit of reality away - dumb really, it can’t really be helping much! A stressful career was another reason, again not exactly unique.
I’m actually going to reflect on my life a bit more than usual this month, I think.
If anyone else wants to share their own motivations, or demons, this may be a good place - just thinking is the first part of dealing with them, I guess.
Anyway, I wish you all another good night’s sleep & hope you all feel refreshed in the morning & ready to go.

Hi darkmoor - absolutely, even a dead posh herbal tea is a fraction of the cost of a couple of units of booze. Well done 💐

Just found the thread but I’m in!

Tried it last year, got to the 22nd and our kitten started having fits. We had to have him pts. I spent the rest of the month in tears and back on the wine. We hadn’t had him a year.

Found the dry January thread and it was such a help!

Me and my husband thought we’d try Dry July. The dog got so sick he ended up at the emergency vet and we’re still dealing with it. Medication and a special diet.

So trying October again. And keeping an eye on the pets!

Morning All! So pleased that we all had another good night and we’re on to day 6! And a big well done to those that never thought that they’d get this far.

I also just want to say to those that may be following along but have maybe have had a slip up, dont let it derail you but just jump back in! Any break from alcohol is good and it’s all about changing those habits which takes time and often several attempts.

@Thursa we’d love to have you! And let’s hope that those pesky pets behave this time! 🐕 🐈

Aaaand it’s a new week to tackle!

Enjoyed catching up with this post after the weekend. I did miss my wine but have reflected this morning that it was actually one of the best weekends I’ve had in a while and I felt much more “present” if that makes sense.

So a plus for the mental health

Physically though, still quite headachey, thirsty, and craving sugar. I had ice cream for the first time in YEARS on Saturday.

@HotTiredDog Sorry to hear that you were in pain last night and I totally relate to the drinking as an escape from reality. I have a chronic illness too and whilst initially I didn’t drink for several years after diagnosis, I soon got so weighed down with the negativity of feeling crap all the time and trying to adjust to just how drastically my life had changed that the weekend drinking started again.

The irony is that I’ve always exercised and eaten healthily and always been so disciplined in that area (apart from Saturday nights blip 😄), but then I undo it all with the alcohol!

@Youngatheart00 Thats so great to hear about your weekend and yes, totally identify with being more present. Just know that your body is healing and doing what it should be and it clearly needed that treat on Saturday. Still so much better than alcohol!

I’m sorry you’re in the same situation, TrodIn; very much identify with your experience of adjusting to what life has thrown at us. Alcohol is a socially acceptable way to try to deal with the pain, difficulties & adjustments we face - I’m sure we aren’t the only ones like this.
Take extra care of yourself today x

Well done on sticking with it everyone!

I am a long term sufferer of anxiety and alcohol definitely helps and hinders it! Alcohol helps quiet the anxiety in the short term, and it helps me drop off at night, but then I’m sure it makes it worse in the morning and the day after.

My sleep is improving leaps and bounds here. I track my sleep using an app, and my sleep quality has gone from red any night I’ve been drinking, to a few nights of yellow when I first stopped, to 2 nights of green! My heart rate variability has gone from 20 to 34. I think it’s better for that to be bigger. I’ve not done anything apart from give up alcohol.

Evening Peeps! Hope everyone has had a good day? as much as is possible for a Monday and that you’re now settling down for the evening, with either a nice treat or special af drink. Sounds all very positive so far as we head into the 2nd week.

@HotTiredDog, thank you for the kind words, it’s good to talk with someone else that gets it. You’re probably the same in that you try and hide it all from loved ones, so it’s good to share.

@Texanchilli That is motivation enough in itself those stats! And actually quite shocking at the reality of what it does to our body. I have regular monthly blood tests and whilst my liver function tests are within the normal range it was still quite shocking to see that my ALT went down on my last period of abstinence. I will be interested to see what hat happens with your anxiety at the end of the month, I know for me that alcohol definitely lowers my mood and of course improves when I’m not drinking.

Wow, Texanchilli that’s amazing, and after so few nights too - you’ll be full of energy & shiny healthiness by the end of the week, let alone the end of the month!

Oh yes TrodIn, I certainly try to hide my feelings & symptoms - they don’t need to be upset about it, it’s not going to help anyone. And I bet we could write a long thread on our own, of all the “helpful suggestions” we’ve received over the years! Did you have a good day health-wise - are you noticing any difference there?

I made a special meal for 6 of us, including my elderly parents; I try to make something every couple of weeks so they are able to take a few portions home. Tonight’s was rather good, if I do say so myself - plenty of fresh veg & lots of calorie-laden choice for them And I didn’t have a drop of alcohol, just AF lager

Hope everyone else is keeping strong & is feeling optimistic about this new week 💐

Good Morning - day 7!

It’s looking like this thread is becoming quite small and intimate! I’ll try not to take it personally 😁.

For those of you that have made it to the first week, a really big well done and again those of you that might have had a few stumbles but still want to give it a go, just jump back in.

I’m very impressed with the cooking for 6 @HotTiredDog, my days of cooking for the masses are long gone, but it sounds like your parents are very well looked after 😊 and well done for another AF free night.

I’m definitely feeling that extra bounce even when I don’t sleep particularly well, I seem to be able to cope with the demands of the day better and it does help just knowing all the positive benefits that I’m doing for my body.

Hope everyone has a good day and keep on keeping on! 💪

Morning all! Took a while to get to sleep, woke from a noise and took a while to get back to sleep. @Texanchilli and her stats are giving me hope though!

You’re into the 2nd week now @darkmoor and hopefully your sleep will start improving. It can all only get better from here!

Checking in, glad to see everyone else is going well. This is the longest I haven’t drank in god knows how long. Come the evening now I’m not giving it too much thought, which is strange!
I’ve also figured the things that trigger me are definitely work and my grumpy DH, I’m trying to ignore those things a bit more and feel the feelings. That seems to be helping. Does anyone else find this? They’re figuring out why they drank?

Yes fellow anxiety sufferer here, I think that’s why I drank so much! But not drinking im feeling less anxious more generally! I think I need to really cut back to just weekends if I do decide to drink again.

Checking in -at work so will catch up later with the thread.
Staying strong 💪, well done to everyone else who is to.

Thanks TrodIn. Must admit to being exhausted today, so am hoping to be able to take it a bit easier. Currently waiting for a message back from DF on how they are today, I’m trying not to be concerned about his slow response, cos I don’t want to stress him out. He is DM’s main carer and finds it hard (but is too stubborn to get help )

I’ve been thinking on some of the interesting observations that other SoberStars (sorry!) have made about their reduction in anxiety since starting this journey together. I reckon I am calmer, too. I’m currently sitting down with a cat on my lap, and definitely feel less anxious than I would have in September. It’s a really nice bonus!

Enjoy your less anxious days too, all 💐

Still here! I find weekdays are easier as I'm in a routine and busy with work and other chores so time goes by quickly and don't have time to think about it. It does seem like everyone has different triggers I think mine is boredom so weekends are harder when there is less going on!

Same here @MissyElif, I find the week quite easy to navigate AF, it’s come Friday onwards that I start to struggle. There’s definitely an element of boredom for me and I also drink to quieten those negative thoughts and emotions, a bit of escapism.

It’s so motivating and encouraging reading how well everyone is doing and I know that it’s definitely helping to keep me on the straight and narrow, just being able to come on here and connect with everyone that’s going through it too.

It’s been a while since your post @HotTiredDog but I do hope that you’ve heard from your DF since and that all is ok - it must all be a bit worrying and fraught at times 💐

Great to hear from you @Nearlyadoctor and so pleased you’re still with us!

@chachahide - like you I think drink as a release after work, when I’m grumpy and also when I’m bored . 5pm when I’m not working is my witching hour. I’m either at work till 6.30/7 and then when I get home I’m past that drinking urge to some extent , or I finish mid afternoon on occasion get home, do a couple of jobs then want a drink before tea.
This week I’ve been telling myself I’m not drinking as with Dd starting uni , if she suddenly needed us to drive up there I could. She’s not going to need us 🤞but hey ho, gives me a reason not to drink.
Still hate the new sofa that arrived on Sunday it’s just the elephant in the room, DFS won’t exchange so I’m letting my brother have it. I know it won’t grow on me. Pleased that this mistake hasn’t made me drink so that’s progress 😁
@darkmoor & @HotTiredDog 🤞you both get a good nights sleep tonight.

That’s such a positive update and I’m so pleased that its not proving too difficult, maybe the drinking had become more habitual than a need, if that makes sense and you’re now enjoying having that break? Allowing yourself to feel those feelings and let it ride out, rather than numbing it with alcohol is definitely the answer and something that I struggle with.

Hey, massive congratulations, Chachide, you're learning so much about yourself as well as being AF. We are all doing so well here!!
I think you're making sense, TrodIn

I'm feeling a bit triumphant cos Ive not had a drink & I really wanted one. DF was fine this morning, just rubbish at replying to messages 🙄

Unfortunately 85yo Mum fell again this afternoon, at home. Dad couldn't get her up so DH & I went over, en route elsewhere. It all ended better than we feared, she is just generally hurt after hitting the floor from sofa-height. Anyway, we got her up & safe & I helped out with a few things whilst DH went home with his DM & dog (long story!) Then we had a few strong words about her safety & getting some proper help in. It's so hard to see your own parents becoming frail like this. Wrt booze - last week I'd have sunk half a bottle of wine by now, but thanks to this thread I have had AF lager instead - thank you!!