Still stopped in 2020; a thread for anyone abstaining from alcohol.

[Drybird2020]

Dry January is over and the next phase has begun! Wherever you are on your sobriety journey, you're welcome here for encouragement, advice and support.

We love hearing from people who have been dry for a long time, so if you've swung by to have a look, please post to inspire us!

Equally, if you've woken up hungover, regretful and ashamed, determined that it's the last time, we've all been there and we're here for you now.

Lurky-lurkers, we know you're there! I observed the alcohol support threads for years before I felt ready to take the plunge, I hope these threads help others; if and when you feel ready to post, you'll get a warm welcome.

Might I respectfully ask that if your aim is moderation, you join the long running moderation thread in this topic. I find moderation chat difficult; it weakens my resolve, and many others feel the same.

I'm Drybird, 31 days sober. In that time I have saved 183 units, £192, and 12600 calories! I intend to be sober for the rest of my life, and I use this thread to keep me accountable.

It would be great to know how everyone is getting on, so if you'd like to check in below, please do! No need to share stats unless you want to, just give us a wave.

Here's tae us!

How is everyone doing?

Not great @Howlsmovingbungalow. Still not drinking though. We have beer (Corona!!) from New Year. I'm not tempted but god could I do with some relief from it all. How are you?

@HowlsMovingBungalow are you HOWLS or HOW IS? I always assumed it was a taken on the film (is it a film?) but I don't know anything anymore!

Still managing to keep off it. Day 16. Bit hard when everyone around me ( not my dh ) seems to be drinking because of corona. And making jokes about drinking/ drinking all day when home etc, but every morning after I've slept like a log, I'm happy I've had a good sleep, have energy and am not hungover. However after Friday I will have 4 children at home wish me luck

@Ulysses - username is a take on Howls Moving Castle but I ain't fussed on what you call me . Glad you are managing your sobriety, good stuff! Times are strange (understatement central!), think my urges are due to my usual reaction to crisis - drink it all away thinking - so am being very VERY mindful. Day 86 here.
Quite safe in a bubble at home, doing usual standard stuff but outside the home the atmosphere and TV etc is ODD. Hmm.

Oh yeah, good luck with having children off school for the foreseeable.

Hello sober lovelies.

Given all the bollocks going on, I was as close to drinking last night as I’ve been since early January. But the thought of having to be up for my PT this morning at 6 with a hangover kept me away from the wine! Thankful I managed not to crack.

Hope everyone is finding peace without the false friend x

I put my big girl pants on tonight and had a conversation with DH about our worries but also the need to keep positive and not let the doom and gloom dominate our evenings and put plans in place.

I managed a difficult conversation without wine or the beer we have in the fridge and am feeling much better about it all, as I've dealt with it rather than postponing the dreads, which is what alcohol would have done. It is indeed a false friend @Sophoclesthefox.

I've been treating myself to Coke (the drink) the past couple of nights and it does seem to have given me a wee boost in energy but I'm naturally early to bed and rise so I'll be away to bed shortly. Looking forward to a solid sleep rather than waking up at 2am and having a restless sleep on the sofa.

Night all.

Well done everyone, there's so much sense and clarity on this thread.

jess good luck! I will have 3dc home and will be teaching from home half of the week which is going to be interesting. At least its only 2 weeks until the end of term and then there will be less juggling for a bit.

My head would be such a mess if I was still drinking. A false friend indeed.

Still here - lost count of the days but it's been since the new year. It's getting easier and I've had some things on that normally I would have seen as a green light to fill my drinking boots but I didn't (got engaged, birthday) so feeling very proud of myself. The weight is slowly coming off too - which I am pleased about though it's not my main motivation.

We are getting married this summer (well hopefully) how would you all approach not drinking on your wedding day... no morning fizz, no Pimms in the sun, no toast and big one for me no booze before dancing? I can't dance for toffee and would feel so self conscious. Worrying about it would spoil my day. Can anyone recommend a good podcast or book that would help me prepare for a booze free wedding? I've mentioned to the venue that we want to cater well for the none drinkers so there'll be a nice variety of AF drinks.

Well done everyone. You're all amazing x

Good work, Ulysses! It’s hard to stay positive, and to have those difficult conversations, the temptation to numb it all with alcohol is strong...

Hope the next two weeks passes quickly, drybird.

Congratulations on your engagement, april, what lovely news! Can’t advise on a booze free wedding, mine was so boozy my guest list might as well have included Veuve Cliquot and Chateauneuf du Pape but it is absolutely possible. And imagine, you’ll be completely present for all of it and remember every little moment, and how good is that?

Your name has always made me smile, howls, I did assume you were a little sister of the castle

Congratulations @aprilfoolsbaby! There was a post from a long term sober poster a while back and she mentioned her wedding. I wish my own was less of a blur, I think your memories will be sharper and even more beautiful for staying sober. Happy Birthday 🎂 too!

Ulysses well done - smashing it not smashed!

I'm feeling crappy with a very sore throat but it's not a c-19 symptom so I'm carrying on as usual. Last day of school, so I need to get a few things done while the kids are there.

Take care everyone; stay safe and stay sober.

Welcome to a weird weekend.

I've been chatting to a friend who quit drinking a few months before I did, and we agreed that we are very glad to be sober during this crazy time.

I hope everyone is OK, whether self isolating, distancing or working.

I've started a thread for long term sober people to drop in on, not sure if it's a good time because people might be at home with time on their hands, or a bad one because everyone has so much on their minds.. We will see.

Good idea, @drybird2020. Still going here 👍🏽

Morning @Drybird2020. I'm still sober. Insomnia is creeping back in though and I am tired this morning after being awake during the night. Reminds me of what it was like after I had a bottle of wine. However, my resolve remains strong.

I went out for a walk last night and met a friend who was lamenting that one of the workers in Aldi was saying that alcohol is considered non-essential and might not be in plentiful supply these coming weeks and months. It's statements like that that make appreciate starting this journey when I did and avoid feeling despair over something like not getting alcohol.

Thank you for the new thread @Drybird2020 I'm hoping to get some long-term strategies and other thoughts/points of view from it.

Day 150 here, and I'll celebrate later with an elderflower cordial. This has now become my new normal.

Still go here too. Said to my dh this morning thank goodness I decided to stop, even if it was only 18 days ago. Would hate to be worried about having to have enough wine in.
Slept pretty badly last night, lots of things going round in my head. I'm one of the lucky ones, am silk able to go out to work for now, only temporarily lost 2 customers ( I'm a cleaner) he others seem happy for me to still go provided we are all healthy,not on lock down and they stay in a oposite room to me. Hoping it continues like this for a few more days.

Hello all. Day 102 here (give or take - my Sober Time measures it in months/weeks/days so I'm not sure) and my god it's easier now - I sometimes go a whole day without thinking about booze/that I've given up.

Agree with all the above about glad to be sober in this tricky time. After 100+ days a major benefit for me is an overall lift in mood. That helps with bloody coronavirus! Also given all I've read about its dampening effect on the immune system, now is not the time for that.

Posted too soon. I wanted to say good for you @StillDumDeDumming for surviving four weeks and not drinking. I'm really glad to hear your DH is doing well and fingers crossed between continues to improve.

And well done all for staying dry!

I'm celebrating 26 years of sobriety on the 31st. I was seriously addicted and had to detox in hospital. I did it and so can you!

Good luck everyone! 😀

@MissConductUS what a wonderful Soberversary to be celebrating. Many, many congratulations. I've sent you a PM x

Congratulations also to @Elsacragg and @Ulysses on smashing the 100 day milestone and continuing to be awesome! 🎉🏅🎉🏆🎉☕ 🎉

Thank you @Drybird2020 and may I add my congratulations to all the posters on this thread, whatever their 'number'. Every sober day is worth being thankful for. I would hope that the health benefits will help us all in the days and months ahead.

Happy Sunday everyone .

Hi all. Am 78 days in and it's my 40th today. Keep getting deep waves of low this evening re the current world situation and for the first time want to reach for a drink!