Staying Stopped - Alcohol Free, permanently.

[Drybird2020]

This thread is a kind and supportive environment for anyone committing to an alcohol free life.

From Day 1 onwards, you are welcome here for support, encouragement, tips and chat. There are many of us, at different points on the journey some have been sober for years, months, or weeks, others are just starting out, but all are
committed to an alcohol free life and the freedoms it brings...

Freedom from the tyranny of booze and the effort of figuring out how much to drink, and how and when to procure and drink it.

Freedom from guilt, self loathing, and 3am wake ups, and the fear of what might have been said and done the night before.

Freedom from the pervasive sense of dread and shame.

Freedom to embrace life with energy, and to face challenges with an uncluttered head, a lighter heart, and a lighter recycling bin.

If you've not yet decided whether total abstinence is for you, do feel free to hang out and ask questions but please be aware that discussion of drinking can be triggering, especially for those in the early stages of sobriety.

If you are still drinking, or planning on moderating (and this includes occasional or once in a blue moon drinking) have a look at the moderation threads, which might be a better fit for you.

I check in here every day as part of my recovery. It has kept me accountable, and the wonderful posters who contribute have helped me more than they could possibly know. This is day 137, and I'll be here for a long time!

@Splendidsunrise

Its awful isn't it, feels like a great idea at the time and then you feel so horrible afterwards. I am also day 3 feel like iv got this weekend in the bag just hoping i can keep it up this time.

@Holyjebus The Big Book by Alcoholics Anonymous is an interesting read and Alcohol Explained .

I loved reading your update @Hangingover . So glad you had such a great night. Well done.

Thanks for posting that @Splendidsunrise. It's a great reminder for me that my brain keeps trying to trick me into thinking I was fine and didn't need to stop. Onwards and upwards...

60 days yesterday (and a week off the smokes today) and I'm a bit tearful and fed up. Not sure what's going on but it's exhausting. I wondered if it's PAWS bit I feel like I'm being a bit dramatic saying that. Anyone experienced PAWS?

Welcome back @Splendidsunrise, onwards and upwards!!!

@Teetotallyimperfect you are doing amazing!!! I don’t know about PAWS but you’ve got a lot going on. You quit smoking only very recently (well done!!!) so that might be messing with you still. And remember it’s a pandemic (how could you forget😂) so even if you were still smoking and drinking you may have the odd tearful day.

I was EXTREMELY fed up with it all yesterday. It was such a hard day and I really just wanted to smoke (quit 10 days ago), but in the end I went for a run instead and I’m SO glad I did.

Feeling a bit better today.
Good luck all!

So was at Asda this morning and went to buy some AF wine 2 try, told i cant buy until 10am as still has traces of alcohol in it, which i didn't know. So if it still has traces can you still drive if you are drinking thia? Can't seen to find an answer online. Thanks for any help☺️

Morning Jlou my understanding of this is .... (and I am happy to be corrected) that UK labelling laws says AF wine cannot be listed as 0% but must by 0.5% because of any such traces. But it is SO minimal that is really makes no difference. But, that may not be quote right- it is what i understand is the case.

Deffo can still drive though. Unless maybe you drink 50 bottles.

If you generally like sparkling wine then i recommend Sainsbury's own sparkling and Echo falls sparkling with green tea. The latter sounds awful, but the green tea just makes it slightly bitter rather than sweet.

I have just sat in my DCs google classroom assembly. It was a hoot! Gosh some of thoise kids are hilariously talenetd! There was signing and piano playing and jokes.

Morning all! It’s Day 21 for me today and I’m back in good spirits - worked 12/14hour days the last couple at work and been busy and stressful, I wonder if I’d have coped as well if I was drinking.

I had a small craving when finally back from work yesterday, but it really felt like a craving from habit rather than because I really wanted it iyswim. I’ve discovered the wonderful Evergreen - I ordered a bottle and it arrived yesterday which was perfect timing and enjoyed with tonic and an orange wedge in the garden. Craving definitely over.

Also read your ref to drinking from a mug @Ulysses and it brought back horrible shameful memories that made me v pleased to have my delicious AF drink and not gritty red wine in a mug. So thank you

@Jlou - it should have a percentage on it if it has alcohol, or double check the ingredients. If it’s labelled AF it should be so minuscule it’s not enough to affect you.

Enjoy your day off @GreenTeaMug and especially welcome back to those who slipped. Good on you for reporting back.

That should have been *grotty but it was prob gritty too.

Thanks Cyllie.

I used to drink from a mug too sometimes. There used to be a blog called (I think) 'sippy cups are for chardonnay' which I thought was funny. Then the blogger admitted she had a drinking problem. I used to drink out of sippy cups too.

Day 21 here too. Had my hair done today - platinum blond and a trendy undercut. Had a big jealous moment walking past a wine bar in Perth earlier, people all sitting outside sipping. I felt a real pang. But then I rationalised I also got a little pang when I walked past a seafood restaurant and smelled the food - yet nearly a year down the line I don't feel actually temped by non vegan food; maybe one day I'll feel that way about booze!

Just about had a panic attack going to my local shop, had went on on monday for more wine and actually cant remember being there had to bite the bullet and go in again. Nothing said off course but my anxiety was through the roof. Absolutly shocking i am actually a decent responsible person till i take that first sip of wine... I need to do this!!!

Hi everyone, Happy Friday! . Jlou0712 when I wasn’t allowed to buy AF beer in Asda before 10am they told me it wasn’t anything to do with residual alcohol content. It was simply because their tills have it coded as coming from the alcohol aisles and therefore not permitted to sell it. Nothing but a kind of admin error! It was bloody annoying though. I quite like the Nosecco Asti now. Asti isn’t a wine I would ever drink while boozing as far too sweet, but one needs to keep an open mind and adapt! I think I am regressing back to childhood with all this. Anyone else?
i present recent changes in my life, as evidence:

A love of routine
Bubble baths
Early nights in fresh PJs
Story at bedtime
Sweet tooth has returned
Eating pudding
Really looking forward to fizzy drinks
Enjoying colouring-in

Whoever recommended we treat ourselves like toddlers should be giving me a prize. I’ve nailed this....

That sounds brilliant iamyourequal.

My sweet tooth also has returned.

@Hangingover hair sounds lovely. I was thinking about an undercut aswell but am a bit scared... Shud just fo for it will grow back if i dont like it ☺️

That’s really lovely, @iamyourequal 😊

Yes, @iamyourequal, me too!! I've got a box of weekend treats arriving later from our local sweetie shop and I'm so excited!!

Thoroughly recommend an undercut, DH did mine with the clippers and I love it although @Hangingover's sounds far chicer due to professional input.

Happy sober Friday to everyone

Also me and the hairdresser for on so well we're going for coffee!

My two step children have been over and broughta bottle of wine as a fathers day present for my hubby. It's sat in the kitchen. Not had any wine in the house since 1st March. I'm obviously not going to drink it but it feels odd having it there ( he won't drink it as he doesn't like wine but accepts it as a gift out of politness) ( they don't know about my drinking) what shall I do? Pour it down the sink or give it to the neighbour?😬

Can you shove it at the back of a cupboard until you decide?

I went and gave it to the neighbour - was washing up and saw her walking up the steps ( my kitchen is at the front of the house) just told her we'd been given it as a gift but don't drink wine..phew it's out the house.

well done jess. :)

@GreenTeaMug thanks - didn't like it being in the house.

Well done Jess💪💪💪

I had a really tough start to the day (argument with family member), it got very heated and I was so upset☹️ This is such a trigger for me and I walked straight out of the house to buy cigarettes, but I somehow managed to turn around and get on with my day as usual. I am not infallible (I’m sure a day might come where I will cave) but I am so much stronger than I was 10 weeks ago.

And because I didn’t enter the downward spiral of destruction, family member and I made up, I had a lovely day with the children and ran 5km. Phew!😅

Evening everyone. In bath after hard days work then cooking and yoga. I had no idea what an undercut even was but have now googled it- nice! Very modern and edgy. I was rather disappointed in the only cut DH has given me in lockdown. After 24 YEARS of me cutting his hair, he spent approximately 20 seconds doing mine. One rough scissor cut across the back of my hair and that was it.

Drybird you’d best tell us all exactly what sweets you ordered! Dying to know. I’d be after fudge, assorted toffees, tablet, chocolate Brazil’s, sweet peanuts, pineapple chunks, lemon sherbets, bonbons and Turkish delight.