Forever Free - a life without booze, 2020 onwards.

[Drybird2020]

This thread is a supportive place for anyone who no longer wants alcohol to be part of their life.
This is the 4th thread in a series. I started the first 30th December last year and have been sober ever since. I couldn't have done it without the tremendous support other posters have given me.
Previous threads are linked below and are useful reading for anyone starting out, as they are full of useful advice, suggestions for reading, and strategies for managing the tricky times. Plus you will see how similarly alcohol affects so many of us, and track the journeys of people who are successfully making the change and embraced a new and rewarding life.

Thread 1
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/alcohol_support/3781133-Anyone-else-stopping-completely-in-2020

Thread 2
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/alcohol_support/3810419-Still-stopped-in-2020-a-thread-for-anyone-abstaining-from-alcohol

Thread 3 www.mumsnet.com/Talk/alcohol_support/3910349-Staying-Stopped-Alcohol-Free-permanently

The only rules are that you are committing to an alcohol free life, and that you have stopped drinking before you begin to post.

If anyone would like to use the new thread to (re)introduce themselves and give a wee summary of where they are at, please do!

Hi can i join . I've drink pretty much since I was about 13, over the park with friends , clubs early 20's giving up with every pregnancy but getting straight back on it after, I'm now mid forties and its crept up ..
I'm.now quite a heavy drinker. well I say that, its day 2 of not having a drink for christ knows how long. I'm normally mashed by teatime on my days off , I have spent Soooooooo much money too , thousands and thousands especially over the last 2 or 3 years
Im determined to stop as theres no fun anymore , it's pretty shit and I'm now spending on credit cards
Btw, how long before the sweats , the sleepless nights and the shaking stops.
I literally have the DT'S
I wont seek medical advice as I'm not too bad but am interested to know roughly how long
Its day 2 but I've never got past day 3 as I tell myself " ive gone 3 days , someone with a drink problem couldnt do that " then see it as an excuse to spend more money I haven't got and buy 2 bottles of wine and a small bottle of vodka.
It's always the thought of my hands shaking , the sweats and the lack of sleep.that make me do it just to take the edge off

Welcome witchymoo well done for getting to this point. I am just day 3 today. WRT the DT symptoms there is a huge variety from minor like you describe, at which point you start drinking so the symptoms disappear or, the ones that make you vomit and possibly have a seizure.

I am a nurse and often now see detoxing patients, as alcoholism is so common (I am on a surgical ward) so not a liver ward! And at the level you are drinking we would start you on a short treatment to get through this.

My worry for you if you don't seek help is that you will start drinking again to mitigate the symptoms. Would you consider accessing alcohol therapy?

If you would rather not access help which I understand, it's hard to say how long the symptoms last, I think it depends on the amount you drink.

My main symptoms are sweating, headache and feeling exhausted, that tends to last around 2 weeks.
Good luck and keep posting.

Could you maybe check in with 111 just to see what they say? Worried about you @witchymoo

Thanks both but I've only just admitted to myself I have a problem , I'm not ready to admit to others yet. But I'll definitely check up in here ... I had a panic attack in April and I've never had one before. I didn't know what it was all i know is i was very scared and i couldn't breathe and i was shaking from head to toe .
The hospital ran a toxic screen and they said it was cardiac arrhythmia, panic attack caused by excess alcohol.. they put me on diazepam for 3 days which i liked and it helped
I dont want stuff like this constantly on my medical records as we are looking at life insurance and I dont want anything negative on there that hinders getting it or being paid out if the worst happens
I'm not a martyr either so I will seek help if it gets too much for me to cope with

There are summaries of what to expect and when to seek help here, @WitchyMoo:

www.nhs.uk/conditions/alcohol-misuse/treatment/

www.drinkaware.co.uk/facts/health-effects-of-alcohol/mental-health/alcohol-withdrawal-symptoms

Take care.

And here:

Keep safe and keep posting!

Cold night here again... Am slightly less of a hormonal gargoyle. Have a lovely Carlton 0%. Am going to have maple syrup rice pudding for desert tonight, it's gorgeous. Eight weeks - BOOM.

Ladies...I'm in a pub for the first time since lock down and going sober. Have been for a walk. And I have coke! Do you know what? I feel fine! Just said to my husband itso nice to know I'll be leaving clear headed..And it's so nice to be sat somewhere having a drink 😀

Hurrah!

Just popping in before bed to remind everyone that you're doing AMAZINGLY whether you're right at the start or far on in the sobriety journey. It IS possible. We can all do it ♥️

@Hangingover 8 weeks!🙌 you've got this well done!

Btdubz if anyone is feeling a bit delicate ATM don't go on the smoking thread that's currently active as there are some really offensive and inaccurate things being said about addiction.

Morning all. It's Sunday, DH and I went out out for a meal last night and both had a couple of AF2 beer. I didn't miss wine at all. And yes to feel clear headed afterward @jess3817. I'm coming up to 7 months AF this month. Last night I went out without foundation as well as my skin was nice and glowing without it. Today's plan is a trip to Ikea and a run. I ordered Sweaty Betty leggings too, you bunch of influencers! They've yet to arrive so I'll be hoiking up my Primark one's in the meantime.

(I've hidden so many topics from active conversations to save myself from all the incendiary threads, @Hangingover. MN can bring out the worst in some people, whereas threads like this are a lifeline.)

Morning all, I’m loving all the Sweaty Betty purchases on this thread😂😂😂

Hope you're doing ok, @WitchyMoo.

I'm also jumping on the Sweaty Betty bandwagon. The bum sculpting feature was the clincher! I haven't ordered yet - I'm hoping for a discount code or a sale.

It’s maybe worth posting for a discount code in Style and Beauty @Teetotallyimperfect. I got 15% off as a new customer but I’ve seen ones for 20-25% over there in the past.

I stupidly looked at the smoking thread, @Hangingover. Apparently I'm common, selfish, and stupid. Well I'd rather be all those things than a judgemental narrow minded arse wipe. I'll listen to your warning next time

We're going to need some SB pics once people's purchases have landed :-) Hope all are good? Another cheeky AF lager night for me yesterday, still not missing the booze thank goodness and now into week 4. So impressed with @Hangingover's total - I'm heading in the right direction anyway.

Was talking on Zoom to old friends who used to be drinking buddies last night, we're planning a meet up and it will be interesting to see how they take me not drinking. They are lovely so think they will be supportive but we've always been regular drinkers together, knocking back the wine over chatty dinners so it will be quite a shift for them to see me AF!

I'm back. I did so well and then the odd glass of wine crept in. The idea of never opening a bottle of wine on a sunny day feels a bit much. Any tips on how to organise my head?

Thank you @Ulysses, I'll give that a try!

One day at a time, @OhioOhioOhio. In the beginning I couldn't bring myself to say forever, still can't some days. But you only have to do today. Let the days build up gradually and you'll slowly feel more confident that you don't need or want a drink.

Thank you. Its the part where you have to explain yourself socially I struggle with. At home I can easily switch off wanting a drink.

Well, I feel a twat. I know not every post gets or needs responses, but I posted that I’d done 200 days and was really struggling, and almost no one replied at all. (Thanks though Jess.) Even though this is anonymous it feels very vulnerable to post stuff about mental health to silence. And now I’ve made an even bigger twat of myself by drawing attention to it. I’ll slink off.

@SparklingLime, so sorry I didn't respond to your post - it really wasn't intentional. This thread can be quite busy at times and it's easy to miss things. But I do understand how it can make you feel - I've had the same thing happen but it's not personal. 200 days is amazing and I can't wait to be where you are. Please don't slink off - I think we all value everyone's contributions. And you're doing amazingly

@SparklingLime please don't slink off