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!

Yes, that sounds all familiar.

Well done at doing all these monhs each year.

I like the idea of dry January/July/October all just bleeding into each other.

Day 3 done here today.

Day 8 for mesleep and anxiety definitely improving as is my skin and eyes, can't remember the last time I felt so well!

Oh that's great noel66
It's really heartening to hear how quickly you feel better and see the benefits.
Well done on being over a week.
Can't wait til i can start counting in weeks rather than days

Thanks breathmillerkeep strong you are doing great!

Oh, @SparklingLime, you're back! That's lovely 😊

I'm back to work this week, and my kids are going back to school too, so it's full on here. Particularly as there's a massive thunderstorm going on and everyone is far too excited to go to sleep! So that's going to make for a fun morning getting up early for the first time in months.

I'm not drinking or even thinking about drinking, but I do think about not drinking and what it means for me and how much I love not drinking. I think this is important for for maintaining and protecting my sobriety.

Hi @SparklingLime and everyone, I hope you're doing well.

I've decided no more spirits. Bought 3 beers tonight instead, tomorrow that will go down to 2, Thursday will be 1, then Friday is The Day.

I was thinking that in my case it is better to wean myself off using beer rather than going cold turkey all of a sudden.

I just need to be determined enough to do this now.

I would appreciate advice from anyone who is further down this road. :)

Also, many thanks for the Annie Grace link, I have signed up.

@Isinknot it's worth reading through the thread and the preceding ones, people have joined at different times so there is always someone only just ahead of where you are. People are generous with their time and advice, however please respect this;

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

Oh! I'm sorry, I missed that bit somehow. I will come back on Friday.

I’m not sure if I’m supposed to link to Reddit here (so please report and delete if appropriate) but there are some threads on Reddit Including r/dryalcoholics. If you need some support in cutting down before you quit. @Isinknot

Checking in.

Update on Hanging's ridiculous life: after yesterday's unfortunately accidental hotboxing incident, we went to stay with some friends at their house and had dinner. The husband is an ex-problem drinker too so we had a good share about it. And had hottub and curry - v.relaxing. Woke up this morning and had a little surf then went to the pole dancing studio for an hour's practice while DP ran errands. Was having such a lovely time with the studio to myself...did a spin and dropped straight into a split feeling sass-tastic, threw my head forward as I did it to look like a stripper and headbutted the floor HARD. I saw stars. Sitting at home with an AF beer and ice on it feeling rotten now. At least I got a video of it though, it's really really funny.

@Hangingover I’m so glad you video’ed it😂😂😂

@Drybird2020 I couldn’t agree more, I also think lots not about alcohol but not drinking. I talk about it quite a bit with my husband too which helps!!!

🤩🤩🤩 4 months for me today 🤩🤩🤩

@Isinknot good luck and please do come back when you’ve quit! These threads are great!!!

I’m glad it’s too hot to feel like drinking. I’m on soda and lime with a ton of ice and happy with it!

Hi everyone, I'm finally joining after lurking for a while 22 days sober today.

Hit rock bottom after years and years of heavy drinking daily (hospital) it's a miracle I don't have liver problems. The time I was there I'll never forget waiting for blood results thinking 'that's it, I'm a goner, I'm so sad for my kids, my husband, my family, why was I such an idiot'. Anyway I'm really lucky, all clear. I wrote those hours of waiting hell in my notebook and I will refer to my absolute nightmare if I need a reminder. It's my 2nd chance in life and I am determined to never drink again. I had to get Librium for withdrawals (was told why suffer?) it was brilliant. At night I was getting brain zaps and then a limb would shoot out, thought I had a brain tumour, nope it was alcohol.
Struggled with sleep for a while but the last week sleeping like a dream, bouncing out of bed. Singing in the car instead of wanting to plough it into a wall.

Have read loads of the books, on Craig Beck's at the mo. I have my mantras at trigger time and a brand new schedule, planned dinners and all my soft drinks ready to go. Tonic water hits the spot at 6pm cooking dinner

I hadn't gone down the AF route yet but just finished work and might pick up some for tonight.

I'm in awe of you all :)

Oh @Hangingover we need to see the video - you goddess

Wow welcome @OrchidJewel! That sounds like quite the journey, well done on your 22 days!

Happy four months @BunniesBunniesBunnies you legend!!

Welcome @OrchidJewel

At night I was getting brain zaps and then a limb would shoot out, thought I had a brain tumour, nope it was alcohol

This sounds terrifyingly familiar!

Bloomin hec Hanging - that sounds painful. Glad you are OK!

Welcome Orchid! Nice to have you here.

Feeling good with things still. Can't actually remember what week I'm on, but started at the very beginning of the school summer hols. Am so so happy that this no booze has all but wiped out my anxiety.

I am now on a mission to get rid of other things that 'no longer serve me' (i.e. stuff that feels shit for me, personally). Have cut out my strong morning filter coffee and feel better for it so far. Have long since suspected my body is not happy with it, but been such a lover of it, really did not want to ditch it.

On the back of a week long headache, which I finally put down to a new probiotic I've been taking (random but could not find another reason), coffee wasn't appealing so I decided to jump on the opportunity and have ditched it.

Hoping I won't rebel for being such a healthy goody two shoes and jump into a big vat of alcohol / coffee / sugar and drown myself. Actually the sugar is still holding strong...

I am now on a mission to get rid of other things that 'no longer serve me' (i.e. stuff that feels shit for me, personally)

This is a great idea! I'm going to make a list today of other things I want to get rid of.

Like this idea, I'll give it a go too!

Ah great! I feel as though I have the energy to tackle this stuff at the moment, and am not gonna waste that - it's a good feeling

I need to address my caffeine addiction. It's the next big thing for me - currently I'm swigging my second enormous mug of the day but then I've been for a run, logged my breakfast calories, and sent my children off to school with clean faces and healthy packed lunches so I think I'm doing OK and can afford to address the coffee issue a bit later on. One thing at a time.

Welcome, @OrchidJewel, that's quite a scary time you've had, and a good start.

@Hangingover, you numpty 😁 hope your poor head is OK

And @BunniesBunniesBunnies, congratulations on your 4 months! You're smashing this.