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!

4 years today I took my last drink!

@iamyourequal you're right, my parents were irresponsible, as was your Dad.

I'm glad you're back and talking about your interruption. Well done for getting started again. It can't be easy and it's something I fear, so it helps to read accounts of how events conspire to trip people up. I share what @SparklingLime said about balking at the pressure you had from your mum and partner. This next bit feels rather risky and I've typed and deleted it a couple of times, so I hope you can accept it in the spirit it is offered; from an outside perspective he seems to have control over your sobriety in a way that isn't healthy, or fair to you - it was his demand that caused you to quit in the first place and then when he gave his permission to drink, you had your slip up. In your heart, is it more about being alcohol free, or about pleasing him?

Thanks Sparkling and Breathmiller for welcoming me back. You are all talking a lot of sense and I’m taking it all in. I really hope l look back and only see a little blip on an otherwise fabulously successful sobriety journey! You are doing well getting through what sounds like one stressful sounding year Breathmiller, and congratulations on your anniversary.
Drybird thanks for replying, you do a great job of keeping everyone here feeling so welcome and valued. I think things have got a bit muddled here though. My DH didn’t get me to stop drinking. Mine is quite the opposite- he doesn’t think I have a problem, and would clearly prefer if I was still drinking with him. He only actually admitted he would like me to have a drink on holiday when I asked him about it. My problem is that I am too easily influenced by trying to please other people and do what’s expected of me. Working on that! I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend. Off out to do some gardening for a bit in the sun.

I forgot to say welcome wineandtoastfortea

Wow @Spied that must feel awesome!

Ah, sorry about that @iamyourequal, I must have got your story muddled up with someone else's. You seem to have a useful perspective on it all.

Yes, welcome @wineandtoastfortea. Someone posted very recently with an experience that sounds similar to yours, i hope you find the support here useful.

@Spied congratulations!! How does it feel now?

It feels amazing- although it was a traumatic event which was my turning point so today also reminds me of this not so good thing.
Bittersweet but still amazing.
Honestly people if I can do it anyone can.
I wish everyone oodles of willpower

Hey all, just checking in! Not much to say other than still loving sober life. 125 days for me today🤩

Welcome Spied congratulations. It would be great if you shared some thoughts and tips with us. You are much further along than most of us (and definitely me..lol) Tips for sustaining sobriety long term would be terrific.

No worries Drybird you can’t remember everyone’s full backstory!

Hi all, I’m 582 days today (had to ask google how many days ago my last day was - I’m not counting). I posted early on when this thread had its genesis, and although I haven’t read the whole thread I just wanted to say how great it is that there’s a supportive place like this for people who want to stop, and for those of you who are struggling - this too shall pass. It doesn’t feel like it but it is possible, it is totally worth it, and you can do it. It just takes time and repetition of new behaviours and thought patterns. Oh, and don’t pile on a load of life changes at once - go easy on yourself! One thing at a time.

Thanks @StandUpStraight and @Spied. I love hearing from those of you who have stuck to it long term. I'm 229 days (or 185 days if I account for the blip I had mid-Feb).

I've had a crappy week but managed to ride it out and never once have I felt that alcohol would make it better in anyway. I am trying to sort out distorted sleep patterns and had about 8 hours last night, so I am hoping I am back on track.

I'm going to do some yoga and go for a run later. I am treating myself to a new pair of running trainers. Any recommendations? I have Asic Gels which are fine, but are slightly too big (my feet have shrunk by 1/2 size after going up a full size after pregnancy - weird!).

Oh, Sweaty Betty gave me a 25% discount after mucking up my order so I will be indulging on another essential purchase from them on pay day too! I could live in my Power Leggings!

Morning, gosh spied and standup that's amazing. Thanks for the positives. Bunnies I'm 101 days behind you

4th weekend sober. Delira with myself. I do yoga too Ulysses, although I just seem to throw myself around more so. I use YouTube , Adrienne, Maura Rath and I live Karen Hauer from strictly. Have you any recs for me?

DH and 2 kids went away last week, it was so difficult and tempting but I didn't. I open my tonic water at 6pm whilst making dinner. This takes the edge off and I can move on.

This week's book to download I'm thinking The Sober Diaries

I'm a big fan of Adriene too @orchidjewel. I am very lazy and usually just stick to the

Ah thanks Ulysses. Your count is amazing. I'm glad I'm not the only one doing 20 mins. I'll keep going in the hopes I get very bendy. Fair play in the running, can't cope with that at all

20 minutes of yoga is great a day. I'm a yoga teacher and always tell people that even 5 minutes a day is better than 2 hours once in a blue moon.

Ooooo breathmiller thank you. I will be picking your brains

It's been 20 minutes once in a blue moon recently! I did a 27 minute one just there though. I am trying to break a cycle of sleeping badly and not having the energy to look after myself by eating properly and exercising. I know one feeds the other.

2 minutes sitting outside and breathing is a meditation practice. A few stretches while waiting on your kettle boiling is a movement practice.

20 minutes once in a blue moon is great.
My yoga practice is as much off the mat as well as on it.
And part of that practice is going AF.
All a beautiful life practice.

Thank you breathmiller, I'm going to start this. You should set up tips once a week. 'breathmillers yoga for the newly sober!

Thank you breathmiller, I'm going to start this. You should set up tips once a week. 'breathmillers yoga for the newly sober! smile

breathsmiller handy tips I am going to incorporate those, I love Adrienne too but am to exhausted/lazy at the moment. I am 14 days sober today and sleeping well I just feel washed out. Work is mad too. Love hearing all your stories.

Day 8 done here today. Chuffed to be into my second week.

Hi All. I do some yoga too. Annoyingly I put myself off Adrienne as I read an interview where she was asked about a ‘yoga for weight loss’ series she did and she sort of admitted it was nonsense but did it anyway as it was commercially viable. I’m probably cutting off my nose to spite my face but it put me off her. I expect my yoga teacher to be on a morally higher ground than me 😂. The irony being I then did Julia Marie’s ‘yoga for weight loss’ instead (not because of the weightloss bit but because she truly believes it and it’s only 30minutes).

Keep posting everyone. Is all ok Hangingover? Please let us know there haven’t been any serious pole-dancing injuries!