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!

You are extremely wise and kind Bunnies (unlike my pet bunnies IRL who are both suspicious and psychopathic).

I really do hope it'll be looked back on one day as collective insanity. I think the most damaging thing it this hideous idea that we should be able to drink moderately and not become at all reliant on it, and if we fail it's some kind of defect of character. It's an addictive poison, found to be the most damaging drug on the planet, responsible for more disease, death and misery than any other... I always say if you bought it in a hardware shop itd carry a label saying "Do not consume". But sure it's us that is the problem

We’re grand @Hangingover, it’s everyone else who is mad 👍❤️ I think there is mileage in an app called Addictive Voice which says all the utterly stupid, irresponsible things our minds come up with in such a crazy voice that you can see them for the lies and crap they really are 😂

Also, how the actual fuck can apple juice not be vegan 👀 poor you, that is just outrageous 🤬

Ooh, and welcome back @Bluefishing 👏👍💪 pull up a chair, sit yourself down, pour yourself a glass of something lovely and AF 😎

Hello everyone, just checking in. I'm so glad you are all here saying the things you do because I'm sitting here nodding me head saying YES THAT IS ME TOO.

Welcome everyone. Sobriety is our future and it's gonna be fucking great.

Also, how the actual fuck can apple juice not be vegan 👀 poor you, that is just outrageous 🤬

Its got bloody cow in it! Am back on the lovely AF beers 😁

I have corona virus - All but one of my immediate family have positive tests. We hardly go anywhere either. I just wanted to share to let you know it’s true the symptoms can seem quite mild and it’s really pretty shocking to find out you have it. Be vigilant and please get tested if you have an inkling as you immediately start to fret and worry about everyone you’ve even looked at 😣

iamyourequal oh no! Are you all holes up together or in different households? You poor things - I hope you have lots of medicine and board games to hand!

Interesting lesson in how fucking boring drunk people are last night, the site over from us had an impromptu get together last night and we're howling drunken "hilarious" anecdotes until gone midnight. I'm sure even at my most pissed I didn't think t was okay to keep other people up. Withering put-down suggestions for if the crack on tonight pls everyone. I've only got as far as, "As facinating as your lives are..."

Feel better equal

Oh no @iamyourequal! What were your symptoms? Are they mild?

iamyourequal sorry to hear that, I hope you and your family are ok. Have you any vitamin pills? They might help keep it a mild version? Wish we knew more about this virus.

Today is day 5 for me. Back much better. Heavy period now (menopause). I miss wine in the evenings and the fuzzy feeling, but I haven’t been waking up with horrible anxiety so it’s worth it. I am drinking soft drinks from a wine glass.

Well done on day 5 Bluefishing. Stick in there, once you get the weekend behind you you will feel so chuffed with yourself.
Thanks too Hanging & Bunnies we are doing ok. DH has it worst. It’s like flu for him with sore chest at times.(!) I feel lightheaded and no energy and am now aware of my breathing which is strange, it woke me up a few times during the night. My throat/tongue feel odd. Teenage DC1 has partially lost his sense of taste but not bad otherwise. The worst bit is having to let others know, it feels rather shameful/embarrassing!! I logged in to work this morning but don’t feel well enough so logged back out, knackered.

It all feels a bit surreal to be honest

iamyouequal I just read your post, please don’t feel ashamed or embarrassed, we are a family of asthmatics and I would want to know if a family had covid but hate to think anyone would feel shame for catching it! It’s just bad luck. Take it easy, just down tools, other than feeding yourselves nothing else matters. If you try to work through it might be a worse dose. This is my gut feeling rather than any medical knowledge.

Thanks for your kind words Bluefishing they have helped calm me down! I’ve done nothing all afternoon but lie in bed and dose. My phone has stopped the crazy beeping from other mums trying to work out if we have contaminated their kids, we’ve answered all the track n trace questions as fully and honestly as we can. Nothing more we can do. How is everyone else’s week?

I hope you don’t have your loud boring drunks tonight Hangingover . Are they behaving?
I forgot to answer your question earlier- we are all in same house but meant to be social distancing from DC2 within it!

iamyourequal
Oh that's rubbish that your family are all unwell. Feel better soon. Hopefully if it's mild it will pass quickly but do take time to just rest.
Isn't it funny that it feels like something to be ashamed of? we don't feel ashamed when we catch a cold or chicken pox or flu. Everyone will just want you to get better. I know a few people who have had it (and been tested postive) and it wouldn't cross my mind that they should feel responsible or embarrassed. I just felt sorry for them that they were ill and wanted them to get over it as easily as possible.

bluefishing 5 days is great! Well done. Nice soft drinks in wine glasses helps. I actually really enjoy my sparkling water in my wine glass now. And don't feel the need for so many AF alternatives. Ginger beer tonight for a Friday treat was lovely. Getting through this weekend for you will be a fantastic feeling. We're here if you need support.

I'm nearly through week 5 and am really feeling the benefits now. Feeling a little lighter as I'm eating better (and back to teaching more classes so that helps). Just finished my first normal perimeno period without medication this year. Maybe no coincidence? I hemorrhaged in February and have been taking medication to stop that and build up my iron. But all stopped with postive results.

What's definitely not a coincidence is my skin on my face. It feels glowy and not puffy or dry and wrinkly. It feels much softer. I'm liking this benefit.

Bit of a disappointment with these new guidelines which means my family week away for my 50th next week has had to change as we are a family of 8 people from 3 households. So i can't have both of my adult daughters together for my birthday. We are having to split the week. I know there are worse things at sea but all I really wanted was all of us together. Hey ho. We can have a celebration for all these missed birthday gatherings when we can. Most important thing is everyone is well.

Hope you have a weekend resting and getting better iamyourequal and an easy AF weekend everyone else.

(Who was the PP who had an anniversary around now? Is it this weekend? )

SlantyBaws I've just looked back. It's your anniversary later on in the month. I had it in my head it was before my birthday.

@Breathmiller oh that is such a shame bloody Covid Will you be able to reschedule or perhaps have a mini celebration?
I'm half expecting Edinburgh to go into lockdown in a week's time and throw our plans out the window. But it is what it is. What shall be shall be and I will celebrate with some pink Nosecco!

Sending you lots of love @iamyourequal, and your family. Do look after yourselves and don’t feel bad, what else could you have done? It’s horribly contagious but no one wants to catch it ❤️
Well done @Bluefishing, once the first few days are done the time starts to tick on pretty fast so just keep on doing as you are. I am on 70 days today, which seems incredible to me, but not even thought about drinking recently, certainly no temptation, and I feel so much better.
Keep safe, folks, and hope your noisy neighbours are feeling hungover and quiet tonight @Hangingover. Nothing worse than being kept awake by arsey noisy people...🤬

Thanks for all the support. Got through Friday night with my AF beer, DH had wine but we drink different stuff so I wasn’t tempted. Not having mine in the house is vital to my success. Toddling off to bed now. Hope everyone is ok and thanks again.

Well done Bluefishing you will wake up to the joy of a hangover free Saturday morning! Thanks so much Ravenswick & Breathmiller I know you are right, I wouldn’t blame anyone else for catching covid, it’s obviously just outrageously contagious. I’m just not thinking very clearly this week. Breathmiller I hope the change means you get two great birthday celebrations instead of one (and double cake!) . It’s totally understandable you will be disappointed- it’s a big birthday and you have no doubt put a lot of planning to it. I hope you have a super birthday when it comes.

Hello all! 5 months for me today🤩🤩🤩

I feel pretty good at the moment! There are still some stressors but all sooo much more manageable without booze! My skin is better, my marriage is better, my mental health is better and my fitness is the best it’s ever been! Feeling good🤩

Superstar Bunnies, good job!

bunnies what a brilliant advert for being AF. Well done on 5 months. A great achievement!!

Bunnies congratulations! Very inspiring

Congratulations Bunnies your progress sound amazing. Keep at it!