Leave alcohol behind and re-learn your life. The freedom thread.

[Drybird2020]

This is thread 6, the Anniversary Edition! Welcome to old hands and newbies! From Day 1 onwards, you’re all invited to share this safe, supportive and encouraging place.

If you've not yet decided whether total abstinence is for you, do feel free to 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.

It might help to have a read through the previous threads;

1 is here, www.mumsnet.com/Talk/alcohol_support/3781133-Anyone-else-stopping-completely-in-2020
and

and 5 here;

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/alcohol_support/4043965-YES-it-is-SO-worth-it-YES-it-gets-easier-and-YES-we-thought-it-was-impossible-as-well-its-not-A-thread-for-those-embracing-an-alcohol-free-existence?msgid=101761283

You'll find links to the others in there somewhere.

The 31st December is my Soberversary. I'm 2 stone lighter, I've taken up running, I'm better off, more present and more patient with my children, and I've found the courage to address some difficult and traumatic parts of my life. And I couldn’t have reached this point without the threads to keep me accountable, and my lovely sober buddies to keep me sane.

bunnies that's amazing!! Congratulations on your 9 months!! So glad that life seems easier this week and that you are reaping all the longer term benefits of being AF.

100percentme I feel the same. Couldn't tell you how many days. Just in to months now. Next biggie in February is 6 months. Still feeling like its just life now.

For those starting out, i think that was one of my favourite first milestones. When I didn't need to count every day. The subtle change from ticking off every day to ticking off weeks was great and then going on to months.

I still put my little star on my diary. I also now have a sun for yoga, a walking emoji for a walk every day and a dance emoji for a dance burst song. I put my star for being AF on first thing in the morning because its just a given that I will be AF that day. I don't have to wait til night time to see if I managed it today. I KNOW i will be AF. That is such a good feeling.

Ahhh thanks guys!!! It does feel like an achievement. I also love no longer counting the days.

I think that it is great that you don’t feel the need to count. I’m still doing OK, but am now laid low with Covid. I cannot wait to have some energy (and be out of isolation) to start walking again. Drinking is not really something I’m giving too much headspace to and for that I am grateful.

wildernesstips sorry to hear you are unwell with covid. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Oh no @Wildernesstips hope you recover soon!

Get well soon wilderness! Huge congrats breathmiller and bunnies! I’m not counting the days as such but still logging into I am sober and making my pledge. I don’t know why as I know I’ll keep it.
I’m very very aware of all the boozing in every single tv show & film. No one ever drinks water, coffee or tea... just alcohol! Unless it’s a Hallmark Xmas movie, then it’s copious amounts of hot choc. It’s disgraceful how it’s normalised on all our viewing and then there’s the stream of booze related memes that do the rounds. We really are bombarded with the message that alcohol is needed.
I’m on pomegranate juice today. It’s ok but nothing special.

Congratulations Bunnies and feel better vibes for Wilderness. So sorry to all of those struggling with home schooling, it must continue to be really tough.

I've had a nice chilled evening with my church group though really felt like I was hanging on by my fingernails the hour between work and the group starting. But I did it, played it all the way through to the end. Now snuggly in my pyjamas and really shattered so will be in bed early.

Get well soon @Wildernesstips!

I’m still feeling happy about being sober and finding it easier as the days tick along. I’d hoped I might lose weight and save money but I’m currently working my way through the amazing selection of alcohol free drinks at the local supermarket - last long sober period was several years ago during pregnancy and pretty much all there was that was drinkable was becks blue - now there’s so much choice and they all taste really good, but they’re no cheaper than the boozy versions!

Get well soon @Wildernesstips!

Checking in, day 11, still lurking and reading everyone’s posts for motivation. Stupidly weighed myself and discovered I’ve put on weight but I feel much better in myself so 🤷‍♀️ I’m sure it’ll all even out at some point when I stop eating Nutella out the jar with the spoon all evening

Day 13 here. Getting my vaccination today and a bit worried. Still not sleeping and head constantly sore. Reading this thread really helps me. I'm determined not to drink again.

Checking in for day 37. Husband finished off a bottle of red last night and not even a little part of me wanted some. I didn't feel the need to crack open an AF beer, and sat happily with him without drinking. I never, ever thought that could happen.

Sleep is my biggest issue. Not nodding off until 1am and then feeling like the walking dead in the morning. Home schooling 2 children and entertaining a pre schooler is taking up all my time, but it is a million times easier without a hangover.

Well done to everyone powering through lockdown round 3 without drinking! We can do this.

Good luck with the vaccination @geillisduncan and @Wellysock I couldn’t agree more about the homeschooling/preschooler care being much much less stressful without a hangover...

That's great wellysock

Yes to the homeschooling being easier without a hangover. (Is there anything that is not better without a hangover? I had visions of the school ipad hurtling out the window today, my patience with it all was at an all time low.
I have been home educating for many years and this idea of having a child sitting stressed in front of a screen is in no way a good way to learn anything. So we wrote a bit of a story, submitted it then went out to finish the story in the woods. It was magical.

Hello.

I'm sorry I haven't read the full thread.

I made some progress with my alcoholism last year but that came to a halt mid-November. I don't want to drink anymore and while the thought of not drinking again doesn't fill me with fear like it used to I still feel like I'll never be free of it. I have days where I panic about what I'm doing to my body and days where I just don't care at all.

I'm not really sure what I want from this post to be totally honest, I have joined other forums/support groups before and not committed to them. I just give in to my addiction and stop engaging.

I think I will read the previous threads over the coming days, I need to address this problem otherwise it will never end.

Sorry for the long post.

Hi there,

So inspiring reading this thread and the journey you are all on.

I have decided enough is enough and have started (day 4) of the ‘alcohol experiment’ with Annie Grace. I saw the recommendation on here. Alcohol has been a big factor in my life since my 20s, now late 40s and it definitely controls me. Can I ask a question I feel so awful, headaches, aches, fatigued, but can’t sleep, anxious. It’s exhausting. I’m convinced I’m coming down with something but is it me having not drank for 4 days? I’m shocked if it is.

@Brainfreeze1 Well done on your 4 days! Depending on your levels of alcohol consumption previously this could well be effects of withdrawal. I wasn’t a heavy drinker but I definitely felt worse before starting to feel better when I quit. Headaches etc. Now I rarely have a headache! Hang in there and stay well hydrated.
@JustTitOff “days where you worry and days where you don’t care” sounds so so familiar. I used to feel like that. Do also seek support from your GP if you need extra help. Good luck.

Welcome to both of you. Its a great thread.
Hope the headaches ease soon. I read a few people saying they had headaches for about a week then they went away. You are nearly there. Well done on your 4 days. The first week or so are the hardest. But it does get easier.

I have had a shit couple of days (doesn't there seemto be a lot of them recently?) And even found myself saying these are the days when sinking into a bottle of wine would have been my coping mechanism. I am glad that it isn't anymore but it's obviously still there as a thought so I am staying vigilant.

Thank you @BunniesBunniesBunnies and @Breathmiller your words are a comfort. I am sorry @Breathmiller that your days have been hard, these are such testing times.

It’s hard isn’t it @Breathmiller. Hope you’re feeling a bit better now?

@Brainfreeze1 👋 I am the same as you! I have been lurking on here but thought I would post to say i am right there with you, terrible sleep, lots of aches and pains, also suprised as I honestly didn’t think I drank enough
Today is my 6th day so i am just slightly ahead and if it helps any my sleep was a bit better last night, only woke up 3 times and managed to get back off to sleep quite quickly. Hopefully things will start improving soon and then we will feel better and better!

Hi @OppsUpsSide, congratulations on your 6th day! Sorry to hear you’ve been feeling as bad as me 😬, but great to hear your sleep improved last night. Have to admit I’ve woken up feeling pretty good and more positive today, but yes so shocked at how my body has been reacting, have I really been abusing it that badly? I think the fact I’ve been drinking pretty much every day the last few months, I’ve been blaming covid, has not helped. Only one or two glasses but boy it has been brutal!

Lads. Hello. And help.

I got offered some work today and I bought myself a pre-mixed Seedlip at Sainsbobs. There's no % listed on the can. It was delicious but now I feel woozy and sleepy. And I googled it and it says:

"Does Seedlip contain any alcohol?
This product may contain trace elements of alcohol (

Oh gosh @hangingover sorry you are so worried about this. I don’t really know anything about Seedlip, but it sounds unlikely that a trace of alcohol which doesn’t warrant a % on the can would be enough to warrant concern. Is it similar to a fermentation, which is why they say it is comparable to a juice?

There’s more alcohol in ripe fruit. Don’t worry.

No @Hangingover, you're OK. If you've eaten ripe fruit in the last few months you'll have had the same amount, perhaps the suggestive qualities of a cold mixed can made you feel a a bit funny?! I quite like a seedlip myself. Great news about the work! 😊 What is it?

Welcome to @Brainfreeze1 @JustTitOff and @OppsUpsSide if you're committed to powering through to the good stuff, we can support and help. The physical effects will fade, interestingly I've just had similar from quitting caffeine as my new years resolution. Ridding myself of that toxin was reminiscent of the early days of quitting booze.