Hi all! Right I’ve finally got around to RTFT.
@Sneachta has given a great intro to sober living and I echo all she has said. Just keep going is my advice. I think having just 1 or 2 at the weekend or even on a special occasion is fine BUT I do think you are just making life A LOT harder for yourself. You’ll just want more, or you’ll want to do it again the next day or the next weekend. Taking it off the table altogether is just so much easier. And I know this isn’t what you want to hear, it’s not what I want to hear either but it is the truth. You can only see the wood for the trees once you do it – for quite a long time – and then you realise you are just not thinking about it as much as you used to.
Also sneachta – I meant this thread has a new home, not I have a new home haha, nothing so exciting I’m afraid
My anxiety is much better. I’ll be honest sleep still isn’t great but that has been the case for me for years and I am well into early menopause so that isn’t helping. It’s just nice to remember the evenings more and not to wake at 3am with a pounding heart and head. I still wake but it’s a lot more restful! I haven’t lost any weight either but I have eaten my own weight in chocolate whereas I didn’t do that before so not exactly surprising.
Hi @Newernewist and @Hazelnutmochi good to see you’re still going, yay us! Oh god YES the teeth clenching!!! That was the worst. Mine is also way better. @hazel I still have my moments, espec re lockdown and I’m like ‘what’s the bloody point?’
@Ynwa12345 your chicken story cracks me up more every time I read it!! Your inlaws are mad! Quite fancy a move to France though, especially if South, might be a bit warmer. WELL DONE on sticking and getting to day 7 again. I know I’m like a pious old bore but you are honestly doing the hardest bit over and over again so deserve a medal. Love it when kids wake you up in the middle of the night with such gems as “my fingers hurt” argghhh!! Before bed last night my 7year DS said “something came out of my bottom that wasn’t a fart and it looked like snot”. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, I don’t need to hear such things.
My dreams are so weird and unsettling at the moment. I keep dreaming about ex boyfriends (not in a sexual way!) and also my h’s ex-wife. It’s so strange.
Newbies - hellooo and welcome. I find it quite funny that I am now an “old hand” at this sober stuff. Honestly and truly, if I can do 136 days then literally anyone can. It just gets easier BUT it does take time so just keep going. Well done on your walk to work @LegallyBlondeee, that is good going and especially in this cold weather. It’s bloody freezing out there. Hmm ideas for your £200, Jo Malone candles are supposed to be nice, but get a small one so you’ve got money leftover for other stuff. Or maybe a Diptyque candle, they are even more money! Spa Day once we’re allowed out again, or new bag, or new shoes, some nice fitness gear, or jewellery. I bought myself a good camera a couple of weeks ago, it was about £300 I think but it’s so good.
Well done @timkerbellx on not giving in – top work. The early days are HARD.
Sneachta – book rec, I remembered this one the other day, it’s not a quit lit per se, but it’s fairly boozy and makes you realise how toxic it can be. It’s called Nina is not ok, by Shappi Khorsandi, it’s both dark and funny. SO good. Get it immediately.
@Secretsquirrelsbuddy – don’t beat yourself up, just start again and this time keep going. I know it’s hard but it is worth it if you can hang on until it gets easier. Read one of the heavier quit lit books like This Naked Mind by Annie Grace – that is the one that probably made the biggest difference to my mindset. I listened to it on Audible as find non-fiction too hard going to actually read. Get out on some long walks and listen to it, if you don’t use Audible already then you get your first book free I think.
@SaladBowlsAndBasinsAndBuckets – Happy Day 1. Pretty hardcore choosing a Friday – I salute you. I think doing cigs and booze at the same time is tough going. I gave up smoking 10 years ago (and I was massively addicted to that too) so I know how hard it is. Ywna has tried to tackle both last year so she is an expert but this time round has ditched the cigs for a good few weeks before attempting booze again. Might be worth some consideration to do one first (although I appreciate they go together like Bill and Ben!)
Anyways, best do some work. byeeee