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Original poster

The Freedom Thread; for those embracing a life without alcohol.

999 replies

Drybird2020 · 15/04/2021 19:17

Welcome to the 7th thread in this series, which has helped me and many others find the way to a life free of and free from alcohol.

Anyone is welcome! Newbies, you will find emotional support, tips for handling cravings, strategies for handling social occasions and plenty of first-hand experiences to mirror your own. An alcohol problem makes you feel lonely and isolated, but you are not alone.

Please be aware that this is an abstinence thread – it can be difficult and triggering in the early stages to be around alcohol related chat (however, it might help to know that one of the gifts of long-term sobriety is not being at all bothered by people drinking or talking about drinking in your presence!) So, if you feel that moderation is for you, or if you feel you need to cut down before stopping, there are other threads in Alcohol Support that can help, or you can start one for the specific support you need.

Oldies, come and share milestones, enjoy the chat, and pay forward the kindness and non-judgemental support we have all benefitted from. And when you have the time, do yourselves a favour by finding where you started and reading through all your posts, it will show you how far you have come and what you have achieved! (I'll add links to previous threads in my next post).

OP posts:
Soberanne · 13/08/2021 09:23

Morning all, woke up feeling ok this morning. Going to get out in the air and get some exercise. Another lovely sober day ahead.

Clouds78 · 13/08/2021 12:20

Hi all, just checking in on a sunny Friday.

@ChampooPapi that did make me laugh - the part about tents, shame etc. Can’t think of anything worse either lol! Spoke to a friend recently who said she met some friends camping (they had arrived a few days before her) and she said they were slurring and smelt like they had been drinking for most of the afternoon. This put me off even more!

Hope you’re ok @AlloftheTime sending you strength to see the emotions through and get through the days…
@Soberanne well done for being mindful and coming on here rather than bobbing to the shops. It will pay off. The ‘play it forward’ thing is so so true. Keep strong - thinking of you.

Feeling much better today even though been up in the early hours with DD. Although usually this feeling of happiness and positivity would normally spark me saying oh let’s crack open a bottle in the evening, it’s Friday. But no I’m not doing it. It’s like that feeling after a heavy weekend, a week off and then oh, there’s no harm in a tipple the following Friday. Posh ginger beer tonight and that’s it.

Seeing friends this weekend which might be hard/trigger but I know some of the wags don’t always drink so there’s no big deal there if I’m not - phew. Peer pressure is going to be one of the biggest challenges in all of this. Week 3 will be done this Sunday. I don’t have an app or anything so going to try start counting in weeks now. Eeek it’s hard.

@deathbyprocrastination well done on day 12 that’s amazing, keep going. It’s going to be so worth it x

deathbyprocrastination · 13/08/2021 14:05

Hello everyone, Fridays are tough I find. DM’s birthday today and DB has given her a bottle of champagne that she wants to share with me. Starting to think ‘maybe just one’ to be polite. But then I would break my 13-day sober streak which I’m quite proud of. I suppose there will always be these occasions when it feels ‘important’ to drink

AlloftheTime · 13/08/2021 17:43

@deathbyprocrastination
Well done if you resisted- bubbles do seem a treat.

Think how clear your head is and will be when you say no.

Soberanne · 13/08/2021 19:29

Got through today easily. No idea why yesterday was so difficult or what set it off but i am back to being focused today

Persephoned · 13/08/2021 20:56

How’d it go @deathbyprocrastination? I’ve just marked my Friday with some Nosecco which I’m developing a taste for, v cold, lots of ice and a nice fizz! Looking forward to a hangover free Saturday morning…
Keep on keeping on all

Beeth0ven · 13/08/2021 21:18

Hi everyone!

I’d like to join if you will have me?!

Today is Day 2.

I’m going cold Turkey after drinking a bottle of wine every night for the last month and being drunk every night of lockdown. I’m scared of how much I drink and I need it to stop.

Based on recommendations on this thread I also signed up for my local SMART group and joined their online meeting last Monday. Thought it would be ok for me to be anonymous but there were in fact only 3 people (me included!) on the line 😬😂

I have a crazy stressful job, just got through a horrendous divorce, a 3 year old and a 9 year old snd a batty family. It’s all just got too much for me and Ive turned to drink to get through.

But as so many of you so accurately describe, I’ve realised that the drink is contributing to my problems not helping me. I’ve always had a weird relationship w alcohol. Moderation is not an option.

I know this will be hard. Normally I do a few days, feel I’ve proved something to myself and start again. I can’t keep doing this.

I want clarity, I want good health, I want time back.

Wish me luck 🤞🏽

AlloftheTime · 13/08/2021 21:33

@Beeth0ven - you don’t need luck, you sound focused and self aware so just keep on it and use whatever it takes to keep going.

AlloftheTime · 13/08/2021 21:34

@Soberanne

Got through today easily. No idea why yesterday was so difficult or what set it off but i am back to being focused today
Well done you 👏
AlloftheTime · 13/08/2021 21:35

@Clouds78 thank you I appreciate your words

deathbyprocrastination · 13/08/2021 21:37

@Beeth0ven welcome! Sounds as if you have a lot on. Well done on making the decision- let’s all keep supporting each other.

@Persephoned thanks for asking. Managed to dodge the bubbles and stay dry. Woohoo! Feels like a massive victory actually because it’s been w tough day and DH keeps ordering more booze for delivery! Ended up having to ferry around various older relatives in the car so good job I stayed AF.

Clouds78 · 13/08/2021 22:05

@Beeth0ven it sounds like you’ve gone through a really tough time - I know that being on here will really help you keep on track. Well done for making the choice. Welcome!

Well done everyone for keeping going and especially @Persephoned for avoiding the bubbles - great job

Night everyone, here’s to a sober W/e 😊

Beeth0ven · 13/08/2021 22:06

@deathbyprocrastination - very impressive!!!
Bubbles are SO hard to resist....!!

Does anyone know what the real risk of seizures etc from going cold Turkey are? I’m hoping that is exaggerated- but a little bit nervous that it’s not??

Beeth0ven · 13/08/2021 22:09

Night @Clouds78 - and Thankyou!!

Clouds78 · 13/08/2021 22:11

@deathbyprocrastination that’s really great you didn’t drink as it seemed like there could have been a bit of pressure to. Argg it’s hard when the other half is on a different journey and not AF. Do like the idea of being the taxi though - I’m keen to be taxi from now on for that reason. Plus the clear head in the morning is such an incentive!

deathbyprocrastination · 13/08/2021 22:59

Thanks, all.

And yeah, @Clouds78 I think I could come around to the taxi thing! We live in London and I’ve always found driving here quite stressful but just finished my last trip of the day dropping people home and I felt quite smug driving through the quieter night streets, sober on a Friday night Grin

ChampooPapi · 14/08/2021 07:17

Well done @Clouds78 for getting to this point, it should only get easier from here onwards (then it gets hard again once you reach 2 months I seem to remember!). But we will ride the wave together, I'm on day 21 and looking forward to another sober weekend of d.i.y and zero soggy tent shame 🙏😂

ChampooPapi · 14/08/2021 07:18

And welcome @Beeth0ven 👋

Original poster
Drybird2020 · 14/08/2021 11:10

Welcome @Beeth0ven, your life sounds very stressful but I can guarantee that you will find it less so without booze in the equation.

Congratulations to all Sober Sisters (and brothers? Do we have any men on here?) waking up clear headed with another day under your belts.

Something I kept on encountering in quit lit, and didn't understand at the the beginning, is that the benefits of sobriety keep on multiplying. I had imagined that I'd slog through the tough bit and be alcohol free, and that would be it, but there's so much more to it that you only realise over time.

OP posts:
AlloftheTime · 14/08/2021 13:26

@Drybird2020 thanks for that - I’m quite early on in the process but that sounds like a good carrot!

FieldGuide · 14/08/2021 18:29

@Drybird2020

Welcome *@Beeth0ven*, your life sounds very stressful but I can guarantee that you will find it less so without booze in the equation.

Congratulations to all Sober Sisters (and brothers? Do we have any men on here?) waking up clear headed with another day under your belts.

Something I kept on encountering in quit lit, and didn't understand at the the beginning, is that the benefits of sobriety keep on multiplying. I had imagined that I'd slog through the tough bit and be alcohol free, and that would be it, but there's so much more to it that you only realise over time.

This is really helpful Drybird2020, thank you! I need to hear from people further down the road that this is worth it.

5 weeks sober here. Still struggling and my mood is low. Maybe need to remember the B vitamins more often. Anyone got any tips for boosting mood in the early weeks?

Original poster
Drybird2020 · 14/08/2021 19:10

@FieldGuide sorry to hear about your low mood. I was the same for the first three months, roughly. Here's what helped me;
Sleep, and routine to support it - big dinner, bath, big carby dinner (eaten early to put a stop to booze cravings) no screens for a couple of hours before bed. And if I woke in the night I had something good on my kindle to read instead of fretting about not being able to sleep.
Diet - generally eating healthily aside from massive sugar consumption which isn't worth worrying about until later on I'm just getting to grips with it now. But do eat plenty of fruit and veg, drink lots of water.
Exercise - this was a game changer for me, I took up running with encouragement from friends on here, did C25K and have never looked back.
And spending as much time outdoors as possible.

OP posts:
FieldGuide · 14/08/2021 19:15

Thank you @Drybird2020, that is a great list.

And thanks to everyone here, this thread is a big part of helping me to keep going.

AlloftheTime · 14/08/2021 19:54

@FieldGuide good to hear that, I find it really helpful too as I feel accountable to everyone here.
I agree that @Drybird2020’s list is one to follow.
Have a good evening all I’m going to have another early night as working tomorrow

Clouds78 · 14/08/2021 22:32

Just checking in - that’s been very helpful to read @Drybird2020 and also for not feeling too guilty about my sugar consumption. Just want tackle one thing at once. Had nothing at all today despite being with friends and plenty of wine flowing. But as you say @ChampooPapi I have a feeling it’s going to be hard at times as the weeks go on. Grateful for being able to ride the wave all together on here. I’ve only ever done a long stint for the duration of my pregnancies.

Hope everyone’s having a good evening.