The freedom thread ( continued ) Riding the rollercoaster of an alcohol free life!

[Adm1010]

Hello all

This is a thread for people who have decided that life is much better without alcohol!🤩 These threads were started by @Drybird, and they have changed the lives of many people.

Some posters on these threads have been sober for a long time, and some are only just starting. We are a very friendly and inclusive bunch and we are always excited when someone new joins the thread. The only thing we ask is that our posters have given up alcohol completely. Talk of moderation can be triggering for some people, so this thread is not the right place for that (there are other moderation threads🙂).

We are a supportive welcoming bunch. No question is ever to “ silly “ and their is generally someone around if you are struggling

So just come here to chat or vent or check in . Whatever you need as you ride the rollercoaster of an alcohol free life

Thankyou to bunnies for hosting the last thread.
And here’s to the next 40 pages

Congratulations @SavBbunny on 30 days! 🏆 I honestly think the early days and weeks are the hardest. This sounds like an exciting week ahead, good luck for the new job and Wednesday and the prospective new home.

Your New job on Wednesday, sorry

Checking in !

DH brought us some Krispy creme donuts home for a “ treat “ Jesus!!! How bloody sweet are they ??? I’m going to crash very soon I think! It was a pink iced one . I don’t recommend!!

@Blackberryblossom

Thank you. Might help to be really busy!!

Noughty was good stuff but the Nosecco is good to have in the fridge. I cant eat sweet.
It takes me a month to eat a box of chocolates. Weird for a big bird!

Have a good evening all.

Checking in on a thirsty Day 8. I LOVE Krispy Kreme doughnuts! I’m off to eat a creme egg and some jellies now!

Hi everyone,
I'm feeling heartened Reading your stories and accounts. I seem to have been on this roller-coaster forever. I've returned to work after a period of ill MH, all exasperated by alcohol binges. I just can't moderate for any reasonable amount of time. Its ridiculous. I've had 2 binges this week on spirits and in the last 3 months it's crept up. Every week I'm having one big binge accompanied by serious emotional upset, confusion and arguments. The hangover is horrific and I'm so exhausted with myself. I've tried going AF and have lasted upto 10 months. It was fine once I was used to it, didn't do AF beer, wine or anything as it just made me overthink on why I wasn't having the alcohol full ones which made me want to drink. Water and elderflower drinks I found really nice. Its good to see others are on the same pathway. I don't know if I'll ever get over the embarrassment of the things I've said when blind drunk. So it's day 2 again, I'm hoping I can keep going as my relationship is in tatters.

@VioletLemon welcome . This is the time to be very gentle with yourself . Don’t sweat the big stuff yet . Keep posting x

I don’t generally have a sweet tooth I’m more a crisps / Chips/ cheese person . No idea what possessed me to eat it . I feel sick now

@VioletLemon

Be gentle with yourself. I have said some terrible things whilst drunk. That is part of the reason we stop drinking.
I did enjoy telling my sister i never wanted to see her again this Christmas just gone. She is a horrible bully and money obsessed. Pissed as a fart otherwise I wouldn't have had the guts. Last piss up of 2021.
Your husband will be grateful for everyday you don't drink. Mine is bless him.

St Marion Keynes on tonight BBC 10.30pm

Hi @VioletLemon
You did so well to be AF for 10 months, so you know you can do it again. I’m only on day 31!
I’ve done some very shameful things when drunk as many others have, try not to beat yourself up although I know how easy it is to do this. We are not bad people, it’s the monster alcohol that make us do stupid things. A big group of us meet up once a year for a reunion at a posh venue pre Xmas - I totally disgraced myself at the last one. I’m still cringing and don’t think I can go to the next one, I’m so ashamed. I’ve also fell over twice in recent months and hurt myself. I just know the drinking had to stop but it’s hard to change the habits of an adult lifetime. I’ll keep going though!

I've done shocking, self destructive things when drunk...quit two jobs for starters without any job to go to.

Three days done now.

I always find first couple of weeks easy...its the novelty plus the fact I only ever quit when I'm feeling so bad from the drinking my body is crying out for a break.

It's after 2 to 3 weeks that I miss drinking so I'm hoping to get past that this time.

Morning all. Day 31.

Out lunch time but new job tomorrow so should be OK.

Well done on day 31, @SavBbunny. The first month is so tough, and you never have to do it again.

It's good to see newbies becoming regulars so fast. Keep posting. It works.

@Drybird2020

Thank you for your support. I am a diary keeper so I write everyday. However if it is getting on anyone's nerves just ignore me. New job tomorrow so will be busy. X

Hi all and welcome to the new people.

I drank at the weekend- two parties- didn't overdo it but still not ideal. Won't bang on about it in case it triggers anyone. Two days back on the horse now and feeling positive about it again.

We are now in a proper lockdown so there wont be any socialising this month . However, it's also bloody depressing and we probably have to move back to UK because the DC are now in Year 3 of barely any in person school, which is getting unsustainable. I kind of want to move back, and kind of don't because I've been away so long. Keep telling myself that drinking wont help the decision but I just want to not care for a bit rather than having all the pros and cons constantly churning up my brain.

Hi .... I'm not sure I should be here, yet, but this time I want to do things differently, so hoping this thread will give me some accountability. Day 2. I've been drinking a long time, started as a teenager, binged through twenties and now through my thirties I'm what I would probably call a functional alcoholic. I drink most nights, a bottle of wine. I find that if I don't drink alcohol that it gets very noisy inside my head ... a lot of unwanted thoughts surface and I'd rather drown them out than sit with them.

I am 40 this year and I just don't want to be controlled by this inner monologue anymore. I don't really want to deal with my demons but recognise it would probably be a good thing to do when I am strong enough.

Moved round a lot as an army child, then I went to boarding school when I was 11 and I'm not sure I have ever got over it. Nor did I realise it until I had my own child. I also have the stress of being a stepmum which creates a lot of constraints and sometimes difficulties in my life. I don't have good coping mechanisms, sometime I wonder if I am mentally stuck at age 11.

I did dry Jan last year; it was okay; I was straight back on it come February. I'm sure my intake and tolerance are creeping up. I have said I'm quitting a few times, normally after a bad night of being a real bitch to my OH.

I yesterday joined the "This Naked Mind" virtual event (free for 5 days) and am really trying to open my mind to a lot of my ingrained beliefs, stresses, how this is all wrapped up in my persona. What they said made a lot of sense to me actually, so, here's hoping that this time, something sticks.

Nice to read all your stories and here's to us all in 2022.

@Steppered

Hello , I am a comparative newbie too. My poison was wine, 3-5 bottles a week. More if on nights out. It made the bad news better but there was always a price to pay.
By joining this thread you are at least questioning your drinking and that is the first step on the road to an AF life.
I can't promise myself or my family i will never drink again but I didn't today and I won't tomorrow. I step at a time my friend. Goid luck.

Checking in 🙌

Hi @Steppered

I'm new too - 22 days in. The first week was the hardest but I am now sleeping well and cravings are really subsiding. It does get easier.

Checking in. Pub lunch yesterday and had tanquary AF gin. Excellent.

Hope today goes well @SavBbunny

@Onewildandpreciouslife

Thank you. X

@PrisonerofZeroCovid well done stopping and coming back before a blip became a lapse

@Steppered welcome . The inner monologue will quieten after a while but only by not feeding it ( why moderation doesn’t work if you’re dependant ) and it’s inevitable that intake and tolerance creep up . Totally inevitable .
I’m 157 days today . And yesterday the moderation voice still decided to have a pop at me!! Was a surprise but I was ready

Hello everyone, can I join? I am on Day 4 and really feel this could be it this time. I managed a month earlier last year and thought I could moderate. I couldn't! Before that it was only pregnancy that stopped me drinking practically every night for 2 decades.

I have hated my relationship with alcohol since my early 20s and now 40. Even when I have a day off I am obsessing about it, and how this means I can have a drink "guilt free" tomorrow. I have read Alan Carr (which was what started my alcohol free month last year) and Alcohol Explained which started this try. I was reading this thread last night to help me through the cravings but too tired to post. I seem to be so tired!

I wanted to say hello and introduce myself today.

@Borrowbox welcome x