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

@sunshineforest

Morning, weekends are difficult I agree.
I have been tutting around the town re 0% alcohol options. Luckily most boozers have them as they make more money (no duty).
We have alot of London incomers and they are more health conscious than us country types. It brings more choice.
Good on you for going though, I am dreading the next big party piss up. I am thinking about driving so the options are not there.

@Kindtomyself well done for dealing with your feelings, I still find that hard sometimes 😖😖😖 but it’s so much easier sober…

@MagratLancre hello🙂 I think it’s very normal to feel anxious about the thought of never drinking again. It was a real fear of mine in the beginning, but now I feel truly liberated by that thought. The longer you stick with it the more you will realise you really don’t need alcohol to enjoy Christmas/birthdays/holidays, or to deal with difficult situations. Once you grasp that the thought of not drinking becomes a lot less scary.

@SavBbunny glad you’re back on the wagon and good luck with the house viewing!

I’m feeling bloody fantastic today, thank fuck I’m sober.

Oops, just only saw some of the last messages, my last sentence was quite insensitive given some people are having a hard time. Sorry about that, Mumsnet doesn’t have an edit function or I would remove it! Wishing well to those struggling, hang in there xxx

Tbh @BunniesBunniesBunnies, even on bad days, I enjoy reading the positive posts on here. Drags me through sometimes.

@sunshineforest that sounds really difficult. I don't think I could face a wine bar ATM. I actually had to cancel a dinner in London a couple of weeks ago and have rescheduled, making it lunch. So fair play to you for going at all and I'm really impressed you made it through without drinking!

@SavBbunny, love that you're on the case trying to get more AF drinks available. Why do I feel as if you are just the person to make that happen ?

Also keeping fingers crossed for your house viewing @SavBbunny 🤞 and can relate to the emotions all coming to the surface @Kindtomyself.

I'm on day 21 aka 3 weeks. Think I slipped up at the same point last month, so need to be wary I think. Need to take my blood pressure today. Hoping it will be good after 3 weeks AF 🤞

@GoodMuse

Who ever cracks it with a wine tasting 0% is going to make a fortune. They all taste too sweet or disgusting like Eisburg. I tried the Riesling from waitrose, gave me bad guts.
I might put myself up for bothering the wine companies. Only a forner boozer can tell them if they have cracked it!
I vote for a female master of wine to get the gig.
@BunniesBunniesBunnies
You have done your time. You are entitled to feel great or why are we all bothering?

I do think i need to write another book, diary of a middle aged mum boozer, title ideas welcome.

Go on @SavBbunny! I think you should get on at the wine companies.

I was laughing at a line from peep show the other day though, where Jez tries some fancy wine and says "that's actually quite nice. I mean, not properly delicious like coke or hot chocolate, but quite nice" 😂. Made me laugh. Before I developed the taste for wine, (aka developed a drinking problem), OF COURSE coke tasted nicer.

Ugh I've done my blood pressure and it isn't great. I've input it on to the system at my medical centre and I await a telling off. Oh well.

Hello all, another weekend done. Well done @sunshineforest for staying AF, I’m sure the folks suggesting you Payless were just filled with booze and forgetting that someone had already said it!

I tried my first AF beer Saturday. Was a Bear Dinkum as they are gluten free too. Was really quite nice! Better than the alcohol GF beers I used to have so that’s a treat. However woke up to a terrible migraine on Sunday at 4am which was a but rude given I hadn’t had any alcohol so didn’t deserve the early morning spins!!

On the mend today I hope.

Totally agree someone needs to sort out the AF wine selection. I haven’t tried many but non of those I have tried have come close to hitting the spot taste wise. I also don’t like sweet drinks like coke or hot chocolate so my bar options are seriously limited. But he ho. Better a cup of tea than a hangover.

I’ve yet to venture to anywhere with other drinkers other than dinner with DH. so I’m in awe of everyone that does this. It will have to happen sometime though.

@SavBbunny ‘middle aged mum boozer’ sounds like a pretty good title to me 🤣

Thanks everyone for the support. I'm supposed to be going to the pub on Wednesday but I think I'll give it a miss.

Five weeks in - 45 days. Nearly half way to a hundred! My craving for sugar is definitely going, which is a bit of a help too.

Morning all.

Still feeling knacked. Booze hides the menopause I reckon. Off to The Smoke today. Business and lunch with son so no booze to refuse.

Morning all

Day off today after a tough few days . Bit drained after it all . The voice was nipping at me yesterday . Just a little niggle at the back of my head . It was the moderation voice . I’m not listening to it but I know I’m showing a crack because of the tough time at work , it’s trying to muscle through at a vulnerable time .
But I’ve woke up today feeling cranky and tired but hangover free ! And that is a major achievement

Checking in!

New name

Had a very wobbly moment last night. It wasn't even the moderation voice, it was the "fuck this, I'm getting wasted" voice. Thank god I didn't say to dh who was going go supermarket to pick me up some wine. Was extremely close and it would have been game over (temporarily). Anyway, I watched a bit of Lewis while dh was out and there was someone with dementia in it. Remembered there is a link between dementia and alcohol and quickly went off the idea.

Day 22 here

@GoodMuseNoBooze is recognising the voice for what it is helping? Well done fighting it x

Hmmm I think so. I was just ruminating over that voice while I brushed my teeth and I think that has been my attitude to alcohol since I started drinking as a late teenager. "Fuck it, let's get pissed". But looking back, I don't see what alcohol was ever adding to my experiences. It was just the accepted attitude. Definitely as a student that was the norm. Missed a lecture? Fuck it, let's go to the union. Got a good mark in some coursework? Hurrah, let's get drunk. You get the picture!

Yep the pattern gets set and off we go!!

Just checking in as I feel the need to stay accountable!
Life has been challenging recently but I feel stronger every week about being AF and I know with great certainty that I’ve coped far better with life sober. I have reached 30 weeks and despite saying I was going to address my sugar consumption I haven’t until this week. I’m following the Harcombe eating plan and starting to feel the benefits already. I’m hoping that being AF will give me some added strength.
Can’t keep up with all of you sorry 😞 welcome to all newbies, hang on in there if you’re feeling a wobble coming on and thanks to all those sharing stories which make a difference to anyone following here.

Onwards soberistas!

Oooo @GoodMuseNoBooze love the new name 🙏👏👏👏

The bloody moderation voice… I so get that. And it’s getting louder…. It’s already talking to me about events that haven’t even been planned yet… but birthdays in a Few years time, holidays… I hope it gets quieter not louder as time goes by. @Adm1010 hope you had a fabulous day off. We had sunshine!

@AlloftheTime 30 weeks!! Well done that’s amazing

@Fortheloveofgodwhy keep recognising it . Keep telling it no . Moderation is NOT possible if you are dependant . There will be no “ one “ drink . No “ one night “ off . What it will be will be a slippery slope straight back to old habits and dependence . Like a sick game of snakes and ladders . Don’t be fooled x

Oh the moderation voice. fortheloveofgod I am nodding along with your post. My moderation voice says “but surely you’ll have a glass of champagne at your daughter’s wedding?” My daughter is 14 and equally repelled by the ideas of alcohol and marriage and I don’t know why I give that stupid voice any head-space at all 🤷‍♀️

Morning all.
Didn't even touch the 0% gin or Nosecco last night.
I wasn't a daily drinker because I drive in the week. However no lightweight as could easily down two bottles of wine on a Friday plus more Saturday and Sunday.
I treated myself to a double tanquary 0% Gin in the pub yesterday, £11! London prices for you.
13 lbs off in 46 days. I am dieting at 1500 calories per day. Not hungry and I have been out quite a bit. I don't like sweet things so that helps.
Off out again after hair do.

Morning. I've started to wake in the night for an hour again, which had gone. Lots going on at the moment so hopefully it will be temporary.

I've been doing some yoga again and starting to feel more toned so that's good.

Morning all!

I am sleeping OK, but keep drinking water before bed (to take my vitamins with), which means I'm up in the night to go to the loo! Might switch to taking vitamins with breakfast.

All good here. Half term is in full swing, and dcs have lots on, so I'm busy. Helps a bit with sleep and as a distraction too.

Well done on weight loss @SavBbunny and yoga endeavours @Kindtomyself. I love yoga. Not much happening here on the exercise front this week, as kids are here and I can't make myself get up early enough at the moment to do any exercise before they're up. Next week should be better as they're back at school and preschool

Felt truly tested last night and managed not to give in- so happy!
It was my daughters 13th birthday, and XH was being a complete knob and pressing my buttons like only he can- could feel anxiety rising in my chest and god I wanted a drink so much. Luckily non in so grabbed an AF beer and took 10 minutes alone upstairs. Went out for the meal with kids, sister and my parents, normal there would definitely be wine on the table. We didn't order any, soft drinks all round and then enjoyed a coffee afterwards.
Still sober at day 53 😊👍

@milkysmum
Well done. Your poster name makes me smile as my daughter is called milky by one of her friends.

@GoodMuseNoBooze
Interesting how people on here are younger (children, school and nursery). My heavy drinking kicked in at 39 after my mum died. My dcs were 5/2. I got a handle on it after I left a particularly boozy village. Didn't have a problem then for 8 years until i was expected to give up my job and become a carer again. It was so horrendous I took to the drink.
Looking back it was the failure to stand up to my wider family which caused me to rely on alcohol. Good old Sav will step in. A kind heart doesn't always get you respect.

To those struggling, I solute you x

Ah my mum died when I was 30 @SavBbunny, so maybe the two are linked! I didn't drink when I was pregnant, obviously, and like you, it wasn't daily drinking, but big binges on nights out after dcs were born.

Looking back it was the failure to stand up to my wider family which caused me to rely on alcohol.

Yes, there is some of this with me, as I just hated the thought of anyone not liking me. I'm now known as the total opposite of a people pleaser in my extended family though and I don't even care, (cackles maniacally mwahahahahahaha)! My extended family have been a massive drain on me though tbh. I don't get involved in their nonsense anymore and only stay in touch as is convenient or with the ones I really love and am close to.

Well done @milkysmum! That sounds very tough and good for you for not letting him drive you to drink.