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

[ChampooPapi]

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 smile

Thank you to @Adm1010 for hosting the last thread 💜

And here’s to the next 40 pages grin

Checked in 😊 Thankyou for the shiny new thread

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/alcohol_support/4461184-The-freedom-thread-continued-Riding-the-rollercoaster-of-an-alcohol-free-life?watched=1&msgid=116084535#116084535

Last thread for those that want to read back.

Thanks champoopapi for taking that baton.

And big thanks adm101 for hosting the last thread so well.

Welcome all. New and ...aherm... old not so new.

Oh Adm101 have you acquired another 0 or were you always 1010?

Hello all. Thanks @ChampooPapi for the new thread.

Always 1010 😁

Been snowed under recently but happily plodding along . Weight is starting to shift slooooooowly ( age isn’t helping!!) but I’ve lost half a stone ( drop in the ocean but a start ) eating more fruit and veg and getting more steps in daily .

Big thing for me I went for my hair coloured and cut , feels nice . Money I would normally spend on wine and gin … still finding it hard to spend money on “ me”, when before dropping around 70 quid a week on booze seemed ok!!! Bizarre really .

Enjoying the sun and loving the spring feeling SOBER!! But very aware one of my triggers is sunshine and sitting in the garden . Going to face the challenge and the voice head on!

Have a good day all x

Morning all.
Thanks for the congrats.
@Blackberryblossom yes to the mixed feelings. My ex staff are lovely.
Looking forward to buying a new lipstick tomorrow. Might buy two!

Personal question but has anyone else had a corked bottom since giving up the booze?

I hope you don't mind me joining?

Last year I gave up for 2 months and was feeling the best I've ever felt. I have had a few weeks off here and there but slipping back into daily drinking.

I absolutely hate myself the next day, full blown anxiety and not sleeping great. I'm so sick of this and really need to stop. The problem is I stop for a week then feel so much better and think I can drink sensibly. But once I have that first drink I can't stop.
I have had it so tough the last few years (I know most people have) but I also know I can't keep doing this.
I'm setting a goal to stop for a month and hopefully try and carry that on. Day 1 starts today

Just checking in here - thanks for shiny new place

Morning all, checking in. Thank you for the new thread. I will go back and read and post more soon. Have a good day everyone.

bugger i posted on the old thread so i'm reposting here... mainly because i am proud of myself and only you lot to tell ;-)

amazing 500days @Blackberryblossom, it was me who booked the painting course.

Had another new experience AF day yesterday, youngest child was in a school choir thing up at Wembley Arena, so i met my sister for lunch and had lemonade, then had just water during the 'event' I almost definitely would have desperately wanted to have a drink even if i hadn't actually had one before. I would have been watching the people with their beers and the like walking past and debating if i could acceptably go as part of the parent crew and if one other parent had gone to the bar i would have caved.. as it was i don't think any of the parents drank. there were only 10 or 12 of us. And i actually fetl a bit sorry for the people who were sneaking out to the bar in the middle of a primary school choir concert to pay £8 for a meager warm pint and a plastic glass... that they then had to balance on their knee just because they felt they needed it for the experience.. so a good revelation and positive feedback for AF events!

@Fortheloveofgodwhy I’m sure this will resonate with many, it does with me. These ‘real life’ moments and experiences are what makes the thread so relatable.
Well done you

@Blackberryblossom what an achievement! You have done an exceptional job in staying t total and living life in a different , but more fabulous , way! 💜

Hi everyone. I'm on my 70th alcohol free day

Haven't posted for a while because I have had so much other depressing crap to deal with that funnily enough not drinking didn't seem that big a deal.

I also had thread guilt - I reached the stage where I was never going to catch up with where everyone was at. So hallo again, I hope everyone okay as possible. I know for me sunshine is going to be a trigger but I do genuinely feel that I wont crack having come so far. Doesn't mean it won't be hard or even a bit sad though, I mean sad as in mourning the illlusion of what it was a cold drink provided on a sunny day.

On the positive side though, I will be spared endless cheap Prosecco in the park and tbh I would be struggling to find my boozing habits at the moment

Checking in for the new thread.

Ha! adm1010 I do apologise for missing out your extra 0.

I must have read it as 101 (one-oh-one) like room 101 the first time and it stuck in my mind. (I think in my mind it was putting admin in room 101 which is where I'd put my piles and piles of admin)

Now, the important question in life, are you adm one-oh-one-oh ? Or adm-ten-ten?

Just did a welcome post to you mikey555 and lost it.

Gist was...Welcome 😊

I was chatting to my hairdresser today - telling her that after a healthscare last year I was feeling so much better lately, more relaxed and better memory - it's now a few hours later and it's dawned on me it's the lack of booze that's making the difference - I've not had a drink for a fortnight.
I'm nearly 70 and had definitely realised that my memory was worse the day after I'd been drinking!!
I'd better join you all and keep it up!

Hi can I join in? I've been AF since 2 January 2021, so about 15 months now. Funnily enough, as time goes on, I seem to miss it less and less.

What really sealed for me was reading the A Carr book, the easy way to control alcohol. He deconstructed the booze culture so well, it has put me right off!

My husband has reduced his drinking a lot now that I don't bother and in fact prefers to be a social drinker - ie when we're out and when we invite people over, he will drink (maybe).

I went through trying all the AF alternatives, some of the beers are pretty good and so is Gordon's 0% gin. Also I love the Sainsbury's own brand 0% sparkling wine. But I'm not even so bothered about these drinks - my favourite tipple is sparkling water with ice, and a slice of lemon & lime.

I enjoy people's company a lot more since I've given up drinking - no longer worried I will embarrass myself or say something inappropriate (or fall asleep in company as the evening wears on). A friend of mine recently talked about "wine face", a point at which your face becomes slack after you've had a few. That sounds truly revolting and another thing that puts me right off.

Also there seems to be trend towards going AF, so I know I'm not on my own.

@Ambushedbycakeinmydreams welcome to the thread. You must have experienced all sorts of temptations over the last 15 months and you have conquered every one of them. Your mindset must have totally changed, I am wistful for a time that I become so settled, centered and certain.

I take a day at a time most of the time! The most I managed was 97 days but I jump straight onto the sober bus again afterwards. Not that it matters I suppose I still seem to crash every few months 🤦.

But most of my life is sober and hopefully one day I won't relapse and I'll keep on keeping on. Maybe it'll be this time. Maybe the next.

Today I am not drinking.

Checking in day 12 🙌

@Breathmiller 🤣 ten ten

Checking in on the new thread. Congratulations everyone. I’ve been reading back as missed several days and so impressed with the progress and general positivity! Well done all milestones, especially @Blackberry and @sunshineforest On the fat round numbers! And @SavBbunny industry award is great, but the spectacular lowering of liver count thingy is even more impressive. That’s the one you will be glad you nailed in the years to come!
@ChampooPapi I forgot why I’ve tagged you but glad you are doing well. (Ah, to say thanks for the new thread of course!)
@Breathmiller good on you with the sugar and the eggs. Have you realised you can now have proper homemade chocolate mousse?
Finally @AlloftheTime. I’m away a few days and you are still in hospital . I’m glad you are on the mend and hope you are out soon.
Im plodding along. Busy week with work, family birthday and intense helping with homework. Bloody knackered but with the content of a productive week.

Thanks @iamyourequal

Am on the way home from a leaving do completely sober. Tired. I think alcohol masked tiredness quite a bit for me

Good morning all.
Thought I was going to get sacked yesterday so put my big girl pants on.
Pre January would have had booze waiting.
Didn't get sacked, didn't have the booze!
Lipstick buying today!

Glad to see some very positive stories.
Thank you Champ for the new thread.

Hello all, I name changed yet again yesterday and stumbled on this today. Seems like it was meant to be.

Several of the posts above resonate.

I need to make the change, I know I do.

I spent most of the last 18 months on and off the sober wagon - several long stretches of months of not drinking at all - then several weekends (child free) basically shit faced or hanging. Ive circled round and round and holly (and Alan Carr) is right, I'm not an alcoholic because there is no such thing but also alcohol does not serve me and I don't want it anymore. Today is day 5.

Went out for dinner last night with work, people really struggle to get their heads around "no thank you, I don't want any wine" eh.