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

Morning all. Woke at 5 this morning. Now sat having a cup of tea (I'm going off tea sadly - I go through phases), the cat is keeping me company.

Hello to @Mikey555, @Ambushedbycakeinmydreams, @Polyanthus2 (I think you're all new) and @Cervinia who is definitely new.
Lovely to see you all.

@sunshineforest well done on your sober night out and I agree that alcohol masked tiredness for me and I do feel tired more now.

@SavBbunny - Sorry that you thought you were going to be sacked again. What is going on in your industry? Doesn't sound as if you are treated very well.

Coffee with a friend this morning and then working. Out to meet a friend later too.

@spacehardware hello to you too. Well done on Day 5 and going out. Yes people can react in strange ways when you're not drinking alcohol but it says more about their relationship with alcohol.

Oh and @Breathmiller I'm keeping focused on my sugar intake now.

Thanks, morning! I woke up early too. Haven't gone down to liberate my cat master yet ...

Other people's reactions to my periodic non drinking phases (now I hope finally permanent!) are funny - it really illustrates the point Alan carr makes (and holly expanded on beautifully) that alcohol is the only drug, that when you decide you don't want to take it anymore, you have a problem. We don't call people who decide to stop smoking nicoholics and look sideways at them like they're broken. Just precious precious booze that gets this special status.

Once you start to see how alcohol soaked society is you can't unsee it.

@spacehardware

I love the expression soaked society. Just about sums it up.
@kindtomyself
Blinking ex colleague out to sabotage my reputation as I called him out on discrimination. Letting the solicitor get on with it today as it will be a drink trigger if I get upset. This was the shit who told people I 'liked a drink' - says he who can down a bottle of merlot in 45 minutes. One rule for the boys methinks.

Morning all, checking in on Day 48.

Welcome to all the newbies, won't tag you all but have read all your posts and something resonates in all of them. Thanks for joining and sharing.

@SavBbunny enjoy you lipstick hunt. Sorry work is such a struggle, sounds like you have a great attitude.

@spacehardware totally agree about the strange way society looks at alcohol and those that quit. Bizarre. I am part of another forum that is much more AA focused and I have to ignore a lot of that as I don't want to be defined by my drinking for the rest of my life.

I am definitely finding it easier as I approach day 50, not craving much. I haven't had that many tests recently though. Pleased that I have managed to crack the evening wine association though which was my biggest problem and meant daily drinking. Birthday and holiday coming up next week so that will be big challenges.

Hi everyone, managed to go to a gathering of a close friend but with many strangers there and drink Nozecco- started well but when they started getting a bit tipsy I left. I used to drink pretty heavily to cope with social situations. Did better without on the whole, but couldn't cope when the voices got louder and people were starting to dance. I am very glad I went as it was good to see my friend, but made me aware that I have shifted to an 'early guest, go home early' type of person, which is fine but it felt a bit like I'd lost something, if that makes sense. There have been so many positive changes so far. I feel I can tackle a few more obstacles ahead.
Hope everyone else is doing well.

A shiny new threat full of sober sisters. Hope it's sunny where you all are today!

I was first to leave the meal last night, agree everyone had started to get to that loud stage and it's not actually fun. I used to be that loud person I am painfully aware

Morning walk in the sunshine before starting work without the pounding head was lush

@Veryverycalmnow totally get that. I have found that I seem to be generally overwhelmed by social situations since lockdown, like I have a much lower tolerance. We have a big family thing tomorrow, and the thought of spending all day 'on' is making me feel exhausted already. I obviously won't drink through it like I normally would (the only time I ever did day drinking really). The kids will have a great time so won't be able to leave early, will just have to draw on all my resources I guess. On the whole I know it is better for me.

Hello @HangingOver and @spacehardware cross posted with you. Have a great day all

Hi Everyone! I would love to join

I was AF from Nov 2019 until Feb 2021. I had done a home detox under gps supervision.I was at deaths door and only 37..

I thought I could moderate my drinking, only drink when my children were with their Dad.. and here I am now after a year of drinking back on the wagon.. Day 5 and I can still feel the dispair of last weekend, it was a bad one. I've been kind to myself this week. Lots of sleep and chocolate. Now I'm ready to get stuck in, I have a smart recovery meeting in an hour. I'm taking my children swimming tomorrow. I've got to keep busy and make plans in advance or the drink starts calling to me.
Feeling determined 🙌

Checking in. It's so lovely to see you all, and a special welcome to those embarking on a springtime of sobriety. 🙂

hi all the new ones, well done for making the decision and coming here for check in and support. Day 47, feel good, i know what you mean Borrow about family things although on the plus side however emotionally depleting you find it, it won't be a patch on the hangover if you drank through the day. I'm looking forwards to my 7th sober weekend. Still brings me joy

Day 40 for me today.

Have been feeling a bit antsy. I'm finding Mother's day a bit of a trigger?

It's my second one without my beloved mum and I'd use wine to numb that pain.

I'd also use wine as a treat for myself on Mother's day, because Ive always used wine as a comfort and a reward.

So basically any excuse to drink on Mother's day (and all the other "big" days)

I also saw my wine on special offer in the supermarket. If I bought 6 bottles it would be £5 a bottle instead of £8. In usual times I'd probably have bought 12 bottles (not to drink them all immediately but they certainly wouldn't last as long as they should)

It's fine. I'm not going to drink but all the associations I have with occasions and wine are still there. I need to think about that as I have a whole host of occasions coming up - birthdays / holidays / wedding - and I'd drink at them all

DP did splash out on some perfume and face cream and I won't be cooking on Sunday. I can live with that!!!

Welcome @OkPedro!

@Breathmiller and @Kindtomyself I'm really interested in the no sugar chat. I have given up sugar before and found that my energy levels rocketed but really got myself through the first month of af by replacing alcohol with sugar. Gradually cutting back now

Checking into new thread

Woke up this morning feeling like shit - head pounding, sweating, upset tummy. For a minute I was horrified and thought I was hungover. then I realised I couldn't be I think I just have Covid.

So funny that I would rather have Covid than have had a drink
Ordered a PCR and took the afternoon off work as they owe me loads of hours.

Welcome to new peeps - a few of you have mentioned how you try and fail to moderate. I am like that. It's all or nothing. So many times I think I have cracked it, and I can drink "sensibly" now.

But now I know there is no such thing as sensibly. And I don't want to drink alcohol at all.

@AlloftheTime how are things your end? Hope your okay 💜

Checking in 🙌

Sorry @BrightonBunny you may have this awful virus. How are you feeling generally? Hope your being looked after and can rest as much as possible, it is not nice. Virtual 🍇

@Crunchymum you have reached a real milestone at 40 days. Stay strong and hold firm this weekend, even if you have to white knuckle it a bit. It will pass and we can do this mother's Day weekend sober. Feel free to post whenever and about whatever. These times can be very trying alcohol wise

Had a break through earlier, I had such a strong urge to drink but stopped and thought ok what's wrong.. hunger! Made myself a snack and the feeling passed.. What is the acronym? Halt is it?
Have been feeling lonely too recently.. I have to more an effort to see friends more

@Çrunchymum, well done on Day 40. You are doing brilliantly. You can do this, yes, the weekend may prove challenging but you've done all the other weekends successfully. You can do this one.
I'm on a constant on it, off it : varying degrees of success. I'm so much better off it. I hope soon to be able to say Day 40. I've said it before, I can say it again.

Morning all
Welcome to all the new people joining. I know weekends can be more challenging for many but in many ways they are the times I really reap the benefits now.

Instead of finding them hard I now notice how good I feel. Waking up on a Saturday morning without a hangover and without all the physical affects but mostly the emotional affects is an absolute joy.

Also feeling the benefits of money saved too. I've never really had a huge amount of disposable income and not gone away on holidays much. But, i have booked another little trip away for the Easter holidays. Nothing fancy, a cheap city break for dh, me and the two Ds's. I used to wonder how people could afford that sort of thing? Well, maybe they didn't spend ridiculous amounts of money on alcohol and all the extra snacks that went with it. I can't believe where I used to find the money! Even at our most skint we used to find money for wine and beer and snacks trips after dinner. All these trips out to the shop when we had had a couple to buy more.

Had a moment of nearly caving on the sugar last night, very tired and dropped my glasses and stood on them. Felt a bit sorry for myself and was drawn to the box of Booja Boojas in the cupboard but I went out instead and got new glasses (just generic readers) and bought myself a couple of non sugar treats from H&B and a small coin purse and bag from a little craft shop. Then home and booked my trip. Finding other ways to scratch that itch these days than sit on the sofa and mainline wine or sugar.

Welcome @OkPedro Well done for recognising the triggers. I use HALT too, really helps.

Hope you feel better soon @BrightonBunny

Congratulations on 40 days @Crunchymum I hope this weekend isn't this difficult for you. I totally get what you mean about the excuses for "big" occasions. I am almost not looking forward to my birthday next week because of it.

Agree on the money @Breathmiller Both DH and I have had more disposable income at the end of last month and the only reason is my savings from drinking. How embarrassing! We are like you, not that much money to spare, and yet always found it for wine. I have the app Try Dry and my savings are already almost £450. That pays for our Easter holiday! Insane really, what was I thinking?

Hope everyone else is well. Day 49 here, 7 weeks! We have a super busy day, lots to do but it will be easier without a hangover and not drinking.