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

Hi all . Checking in at nearly the 8 month mark 😊
managed the bank holiday weekend and family gatherings with no real issue .
I’ve not read back but I’m always grateful for this thread and think of you all . Keep going x

Congratulations on 8 months. That is phenomenal 👏

Doh, sorry I see you say "nearly" 8 months.

It's still bloody phenomenal though 😀

Hope you had a good day at work @Breathmiller and well done @Adm1010 on the upcoming milestone! So nice to see you pop in on the thread doing well!

@Adm1010 great milestone coming up! Hope you are feeling the benefits 👍
heading towards the weekend and grateful that alcohol is no longer a factor in it. Can’t believe the number of past Friday nights that paved the way for for weekend hangovers and wasted time and energy.

thanks to everyone who posts - keeps me focused 😉

@Adm1010 Well done!

I also meant to say, in case it motivates anybody, that I have saved 400 pounds putting aside money into a savings account I would have spent on wine. So every Friday I put some or if DH is drinking for instance. It soon builds up!

Hello everyone, I'd like to join if that's ok. I've been lurking and reading through the threads for a little while, while getting my game plan in place. I've noticed a shift in the last few months, from alcohol consumption, to alcohol use. I've been using it as an emotional crutch when I'm stressed out, so I tried to moderate, and follow rules and limits, but then I find I just get really focussed on it.

I stopped drinking for a couple of weeks when my mental health was struggling, and felt so much better for it, but then slowly slipped back into bad habits. I want to break those habits, and work on forming positive ones. So last night when I really fancied a glass of wine, I had rose lemonade in my favourite wine glass, and relaxed in the garden for a bit. I woke up this morning with more energy, and less anxiety for what feels like the first time in ages. This is day 8 for me.

That’s exciting @Adm1010 , I love the countdown to nice round milestones! Congratulations on being nearly at 8 months.

what a great result @SilverPeacock , are you saving for anything in particular? It’s a bit sobering (for want of a better word) seeing how quickly the savings mount up, I didn’t really think of myself as a big drinker but still apparently drank my way through an alarming amount of cash every month.

hello and welcome @MangoBiscuit , sounds like you have a plan and also a great user name! I’m a big fan of raspberry or rose lemonade in a champagne flute.

It’s a bit grey here today, and the end of the school Easter holiday. I’m catching up on some quit lit as everyone is happily occupied.

adm1010 great to see that massive milestone on the horizon. You are doing amazingly.

peacock if I let myself I could get quite pissed off at myself for the money I have drank over the years. But hey ho, it is what it is. Or should I say it was whst it was.

Welcome mangobiscuit great to have you on board.

I'm off for a swim with the family this afternoon. It's addictive.

Probably spend it on a city break at some point

Yes, we've had a few city breaks. Never did it before but there seems to be a little more money around for things like that now I'm not drinking. And now I don't drink nearly as many AF drinks either as they can be pricey. Fancied a soft drink tonight so bought a bottle of pepsi max for me and the kids. £1.80. Big blow out. 😅

Day 35 today. This beats my dry streak from Dry January. Bit worried about next weekend as we’re staying in a pub for the weekend! I’m getting quite a taste for garden Seedlip these days, so hoping they have some in stock. It’s so variable isn’t it? I think cities seem to better than the countryside for AF choices.

Hope you have a good weekend @MangoBiscuit - will you be day 10 tomorrow?

@Onewildandpreciouslife if I'm counting correctly, yes. So today is day 9, because I completed 8 days last night. Is that how I should count? Or should I just say completed days? I added it to my event count down app on my phone so that I can keep track. Also means I've gamified it for myself, as I now have a high score to beat!

I went out last night to a gig. Socialising isn't usually a trigger for me drinking in the same way that stress is, but I am very used to having a couple of pints if we go out, so I was a little worried about it. Reading others experiences of being sober around drunk people, on these threads, really helped. I didn't worry about whether I was being sociable enough, or coming across as odd. (I'm neurodivergent, so always a strong possibility! ) I actually had a really good time, and I've woken this morning without anxiety, a bit tired, but calm and happy.

I do need to pick a better soft drink though. I was alternating water and lemonade, but have an aspartame headache this morning. Will try apple juice and soda water next time.

Well done on day 35 day oneandwild. Next weekend is a little while away. Just keep doing today and you will be grand.

Always good to have a substitute drink that you like in mind though. If they have Everleaf then I can highly recommend it. I had it with soda when I was away last and it was delicious. Its always worth asking what they have in AF as something new might appeal.

I bought my DS a lime and soda and had a taste of it. Hadn't had a lime and soda for decades and decided next time I'm in a pub I'm having that. It was so refreshing and felt like a treat. I would never have thought that in my drinking days.

Seems madness now that lime and soda wouldn't even be on my radar because...well why would I when alcoholic drinks were on my mind? It's like I discounted all AF drinks as less than.

I wish I had been able to see that things like lime and soda were a nice drink to have and as much as an option as alcohol ar the time. I think this is where healthy natural moderators probably win at. Fancy a glass of wine? Have one. Fancy a lime and soda? Have that this time. I didn't have that mindset. If there was the opportunity to drink the wine then that's what I would choose. Every time.

Happy weekend everyone. I'm working but off tomorrow for a few days which is a treat.

mango well done on day 9.i would always count it as the day I'm on. So if i completed 8 days yesterday I would be on day 9 today.

Well done at going to a gig and observing.

I was drinking apple and mango juice with sparkling water for a while, i really enjoyed that. No artificial sweeteners or added sugar.

Quick hello. I've had some technical problems with getting on mumsnet but all seems fine now.

I'm feeling a bit rough at the moment, headachey and sleeping loads. I'm trying to go with it but frustrated cos I've got a big piece of work to complete and I'm now three days behind schedule and have had to cancel meeting friends. I also had a massive emotional wobble yesterday. Feeling a bit better today and thinking of just going to sleep with the hope tomorrow will be better.

Hello
New to MN and new to this group, I've read through all 21 pages, you seem such a friendly and supportive bunch! I've battled with drinking on and off probably most of my adult life, but particularly the last 20yrs. Have had periods of abstinence for several months, and always a couple of AF days per week, but it is easy to slide again and now I am beginning to feel my health suffering which has been a damn big wake up call!!

I am on day 20, I have no intention of ever going back to alcohol. I hope you don't mind me joining the group

Best wishes to you all x

Hello @tealover12 and welcome. Well done on day 20 that's a great achievement. How you feeling?

@Kindtomyself sorry to hear about your wobble
sleep sounds a grand plan! Wishing you a good Sunday.
wrlcome @tealover12 20 days is great 👍 I’m also impressed you read all 21 pages!

Back again and day 2. I'm feeling much more committed. Annoyingly we all had covid and I just couldn't face being stuck inside for a week isolating without a drink.

Next big threat is an overseas work trip. 5 nights and 2 will be red eye flights. I always drink on the plane to get me to sleep faster and usually on work trips if my anxiety flares. Any tips on coping welcome.

Welcome @tealover12 , and welcome back @Tomlettegregg !

@Kindtomyself sorry you’re feeling rough, that’s hard. I just had a week of illness but feeling much better now so it does pass. Take it easy

Morning all.
Thank you for all the good wishes re the interview. It went well. Decision by Wednesday.
Feeling a bit sh*t. Not been on a binge but I think after my 100 days AF I can't drink anymore. I have been quite ill with RA flare and stomach pains.
Hopefully OK to rejoin.
Day 2.

Hello @ChampooPapi and everyone else. Can I please join this thread? I was on one of these threads before and lasted 60 days but then decided to just go straight back to my old ways moderate! So, I’ve been drinking for 30 days solid and I feel disappointed that I just can’t seem to moderate. 😢

I was on the thread well over a year ago under a different username. This username is my final one and I’m going to just accept who I am, flaws and all.

kindtomyself sorry to hear you're feeling rubbish. Time to activate your user name. Hope you're feeling a bit better today.

Welcome tealover these threads are an amazing support. Well done on 20 days. If you enjoyed reading this thread you can go back to the beginning and read them all. Might take you a while but there is so much wisdom and helpful ideas over the years. I did it when I started, probably my form of reading quitlit to be honest.

Welcome back tomelettegreg and savbunny. The road to sobriety is not a linear one and we often do need to have a few tries to realise that it's not a negative path but a positive one. It's not less than but the opposite. I always thought it would make my life a little dull and make me feel like I was missing out, but it's quite the opposite. But it took me a good few tries before that mentality clicked in.

We're watching reruns of Gavin and Stacey at the moment and last night they were having a booze filled party. Looked brilliant fun....until it didn't. Made me smile a bit that I used to do that but not miss it to be honest. Been there, done that, doing things differently now for a different time in my life. No regrets but no desire to do it again.

savbunny my sister has RA and a flare up doesn't look fun at all. Hopefully, choosing AF will help reduce these flare ups. Well done at coming back.

Welcome back nouveau. I had a year of moderating drinking uncontrollably again before this time, after a year and a half break! Started so well, just a drink now and again, then slowly crept up and bang! My mum got seriously ill and ended up in a nursing home with end stage Parkinsons and dementia and Lockdown hit all at the same time and I fell into a vat of booze. Took me to the August that year to realise that I. Just. Cannot. Moderate. Once that was crystal clear in my head then there really was only one path. Hard at times, especially at tthe eginning but totally worth it. Life is a hundred times better (for me) without booze. And each time I tried to go AF it became easier until it finally seems to have embedded in.

I will be 2 years this August and these two years have had their ups and downs of course. But the ups have been more frequent and more enjoyable (and I can remember them) and the lows have been much easier to deal with without adding in hangovers and all the associated guilt, shame and physical reactions.

I know sometimes I can come across a little evangelical on here about not drinking but I tend not to talk about it much outside of here and I do genuinely believe that strongly about it. It has been life changing and life enhancing.

Happy hangover free Sunday everyone.