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

@JennyAct3
Rereading and listening to books is a great comfort. I haven't heard of the ones you're rereading. I'll reserve judgment😂😂

Headache has gone. I think I just needed to eat.

It almost felt like I had a hangover this morning. Weird.

Probably just my liver cleaning itself out some more.

I'd like to say I'm all over this but I'm not. I'm a bit all over the place😂

@JesusSufferingFuck22

yeah what you wrote about declining a drink is so effective. A lady I work with eats super healthily (& makes a big song & dance about it & makes sure everybody knows on the rare occasions she eats a biscuit). Her way of deflecting offers of sweet treats is always ‘oh maybe after this.’ But then she usually finishes her salad & says she’s too full (but people rarely ask twice). ‘Maybe later’ or ‘I’m ok for now’ is super effective.

Let’s face it, I doubt people want to hear the truth anyway! What would your truthful answer be to someone offering you a drink?
mine would be:

well I’ve been drinking for 25 years and I seem to have got more and more dependent over time. I’ve had a few failed attempts at quitting, usually after epic drinking sessions and subsequent vomiting and head spinning for hours. It was getting to the stage where the only thing I was ever looking forward to about an event was the booze. It scared me. So I’m now on Day 10 and hoping to stay off it forever. Oh … are those nachos? I’ll be right back.’

I also strongly relate to this:

Obviously I want my stomach problem to clear up but I'm also a bit scared that when it finally does get better I'll be back to "just having a drink at the weekend." I know where that ends up

I think we need to make a commitment to this. Like a promise to ourselves kind of thing . I wouldn’t inflict this torture on someone else so why are we so happy to inflict it on ourselves?

great idea @JennyAct3 whatever gets you through I say!

Checking in on Day 712. I've got the big two years coming up in a few weeks. And I'll be at my first sober wedding on the day!

Not MY first sober wedding obviously lol it's my best friend's wedding

@Nouveaunew
Love the boozers lament.
I did a few of those in February. Lots of frozen face looks. Quite funny on reflection, the polite ones said, ah you're not a alkie. The drinkers ran for their class like I oined a cult.
I say I don't drink anymore. No one asks why. Health reasons work. I am also having surgery so you can't drink anyway.

@Nouveaunew

I think we need to make a commitment to this. Like a promise to ourselves kind of thing . I wouldn’t inflict this torture on someone else so why are we so happy to inflict it on ourselves?

Yes, well put.
Not intentional but I quit on my birthday. I HAD to get I touch with gp and get the ball rolling re health issues I'd been ignoring. I meant to quit last year as a 50th birthday present to myself. Better late than never I suppose.

I don't get on here very much, but just checking in to say I am now day 38, not struggling with it at all, and wishing everybody strength and determination to bash the booze on the head for once and for all! 😁

Congratulations @tealover12 and @HangingOver it’s inspiring to hear of others further along

@JesusSufferingFuck22
definitely better late than never. For so many people it was or will be never. Who knows what adventures are in store for us once we BREAK FREE from the chains of booze!

@SavBbunny
😂I know. I can totally imagine the drinkers’ responses! ‘Health reasons’ is a good one.

Thanks for all the 'excuses' health reasons is a good un. I actually put off taking some meds that affect your liver because I wanted to drink...and these meds would be life changing for me anyway. Day 9 still right ? I'm pretty sure I'm just gonna keep posting as it helps. Well done to @tealover12 for 38 sounds so far away but I will get there too whoooopppppp

Love seeing and hearing everyones progress.

Day 14 for me.
Good night all

Morning all. Just checking in. I'm really busy at the moment so struggling to keep up with the thread. Hope everyone has a good day

Day 10. Slept like a baby. But I've found I'm still going to bed nearing 11pm instead of 9pm when I was wasted from drinking and then woke up at 1,2,3am with anxiety etc but this is no more yay! I can't believe the shit we put into our bodies for maybe an hour of 'relief' ! I don't smoke anymore but am feeling to recently lol I won't but I remember my friends saying (last time) at least you can smoke and drive....anyway not encouraging smoking as it took me ages to give up permanently but just that stuck with me. It's true you can smoke and go to a job interview etc I have to admit once I had to have some Dutch courage for a job Interview. It didn't last long the job but one of the main bosses (panel of 3) said I was too laid back in my interview 😃now I could never fathom doing that. The sun is shining today here for now so that's making me happy. Day 10 double digits woooooo

Morning all, Day 28. 4 whole weeks, and feeling very proud of myself. I have started being a bit more careful with food too, and this morning I woke up with enough energy for a workout, so I got the kettlebells out, and I actually enojoyed it, which hasn't happened for at least a year. Hopefully writing that down will help remind me why I'm af now, next time I get a craving.

I've only had to decline a drink once so far as everyone else just asked what I wanted, and didn't bat an eyelid when I said lemonade. If / when it happens again I'm going to try the deflection tactic. My "No thanks" was met with a "Oh, why not?" and I just blurted out "Because I don't want to" which was a little awkward! Perfectly valid reason, but it does jar the conversation a bit.

Day 7. @Namechanged12344 congrats on day 10 and great you slept well. @JesusSufferingFuck22 if it’s any consolation I am older than you, I was determined to go AF by 55 and just sneaked in there last minute. Well done on 4 weeks @MangoBiscuit .

@Namechanged12344 well done on getting to day 10! It will be harder getting to sleep initially. Our brains usually produce “sleepy” chemicals at bedtime, but when we drink a lot they don’t bother, because they rely on the booze doing it for us. So in the early days you don’t have the booze or the sleepy chemicals to get you to sleep. At some point your brain will figure out that you need the sleep stuff, and it will get easier.

@MangoBiscuit it's bizarre how refusing an alcoholic drink can cause so much awkwardness.

@JennyAct3 Something about turning 50 and being older and wiser or something😂 I lay in bed this morning thinking how could I have been so stupid for so long? It's like a curtain has been pulled back to show all that I've been missing by letting alcohol rule my life.

We (my dh and I) used to start drinking at 9.00pm and stop at about 11.30pm. The theory was that if we started earlier we would drink more and go to bed at the same time.
Dh is getting pretty grumpy. His energy and good mood from not drinking has dwindled. He knows I am stopping for good. I can't moderate. We can't moderate. I've not said anything about his drinking. I'm just hoping he goes along with it and if he does decide to drink he doesn't try and persuade me to join him to make him feel better.

Stomach is a tiny bit better and I still don't want a drink.
Looking forward to seeing family this weekend. Not sure if I'll say anything about not drinking. Expecting dh will announce it if I don't give him clear instructions not to🤦🏻‍♀️

@MangoBiscuit well done for 4 weeks must feel extremely good! And yeah it does jar the convo saying that. Last time I quit for a long time I started saying it's because i wanted to lose weight and I carried on without the extra calories but then a friend said you don't have to justify yourself all the bloody time it's not anyone s business but I mean people who aren't us will ask genuine question why not? Why aren't you drinking because they're curious.

Thank you so much for that piece of Info @Onewildandpreciouslife absolutely makes sense about the sleep chemicals etc

@JesusSufferingFuck22 glad your tummy is a bit better and I'm so pleased your DH is also abstaining ! Couple goals! Hope you have fun with the family without drink. I'm dreading my time for anything social and drink around ...but I did do a massive 3 day wedding abroad where on the actual wedding day it was drinking from 5pm to 5am and I didn't touch a drop and was the one last on the dance floor high on about 50 coca Cola's so I can do it obvs...

@Namechanged12344 I always feel slightly superior and a bit superhuman when there was a major social event and I didn't drink. I drew the short straw numerous times for driving. I had a wonderful nye one year. Everyone was half cut. There was dancing and singing (by me.) I didn't care. I was completely sober and not making an arse of myself by getting too pissed and getting put to bed. Unfortunately back then I'd make up for "missing out" when I got home.
It's going to be good not to do that anymore.

Dh said I'd better tell family not to bring vodka. I got into a bit of a panic until I remembered I'd already thought of the solution. If dh isn't drinking, I'm pouring it down the sink.

Hope everyone has been having a good day xx

Checking in on Day 11. Feel sick to the stomach from a cheapy fake gin. Looks like it’ll be going down the sink. Well done again to all of you 🙂

Can I join. Need to give up as it's ruining everthing. 2 small beers today but at least no wine

Hello @Theskyoutsideisblue 👋

Oh yeah the family and vodka and pouring down sink you got this girl!!@JesusSufferingFuck22 I do like your name btw.
Day 10 I think (1 behind @Nouveaunew !) Yeah I've tried the cheap fake whisky once and was like bleaurgh and have taken to cloudy apple stuff. Sugar. How are you @JennyAct3 ? Welcome @Theskyoutsideisblue

Hi @Theskyoutsideisblue

Morning all. Checking in. Really busy at the moment so not getting chance to read the thread. Hoping life will be calmer today.

Wishing you all a good day