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

And you too @Kindtomyself
happy AF Friday all
checking in & will catch up later

Hi @Kindtomyself good to hear from you , also checking in on day 11 so 2nd sober Friday today. I again went to bed at a stupid time and then of course was up most of the night with my kid who was sick (bug going around school) and now I'm feeling not good (tired, grump,about to come on etc ,got to get the older one to school, and we are living in a building site at the minute )so literally I'm feeling like those emojis with the head blowing off the top? Hahaha
@Nouveaunew day I think 12 for you how does it feel? Hope everyone is very well.

Yeah Happy AF Friday to you all indeed!

Counting the days is helping me. I know it’s not for everyone. Day 12 begins! Have a great weekend and enjoy every and any beverage other than the ones with alcohol in! 😎

@Namechanged12344

aw sorry to hear you were up all night. Living in a building site can’t be easy but congratulate yourself for doing everything you’re doing without booze.

Day 12 feels nice thanks but I haven’t been truly tested yet. I feel quite determined though as my stomach has been so upset. It’s starting to feel like a health issue. I hope your emoji changes as the day goes on (& even if it doesn’t , you’re AF! Yay!).

Haha @Nouveaunew thank you for your words! You are correct we are doing and dealing with all the stresses in life AF! Counting the days helps me too I think at the start anyway. I can't wait until I can say whoooooo I've done 30 or 60 etc. I know we are going to have ups and downs. But we are stronger than we think. I don't have a minute spare apart from writing on this thread which is helping me so so much so thank you for this thread. Otherwise I need to start reading some quit lit just to make sense of it all if I end up faltering but so far touch wood no cravings but I've been a hermit . The test is next week one evening with some friends...

Day 8. @Namechanged12344 I’m fine thanks, tired today even though I have had 9 hours sleep. You have my sympathies re building site. I hate having people in, even if I like them, it’s just the mess and intrusion. Our whole house needs redecorating, stair carpet has a large hole, one ceiling has leak damage but we just can’t face it.

Keep going everyone.

3 months ago today that I last had any alcohol (90 days is actually tomorrow though!). I didn't know then how it was going to pan out but I'm incredibly glad I've stuck with it and I'm so happy to have finally taken some control of my (boozy!) life.

To be fair I'd been really moderating in January but moderation doesn't work long term for me so here we are.

It's been up and down to be honest, I've had a major flare of my autoimmune condition so I've been in a lot of pain but I'm so bloody chuffed with myself. Bring on the next 3 months!!

This'll be day 16 and my 3rd Friday af. Doesn't sound like much but it's a big step in the right direction.
Dh asked me in an almost mocking tone this morning "So you're stopping for good? That's it? You're never drinking again?" I understand his skepticism.

I think he is finding being af tougher than he thought. His health is good apart from drinking too much so doesn't have the same motivation I do.
I've been really clear about what's unhelpful for me and he seems to be on board with it all. It may turn into a competitive sport.

Hope any chaos calms and you all have a peaceful af weekend.

Checking in on day 1, so glad I have found this thread!

well done for 16 days @JesusSufferingFuck22 impressive! sounds like your DH is getting the grumps but as you say the health benefits are outweighing any others so keep it going. i am really today right now at the Fuck it stage but i will not cave. hope everyone has a great evening ...

@changingforthebetter3 hi there, hope all is well with you

@Namechanged12344 yeah, we nearly collided big time with the grumps but we both backed down. I'm still a bit gobsmacked. This isn't normal

Please don't give into the Fuck it. You've been doing so well. It's not worth it. I'm telling myself this too.

@Crunchymum fabulous! Can't wait to get as far as you.

@jes@JesusSufferingFuck22 one day I want to be gobsmacked by DH backing down lol thank you for your support I haven't given in, I'm a bit jealous of my friends out tonight drinking in the sun and then on to my favourite restaurant but alas it's too soon...I have a massive headache too but that could be all the dust etc I feel like I could benefit from smoking a non nicotine vape or something I don't know my teeth have been grinding a lot and I can't meditate to save my life. I need an outlet. Don't know what. Other than Mumsnet hahaha
@changingforthebetter3 Hiya how is your day 1 going ?
Sorry missed your post @Crunchymum well done can't wait to be there too. I need an early night as was up with the sick kid he managed to have a nap of course he did but I was taking a crash course on dodgy builders and electrics...and so on and so forth. Here's to another day sober .

Evening all.
Interview today and yesterday but still no bloody offer. I have done four with one company and they asked for a fifth next week. I was so stressed last night. Didn't feel like a lunch today so cancelled so i wouldn't go on the booze out of fury. Surprisingly I am ok. Had my 0%Gordons. Some of the faux gins do taste like chewing gum. Lidl.
Hello to all newbies. Sleep gets easier. 133 days I think.
Big liver scan next month for wls.

Checking in 🙌

133 days @SavBbunny ! Girl done good 💪. Sorry you've had a bit of a week of it, sensible not to go somewhere temptation would be very much in front of your nose. I have the weekend off work now and I am determined not to drink, already in bed ready to ride these days off sober and engaged with my twins and myself.

Welcome all newbies , one day at a time everyone 🙏

Hello @changingforthebetter3 Congratulations. Joining this thread has helped me a lot.

Congratulations on 133 @SavBbunny and 90 tomorrow @Crunchymum Pretty amazing in fairness. Fingers crossed you'll get the job @SavBbunny I think three Fridays without booze is a pretty good achievement to be honest @JesusSufferingFuck22 Good on you.

I was tested today and it made me realise how hard it's going to be. I met with a good friend who I always drink with. I drove and we met straight after work but we ended up in a pub and I could feel the wine calling for me. If I hadn't been driving, I'm so afraid I might have listened to the wine witch saying 'ah, go on, it's pretty much impossible to quit completely, maybe you could just drink every now and again when you meet up with friends.' I have tried being an occasional drinker but it didn't work! In a way, it's good for me to know that on Day 12 it's still a vulnerable time so I'm going to maybe avoid those situations as much as I can. Happy Friday night all. It does feel strange not drinking on a Friday but to be honest, it feels so much better than than woozy semi-conscious feeling I'd normally have at this time.

Annie Grace is right when she says it's really just the first glass that we actually enjoy. After that, I'm usually just drinking my way to feeling crappy!

@Namechanged12344 I'm definitely having a wee mourn of my usual Friday night and getting a little jealous of the next door neighbours who are clinking glasses and listening/singing along to music. Though in reality if it was a regular Friday night and the neighbours were partying I'd still be jealous.

morning all, well done @Nouveaunew for not drinking!!! Did your friend understand? I would have drunk and drove (disclaimer if I was driving I would still have 'just 1' and then when I got.home the rest of it etc etc so you are amazing for not drinking and especially we are early days, shows you can do it!! Did you feel crap after or proud of yourself ?

@ChampooPapi have a lovely weekend off! I'm on day 12 now still got a raging headache. No significant plans but I'm hoping my DH doesn't piss me off as he will be drinking. Enjoy all x(I had to write this out twice as it doesn't let me tag properly and then won't let me post )

Morning. Looking forward to a walk today with friends. Hope you all have positive and calm days.
To the person who is struggling with meditation (sorry I can't remember who it was and I can't look back while writing this). I found the book - the headspace guide to mindfulness and meditation really helpful and I've tried all sorts of apps and courses etc. Different things work for different people.

Can I join? Day 8 today here and I’ve not had this long a streak since 2020. Sleeping better but not like a baby, anxiety better but not totally gone but I don’t hate myself which is a massive plus.

im doing the 30 day alcohol experiment as I like the structure and the videos and frankly anything to keep me focussed is good. Reading all your posts is inspiring too so thank you.

dreading today though as we are going for what would be a day drinking afternoon in the sun on the seafront. And I’m going to try so hard not to press the fuckit button. This has been scheduled for so long and our friends are really looking forward to it and I’d bloody loved it before that I’m gutted I can’t just be a normal drinker.

but ho hum that’s true, I can’t.

anyway hello everyone and thanks for the thread - any tips or advice most welcome, this is hard and you’re smashing it and that makes me hopeful

Morning all,
@AIPS you will need something nice to drink. Nossecco. No headache from the sun either.
If you usually drink wine get some sweets too, I like lemon sherbets as sour like sav blanc.
Off to pick up a bed. House full of teenagers. 😁

Hey everyone! Happy Saturday!

@AIPS
That sounds very tough. Could you stay for as short a time as possible? Could you get support from one other person who’ll be there? Best of luck. You can resist.

@Namechanged12344
thanks. My friend did suggest I have one but I never have any when I drive so she didn’t push it thankfully. I was relieved when we left the pub though to be honest. I felt good afterwards. I woke up at 2am with a thumping heart and anxiety. Been more or less awake ever since. Alcohol would only make it all worse I guess but I still don’t have the whole ‘oh I feel so great, so why would I ever drink again’ feeling! Hopefully it’ll kick in soon!

Day 13 now.

Best of luck to all of you today & enjoy the sober fun. Hangover-free Sunday will feel better too.

Day 2

Day 9. Well done @Crunchymum and @SavBbunny . Busy weekend here but no one will press alcohol on me, DH and I have found no one notices or cares, could be because our friends are older (50’s). Slept badly, we are surrounded by rape fields and the air quality is iffy, thank heavens for anti hestamines.