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

[Fortheloveofgodwhy]

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

T@Champoopapihank you to for hosting the last thread 💜

And here’s to the next 40 pages grin

Morning. Welcome @NitTodaySatan and @Meezer2. Sorry that you're struggling with anxiety @Meezer2 my anxiety is sooo much better than it was when I was drinking, I find it so amazing to realise that I needed to pay attention to myself rather than trying to escape myself- be very kind to yourself you deserve it

I have been working all weekend but most of the hard slog is behind me.

Hope everyone has a great day.

Hi @Meezer2 ! Well done on your day 1! My anxiety also was so bad when I was drinking to the point of the heart palps and along with that depression and everything was making things 10000xs worse in my life. I always blamed it on time of month, stress in the family, house you name.it I never put the blame on the old poison tho did I! But now I feel I'm wiser and I hope it sticks, to find it inside yourself to stop and think right this is it is amazing in itself. I'm on 3 weeks today now feeling better but got myself a GP appt I've been putting off for 3 years ....once you are sober you become so bloody productive! I'm also thinking I want a tattoo because of @HangingOver haha I've wanted one for all my life but my parents would have disproved but now I'm like f it!

Welcome @Meezer2 I've suffered from anxiety for years, had CBT, on ADs, and it’s only since I’ve been AF (2 months so far, and it’s still not always easy!) that my anxiety has reduced significantly.

It’s sooo worth sticking with it, but I know how hard it is, particularly in the early days, when all you want is that quick release from what you’re feeling. Are you reading quit lit? I found Annie Gray’s 30 Day Experiment really helpful. And posting here is always a good idea!

Just take it one day at a time x

Good morning all, I didn't sleep well but was expecting that. I'm planning to get my steps in today and make something full of veg for tea in the hope of a better night tonight. Day two I'm ready for you.

Checking in day 18.

Checking in 🙌

Congratulations on two years @HangingOver , amazing 💜 love the tattoo, it's brilliant

Hi @Meezer2 Welcome
I am quite amazed at how much my anxiety has improved since stopping drinking. It wasn't instantaneous. I mean I KNEW it was affecting my mental health but I kept on drinking. Same with my low mood/depression. I'm still a bit wobbly, mood wise coming to terms with this new life but my lows are no where near as low.

Day 26 for me. I was at gp today about stomach thing. My poo was all fine so it's possibly IBS. Blood tests were mostly ok apart from some levels to do with my ovaries that were borderline so I've to go for an ultrasound at some point.
I spoke to him about not drinking and tbh it was all very undramatic and non judgemental. He spoke about on a Friday and other days he might have a bottle of wine (or more) and just feel shit the next day (mental health wise.) He also doesn't know why he does it It was very refreshing speaking to this gp. He was thorough and explained things in depth and very clearly.......I felt like I was treated like a proper human being and properly respected.

Hope everyone's week is off to a good start

@JesusSufferingFuck22 It’s good to hear you felt respected and heard at the GP’s I hope you get full answers soon. You could well have given that doctor some food for thought by discussing alcohol with him, well done you!
have a good week yourself 😊

@Onewildandpreciouslife

That’s good your anxiety has reduced after two months AF. Mine hasn’t after 3 weeks. I’m also on ADs. Do you mind my asking if you drank often? I was drinking very frequently … most nights & mostly wine at home and then binges with friends where I drank whatever was going (I was everyone’s common denominator!) which is why I’m surprised there hasn’t been a positive shift in my mental health yet.

Day 22 (& still very much counting). I hope you’re all ok - Mondays aren’t always easy!

@Nouveaunew it’s still very early days for you! You have done brilliantly but hang in there, it will get better still. I was very similar to you in terms of frequent drinking and having anxiety. I remained a wreck for a month or two after I quit and then things started to slowly improve. This wasn’t just a physical withdrawal (I don’t think I really had that), I think it was more because I had used drinking for such a long time to mask my anxiety and other issues, that when I quit lots of stuff came to the surface (and I had to find new coping mechanisms). So I had to process shit loads of stuff, sober! It was hard but I did start to feel better slowly.

Now two years on my mental health had improved enormously. Of course I get anxious sometimes but the days I feel good (sometimes even awesome!) far outnumber the days I feel bad. I had to work hard at developing new coping mechanisms. I now walk, run, swim, gym, listen to podcasts and have baths to relax. Exercise and quitting drinking have saved me in so many ways.

Have you got some good coping mechanisms? Doesn’t have to be wholesome, just stuff you enjoy doing.

@Meezer2 if that was too long for you🤣 sorry you are feeling anxious. It will much improve. It’s also worth seeing your GP about your anxiety, I did and they were ace!

@BunniesBunniesBunnies

Thank you so much for the words. I appreciate it because not feeling better mentally is one of the things that makes me think ‘oh sure I might as well just start drinking again.’

I do have some coping mechanisms but when the anxiety or depression get very bad it can be overwhelming… luckily since I started on meds I don’t get to the utterly unbearable stage as often!

I guess I do need to work harder at coping mechanisms. Sometimes everything makes me nervous - even going for a walk! I find baths therapeutic and it forces my monkey mind to slow down even a little. I’m fine once I do these things but just actually getting up to do them can be the challenge.

I’ll stick with it and I’m delighted to hear how much better your mental health is now. 💐

@Nouveaunew I’m glad the meds help! And I agree, baths are brilliant. Anxiety is so horrible, but I do really believe that quitting alcohol (though not a magic fix) is one of the best things you can do to reduce anxiety. Many posters on this thread are proof of that.

The benefits of sobriety are funny things. They don’t all come at once and they’re not all the same for everyone. But they sure do keep coming. Even now sometimes I notice a small improvement in the way I feel or communicate or relate to others and I think - Hey, that’s new! So even two years in I’m still discovering the benefits.

Just keep going and I’m sure you will soon be reassuring another new poster with tales of your own improved mental health!

107 days. I think it’s time I moved to months… funnily enough I don’t remember the date I stopped. Will look it up. Early Feb sometime. Good to see more new people. I always want to do a roll call when I come here 🤣. First sober birthday today for a long while (Mine that is!) and forst sober holiday coming up this week. If that isn’t a great gift for your mid forties I don’t know what is !

Happy happy birthday to you @Fortheloveofgodwhy !!!! What are you doing today ??? I thought I would have a sober birthday but it's not happened so far maybe this is the year!! And well done on 107 days whooppp
Thanks @BunniesBunniesBunnies for the words they really help! @Nouveaunew I am feeling same as you I'm not having opportunity for baths tho which is a shame and I know that could sort me out in the past I haven't stayed in a bath longer than 5 mins! I'm always impatient in a rush etc that's something I'm going to work on now. 22 days...

Good morning, present and correct for day three here. I had a good night's sleep and feeling ready for the day!

Day 18. @Fortheloveofgodwhy Happy Birthday and well done.

Happy birthday
fortheloveofgodwhy And congratulations on your 107 days. Is that coming up for 4 months? That's a massive amount of time. A third of a year!

hangingover was it your 2 year anniversary at the weekend just passed? Was it then you had a wedding?

Many happy returns @Fortheloveofgodwhy hope you have a wonderful day!

Day 100 for me today, what a lovely milestone to reach.

I want to be as honest as possible. There have been so many benefits (I have lost a stone I am very fat though , I sleep better, my anxiety is so much more under control, I feel calmer and all round more balanced, I am more patient and present) but it's not been a magical cure. I have to say a teeny part of me is disappointed 😂but I knew going AF was just a step in the process of taking control of my life.

All the issues that caused me to drink still exist but I am learning to manage them in other ways. I am facing things now as opposed to hiding them at the bottom of a glass of red.

It took me until about day 90 to go from 'I cannot see myself to stopping forever' to 'I never want to drink alcohol again'. It really is about the long game.

I also had a massive flare up of my illness [arthritis] in the early days of being AF but I am proud that I pushed through.

So here I am, and here I shall stay. Bring on the next 100 days.

@Crunchymum huge congratulations. Thank you for your post, it’s very helpful. I have gained weight since giving up (new chocolate habit) but ready to try to ease off that new habit and tackle my weight next. I’ve also realised the house is really grubby generally so I need to start upping my standards now I’m not preoccupied with how much wine is in the fridge and all that came with that.

Happy Birthday @Fortheloveofgodwhy xx

It'll be 4 weeks af tomorrow.

Trip to gp yesterday left me on a high and today is the slump. Trying to keep busy but finding things hard (just in general.) He gave me a lot of very clear and thorough information. So much so I retained the vast majority of it instead of forgetting it the minute I left the surgery🤦🏻‍♀️ This means I remembered names of tests and results etc.
I foolishly googled test CA125 and am now a bit worried. My result was a bit high. Dr was quite reassuring and vague at the same time lol. I'm sure my brain will settle and the worrying will lessen as I wait for an ultrasound.

Good news though that even on my very restricted diet ALL my vitamin levels were ok. I was quite surprised.

Dr gave me drug for IBS to see if it'll help my symptoms. Opened packet and it contains stuff that doesn't agree with me. I was still considering taking it. Read further through the leaflet and it said you can drink alcohol while taking it. It scared me. My brain thought "Oh great, your stomach will be a bit better and then you can have a drink." I decided not to take it and let my gut slowly recover like it has been. I don't feel I'm ready to be physically well enough to drink because I'm scared I might and I really don't want to.
Realising there is no quick fix to all this.

@Crunchymum massive mahoosive congratulations 📣💐📣💐👏👏👏 and also on the weight loss, that still evades me 🤣😏

I agree with the rest I your post though. Now my focus is on the wine witch sneaking up unexpectedly to tell me I can have one to ‘fit in’ because I don’t want to, I really really can’t see why I would.