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

Oh ffs, it is me posting with name change fail again.

Hi all, just checking in.

@Namechanged12344 I hope you're ok. It's a blip and you will get through this blip. Today is a new day and I'm with you.

Everyone else that has messaged this morning - incl @SavBbunny - you have all given such kind and inspiring words. I've read them a few times and thought wow, this is such an amazing group of ladies, thank you.

Ps @LydiaLurk sorry this did make me laugh again!!!

I would make a terrible spy, always blowing my own cover! 😅

@Namechanged12344 this is something I think about. If I cave now, there will likely be another day 1 and I'm so far a long now... Still, you can't give yourself a hard time about it. Just do what's right for you.

@LydiaLurk haha don't! I'm watching an under 7 girls football training practice and this just popped up and I burst out laughing.

I think we need rain my friends. Bloody sun makes you thirsty!
@Lydialurk I name changed a few times last week to help on a couple of threads. Luckily able to change back before I was outed as a booze raddled alkie (been called that once) who knows Jack.
I recommend reading Rachel's holiday (the original) or watching Barry Humphries as Sir Les to cheer yourself up. They are both extremes. I find if I do blip I have no tolerance. I think my body says 'ah no Mrs, we're not having any of your boozy crap'. I also use to hide my empties. What nonsense we play.

I'm drinking coffee and managed more food and I'm going too stop saying sorry to my friends and just get on with it. If they don't like me that's fine. Lol. I think one has an issue too drinking daily bottles same as what I used to do. Anyway on and up. Just bought some AF beer too. I was better I will get better again just hard work. Thank you for the recommendation @SavBbunny will check the book out I have seen the cover. I also downloaded an app sober timer. @LydiaLurk you made me laugh too thank you xxx

Hello everyone, I am only on day 2, but having read Alcohol explained (before I quit drinking) and now reading Alcohol explained 2, I am feeling like the whole thing suddenly makes sense to me...

Very up and down today but I know I need to knuckle down and get through the first 5 days to get my body back in balance... then keep up with the psychological side!

Really really can't wait to be free!!!!

Hello one and all, I just wanted to ask a question to see if anyone else has experienced this?

I'm almost 5 months AF and after seeing very, very (very, very, very) slow and gradual improvements in day to day life I'm now feeling such strong feelings of gratitude and warmth and love and happiness. Honestly, it's like a switch has been flipped.

I suppose it makes sense in some respects as drinking must have numbed the good as well as the bad so I'm just rediscovering all that is good in life. Its bloody exhausting though. I feel like Alec Baldwin in Friends 😂Seriously though it's like an inner peace? A calmness? Something I've not had in forever. I handle challenges more positively, I relate to people more positively, I see things differently.

I joined these threads in March and almost every post I've made has probably been moaning. I was worried I was broken as I just didn't feel better for being AF? Now I just feel fantastic. Best I've felt in as long as I can remember.

All the problems that drove me to drink still exist, but all the things that make life wonderful also still exist. I'm blown away by the change in my mindset.

I know I'm in a particularly good place right now and I won't always feel like this (it can't be sustainable 😁) but blimey what a nice time I'm having at the moment.

@Namechanged12344 sorry to hear about your blip.

I think the only thing we can do when we have a blip is to dig in and try to get back to it. You don't need to start again. You have still done 8 weeks!!!

Sending stength to everyone who is struggling. I really should read before I post.

@Crunchymum you’ve reached the field with the fluffy bunnies!! According to Claire Pooley in the Sober Diaries, it takes100 days to see it and about 6 months to get there. Here’s her blog post where she writes about it

The obstacle course

@Namechanged12344 going sober is hard. You’re fighting your brain, years of conditioning and society’s expectations. 8 weeks is brilliant, but what’s even better is that when you had a blip you decided to get back on it.

Welcome @Stupidlydupidly

Thanks @Onewildandpreciouslife I read that article you posted, brought a tear to my eye! I definitely want to see those bunnies

@Crunchymum so amazing to read what you wrote thank you so much!

Thank you for your words of encouragement @Onewildandpreciouslife the best people are here And I know I can beat this x

@Onewildandpreciouslife thank you that’s the first time I’ve read that. I’m saying hello to the bunnies 🐰 right now!
I may even add ‘bunnies’ to my name… @Namechanged12344 how are you feeling now?
@Crunchymum 👏 beautiful post!

@ChampooPapi hope you and yours are all okay

Of course. The fluffy bunny field!! I'd forgotten.

I have actually read that blog post when it was posted before and I actually remember thinking "aye alright. Fucking bunnies, I'm sure" 😂

And now I'm here. There are bunnies all around. In fact I think I'm a bunny 🐰

I feel so strong and so empowered and I feel like I can do this. No hesitation or doubts of caveats. I can be AF. I am AF.

Yay crunchymum welcome* *to the field of bunnies. It's a fab place. It still has its challenges because life does, but everything seems a little clearer here. There is a peace and a feeling that anything can be achieved. Enjoy it.

I have been really addressing my food issues, really recognising the similarities between drinking and my life long disordered eating.

I do feel that I can only do that in this field. There was no space in the other one to address anything. It was all encompassing with booze.

I am just about heading up to 23 months next week. Next stop 2 years! I feel so free of alcohol its crazy. I have no desire to drink, in fact it very rarely crosses my mind.

I enjoy my tea more than any other drink now or water. I have the odd glass or two of nosecco if there is a celebration or party but never on my own anymore. My only AF drink of choice these days are the small cans of tesco fake low cal g&t. Nice big glass, slice of lime and ice and that seems to hit the sweet spot on a Friday night. I very rarely have more than one or maybe two at a push though. It's not an alternative any more nos though. I like this drink itself. I don't feel its 'less than'. It's amazing how, once the association has gone I can enjoy one and that's that. I'll also have a pepsi now and again. Or fruit juice and sparkling water.

I've not been on this thread so much but I try to read every couple of days to catch up.

Great to hear the support is still flowing with oldies and newbies.

Just keep going, one day at a time and that field will be in sight at some point.

Just popping on to say that's me reached two years alcohol free today 😎. Great to see that the 'oldies' that inspired and kept me going are still here, and great to see all the newbies keeping on going and feeling the benefits whether it's 2 days, 2 weeks or 2 months etc.
I can still remember that first day, after reading some of the posts here for a couple of weeks, that I just put the glass down, that I'd just poured, and went on a walk instead. I think I was drinking about 3-4 bottles of wine a week. And I've not looked back- not that it was easy but I just thought why would I drink, what do I get out of it that adds anything to my life.
Keep on walking and soon you'll wonder where you found the time to drink!

Huge Congratulations 100percentme. such a great post and such an achievement! 🎉🎊🥳.
It's quite strange to think it's been 2 years. What a transformation from these early posts.

I can remember your name always felt such an inspiration. Being 100% ourselves. Not hiding behind a mask of alcohol.

Bizarrely enough after years/decades being a drinker, a heavy drinker and known as that, I feel that actually I was always a fraud when I was drinking. I do feel much more me. But it took time to get to that realisation.

Well done and thank you for all the support you've given.

Evening all. I have not done so well this weekend. Something upsetting relating to one of my DC.

I'll think about what to do for July. Will certainly be lurking.

Well done @LydiaLurk .

@100PerCentMe great post and huge achievement 👏

@AlloftheTime I was a bit better until I had to pick up my kid from a party and was offered a drink....
@100PerCentMe that is huge, when you had the 'bad' days what did you do to stop yourself from drinking ? I've got the quit lit I've got loads of things I could be doing but the drink calls out especially if H is drinking. He only drinks weekends. But we had a huge Barney last night because he was stroppy and stored and drinking and taking it out on me!
Hey @EileenFH hope you are ok? Anything we can do to help you can talk it out here? X

*tired

Also thank you @Breathmiller all that advice sounds great too and I will re read the threads etc