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

@Crunchymum great post, great milestone and great attitude 👍

Morning all!
Hope everyone is surviving this heat. I’ve had a bit of a weird 24 hours - my anxiety skyrocketed yesterday to levels I haven’t had in a long time. So along came the most hideous alcohol cravings. I ate a LOT of chocolate yesterday. Still feeling a bit off and headachy this morning, but still here - day 116 I think

Checking in with the newer members of the thread - you’ve been a bit quiet this week - hope you’re all ok x

Hi Everyone,

@Crunchymum Sorry, I think our posts crossed yesterday. A great post, thank you for posting it.

@Onewildandpreciouslife The heat is getting a bit much isn't it. Rained here overnight which was welcome but a bit too humid this morning. Hope you're ok re yesterday? 116 days is amazing!

Ps - @SavBbunny I thoroughly do not recommend co-op AF botanicals, I found my face furrowing just a bit...

Day 13!

Feeling good about not drinking. Only worry is one of my kids has their birthday this weekend. Last time it was one of my kids birthday parties my DH put out a couple of bottles of wine for the adults at the last minute. I don't want either of us around the temptation this time (mainly him!) But worried friends will expect it now?

Also I have been drinking soooooo many AF beers, I am getting an AF beer belly!!! Need to switch to fizzy water and do some flavour experiments.

@Crunchymum I can relate to the shame and the guilt. One of the main reasons I decided to go AF. Really glad it's getting better for you.

@Onewildandpreciouslife I'm sorry you are feeling awful, chocolate was a great idea! Hope you feel better soon.

@Crayonpenny good to know about botanicals. I want to find an AF drink which isn't too sweet... maybe cold herbal teas with fizzy water? Or the classic water and lemon? Ideas welcome!

Morning all or as @HangingOver would say morning lads!
London for me yesterday and I survived. Wine waiter not happy but tough! Lots of mock tails. I still have a side of me that likes reading the list!
I am writing this from my sofa waiting for my counselling. Thursday Therapy. I think when I move in the autumn I may be done with navel gazing. I know why I was a soak.
English only today which will give my brain a rest. French holiday today.
Have a good day all.

Well done everyone on your various achievements and milestones. Have not drunk since my blip(s) and now on dry day 35 out of the last 40 days.

Things are a bit stressful (not drink related, life related). Yesterday evening instead of feeling pissed off and having an angry drink I felt pissed off and did some angry weeding! Much more constructive.

Angry weeding is sooo therapeutic. I was so pissed off at the beginning of lockdown when I didn't get my money back for a holiday that I went out and dug a vegetable patch I had been meaning to do for years. Very productive and cathartic.

Angry weeding, classic.

@Stupidlydupidly I've been drinking a reasonable amount of tonic, lemonade (with / without blackcurrant), and general soft drinks. The 0% gin that @SavBbunny recommended is nice. I'm not sure friends would expect it(?), I can't really comment but as the weather is going to be so hot can you put some grown up mock tails or something?

Good shout re angry weeding, the state of my garden means I can certainly use this as a distraction. I struggle to differentiated between what is / isn't a weed but hey ho!

@Crayonpenny I found some 0% fizzy wine at Tesco so I might make bucks fizz! Slightly more fancy than my usual favourite orange juice and lemonade.

@Stupidlydupidly Nice! I am partial to an OJ and lemonade myself as well. I did try some soft drinks from Aldi - fruit salad I think was one like the sweets - a bit too much for me and my teeth! The nosecco you can get isn't bad and it's pretty reasonable price as well - I think Tesco have it as I got some when I was away recently so if you have that then good choice! Steer clear of AF reisling - it was a bit soapy as others did warn me about!

Hi everyone, happy Friday!

This week seems to have both flown by and dragged if that makes sense?!??

Gearing up to Friday evening. A strange one as we were away last weekend so it felt 'easier' perhaps vs being at home where old habits were a bit more routine. I've got my ok magazine waiting for me (don't judge!).

Hope everyone else is doing ok?

@LydiaLurk hope things are a little bit stressful now for you.

@Crayonpenny YES! The week flew and dragged at the same time!!! Though I find it’s like that anyway with small kids🤣 As they say, the days are long but the years are short… Or something like that.

Angry weeding made me laugh😂😂😂 I wish I was into gardening but I’m just not!

Morning all
Know what you mean about time @Crayonpenny it’s interesting thinking about what influences our perception of the passage of time.

I did laugh at angry weeding 😂I’m imagining flowerbeds now cowering every time the back door opens!
Friday evening beckons but never seems to worry me now - nosecco on hand in case the mood takes me though. Hope everyone is feeling okay and has something fun to look forward to at the weekend.

checking in
@ChampooPapi hope you’re okay 💐

@BunniesBunniesBunnies I'm completely with you! I have 2 small people (both under 7) and ensuring the 'correct' coloured cup / straw was available for a drink certainly provided a dragging moment at one point this week ("what is wrong with the orange straw (aka the only one I can find...), that was your favourite yesterday") 😬

A bit of a random one perhaps but how are you filling your Friday / weekend evenings. I mentioned a magazine but I've found myself this week just being so tired and in bed really early. I think some of that must be my body just wanting to play catch up which is great - and I've been reading which has been a forgotten pleasure - but interested in other ideas if that's ok.

Evening all.
1 faux gin down. Feeling a bit itchy today. The supermarket was calling but I was 'lucky' to get stuck in traffic. Didn't bother to go in and went home. Phew.
An old friend said I looked well when I went to theirs for morning tea.
I hate the heat so won't need to go out next week.
I hope everyone is OK.

Hi @Crayonpenny - I know what you mean about filling your evenings. So. Much. Time…. My DH is away this weekend and I had to remind myself this did NOT mean I could drink as much as I like, and then dispose of the bottles in waste bins so he couldn’t count them

I try to go for a swim on a Friday evening to mark the end of the week, although I’m feeling a bit demotivated in this heat! And I’m going to watch all the TV programmes DH hates.

I saw a sober post on Instagram that said “Use your weekends to create a life you love, not escape from the life you have.” I like that.

well done on swerving the shops @SavBbunny

@Onewildandpreciouslife controllership of the tv sounds bliss, perhaps that is one of the other reasons I'm going to bed early so I'm not subjected to Love Island each night! Love the instagram post, so true really, I think I used to use the weekend as a release from a week of work but then I was tired for Monday then the weekend... repeat... repeat... repeat!

@SavBbunny Good work re supermarket, hope it's not going to be too bad heat wise where you are. 35 up north apparently, not going to be fun!

Morning
I've had a blip and so I am back, trying to be kind to myself

Good to see you back @Kindtomyself

@Kindtomyself
Count the wins, the past is the past.
Personally I don't know when you stop thinking about booze. I think about it everyday. I am dieting too which has been achingly slow (old age).
We are all different Kindy, but joined by the lure of the grape (insert poison).
And it is a poison not just of our bodies but our minds.
I return to the scene of the crime next week. Industry do where I flashed my Spankz last year. Fell over dancing. Pissed as a fart. Very unprofessional.
Taking friend for support.

@Kindtomyself - so good to hear from you and see that you’re back. Take care of yourself

Just popping on the thread to welcome @Kindtomyself back! Good to have you back. Hope you can take it easy this weekend.

I just popped in to say I bought a tin of the Gordon's AF ready mixed as I didn't want to buy a big bottle in case I hated it. It was lovely, but OMG it made me really crave a real gin. So I don't think it is for me!

@Kindtomyself I don't think we have met, but onwards and upwards!

@SavBbunny hopefully people will have forgotten your spanx moment!

Have a lovely weekend all. At least I know I won't have cope with a hangover as well as the heat as I know I won't be drinking. That is mainly thanks to the people on this thread.❤