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

Wow 100 days what a remarkable achievement@Crunchymum hope you are proud and celebrating!

I've come to a slump and I'm very shouty and ratty (maybe my true personality lol) I just feel on edge at times, rushed, dissatisfied I find not drinking hard bloody work....I'm on day 22 but feel it should be longer! I'm well into sober diaries and on the bit where she's a 100 days and she's about to start talking about moderation so it's a good book and is helpful. I just don't know if I can do this sometimes. Hope everyone is ok

checking in on Day 23. I bought fancy tonic waters after work to have with the Gordon’s 0% gin. They hit some kind of spot. My sugar habit is still in full swing. Not sure how much longer I should be cutting myself slack on that one!

congratulations @Crunchymum i’m inspired by these words: 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

@Namechanged12344
i get you. I sometimes wonder if I can do it too. Maybe I’m a little ‘lucky’ that alcohol was giving me migraines, exacerbating my IBS and getting major spins. It’s makes it less appealing … but I still feel the draw. You CAN & WILL do this.

@Fortheloveofgodwhy
yay! Happy Birthday. Great idea to start counting in months!

@JennyAct3
delighted it went well at the doc’s and I hope the IBS improves for you. I was diagnosed with IBS in my 20s (in 40s now) and it had improved in recent years (as in, I wasn’t sprinting to the loo as often) but it went crazy again in recent years from the amount I was drinking. My stomach is still dodgy but definitely better since I quit booze.

thanks @BunniesBunniesBunnies you're my hero! I can’t wait to get to the stage you’re at where it feels like being AF is a part of who I am and not just some experimental break from alcohol I’m taking.

Happy birthday fortheloveofgodwhy 🎂. bunnies you have some wise words. Regarding mental health I too suffer from severe anxiety and depression and take anti depressants which I had increased whilst still drinking, however since quitting I feel so much better as ? bunnies said I too feel good/great most days and yes awesome some days to. It is very strange but clearly alcohol was the problem.

I feel like a nicer more patient person, I don't get as stressed, even my job does not cause me as much stress as it had done previously. This is by far the best thing I have ever done.

I had that f* it phase and thought about moderating, then I thought I couldn't do this forever, it was horrible. I am now at 134 days and genuinely believe I will never drink again. I don't miss it and I certainly don't need it.

Well done to everyone, particularly those in the early days as they are very tough, that is another reason to stay sober, the thought of those horrible first days. keep on keeping on.

@Crunchymum woohoo!!
huge congratulations 👏 keep going!!!!

Thanks for your insight @Rupertpenrysmistress Congratulations on 134 days. That’s amazing! I love how you write that you believe you’ll never drink again.

I hope I will never drink again … but I wish I had never started! I struggle to see how it has benefitted me to be honest … I still have cravings for wine and my sugar cravings are off the charts … looking forward to being further along and more balanced

@Nouveaunew your cravings will become more manageable and every day moves you closer to that. Well done on posting and staying vigilant

Good morning all, checking in for day four here. I felt awful yesterday, tired and headachy, so went to bed at about half past eight. Reading with interest everyone's experiences of getting to and past 100 days, which I've never quite managed! It feels like forever and no time at all simultaneously at the moment. Hope everyone has a good day.

@Namechanged12344 well done on 22 days! Did you ever imagine at the end of April that you would manage 3 weeks without alcohol?

I’m sorry you feel in a slump at the moment. I’m feeling pretty grotty too, but objectively I can see there is a lot in my life making me feel like that. One of the good things about not drinking is that you can work out what’s caused by alcohol and what isn’t. At the end of Dry January I felt a bit disappointed - my sleep still wasn’t great and I felt quite flat, so I decided to ask for HRT (I’m 53). I’m now on my second dry run of the year and I’m feeling much better - don’t know if that’s because of the HRT or if it took longer without alcohol to feel the benefit

can you plan yourself a nice treat for day 25, like an outdoor walk or some new lipstick?

Day 20 (I miscounted and said day 18 twice).

Didn’t have chocolate yesterday, pleased with myself, hoping sugar cravings are going.

I celebrated day 100 with dinner (actually it was just a coincidence we had booked dinner).

There were 3 of us and 2 bottles of wine 🙄..... I had an AF beer, some lovely food and a dessert. I didn't find it all difficult, which I am so happy about and I felt very virtuous when I got messages from my dinner dates this morning to tell me how rough they felt.

My bill was also so cheap.

I think I could get used to this AF malarkey 😂

@JennyAct3 well done!
Re chocolate. I can't have regular chocolate but get a good fix from a few squares of this one smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07WY893RX/ref=ppxoddtbasintitles00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Also this one smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09BFXSGKS/ref=ppxyodtbsearchasintitle?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Considering it's dark chocolate it's very nice!

Your body will balance out I'd imagine and the sweet cravings will lesson. I mean alcohol is essentially sugar, it's understandable to be desiring sweet things.

@Crunchymum that's sounds awesome. It's great to keep noticing the positives.

I had a slump yesterday BUT turned it around relatively quickly. I was all doom and gloom and catastrophising. Today I'm much better. Took IBS meds and physically feeling much better and less anxious. If I wasn't af I'd be in that rut for a good few days or so. I'm very pleased with myself because I'm incredibly hormonal and due on tomorrow. This time of my month is not pretty.

I really don't want alcohol in my life anymore and am feeling more and more like I have got this. Day 28 today. Not a huge amount of time but it's still an achievement.

Whatever your personal view on “partygate” it’s very noticeable to newly sober eyes just how weird it is to have a drug so central to national life

@JesusSufferingFuck22 thank you, I think that’s a good idea, to replace the milk chocolate for something dark and more bitter. Ideally I won’t eat chocolate at all but I’ll get a bar for an emergency!

@Nouveaunew is the AF Gordon’s gin any good? I tried Seedlips AF a year or two ago (it had a picture of pea shoots on the bottle I think) and it was pointless. Tempted to try again with another brand.

@Onewildandpreciouslife
It is quite astounding when you look at it through a set of af eyes.
Alcohol is everywhere. Over indulgence is completely normalised too.

You can't avoid it on tv. From breakfast tv to bake off. It's everywhere!

@JennyAct3
I'm trying not to replace alcohol with other foods and drinks. I'm really restricted to what I can eat so I'm trying to replace alcohol with an activity. My sister bought me a 1000 piece jigsaw for my birthday. It's full of tiny pieces. Started it yesterday. I've not even got the edgy bits done. I mean I like jigsaws but I'm really starting to dislike this one..... but I can't leave it alone😂
I ordered more seed trays and compost because I've used all the stuff I splurged on Obviously I have issues with impulse control

Well done @Crunchymum Sounds like a fabulous celebratory dinner. 100 days - yipeeeeeeee!

@JennyAct3

i like the 0% Gordon’s & it’s much nicer than a cheaper one I had tried. I drink it with a high quality tonic and it packs a bit of a punch all right … not exactly like the boozey one but not a million miles away.

Good for you @JesusSufferingFuck22 you have got this, Just like you say. This is going to be so worth it

Day 24 today. I like counting the days. This thread is keeping me going 😊

Thank you @AlloftheTime i feel pretty anxious and have intense cravings for sugary foods. I hope you’re right that it’ll get easier. I certainly feel better physically - now I’m just waiting to feel better mentally. X

@JesusSufferingFuck22 The jigsaw is a great idea, it will keep your fingers and mind busy. Painting can be very absorbing too or even those adult colouring in books. I haven’t filed a piece of paper in 12 years (it’s just throw it in the spare room in a box), this is something I need to tackle, it’s probably mainly for shredding but I need to go through it first. Sort of looking forward to it.

@Nouveaunew great, I will buy a bottle for the weekend.

Checking in 🙌

Hi all, been a bit quiet (er!) Because I don't want to be a downer what's that term Debbie Downer? Haha I am feeling particularly low and feeling I have no charge in my batteries ,exhausted all of the time ,too much going on in my head, feel I don't have a minute to myself but I know I must make time it's just kids and everything and now it's half term tomorrow yay...but I'm going to try and be more positive. I was thinking if buying cigarettes or something to chill me the f out but that's swopping one for another addiction and I smoked for 20 odd years and have given up over a year ago so the show must go on I guess. Day 23. Thanks @Onewildandpreciouslife I have been buying clothes whoops.... You ALL are so great thanks everyone x