The freedom thread ( continued ) Riding the rollercoaster of an alcohol free life! Alcohol support for those wanting to give up drinking.

[SavBbunny]

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 @fortheloveofgodwhy for hosting the last thread 💜
And here’s to the next 40 pages grin

I was so intrigued about Annie Grace I got the “6 steps to moderation” emailed to me (so you don’t have to!).

When I downloaded it, it’s actually “6 facts about moderation”, which is a re-hash of some of the key themes from This Naked Mind - ie why moderation doesn’t work. And to get it you have to agree to further emails from Annie Grace - cue daily emails giving me the opportunity to sign up (and pay) for various things. She’s got to make a living, I guess!!

Hellooo!!! Day 20🙌 been a busy week, back late to have a good read and catch up with you all. 🥰

Back again, big welcome to @SallyAny. Hope it's getting a little easier, I've never experienced the symptoms you mentioned but agree with others who've said water & rest! If you can face it a trip to the GP if you can get one might not be and idea.

@elp30 💥 massive well done! What an inspiration. @Crunchymum fabulous 🤩 so lovely to hear from others who've made it out the other end, us newbies need all the positive stories we can get.

@BunniesBunniesBunnies sounds lovely getting out in the fresh air for a run. This is something I need to click into place now the children are back in school. I've a gym membership to a rather nice place with an outside pool so intend to get back into my fitness. There's nothing quite like a fresh morning dip after the school run! Jogging has never been my thing, I do like a long walk with a podcast though.

Been a bit full on for me, emotions running high with the children back at school and this rather unsettled housing situation. Met a friend for tea and cake this morning, I just couldn't hold back the tears 😭. I'm not sleeping great with the stress but trying my best. Stbxh being a complete Ahole but predicted.

Good news is I have zero cravings for wine, no wine witch tapping on my shoulder and I feel focused which is the best I can be right now 🙌

Sending love and strength to you all xx

New poster. Day 3. Please send me good wishes.

@rockbottombird hold tight there so good to hear the wine witch is not bothering you. @Endofmytetherfinally day three? Well done you the first few days and weeks can be tough but post here for support or any questions you have.

Morning all. I am rejoining and on Day 1 again 🙁. Aiming for 30 days to start with.

I'm annoyed with myself for not doing so well this year - did DJ and then it's all been a bit hit and miss since then. I haven't really managed to get past 2 weeks and so have just had lots of bad sleep and none of the benefits.

Anyway, my last DC is off to uni soon so there is lots to do and being sober will help me keep up to speed with all of it and keep me "present" for the last 2 weeks before my nest is empty (ish).

Being busy will help. Haven't got up to speed with the thread but plenty of names I recognise.

Good morning my lovely! Sending good wishes your way this weekend. Keep checking in here, make yourself accountable and most of be kind to yourself! You've got this xx

Good morning all. Welcome @Endofmytetherfinally

My son (23) said he was proud of me yesterday. Brought a tear to my eye. Eight months next week.
Two big glasses of Gordon's af and I was up twice in the night.

Huge stitch up on the house front so I am changing areas to our old village. They can stick their chi chi neighbourhood up their bottoms. And all said whilst stone cold sober.
@rockbottombird I love an outdoor pool. Use to swim in the one at Henley some twenty years ago. I remember it snowing and just plowing on. Lucky you.

Hello @Endofmytetherfinally and welcome. Well done on getting to day 3.

hello again @EileenFH . I remember your name but I may not have been posting when you were around before. My eldest is off to uni in 2 weeks so I may need tips!

sorry to hear it’s been emotional @rockbottombird , but glad to hear you’re still pushing through. 3 weeks! Have you thought about changing your user name? I did earlier this year - my user name used to be a line from the poem “Not waving but Drowning”, because that’s how I felt for 3 years - now it’s a line from “Summer’s Day” by Mary Oliver “Tell me, what is it that you plan to do, with your one wild and precious life?”

Have a good weekend all x

Just checking in. Hope everyone has a good weekend. X

Thanks @rockbottombird itching gone and first weekend before me 😳 have to say my dreams are just bizarre tho… not scary but weird, random people and places. Despite them, I am sleeping better so that’s good. Happy weekend everybody

I nearly warned you about the dreams in my earlier reply @SallyAny ! Your body’s getting proper REM sleep for the first time in years. I find the effects of alcohol on our body and mind fascinating, I’m afraid, so I tend to bang on about it.

Sober weekends are fab, honest.

@SallyAny I forgot about the dreams.
And they can feel so real.
@Onewildandpreciouslife
It is a precious life isn't it?

Managed to get up and go to yoga which I haven't since my LO was born.. drinking really spiked for me post BF almost as a reward and attempt to get my pre baby self back. What a mess!

Xmas party is already in the diary and last year I made a huge fool of myself and got a bollocking from my boss. Trying to keep the memory as motivation without depressing myself in the process.

@Endofmytetherfinally I am the queen of the spanx flashing.
Eight weeks into a new job I got absolutely blotto, danced, skidded on new leather soled shoes and fell over.
Flashed my drawers and was photographed by the competition (it was our industry awards) never lived it down. I didn't go to said awards this year. Too ashamed.

Good morning everyone. Have a safe and sober weekend.

I wish someone had warned me about the dreams! They didn't cut in until about three months, but they are very vivid and a bit unsettling when I haven't remembered a dream in at least fifteen years. Sleep is definitely improving though.

We are off for a few days away next week and a bit of a digital detox for me.

I'd love to join you. Day 1 again here. It's got to stick this time. I successfully do dry Jan every year (10 years) and feel amazing at the end of the month (and it's even my birthday month so have had ten years of sober birthdays!)...but it slowly makes its way back into my life and come the summer holidays the drinking really ramps up. No school runs, no clubs to ferry the kids to etc. Glad they are back to school next week. It definitely helps keep me on track.

Feeling hungover but motivated today. I've signed up to the 30 day alcohol experiment and just listened to the first video. Here's to a dry September...just a shame I messed up last night! 🙄 Looking forward to going on the sober journey with you all.

@Onewildandpreciouslife - we only have small car so DH is having to get bus to meet us there as am expecting car to be rammed to the gunnels with stuff. My other one at uni went during Covid so it was just dump and run and only one person allowed to help. Hoping this is going to be a bit nicer - will be able to see room and help get some food in to get through the first week and maybe go out for a nice lunch.

@Tryingtoquit18 welcome.
Start with a day, a week, a month.

If you can do birthdays you can do this.
Think back to how good your sleep was. I am cock a hoop as my son said well done. Don't get much praise in life. I come from a very competitive family, praise was rare!

Thanks for the welcome @SavBbunny and it's lovely that your son has acknowledged how well you are doing.
I just know how good I feel, how productive I am, how nice the sleep is etc etc when I don't drink. I'm excited to feel like that again! Still feeling delicate but going to take the dog out and get some fresh air. Got to keep busy!

Urgh. Generally been good. Health wise a bit shit but after MS relapse, it’s not getting any worse. Today dh was being an arse. It happens to the best of us lol. Argumentative and stroppy. Without the alcohol fog I’m seeing him a bit differently. He’s also acting differently. With both of us drowning ourselves in alcohol, he had the upper hand because of how I felt, more unsure of myself. Without drinking, I feel far less anxious and much more self confident.

Anyway, that’s it. I’m about 4 1/2 months af now. Today feels like a right slog and I’m really fighting off my desire to press the fuckit button. This is the most I’ve felt like this. Reality is a can’t get to the shops myself and even if I could, I doubt if I would press the rewind button and go back to how things were.
I keep playing out the whole story of what would happen if I had a bottle of vodka. I can’t go there again. This af slog still feels better than the alcoholic slog.
Hope you are all surviving ok xxx

Thanks @SavBbunny nice to know it's not just me. Weird one but I've been watching industry and all the drugs and alcohol have made me feel more determined to be sober. Usually when I see people having a champagne on screen I want one but this time it's the opposite. Anyone have a good podcast they can recommend (ideally not American) for going AF?

@Endofmytetherfinally try Janey Lee Grace Alcohol Free Life (UK based).
Day 2 here. So nice to wake up without a hangover! Off out for an early dog walk then swimming with the kids. Have a lovely sober day everyone!

@JesusSufferingFuck22

I hope you managed to get a bit of sleep and things are feeling a weeny bit brighter for you. Well done on recognising that pushing the "fuck it" button would have had far reaching consequences for you. I think that is what keeps me going - I know I will not be able to stop drinking if I start again. This kind of has to be it for me.

I hope you have a bit more peace and clarity today, this path isn't linear and that devil on our shoulder is never far away.

Good morning. It's been a year since I decided to change my life. For me it's been a journey of not just dealing with alcohol but also of personal growth. I'm still on that journey and loving it, bumps and all. As I reflect back over the year I realise how far I have come. I'm a more confident, happier person, not perfect but loving myself for being perfectly imperfect.
I am so grateful to all people on this thread that have kept me going and have virtually held my hand. It's an amazing thread.

I will continue to post on the thread and every day wake with the intention of inner peace. I will be kind to myself and have self-compassion. I will continue to grow and develop in the areas that I struggle with. I will be my authentic self.

Felt like I was giving an Oscars speech then but really wanted to say it so I did .

Oh and @JesusSufferingFuck22 I too see my DH differently now.