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

Thank you for your kind words. I’m going through something with a family member who feels unsupported by me, I had no idea so it’s a bit of a bombshell. It’s someone who doesn’t live close to me now but we are very close and I always thought we had a very close relationship (I don’t have many living family members). It’s made me question myself and all my other relationships.
@Onewildandpreciouslife I missed your milestone, well done!

Oh bunnies I'm sorry to hear that. It isn't nice when you have the idea of what a relationship is to you questioned. It can throw you a bit. I hope you can work it out with your family member and can come to some peace about this difficult situation and find a way to move onto a way that works for both of you.

Sending you a big hug. Relationships can be tricky.

I also wanted to say that, even though this is just an online forum and we don't know each other in real life, you are one of the most supportive people on here. I think everyone feels that support from you at some point. So, don't let this one situation knock your whole sense of being. You are kind and thoughtful and wise. Just wanted to remind you of that, my friend.

100% what @Breathmiller has said!

Thanks @Breathmiller you’re so kind. You all have perked me to a bit, thank you so much.
I know we’re all just strangers on the internet but it often feels like so much more than that on this thread.
Thanks all😊

Congratulations on 200 days @Onewildandpreciouslife

What a lovely, juicy number 😋

Sorry to hear of your struggles @BunniesBunniesBunnies you've always been the absolute epitome of kindness and support. I hope your family is doing okay but sometimes things aren't on us (as a support network) to solve. Chances are your family member feels unsupported because of what is going on with them and not due to your lack of support.... if that makes sense?

There have been issues in my life that I've felt very alone in, because they've been down me - and me alone - to face and tackle. Not because I have no support.

Absolutely agree with crunchymum

Morning everyone!

How are you feeling today @WendyWagon and @BunniesBunniesBunnies ?

Beautiful sunrise over the tube station this morning, only slightly dimmed by the fact I am not allowed coffee!!

Thanks for the good wishes - there will be a lot of sitting around today so may rabbit on a bit later

Hi All,

Managed to sneak on again. Hope all goes well today @Onewildandpreciouslife ! Rabbit away!

We've reached Friday yet again, gosh this week has gone quickly...

Morning all.
Good luck today @Onewildandpreciouslife

Bunnies I hope you are feeling better.

Friday, hoorah. I have an interview today but non paying. We shall see.
Have a good one my friends.

Good luck with the interview @WendyWagon! Thanks for your wise words @Crunchymum, that makes a lot of sense.

I’m still feeling low but I am feeling a bit calmer and more balanced. Not drinking really really helps with that. I couldn’t face a hangover or hanxiety right now - that would finish me off! So I’m pleased I’m sober still. That’s something.

@BunniesBunniesBunnies Sorry to hear you're still feeling low but glad that you're feeling a bit calmer etc.

@WendyWagon Hope the interview has / is / will go well! I have been interviewing today which made me smile when I saw your post, we could have had a nice chat!

@Crayonpenny thank you. It seemed to go well. Charity thing. I am a bit concerned re all the issues in the news.
I may not go ahead with it.

I do need to start my new book. It takes me out of old routines. I can just curl up and read, excellent.

Hi all. Just checking in.
Friday. Day 12. Rocking a bit here.

I hate the cold weather and dark nights. I swear I have some Viking blood (parents are Scandinavian) and that just makes me want to drink, pillage and cause chaos all summer and then hide from the storms and drink all winter (and possibly grow a big beard, but my DH may draw the line at that). Pretty much sums me up really. I've entered what used to be known as my 'drunk hedgehog' phase- all hibernation, hairy legs and as many booze calories I can get my chubby little hands on, just to get through the winter.

I've got my paints out ready for watercolours by the fire. I tried to paint a bit yesterday, but what started as a summery wavy beach pic, turned into a tantrum and white knuckle gripping of the kitchen surfaces as I fought the urge to pour myself a first class drink of destruction juice.

I see some of you have been struggling too- yes, I totally agreed that the sudden whipping away of the sunshine, the doom and gloom in the papers, the cold and the fact that bills are rocketing and that Putin is going to blow up the world is totally pushing a few 'fuck it' buttons in my head.

So.

Deep breath. Taking my Viking hat off and going to Pinterest the crap out of hyyge. I'm going to embrace a sober winter. A holistic Halloween. A clean Christmas. A bender-free bonkfest?
God knows. All I know is right now I need to fill the whole in me that has been saturated by booze since I was about 14.

Sorry for the gloomy post.

I need a kick up the arse

Oh my word. I just read that back.
Boy that was dark!

Sorry!!! 🤦🤦🤦

Climbing the walls a bit here (and I've turned down drinks out with friends tonight which has definitely added to my Armageddon mood)

@WendyWagon I do know what you mean re the news. I work in finance and it's a bit of a concern at the moment - nothing is standing still.

Hi @glindathegoodbitch I certainly found that the more I was conscious of the thought of a drink, it was quite easy for it to become suffocating and it felt like it was just ever present. Have you had any joy with AF alternatives? They certainly helped me as I found a lot of it was filling a gap of a habit of that makes sense, the routine of holding a glass. 12 days is not something to be sniffed at though!!!

Hi @glindathegoodbitch - congratulations on day 12! I didn’t think your post was dark - it was very honest, and I think it’s healthy to get angry at what alcohol does to us.

It also gives me an excuse to post this, which made me giggle this week

@Onewildandpreciouslife
White Wotsits?

@glindathegoodbitch Well done. Honesty I believe shows the door to shame. I personally acknowledge my struggles. I didn't have a season for booze, just every reason!
I am actually off to get a huge glass of full fat milk. Ooh the joy!

My surgery was fine this morning, and I felt very smug telling the anaesthetist I don’t drink. Home now. Feeling a bit ick and headachy after the general, but not in pain.

Will get the biopsy results in a couple of weeks, and it’s testament to the benefits of being AF on my anxiety that I’ve hardly thought about that aspect at all - old me would have spent the last couple of weeks planning my funeral.

The other thing I’ve been working on this week is Not Feeling Guilty About Things That Are Not My Fault. I’m not usually very good at this (stems from a childhood of many hours trying to figure out what I’d done to put mum in a sulk. Thanks mum!). Had a couple of small wins on that this week that actually felt huge

Good evening everyone and happy Friday, just catching up on thread this week

@Onewildandpreciouslife glad op went well and hope you recover from the GA quickly

Keep going @glindathegoodbitch 12 days is amazing - it will get easier and remember no one ever regretted not drinking the night before

My big news of the week is I fell over. Not after drink - cruising into week 5 this weekend - but half asleep on my way to check the baby who woke up at 2am. I properly hit the deck and have a cut knee and a bruised arm!! But reflecting the next day, it was just a slightly amusing story to tell my mum / work colleagues etc. No guilt or shame as it was just a trip. But if I’d have been drinking then I would have been wracked with shame that I’d been stumbling around drunk, injuring myself, and certainly wouldn’t have told anyone but would have felt very anxious and guilty over it. So even though I’m a bit sore I think it was another good point to prove that not drinking is definitely the way forward

Oh my goodness- seem to be having a massive adrenaline surge -cannot switch off - must be the GA wearing off.

Just realised I REMEMBER THIS. This is exactly how it felt in the early days of being AF. So if you’re in the early days and pushing through the lack of sleep -respect!

Night all - especially if you’re still awake and lurking

@Onewildandpreciouslife I’m so glad the surgery went well and I hope you got some sleep!!!

Love that void fill meme. Beauty. Checking in and feeling a bit sorry myself but very sober. Still got awfully (all day) morning sickness and boss is being a nightmare and toddler super whingey. Plus it was my bday and just felt like such a damp squib.

No desire to drink (or do) anything but desperate to get my diet in better shape. DH and I are both eating way too much TA and all round food. Snacks instead of meals. The whole shebang. He's still drinking less in the week but going all but with his mates on weekends and I can't say I'm jealous of the resultant hangovers.

Best of luck to everyone.

Morning all.
A bit chilly here. One tea down.
Another sober Friday. Never thought I could do that nine months ago today. I am grateful for all the days I have woken up without the fear and loathing. It has been a real eye opener.
A few blips along the road but only one 'incident' that resulted in a scar on my forehead and lost knickers! (I add that I was at home and had just been 'let go' from my new job).
I have learnt a lot about me and those around me. I think I am a nicer person. It is certainly easier to deal with my roller-coaster life.
Have a peaceful, sober Saturday my friends.

9 months @WendyWagon ?! That’s awesome x