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

[Crunchymum]

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 @WendyWagon for hosting the last thread 💜

Here’s to the next 40 pages

I know how you feel Onewildandprecious life. I've been AF since March and strange to think that this will (hopefully) be my first sober Christmas since I was a young girl! I'm sixty bloody one today, so probably my first sober birthday since about 15/16 years of age. Scary thought.

You can do it. We can do it. (That's what I keep telling myself anyway!)

Morning all.
I am feeling a bit better today.
My daughter passed her driving test yesterday so she has wings!
I am avoiding the shops as I am struggling. I declined a lunch too because it was a regular falling down event. No way on God's earth could I sit through that. Another old friend has decided to blank me because I am not hosting. It's not about them. I need new friends!

@Guardsman18 happy birthday! Have a good one
@Onewildandpreciouslife sorry you feel a bit glum - rather you than me on a COLD run 👍
@WendyWagon congrats to your daughter
good to hear you feel a bit better
friends can be a disappointment can’t they? Sounds like you had some followers who can’t accept your positive changes.

Happy birthday @Guardsman18 ! I’ve been AF since March too - did Sober Spring and then kept going.

Congratulations to your daughter @WendyWagon ! Sorry to hear you’re struggling too, and that “friends” are letting you down.

My run has given me clarity that I’m actually just glum in general at the moment, and that I’m kidding myself that it’s lack of alcohol that’s causing it, or that alcohol will cure it.

The only way through this is to make lists of what needs doing, and do it. Onwards!

Morning everyone.
I had my first major twitch last night at a lovely dinner at a friend's house. When we arrived they were merrily pouring the red - I declined and said I wasn't drinking then had the WORST 10 minutes of doubt and inner tussle with the wine witch. Was horrible! It subsided almost completely when we sat down to eat and by the end of the night It was so glad I was clear headed and calm. But at the time it was awful - and totally unexpected.

Have a work Christmas do to navigate tomorrow but it's during the daytime so might be a bit easier... 🤞

In other news, I restarted couch to 5k last night - jumped in at week 5. Was lovely to be out again even if it was absolutely FREEZING 🥶. I do all my best thinking when I'm running, really need it to soothe my mood 🏃🏻‍♀️

@Onewildandpreciouslife - solidarity. I'm also feeling quite low in mood. Lots going on at the moment (other than Christmas) but I definitely feeling like hibernating under the duvet for a few weeks.

Just popping in to send solidarity to those who need it. @SillyLittleMargaret well done on the run!!! Running is my new boozing😁 All the endorphins without the hangover, woop woop

Hi all

Hang in there.. not many more days till Christmas, then it will be January and half the world will be giving up alcohol! Giving myself full permission to eat, drink and sleep to my hearts content over the next couple of weeks - anything goes but alcohol!

Happy Birthday @Guardsman18 and well done to your daughter @WendyWagon I hope you feel better soon. Well done to the runners.. the grass is all crisp and crunchy round here which is making dog walking a pleasure (no wet trainers!)

Ps: Treated myself to some new brushed cotton bedding on the weekend - paid for with saved wine money! Now my bed is all snuggly which doesn't getting up any easier but its toasty warm!

I'm really low today. I had to take the day off work because I feel so rough. And it was my Christmas do this evening which I'm missing. My husband has been cross with me all day because I'm sick and basically told me this morning that I'm going to lose my job because I'm always sick. I'm already worried as I've only been in this job for 6 weeks.

Sorry to hear you’re feeling low @MyGhastIsFlabbered and that your husband isn’t being supportive. Look after yourself this weekend

Morning all.
I had to go to bed early yesterday to keep myself away from temptation. Every ad, paper and shop is stacked with booze. Had a massive sleep and took myself off mumsnet. Friday night is angry drunk women bashing others, not for me.
I need to write Christmas cards. I love a card although we don't seem to receive many these days.
Have a peaceful weekend all.

Morning all. I've got a massive piece of work to finish over the weekend and so will be working hard but so excited to get it finished.

It's snowing here and I can feel the chill. I won't be venturing out much though.

Happy birthday for yesterday @Guardsman18. Well done to your daughter passing driving test @WendyWagon and hope you enjoyed your long sleep.
Hope you're feeling better @MyGhastIsFlabbered.
Sending nods and understanding to the people that are struggling- there's alcohol everywhere at the moment. My DH went on his works do at 1pm on Thursday and arrived home at 10pm totally coherent and fine. If that had been me I would have been absolutely hammered...just says it all really...

300 days today (10 months on the 13th!)

I love a milestone 😁

Bought a bottle of Baileys earlier this week (it's a gift and was on special offer) but I've found it quite unsettling. Baileys is definitely synonymous with Christmas for me.

Thankfully I'll be giving it to the recipient in the next few days!!!

I've had booze in the house the whole time I've been AF and I don't give it a second thought but Baileys has to join the other drink I can't have in the house [my literal poison, one brand of Rioja that I drank by the truck load back when I was drinking]

Happy Anniversary @Crunchymum that's an awesome milestone!

Big hugs to all those feeling low, unwell or chilly. I just polished off a massive hot chocolate and I'm thinking of putting on my pjs before the football. The alcohol advertising is rife at the moment - I'm having a quiet chuckle to myself that many of those getting pickled right now will be singing the virtues of dry January in 3 weeks time.. we are early adopters!! 😁

300 days is amazing. The longest I managed (aside from pregnancy) was about 100 days.

It's weird, alcohol is virtually rammed down our throats this time of year; I swing from pining for it to thinking all the 'Prosecco o'clock' nonsense is a bit pathetic really. Not in a sneery way but it's sad how enmeshed into our society it is. Kind of liking the idea that I'm free of it

Woo hoo! 300 days is amazing @Crunchymum

@Crunchymum high five !!
well done you - big achievement

Morning all. Cold here. - 5 yesterday.
@Crunchymum huge congrats. I was never really a red wine drinker so no triggers for me. We have booze in the house but not my poisons. I actually don't like the smell of sav blanc anymore which is bizzare. I remember reading a first quit lit (Craig something?) he said wine was rotten fruit and water. I thought the man's mad. I agree now. Too fusty.
I have reached the top of the waiting list for the health club so will be joining from January. I was going to have some further counselling as I have not been tiggler lately. However bff said try the swimming first. It might give you headspace. Cheaper too.
As others have said in three weeks everyone will be giving up the booze so my busy mind might get some peace.
Have a peaceful day my friends.

Morning all, well done @Crunchymum that's amazing!! Love the rotten fruit and water idea I'm pinching that. Freezing here this morning 🥶 gotta get my arse I. Hear as I have a man with a van turning up at 10! I'm half and half packed. We have to have left the temp flat by Monday but currently have no electricity or gas at the new house due to the engineer not turning up on Friday afternoon.. woohoo! I was cross and could have easily cracked open a bottle of wine to numb out all the madness but I absolutely refuse to break my dry streak!! Kids were with him yesterday whilst I got things done, I went to collect them around 8pm all watching the match of course.. one and a half bottles of red wine in.. he was visibly drunk in charge of my two kids! Worse still was he was trying to get me to join in and have one glass (knowing I can't have one).. the enabler has no control over me anymore. Real eye opener moment for me last night.

Right, one more cuppa and I'm getting up to sort this day out 🫣 have a fabulous AF Sunday xx

Morning all
Well done @Crunchymum on 300 days. @rockingbird you are so inspiring, hope the packing goes swimmingly and the gas and leccy are working very very soon in your new home.
@WendyWagon exercise is definitely good for the soul (and mind). I'm not doing much at the moment because of a deadline but looking forward to getting back on it with some yoga

It's weird @rockingbird how people drink lots with kids. How do they manage if they needed to get to the hospital? I was staggered how many people were pissed in A & E last week. We really do have to change the dialogue in this country.

Ok, I'm here to confess that I slipped yesterday.
I'm gutted having to write this but I've done lots of thinking and I'm on the way to reconciling it in my mind.
It was my work Christmas do and I didn't even give trying to be AF a chance, just grabbed a beer to 'fit in'. I didn't go mad and I came home earlier than a lot of others, but felt dreadful all evening then - hungover and rubbish. Wasted the whole evening flipping around. I'd planned to go and see my Dad and spend the evinced doing something nice with my son who is home for Christmas, but obviously none of that happened. I'm annoyed and disappointed with myself - 43 days and now back to 0.
But...I didn't enjoy it and am certain I'd have had exactly the same time if I'd been sober. So that's a win in a strange way isn't it?

@SillyLittleMargaret you can park the incident and move on. We are not here to judge only support. We don't recommend moderation on this thread due triggering others. Personally I am hiding as I am overwhelmed. We all have our demons.
I don't remember my blips bar one 11 months on. It does become easier, the cravings less frequent. This time of year is a nightmare.

@WendyWagon thank you.
I've got no intention of trying to moderate - it was always about being AF. It is just a slip as you say and I'm confident it won't be the start of drinking again - it made me feel SO rubbish. Full of self-doubt and loathing today.