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

Happy birthday @WendyWagon hope you have a lovely happy day spoiling yourself!

About to go and supervise DCs birthday party myself - nice to be clear headed and not slightly hungover which I certainly would have been before.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Not sure if I'd find a red too triggering (rioja was my poison) but Sainsburys doesn't seem to have it in stock to add to the Xmas delivery anyway. 🤔

I live near a decent sized Sainsburys and their AF selection in store is rubbish but at the moment it's non existent (expect it will improve to cash in on on all Dry January traffic)

@Crunchymum I'm finding that after a year I'm really not fussed on the real thing so fake is enough to make me feel like I'm having a grown up drink. I did think that red was pretty good so if you think it would be a gateway to the real thing then probably best to steer clear!

Much birthday happiness to you wendywagon. 🥳

I've been out today to get the shopping that I can a week before. Managed to get more than I thought. Handy having a freezer (only delivered on Thursday).

I got a few boxes of tins of tesco AF G&T. Still to get some Nozecco (cheaper at Home Bargains. And treated myself to 2 bottles of AF red that I found at a little independent shop. I tried one a few months ago and it's lovely. I don't know if it's time or that it isn't quite like my favourite tipple but it doesn't trigger me. I've avoided red wine alternatives until now. I also treated myself to Everleaf which is nice with soda. My friend usually makes me a non-alcoholic ginger wine and it's so nice together with the everleaf. My dd is in charge of making an AF cocktail so I'm looking forward to that. Might make some mulled wine with the red wine. So, I am feeling really good. Don't feel I'm missing out.

Hello all...it's been a long time since I posted on these threads, good to see they are still going! I'm almost 18 months sober now. Despite having done one sober Christmas, I'm finding this year really hard, not sure why really. Any tips for getting through the festive season (that seems to be all about alcohol for so many people!)?

Sounds like a lovely birthday @WendyWagon.

@FieldGuide 18 months is flipping brilliant. I think many people found this year hard, it’s been a bit of a strange year in many ways hasn’t it.
what I find helpful this time of year is:

• having low expectations and not putting pressure on myself in terms of elaborate dinners/kids behaviour/too many planned tripped
• exercise (yeah I know I keep hanging on about this but a short run here and there makes SO much difference)
• getting loads of nice non alcohol treats in
• enjoying hangover free mornings
• being proud of myself for another sober year

im sure other people will have more suggestions!

@Breathmiller im jealous you’ve managed to Christmas shop! I haven’t braved it yet… trying to think of when the best time would be and hopefully will
avoid having to bring the kids😂

Happy birthday @WendyWagon enjoy Netflix! Well done on locating the blood orange!

Happy Birthday @WendyWagon hope
it has been a fab day. Nothing new in my world other than being grateful everytime I have to drive the DS1’s GF home that I no longer drink. I’ve been a bit more selfish and less of a people pleaser. Though that might be the counselling.. but being AF certainly makes me question why I do something. Do I WANT to or was it an excuse to have a drink (or 10). Looking forward to a sober Christmas. Just generally finding life so mush easier to manage these days. In frequent pangs for a drink quashed much more easily than ever. Hope this feeling lasts!! 10 months and counting..

I do however struggle with not yelling at DH JUST GIVE UP THE POISON very time he isn’t feeling quite ‘right’ having a ‘bit of a bug’ or a bit under the weather 🙄 every bloody weekend.

i Wonder if he will ever register the connection to drinking??

Might ask him to try dry Jan and see how he feels. Although he is pretty adverse to any sort of trends, and isn’t a heavy drinker so not a problem for me if he drinks, only for him. I don’t know if you can stop without the motivation to do it yourself. So probably no point.

Thank you @BunniesBunniesBunnies that is helpful. Going to see what treats I can get in for myself. I've been trying to eat healthily and I feel as though I have been denying myself nice things, I don't think that helps.
I think as well maybe I need to spend a bit of time just remembering why I started this.
Well done to everyone here whatever stage you are at. It is worth it 🙂

Happy Birthday @WendyWagon , what a year it has been for you! Hope you have had a lovely day.

@StayingVigilant you made me think, talking about all the gins. One of the straws that broke my back was a birthday when all I seemed to be unwrapping was gin after gin after gin… That wasn’t the moment when I stopped, but it was definitely a pause for thought. In the supermarket last week I walked past an end of aisle flour promotion, followed by an end of aisle egg promotion, followed by an end of aisle gin promotion with dozens of different gins. The whole of the alcohol aisle looked like a party, with flags and bunting. And yet when we tip over into January in a fortnight’s time it will all be about detox, dry January, healthy new resolutions. Just before champagne and chocolates for Valentines. Grrr. Supermarkets really annoy me this time of year.
Anyway. Holding strong here. I’ve started ordering AF beer online, and dh got some AF fizz in for Christmas, along with some Wilfred’s. I shall pick up some ginger beer and some pink lemonade this week and then I think we’ll be ready. Maybe some nice tea too. Christmas definitely feels better without the hangovers.
Sorry for being away for a bit. We all got a second dose of covid. I had finally got to running 5k just before that too, but judging by how exhausted I get now just from walking to the shops, it’s going to be a little while before I get back to that distance. It’s been too icy to cycle too so I’m feeling a bit out of balance. And a bit grumpy too, apparently

Sorry to hear you’ve been unwell @Blackberryblossom and hope you’re able to resume your running soon. Can I ask what ‘wilfreds’ is please?

Hi. Please May I join?
I've been on and off the wagon for a while now and I've just realised that yesterday's wine (which I didn't even really enjoy) has stolen my morning from me. Today is day zero. I want to have the best Christmas I can which means one without alcohol.
Can I check in here?

Another new joiner here! Hi wanttobesober 👋

I was sober for 2 years, decided last Christmas Eve I could drink sensibly and one year later i can see it’s just not possible for me. So rather than spend the next few weeks caning it before I give up again on 1 January, Im starting now.

Hi everyone. 6 weeks in for me now and so far it's been easier than I anticipated. But that may be because I've been feeling like shit for the last couple of weeks and have had no desire to drink at all.

Also I think in the past whenever I've given up I've set myself a target, eg Dry January, October and kind of hoped the urge to drink would have left me by the time I got to the end of whatever that target was. This time it's different and I'm giving up completely.

Yay Pickled
I'm ready with my j20 glitterberry, Lyres orange with tonic, mulled fruit punch and hot ribena

Great news ghast
Totally agree that zero is best. Nothing else is sustainable, it's a con (for me anyway) and I'm really looking forward to another sober Christmas

Thank you @StayingVigilant . Wilfred’s is an AF apero - bitter orange, rosemary and rhubarb. It’s good with tonic water, ginger beer, ginger ale, (apparently) AF fizz & bitters though I haven’t tried that last one yet. I use it as a sloe gin substitute in rhubarb crumble or roasted rhubarb too. It is quite spendy though, I buy it direct from the wilfredsdrinks website whenever they have it on offer.
welcome @wanttobesober and @pickledsausage , you are in the right place.
Congratulations @MyGhastIsFlabbered on six weeks, that’s a great achievement! It still counts even if you’ve been under the weather for some of it. I absolutely agree that it’s different stopping for good. The “urge to drink” never left me all the times I left the door open for it by trying to moderate. It always hung onto that promise and left its foot in the door. Even though the urge hangs around and still pops up in odd places, I know after after trying abstinence for the first 30/100 days that I can deal with that urge and what tools that I need in my toolset to do so.

Good morning all, welcome @wanttobesober! You're in the right place, this lovely group are very supportive and knowledgeable. Like you I've dipped in and out thinking I can moderate but realise now it's not an option.. I think once you've made that decision it becomes more final which is a little daunting. Stick around and count those AF days up 😉

@Blackberryblossom I also had a moment one year when pretty much every present was a bottle of something - mostly gin. I could knock that back pretty much neat 3 years back 😵‍💫 so sorry to hear you've been struck down again with Covid. Take it easy and try not to do much too soon - frustrating I know as you've done so well with the running.

@FieldGuide I hear you! So apprehensive about Christmas and the drinks flowing. I'm actively avoiding social situations this year as I just don't have the brain power for it right now. But let's not forget how far we have come.. sober Christmas morning is most definitely something to be proud of. Take the small AF wins every day! We are going over to stexh for lunch.. much to my dismay (a whole new story) .. he will no doubt be pissed by 12 and dinner if we are lucky will be served by 5! I'm going to find myself a 0% alcohol drink to take with me. He will try his best to get me to drink but it's not going to happen 🙅‍♀️ this will be the one and only Christmas will partake in his nonsense.

It's the final week before the big man arrives.. I have one present in the boot of my car.. the new house is taking shape slowly and we have our beloved dog back. I won't be sorry to see the back of this year BUT there's been some massive changes in my life and that includes my AF journey which has most definitely helped me get through this shit show. Could I have done it on a bottle of wine + a night.. nope not a chance. In fact I fear something terrible may well have happened to me. I was looking back through this years photos on my phone.. I'm so bloated, I've had all these unexplained bruises and let's not forget the final fall that brought me here.. scarred for life - as if I didn't need a reminder of that awful night.

Can you tell I'm having a day of reflection 🤪 as you were people.. I'll scuttle off and sort some stuff out. Happy Monday to you all xxx

Urgh the stupid app is still virtually unuasble for me (reported several times, not fixed) so I am on the work laptop!!

@Stircrazyschoolmum thank you for asking about the kitten. He (we think he now not she vets in Jan to confirm ) is actually being quite restrained. We did put up the crappy tree a week earlier and both cats trashed that so maybe they got it out of their system? He is so bloody naughty though, as kittens of course are. He is also utterly lovely.

How is your wee puppy? (I hope I have the right poster?? I wished some other poster a happy house move recently instead of yourself ha ha!)

Welcome to the re-joiners and the new joiners. It is a difficult time of year and I know people can be struggling. I am 10 months AF and strong in my sobriety overall but man Christmas time really rams the booze down your throat doesn't it? metaphorically speaking of course.

I am using this thread to help me stay strong. I don't want to talk about what if's and moderation. That isn't for me. I don't drink, I am AF by choice.

It's weird as several people - who know my story - have asked me if I am going to have "a few... as it's Christmas". A few drinks never was just a few drinks for me. So no I won't be having a few to "celebrate" the festive period. Otherwise I'd be back to a bottle of wine a day in no time!

Sorry @Stircrazyschoolmum I think am still getting you and @rockingbird mixed up (sorry RockingBird too)

I can't even blame the app as I was mixing you up before it all went weird for me.

Apologies ladies xxx

@Crunchymum I have neither moved house or have a puppy 🤣🤣🤣 I do have a naughty cat and dog though.. the cat has broken 3 baubles so far (shatter proof are definitely the way forward) and the dog will chew up or steal anything left in reach!

Nearing 100 days for me.. I can’t see why I’d punish myself with a few drinks at Christmas, my gift to myself this year is clear skin, a clear head, quality family time that I can remember and a good nights sleep!!

Also intrigued by the Wilfred’s!!

Morning all. Wilfreds sounds great.
Thanks for all the birthday wishes. I watched two favourite movies.
I go out a lot for work so not bothered about dinning out on my birthday. I had a Waitrose treat. Off to London tomorrow for a lunch. Will be great to see the lights.

Welcome@wanttobesober @pickledsausage I was slowing down on the booze last December but did have two huge parties before going af on January 8th.

This year I am not even buying any wine. Friends tend to bring their own. We have plenty of Baileys beer etc which I hate and they love. Will be spending the dosh on a new mattress.
Off out with the daughter driving.

I am so sorry @Stircrazyschoolmum 😂

I don't even think the puppy and house mover are one and the same poster either.

I think I just need to give up now !!!

On my way home and have cravings 🙁
Must be strong