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

Morning all

Been quiet for a couple of days as lots to catch up on post holiday - the washing mountain was quite impressive and we were down to the last toilet roll!!

@Crunchymum have a wonderful holiday, going somewhere familiar sounds less stressful than the unknown and with 3 kids you have my full respect!

@Onewildandpreciouslife that was a lovely poem. I love trees and everything they stand for - a bit of leaf kicking usually improves my mood no end (although they are all far too soggy in London this morning!)

@WendyWagon its so lovely to hear about your blossoming relationship with your daughter, my sense is you are providing her with a secure base which equips her to spread her wings and soar. I hope your good mood continues into the week ahead. xx

@junipermarten awesome job! The first week is in my mind one of the worst as every evening is a decision point. Keep at it, I hope you are feeling some benefits?

I'm a week away from completing my first completely Sober October in several years. I usually give it a go and cheat a bit a long the way.. Its been nice to have a cast iron reason not to drink and I think I'm feeling a bit anxious around what it will be like next Monday without one. My mindset is very much committed, but I know how persuasive the wine witch can be - I guess all I can do is keep taking it one step at a time and to keep checking in with like minded people. Thank you for your ongoing support - it really means something.

Morning all

Beautiful fresh day here in my part of Scotland. Got the patio doors open as I tidy and clean my house. I have always liked Mondays off to reset after the weekend. House is empty (ish) and I can get on with it at my own pace with only the cat underfoot. (Cur her wailing at me - her ears must have been burning).

Massive well done on getting through your first week juniper. Just keep taking one day at a time and the weeks will start racking up.

Morning wendywagon. Well done at resisting the 'cabbage' run. It's so easy to get smug on the days the wine witch is quiet but both these early days and the days that there is a pull to drink ate the ones we should be really proud of.

stircrazyschoolmum well done ony your SoberOctober. Remember it's just thr name of a month. There was nothing magical about October that stopped you from drinking. If you can do it in October you can do it in November. Would it help to think of doing a dry November? Just take each month as it comes (with no set intention to drink after )

Happy Monday!

Sounds like it's been a great couple of days with achievements 😊 Great work @junipermarten (first week is certainly a tester and you've done really well), @Stircrazyschoolmum Almost a full month is smashing it! A new target so to speak, like breathmiller mentions, might be useful? I found it a little bit unsettling thinking my crutch was going to go and found setting a new milestone helped in terms of mindset.
@WendyWagon That's good work re resistance, hope all the business stuff managed to get cleared and didn't dominate your Sunday.

@Breathmiller That sounds an absolutely gorgeous start to the week. Not envious at all (complete lie quite frankly)!

In other news, my Sunday was quite busy. New family addition - just when I was viewing the new born days through rose tinted specs...

Morning all. Had an awful migraine yesterday morning, and have been feeling fuzzy headed ever since. On the plus side, it was good to know that alcohol played no part whatsoever in my headache and vomiting. Every cloud, eh?

Great to see lots of positive posts on a Monday morning!

@Crunchymum - your last minute holiday sounds a brilliant idea.

well done @junipermarten and @Stircrazyschoolmum on your achievements- keep going, one day at a time.

@WendyWagon - such lovely news about your dd. And well done for resisting yesterday.

oh my goodness @Crayonpenny - they’re gorgeous! Is it a cocker? I got my boy just over a year ago, having held out against the kids and DH for years, and am completely in love with mine. I’ve even suggested getting him a puppy companion, but no one agrees with me

crayonpenny oh my!!! Sooo gorgeous. 😍

@Crayonpenny
Lovely.
I have a cockapoo.

@Crayonpenny he/she is the absolute cutest!!

Another dog owner here... I have a five-year-old working cocker who is a complete twit and the family therapy dog. Sometimes it feels like a third child but we wouldn't be without him!

Well if anyone wants babies I have a three year old male cockapoo out of a crufts champion looking for a lady! (Pimping my dog).

Hi All,

@Onewildandpreciouslife I hope you're starting to feel better now after the migraine etc.

He is a cocker yes, I was also holding out - had a Labrador a few years ago - but I subsequently melted! He seems to be training my children at the moment so I'm not complaining though. I can't say I'm enamoured by the snacks of sprats though, my fridge is interesting now.

< squeal >

Baby dog.... OMG. Absolutely gorgeous.

What's his name?

After ruling out suggestions of 'chicken nugget', 'chip' and my 4 year old son wanting to name it the same name he has (probably would have had a benefit when out on a walk with them both), we decided on Barney.

Day 2 and he has already got us wrapped round his little paws, wfh could be interesting for me!!

Thank you all for the sober well wishes. I honestly don't know why it was so painless, like @Stircrazyschoolmum I've also done Sober October, maybe 2-3 years ago, and it was TOUGH. In fact, I was part of a thread on MN about it and I posted a photo of me pouring a bottle of wine down the sink. Well done @Stircrazyschoolmum!

I did have have 3/4 of a bottle of wine in the fridge leftover from last weekend and a unopened bottle of prosecco. I couldn't tell you if they're even still in there. I noticed during the week the wine was going down so my husband must've been drinking it. He never touches white, always red, he drinks more than me and I'm guessing he must've run out of his...

As for feeling the benefits, at work today definitely. I wasn't bone-crushingly tired after a weekend on the sauce. The only issue I did have was that I went to bed far too late on Friday and Saturday which mucked up my days off a bit but I could still get things done as opposed to being knackered and cranky all weekend. And I've noticed I've eaten less?? I didn't think that was a thing. Usually I'm craving carbs and sweet things but I've not been snacking on as much junk or as hungry overall.

@Crayonpenny Barney is gorgeous! We're moving house soon, we're buying after renting for so long and I have always said that when we get our own house I'll be getting a dog. I've started tentatively looking at doggy things online but I'm a bit nervous making that leap. It's been such a long time since I've had a dog. And it's a huge commitment. I think it will happen at some point, I just don't know when yet.

I loved Chicken Nugget @Crayonpenny

Suggested it for our kitten (it was vetoed along with Gary the girl cat [full name] )

I also have a 4yo and can see the benefit in having the 4yo / puppy with the same name 😂 but Barney suits him so much.
Maybe change the 4yo's name to Barney
😅

Good luck with it all. Pets are so rewarding. They never back chat me like the kids do and are always grateful for whatever grub they get!!

When we picked our dog’s name, we honestly didn’t notice it rhymed with my son’s name. Now I call them both the wrong name all the time, and neither knows which one’s being called. Both ignore me anyway 🤣

Morning lads,

Off to look at a ' new to the market' cottage this lunchtime. Big garden which the other one hasn't. Have been busy with new company details. Forgot to have my faux drink last night. I had tea! I am turning into the woman from Father Ted. At least no longer Father Jack clone!

Hi Everyone,

@Onewildandpreciouslife Haha, made me smile. I'm already on that path, 4 year old needed to turn his tablet down so I asked the dog to turn the volume down. Dog looked quizzical, 4 year old turned volume down anyway! @Crunchymum If all else fails, 4 year old getting renamed, seems more compliant if bribed by some chocolate. I love the name Gary for the cat BTW!

Good luck with the cottage today @WendyWagon !

Barney is a fab name. I love his nose! You just want to boop it.

I call all my kids and husband and animals by each other's names. I sometimes roll through quite a few before admitting defeat and calling them human shaped thingy. Seems to amuse everyone, my inability to remember my offsprings names since I was the one that gave them said names. 🤣

Well done on forgetting to drink an AF drink wendywagon. I actually found that quite a step forward. When I no longer needed an "alternative" in a glass. It's all a step further down the path of changing habits and patterns.

I went out last night after dinner and treated myself to a little tea pot. In fact two matching ones. A small individual one for me on my own and a matching bigger one for when I am sharing a tea with someone. I would never have done that before. Going out in the evening was the "wine and snacks" run. Laterally just the "snack" run. Now, I am much more likely to "treat" myself to an evening meander round TKMaxx and a new pot for my knew kitchen or a tea pot.

I look forward to my evening cup of tea every night now. I don't need an AF in a booze glass. I keep that for weekends. But to be honest don't even do that every weekend either now. It's very freeing.

Thanks for the shiny new thread @Crunchymum and thanks for the last one @WendyWagon

I reached, and passed the 6 month milestone but my brain continues to try and trick me into “just having one.”

I’m a week away from 7 months and still feeling like I have to be vigilant most of the time for the wine witch/poison parrot to be muttering sweet nothings in my ear. My most useful tool is playing the tape forward. What will happen if I do have a drink? Will it be all fluffy and heartwarming good times? The answer is a definite no! It’ll be a cesspit of anxiety, shame, lying and being physically unwell among other things.
I can’t drink. Now I’ve got a few months af under my belt, quitting for good is not nearly as daunting as it was back in the beginning.

I’ve been going to smart recovery meetings via zoom. It helps me. It gives me motivation to keep going on my af journey.

My dh is still af (he quit the same time as me) but is giving off the “I’m trying to make you cave first so I can have a drink vibe.” All done in supposed jest. We’ve not fallen out about it. I’ve just ignored the unhelpful comments. I’m not sure how to deal with them tbh. He’s going through his own battles. I can’t be responsible for them too.

Hope everyone new and veterans are doing well xxx

Also thanks @Onewildandpreciouslife for pointing me to this thread. I somehow got the old and new mixed up🤦🏻‍♀️

Morning all.
Hello (again!) @JesusSufferingFuck22 . My DH is one of those rare creatures - a moderate drinker. He will drink AF beers all night, have a glass of wine with dinner, then go back to AF beers. I have absolutely no idea how he does this. He’s always been like this - his mates tease him because he always drinks so slowly.

I feel like I’m slowly emerging from a fog. I think the general anaesthetic plus a Covid booster, followed by a migraine and messing up my AD dose, all took their toll. I also did some gentle stretching yesterday - it’s amazing how even moving your body just a little makes you feel so much better.

Have a good day all.

Hi Everyone

Glad to hear you're starting to feel better @Onewildandpreciouslife you certainly had a load of things happening close together!

@JesusSufferingFuck22 . Firstly that's great re 6 months and also 7 months in touching distance!

Your previous post was really interesting @Breathmiller - (loved the comment on human shaped thingy by the way 😂!) well they all are but the one about AF drink scale back. I still feel I'm leaning on AF drinks as a bit of a habit, a better habit than before but certainly one I want to dry and break the link with. I feel I'm moving away slowly, in part due to Barney exhaustion!, but it's still pretty present.

Morning all.
@Onewildandpreciouslife I have a DH the same as yours slow drinker, slow eater. Old joke but he has rum older than our 19 yr old DD!
All feeling a bit odd. Mad bff crashed the business idea. The DS has put a stop to that as he is a financial bod. No dodgy people allowed. I managed to get my point across without resulting to wine and a teary email. I hate letting people down but I can't let other peoples' past effect my future. I have done it before , giving jobs to old friends that piddle on my strawberries and let me down. I am a sucker for a hard luck story (and love bombing). Two bottles of champagne and I was anyones!
Yesterdays cottage was dark and miserable. Too small. Even tho the DD is off to university I need some space.
I'll stick with the glammy one. DH said cough up dear Sav.

Congrats @JesusSufferingFuck22 !!!!😁😁😁