The Freedom Thread (continued) - A thread for people wanting to enjoy an alcohol free life. Everyone welcome!

[BunniesBunniesBunnies]

This is a thread for people who want to live an alcohol free life! These threads were started about three years ago by @DryBird2020 and they have been a continued source of support for people at all stages of sobriety. Whether you are one day, one month or one year sober - You are welcome! The only thing we ask if that you have committed to stopping drinking when you join the thread (as talk to drinking or moderation may be triggering to some of our posters).

My name is @Bunnies and I am almost 1000 days sober, in no small part thanks to this amazing supportive community. I hope to see many new and old posters on this thread!

Happy sober 2023 all!

Well done on your 300 days @Onewildandpreciouslife .

How did yesterday go @WendyWagon ? I hope you're doing ok today. Sounds exciting on the job front.

@StayingVigilant how annoying! Inthe time where I have been thinking about giving up my Friday and Saturday nights I have been in the supermarket and it's given me a whole new understanding of just how difficult it is to give up alcohol in the UK. It's just everywhere and friends like those don't help. It wouldn't be so hard in Spain ( where I have also lived). You'd be much more likely to be questioned there on drinking too much.

My mum died of alcoholic liver disease 15 years ago and more and more I feel how hard the availability of alcohol made it for her. My brother is alive but the same (although I don't have contact with him for other reasons). I've been through detoxes with both of them and then they both just walked straight to the corner shop, less than five minutes away..

I congratulate you all on your will power.

I managed last night. I did have to have a talk with myself but I also bought a pudding which I normally never eat as I thought it would help replace the sugar in wine. It's made me recognise how tired I am on Fridays. For a long time I have felt I just drink to keep awake and now I know that's true. I wanted to go to bed last night and my DH pointed out it was 7.30!

Sorry cross posted with @WendyWagon. Best wishes for your hard day. Grit your teeth.

Good luck @WendyWagon you’ve got this!!
Last night was good. A bit of a late one, leaving there’s at around 1am - pleased I took lots of cans of AF G&T. They drank a LOT, especially him. Didn’t seem drunk though. He talked about needing to cut down etc as he poured full to the brim glasses of wine. He was talking about his sleep apnoeas - I mentioned alcohol explained. Just wish he’d give AF a go. But I wasn’t remotely zealous. And the conversation around alcohol eas very much a general health convo. Anyway, it was a really good night!

I’m more disappointed in DH who said he’d do dry January and has actually not even managed a week!

I hope it goes as well as it can do today @WendyWagon

@WendyWagon we are all there with you today,
straightening your hat
giving you a hug
handing you a tissue
cheering you on
x

Sending you lots of love and light for today @WendyWagon ❤️

Hi
Sorry I've been absent
Still sober and still thinking of you all

Quick check in. Following and thinking of u all. AF day 13. Morning run complete for the first time ever without needing to shake off wine cobwebs! What great suggestions and positive energy on this thread. Sending good wishes to all for today.

@StayingVigilant best of luck tonight. I was thinking of Catherine Grays trapdoor technique for leaving parties - bailing when you need to without telling anyone. I can see where it would be useful but unfortunately not for dinner party! Sounds like you are all prepared tho - good woman!

@2023forme thinking of you. Sounds like such a tough situation but u are doing all the right things! I might invest in some new sheets and home tidying improvement too. Just get through this wkd and u will have done brilliantly! Sending positive vibes ur way.

Hope today goes ok @WendyWagon. Thinking of u. And congrats to the job development front - u must be really talented at what u do.

@MerylSqueak it must be so hard for u given all ur own losses and grief. Totally agree with being kind to ourselves (and u need an extra portion of that given ur family history. ) All positive thoughts ur way.

Sorry I've missed names as need to get off the bus now ... but Thx for all the great advice. I'm doing good here, but haven't hit any tricky social situations yet so trying to build up stamina so I can stay AF beyond January. Some amazing people on here doing so well despite the struggles - keep it up! Let's get thru this wkd xxx

Day 70 today. If I remember rightly this is where it got tough last year. But day 80 I was really bored of sobriety though maybe that's because I set myself a 100 day target and the end was in sight. Maybe it will be easier this year

@MyGhastIsFlabbered I’m pretty sure you are better equipped this time round - believe in yourself.

@FridayImInLove1 what a super upbeat post. Two weeks is an important milestone 👍

Good morning! Found last night a little tough ... I was cuddled up on the sofa with an excellent book - How to Stop Time the guy who wrote the Midnight Library. Thought a glass of red wine may be a good addition. But no! Large mug of berry tea ... 5 or so minutes later the craving had gone. So a full two weeks complete. Have a terrific Sunday ... hope I haven't put you back to sleep with my super dull reflection

Morning all - morning cuppa (x2!) done
got plenty of ‘at home’ jobs to do today so going to get started soon.

hope your Saturday went okay and Sunday has something fun in store.

@WendyWagon thinking of you and hoping you got to spend time with friends yesterday. Guessing it was a tough day but hope there was space for reminiscing and smiles about your friend.

Look after yourselves

Morning all.
Really interesting about the tiredness on Friday night @MerylSqueak - it’s so easy to think “I want a drink” when actually there’s something else completely different going on. I was the same with boredom last night - had to tell myself that yes, I was bored, and no a drink wouldn’t help, but was very pleased when I could justify going to bed!

@MyGhastIsFlabbered - it’s good to be aware of these things, but you may be in a different place this time round. I once read something by an endurance swimmer who said “ the times your mind will most want to give in are just after the start and just before the end. If you’re aware of that you can plan for it”. I know I have issues around milestones- the old “forever” panic kicks in - so now I plan myself a treat for the other side.

Hope you’re ok @WendyWagon

Well done on your two weeks @halfthesun !

Thank you @Onewildandpreciouslife .... How is your journey?

Morning all. Yesterday was OK.
I am glad the full Sav family went as not as many people as I thought.
Doing OK until a poem from Winnie the Poo. That was it for me. Even my big strapping son was in bits.
Quiet day today and first directors meeting of the new job tomorrow. I shall need my big sleep and sharpened new pencils.
Have a peaceful day my friends.

Afternoon all. Have had a mad busy couple of days so just catching up with a cup of tea and a bacon sarnie. It’s finally dawned on me that I am allowed to have a lazy Sunday without being hungover! @WendyWagon I hope you get your similarly quiet day, yesterday sounded tough (but you smashed it) and big day tomorrow too. Eat all the fish and chips you like!

Belated 300 day anniversary @Onewildandpreciouslife thats an awesome achievement. I can identify with your quote.. my mind likes to tell me I need the loo right at the beginning of a run and towards the end it tells me I’ll die if I don’t have chocolate!

@MyGhastIsFlabbered I’m dying to know if you found your spoons?! Most of ours end up in the kids bedrooms.. grrr!
@halfthesun i love Matt Haig books. Well done for pushing through the craving

@2023forme a trauma based therapist or counsellor sounds like a good way forward. I’ve used Counselling Directory in the past as it and found it helpful.

Some encouragement for those new on the journey.. I saw a good friend for dinner last night who I’ve not seen since Sept time. After several minutes of scrutinising me across the table she said ‘have you had work done?!?’ When I said it was because I wasn’t drinking she said “heck, no, dry January doesn’t do that!”

So I guess it goes to show the magic really does start happening after 100 days?!

@Stircrazyschoolmum what an observant friend you have! I hope you felt suitably glowing in the light of her scrutiny and comments. Sober Sundays are the best.

I'm behind again.. Just a quick post @StayingVigilant for a hot toddy try a ginger cordial (Belvoir is nice) with hot water, honey and spices. I know you can do a mulled wine equivalent with Wilfreds.

That’s a good idea. I could make a AF mulled apple juice or a mulled ginger. My teens would like that too.

I found it a very acceptable alternative to an alcohol based toddy. The Wilfreds works with tonic, or ginger ale, or ginger beer, especially with a huge ice cube and a slice of orange or sweet grapefruit.

Thanks for the soft drink recommendations
I've been feeling a bit cocky and smug with all the dry Januaryers repetitions g how tough it is

Morning

Have been struggling, not with no alcohol but with emotions. So am sitting with them and exploring why.
I have used alcohol to (try) and get rid of them in the past so of course that didn't work and they're still there!
Wish me luck!

Have a great day everyone and at some point I will catch up with this thread

Morning all.
Good to see you @Kindtomyself . Those emotions are tricky little blighters aren’t they?! Good luck with them.
Im struggling a bit with DH’s moods at the moment- had a very brief intense urge to drink last night to escape them, but it passed without too much wrestling.
Hope you’re bearing up @WendyWagon x