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!

I'm happy to follow somewhere else but I would need signposts! I've never heard of OTBT!

@Gymspiration "(who knew Sundays had mornings?!)" Yes! I was flabberghasted to discover that too! Right with you there :)

Morning all. Thanks for all of the support.
I am still here I just won't be writing anymore monologues! (might be a good thing😁).
I don't want to take anything away from this thread or the ones before it. It has been great for me. You are welcome to pm me. Sav x

General question. Has anyone here found and listened to any of the many Relaxation / (Self-) Hypnosis videos on YouTube? I've been listening to at least one a day, usually while going to sleep and I find them enormously useful. Could someone let me know if it' OK to post links here and if so, I'll put a couple that I've found particulalry effective. Many thanks.

Checking in after a long time. Been af since April last year. 300 days so far! This thread helped immensely. I still can’t believe I’ve actual managed this long. It’s not impossible. I told myself so many times I couldn’t do it. What’s the point anyway? Etc, etc, etc. All lies from the poison parrot on my shoulder.
Life still has the same challenges but I cope with them much better without vodka. My mental health has improved A LOT since quitting. It’s still a work in progress. I’d been numbing myself for 30+ years. It’ll take a while for me to manage feeling all the feelings I’d been burying away.
How you are all doing as well you can.
I go to Smart Recovery meetings online and it really helps me stay motivated and gives me lots of tools to help.

@JesusSufferingFuck22 so great to read your update!!! Massive well done!!!

@WendyWagon sorry I seem to have missed a few things but I just wanted to send you good vibes and tell you how valued you are here on this thread. We will still value you and think of you even when you don’t feel able to post! Just remember you’re a total force of nature, and I have no doubt that you’ll overcome whatever life a throwing at you right now! Unmunsnetty hug from Bunnies xxx

@gymspiration well done! It's so nice to reclaim the weekend mornings! And I really enjoyed the first time I had a fried over for cocktails and watched her get drunk while mine were AF 😂

@Onewildandpreciouslife 11 months. Congratulations! Such a great achievement.

@WendyWagon thinking of you.

@JesusSufferingFuck22 congratulations! Such a fantastic achievement.

Congratulations on 300 days @JesusSufferingFuck22

What a wonderful milestone and it's lovely to hear you sounding so positive.

You'll be celebrating the year before you know it. You are doing a phenomenal job!

@JesusSufferingFuck22 congratulations.

@WendyWagon @Crunchymum @Newmum738 @BunniesBunniesBunnies
thanks guys 😀
It kind of feels like bragging but it’s not. It seems like a lot longer than 300 (now 301) days but also feels like no time at all since I was using this thread as my main support. You guys certainly helped me through the first bit/hardest bit. Now I’m maintaining sobriety and being very aware of not being complacent about it! It feels normal to not drink now. Occasionally my brain lulls me into a sense of false security and tells me I’m having a drink when I get home. Then I remember that I don’t do “that” anymore….and have to deal with the feelings and find a distraction.
I’m still working on not consuming everything snack related in the evenings to fill the space and time but not being too tough on myself. “Deal with the crocodile closest to the boat” is something said often at Smart recovery.

WTG @JesusSufferingFuck22

Thanks @Wytchewood xx

@JesusSufferingFuck22 YVW I'm 289 days behind you but hanging in there :)

@Wytchewood wow that’s great as well!
@JesusSufferingFuck22 brag away you’ve done a brilliant job, it’s very inspirational and you should be proud!!!

It will be my three year anniversary in April, I almost can’t believe it. Still so grateful to be sober every day.

@BunniesBunniesBunnies 3 years!
Outstanding. Massive achievement.
I've had a couple of down days after a great weekend. Didn't take a drink, though the elation of sobriety definitely comes in waves along with some pretty flat days.
I appreciate how far I've come (65 days and 14 hours) and that I need to learn how to be sober now. What does sober me do with all this extra energy and time....and a little extra cash.
It's all good, though reminds me of the start of lockdown. People were learning French, working out with Joe Wicks or landscaping their garden. Then, and now, I've not really done anything extra curricular.
I need to learn to be patient, with myself as much as with others.
Massive respect to all who are on this journey.

@Gymspiration you are doing an amazing job, don’t put pressure on yourself to achieve anything else right now. The lockdown comparison is interesting, because for every person learning French or the guitar, there was another person (like me!) just trying to keep their head above water, trying not to drown with work, homeschooling etc. The priority was just getting through each day. For me the beginning of sobriety was the same. So yeah, if you want to find new hobbies or achieve new things then do! But don’t feel bad if you don’t. And down days are normal. I never had a pink cloud, my first few weeks of sobriety were horrendous (I was facing lots of horrible stuff in my life). After a while I got braver and stronger and started doing new things and now I’m loving life!

Do you like the gym (as per your username)? I bloody love the gym and I love going their at night instead of getting drunk in front of the TV😁 Everyone is different but for me exercise has been key to my sobriety and I’ve hit more fitness goals than I ever did whilst drinking🥳

I was the opposite in lockdown - absolutely no self growth for me (other than getting fatter!!)

I drank more in lockdown #1, and then my mum died in September 2020 - very suddenly - and I drank even more in the other lockdowns.

I admire anyone who managed the WFH / homeschooling / lockdown nightmare without a bucket full of wine every night.

I agree with Bunnies remaining sober in the first weeks and months is the single most important thing. You can take up a hobby, learn a new language, lose weight, take up skydiving or whatever your aim is at any point but don't let anything get in the way of being AF.

@Wytchewood you’ll soon have lots more days under your belt xx
@BunniesBunniesBunnies 3 years is amazing. I know I’m not immune to a relapse but I don’t ever want to go back to how my life was when I was drinking. My main regret is that I didn’t stop sooner!

@JesusSufferingFuck22 Looking forward :)

@Crunchymum I know what you mean but about the buckets of wine needed during lockdown🤣 But I went into lockdown still drinking and it spiralled so rapidly in such a terrifying fashion that I had to quit just a few weeks in, I had no other option. I don’t think I would have survived the awful juggle of work and kids had I still been drinking. Having said that, I didn’t suffer suh a difficult bereavement like you, if I had it may have been a different story for me too.

Morning all.
Excellent sleep here and just had tea and a cheese scone.
I have got a few more of the pre mixed tins in from Marks.
Have a good day all.

Hello you lovely lot.! I'm lurking AF in the background. Well done to @JesusSufferingFuck22 on 300 days, that's amazing. I've lost count on days but know the actual date I stopped so intend to remind myself of 1yr when it comes. Life is ticking by nicely, I feel like a different person. Lockdown was just another excuse for me to drink.. I was already on the slippery slope by then but having the sod it attitude to life back then just massively made matters worse. Looking back it's around the time I realised alcohol was taking over. Those days are gone thankfully 😅 @WendyWagon hope all is Ok with you, I tend to read and not post as much - the support is here if you need it, just reading through keeps me straight. Sending love your way xx Nice to see so many newbies dipping in, there's such a supportive atmosphere here on this thread - soak it up. Much love to you all 😘

@rockingbird i am here just keeping my powder dry now!
The world is such a small place. I have always overshared. Bit me on the bum this time. 😁

I get ya woman. 😉 f*ck em

Morning all. Sending Friday strength 💪