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!

Thanks @Blackberryblossom and @Fortheloveofgodwhy😊

@WendyWagon , I feel like I want to wave pom poms and cheer you on. Staying resolute when life (or people 🙄) are throwing shit at you takes real strength, so well done.

House surveyed and passed, lads!

@WendyWagon -such good news! Really hoping this happens for you.

whoop whoop @WendyWagon

Morning all
Two faux gins were drunk last night. Stronger enough to pop out today. Meeting FortheLove, sausage breakfast.

That sounds like a lovely morning wendy and forthelove!

It's really grim weather here today. My normal Wednesday stuff was cancelled so I'm going for a swim. It's too cold/wet/windy to go out on the bike.

@WendyWagon @Fortheloveofgodwhy enjoy your sausage ☺️

Just swinging by to be accountable today. Hope you are all doing OK. A new month.. my birthday month so need to stay focused and not slip up - not that I have anything planned!! Also 3 months in a couple of days since we moved into our new forever home. I'm not sure where the time has gone. Still AF and focusing on one year (don't count days).!

Much love to you all xx

Sober for 72 days and 16 hours. To be honest, my next target is 73 days (then 74, you get the point)
I think I've experienced every emotion and occurrence others have posted on here. The initial headaches, the sugar cravings. I did enjoy feeding them though!
Sobriety didn't give me the physique of an athlete, the bank balance of a tech billionaire or solve all of life's little issues. However, I feel far more centred. Far more present and able to deal with the occasional madness of life than when I was drinking, drunk or planning a drink. It was all consuming.
I have learned that my drinking was not really a physical need. Rather, it was somewhere between habit and boredom. I'm slowly learning to enjoy the freedom that sobriety gives me.
I've had much more quality family time (won't comment on teacher strikes) and I'm back doing spin and yoga.
Am I cured? Not a chance. Moderation is not my future. I expect ups and downs as the days roll into weeks, roll into months. I'm trying not to over think things. Alas, this is something I'm all too guilty of. I'm sure I'll have pangs, cravings and temptations. The advice and positivity I read on here will go some way to helping me to ignore these and move on.
Huge respect to all who are on this journey

Morning all.
Therapy Thursday. I need it after last week.
FortheLove and I had sausages at our breakfast yesterday (well I did). Great thought from her re drinking, self harm. In as much that you know it is going hurt you but you do it anyway. I will harness that thought.
Off out with BFF. Lunch and a charity shop rummage.
Have a good day all.

Can I join? I've been bouncing back and forth - can go without drinking for a week but then the odd social occasion pops in and i'm not one who can moderate. I'm just so sick of it. I know the root cause of why I started drinking - a nervous breakdown over 10 years ago. I've recovered and there is at present, nothing in my life that should cause anxiety (apart from how the children are doing etc). I suppose I've gone from drinking to obliviate my breakdown, to thinking I cant survive without it, and I suppose there is that added element of genuinely enjoying a glass of wine. But bottom line is, I cant moderate at all and I hate all the empty calories I'm consuming with no added nutrition whatsoever.

Hey MrsSoya of course you can join. Have you indulged in any quitlit? I found it helpful to reframe my attitude towards drinking. Also to acknowledge that drinking was masking the problems i hadn't really resolved. Loads of recommendations online, Annie Grace 30 day The Alcohol experiment might be a good place to start?

thanks so much @Fortheloveofgodwhy ! yes ive read and listened to a lot of quit lit - Clare Pooley, Catharine Gray. I had a successful 3 month run once and joined Soberistas for accountability. But then I started again due to the stress of moving house during lockdown. Its usually the 5pm timing that gets me twitching and itching to reach for a glass. I definately see it as a "reward" for the day. Except that I cant stop at just 1 glass of wine. I don't really touch any other spirits except for the occasional Bloody Mary if I'm out but that's like once a year. It is mainly wine. And not even good wines!

Yeah moderation is not for me. Somewhere I read 'I am an all of nothing person, and in the case of alcohol it will have to be nothing, because all wasn't working'.

I often repeat that to myself.

*or

Welcome @MrsSoyaSauce. That sounds so familiar- I used alcohol as a coping mechanism, then my problems went away- all apart from my problem with alcohol

Weird - only half of my message posted.

I read a post somewhere recently “Don’t ask yourself if you want a glass of wine, ask yourself if you want a bottle” and I found that really helpful- we don’t really want to drink a bottle of wine, but we know realistically that’s where we’ll end up

Weird - only half of my message posted.

I read a post somewhere recently “Don’t ask yourself if you want a glass of wine, ask yourself if you want a bottle” and I found that really helpful- we don’t really want to drink a bottle of wine, but we know realistically that’s where we’ll end up

@Fortheloveofgodwhy Yes, I'm much the same. It's never just one and too much is never enough.
Last friday was a milestone. I met a friend I hadn't seen in ages and who has just lost his dad. He needed to talk so I made it clear I was AF. We had a pleasant couple of hours and I had 2 AF beers and went home with a clear head, a full wallet and looking forward to the weekend without spending hours getting smashed in a pub.
This coming Sunday, March 5th will be one month AF and I'm feeling so much better. I'm back on track with my partner who wanted to break up and we are making it work.
One day at a time ...

@Gymspiration WTG Gymspiration. :)

Day 117 here and for the first time really I'm beginning to feel like a non-drinker. It sits more comfortably with me and I'm not missing drinking.

Happy Friday all.
Still trying to ignore the MN stalker. I have reported it now.
Great therapy professionally and from two friends yesterday. I do feel better. Thank you to those who reached out x

Neighbour in pub (looking at my almost full Staropramen glass): It's good to see you're drinking again.
Me: I'm not, that's Heineken.

He then wanders off looking disappointed.

What is that all about?

I've just realised that at the end of next month it will be a year less one day.

Go me!

Have a safe and sober weekend everyone!

@TheOtherHotstepper - 1 year! That'll be a date to remember.
So many inspirational posters on here.
I've no doubt there are many readers who take great comfort from each and every post.
I have a fairly calm weekend ahead and I've planned plenty non alcoholic pastimes.
A peaceful and sober weekend to all

Morning all
Hope everyone is having a good weekend.
I had one of those days yesterday when I was just so grateful to be sober.
Went to a big sporting event. It was so noticeable how much revolved around drinking (and that used to be me). The stadium stocked Lucky Saint, a great AF beer, although I also found they had a big Costa coffee - who knew?!

On the way home, I wasn’t staggering, I didn’t have an urgent need to pee. I did get lost though! But that was OK, because I wasn’t vulnerable, and DH wasn’t waiting anxiously at home wondering if I’d got myself into a drunken mess. So grateful

@Onewildandpreciouslife well done on getting home. I remember the taxi shame. Trying to remain sober sounding!

Quiet on the western front here. DD had an OK week at uni. I feel a bit better now having got some support from MN. I waffle on and after some freaky approaches felt I couldn't. It brought a lot back. A bit of professional counselling and then some good chats with friends including FortheLove helped me emotionally. It nice to know people have your back. I can't wait to move later this month. Hopefully we will be left in peace or I shall call the rozzers in!

Marks mixed tin for me tonight. Spag bol too at the request of the daughter.
Have a good day my friends.