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 am so sorry about your brother wendy. Thinking of you, your family and his family xx

@WendyWagon I'm sorry 😢 that's terribly sad. Sending love and strength your way xx

@WendyWagon, so sorry to read about your brother.

Condolences to you and your family.

Stay with us

Oh @WendyWagon I’m so sorry to hear about your brother, how incredibly sad for your family. Stay strong xxx

So sorry to hear this @WendyWagon. Hope you have lots of good memories to treasure. Sending love and hugs X

Thank you all.

Oh Sav, I am so sorry. How heartbreaking for you and the rest of his family. Sending you much love. And yes, stay with us. We're here. 💜

Sorry to hear your awful news Wendy

Sending you and your family love and light ❤️

Oh Sav that is so sad. You felt he had a bit longer left, you must feel very cheated xx

Morning all.
I managed an unbroken sleep. The dog had a few barks at something he could see and I couldn't. I just ignored it. I believe in an after life and I hope my mum and dad came to collect my brother. He was the original 'boy wonder'. If there is no such thing then he wouldn't know anything about it. Either way will do.
My large, loud opinionated family will be out in force. The lawyers sharpening their pencils, my sister gunning for me. We are NC after she supported her DIL maintaining a friendship with my stalker.
My brother had lived with me a number of times. Between girlfriends, whilst he was building extensions etc. He was a very talented man. A consultant aerospace engineer by profession.
He was married and divorced some twenty years ago. Luckily they remained friends. He always loved the booze but after falling ill he finally gave it up. We don't know which aliment got him in the end. He was big hearted but turns out weak hearted. I have my new hat and I shall be wearing that to his service.

I have declined the dinner tomorrow and sent my apologies. Too risky lads even after 14 months. My boozing was trauma based and I need to keep away from the grog. I have a Marks tin and a new book.
Hopefully I will be OK.

@WendyWagon i just wanted to say you sound like such an incredible person. I always think this reading your posts but today more than ever. You are one strong lady. Thinking of you.

@BunniesBunniesBunnies ah thank you.
Tho I have just been called some very tasty things by my niece this morning for daring to write on my own Facebook. I only have 27 mates! I was hardly claiming chief mourner status. I suspect we will be all told where to sit and what to wear. I am still wearing my hat!

Wear that hat @WendyWagon!

Morning all.
I got through the evening, two pints of milk and a packet of chedders!
Families hey, mine are huge ego maniacs.
Thank God my own household backed me up yesterday.
A win though because I avoided the booze.

My condolences @WendyWagon . Terrible news for you. Well done on being resolute.

@WendyWagon your resilience continues to inspire many of us on here. Stay well and close to those who genuinely care.
I had a strange, but brilliant, family interaction last week.
We had various family over and I did the usual explanation that I wouldn't be drinking that evening. The conversation moved to how long I was likely to abstain for. 3 months? Lent? One year? I'm currently on day 97.
Anyway, I'm not entirely sure why, but I said "yeah, hoping to do a year". Everyone nodded and the chat moved to the weather or holidays or inflation.
And there it was. I now had a pass out for the next 12 months. No more drinks offered, no more questions, no more expectations. Of course, my plan is that I'll never drink alcohol again, though I can cross that bridge in 2024 and I'll be a longer time sober by then.
To clarify, much of our socialising is done with family and it was always going to be my biggest temptation, my most likely trigger. I feel a tremendous sense of calm now.
I suppose it's now over to me to maintain and embrace my sobriety. It really is a much better life.
I love being sober.

Most definitely a win @WendyWagon. Keep on keeping on.. you're doing great.

Children free weekend, determined to get sh*t done. Sadly not in the garden this weekend as it's howling again and intermittent rain .. will it ever stop 🤷🏼‍♀️

Well done @WendyWagon and well done to you too @Gymspiration!

Well done gymspiration. And the good thing is that after the year is up you can just say that you've felt so good not drinking that you might just keep it up a bit longer/indefinitely.

Morning all.
Another win last night.
I did feel like feck it, I am nipping to the corner shop but sadly my RA is monstrous at the moment. The husband was out and the DD declined a Tesco jaunt as she had cheese and crackers for tea (she knows me of old). I was on the sofa with my Marks tinny until I proceeded to have 10 hours sleep. I look 21!
I suspect if I had the drink in I would have written a stinker to my niece so I am saved by the bell. I will get a school Facebook Post up at some point re my lovely brother. Bloody families.

Well done Wendywagon that's a major win, especially at such a sad time for you.

@WendyWagon well done! Always play it forward when you have those urges.. felt the same myself last night and could easily have grabbed a bottle of wine - funny how it can creep into your head! Keep going, you're doing amazing!

HI everyone.
Please can I join? Im fed up with drinking wine every night. Im a single parent and have got into the habit of drinking wine.
I am fed up with feeling like shit every morning, fed up with spending money on wine and gin.
I cant see a way out though. I feel dreadful this morning but I will feel ok later but I dont want to buy wine! Please help me!

@Owlyhedgehog welcome! You are in the right place. Lots of advice and support in this group. Hope you are feeling good about the new life ahead X

Sorry about your sad news Wendy - and well
done for staying off the bottle. I could absolutely talk myself into a toast to my brother and sort of “permission to sob” under the influence. Grief is so very black, I’ve never been under the impression drink would improve it, but rather underline it in commiseration.

I’m at about four months dry I think. It feels like years though and I can’t understand why I keep having little flits towards when I might have a glass of champagne. Someone offered me a pre lunch Sherry yesterday and I so nearly said yes.

I haven’t had any discussion with those friends about drinking or not drinking as they’re rural so half the people at lunch weren’t drinking as driving so it would never arise and I had that flicker of thinking no one would ever know if I did have a drink.

I need a long list of reasons to look at and remind me I HATE moderating, I adore my sleep, that alcohol is just poison and I would struggle to stop completely again. I couldn’t talk myself into it a third time. Why is it so inextricably linked to luxury and fun when actually it is financially depleting (thus life is much less luxurious), fattening, headache inducing and makes you toss and turn in the small hours. it isn’t like the films. Argh!