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!

Welcome @Owlyhedgehog know the feeling well, your in the right place with this thread. It's a hamster wheel isn't it.. wake up feel shocking but somehow by 3/4pm the mind is focusing back on that first glass to relax the evening. Set a time limit in your head.. mine was 8pm - if I could hold off drinking until 8pm then there was no point to having a glass. Before you know it you'll be into days/weeks alcohol free. Oh and.. the feeling of waking up day after day hangover free is amazing. So productive, focused and motivated! Come back here whenever you feel a wobble coming on and we will talk you down! Sending positive energy your way today.

Welcome @Owlyhedgehog! I felt the same three years ago. Felt horrendous but somehow couldn’t picture a life without wine. I did quit and guess what, life goes on without wine😁😁 I feel so much better now! Feel free to hang out here and chat, rant, ask questions, tell us about yourself etx. We’re a friendly bunch.

Hi everyone. 20 weeks in. And may I share a 6 months ago vs last week comparison photo?

Thanks everyone!
I would like to see the picture!
I have done it, didnt buy wine earlier, brought cake instead!
Cant believe I have done it!

Well done Owly, that is the first step. You will feel so so much better … in a while but it is worth the wait.
@MyGhastIsFlabbered yes yes yes to the photos

First photo was last August on holiday. Photo on the right was last week. But I only really started losing weight when I stopped drinking. I have been exercising more - because I can now I'm not hungover most of the time or more focussed on drinking than fitness.

Gorgeous @MyGhastIsFlabbered - there’s an inner confidence that shines through in that second photo

Welcome @Owlyhedgehog and well done on resisting in the shops! Are you reading or listening to any quit lit? It’s really helpful to reframe our thinking about drinking

Thinking of you @WendyWagon x

Well done @Owlyhedgehog! One step at a time. Definitely agree with PP about the quit lit. There are loads of books and podcasts which I found a great help at first.

Morning all.
Feeling a bit better today.
The DD and I watched Marley and me. Bawled our eyes out. Nowt to do with the dog! For me, better out than in.
The niece was nicer yesterday. I am leaving her to it and not offering any legal advice re my late brother. Her cousin can help on that one. I have hung up my boots. Not wanting drink has been a revelation. Perhaps I have grown up? Someone on this thread once said if you have been boozing from age 14 you need to grow up fully.
Congrats to shrinking you @MyGhastIsFlabbered

Hi ladies. I am so proud of myself!!! Day 2 for me and feeling strong. already done 13,000 steps and had a healthy lunch.
Didnt sleep at all well though and kept waking up but I do also have a bad cough.
I am reading the unexpected joy of being soba at the mo x

Morning all. Good morning @Owlyhedgehog by week three you should really see and feel a difference. My son (an athlete) suggested the 3 days/ 3 weeks/3 months to change a habit analogy. I remember 8.30pm bed times too as I was so tired.
I still smarting from the backhanded compliment of last week about my previous puffy red face. Blinking cheek, I look like Jerry Hall.
I managed am unbroken sleep as the dog is in with the DD, hoorah.
Hair do today and first board meeting of the new company Thursday. I haven't postponed because it has been pushed back twice. These fellow directors don't know me as it is a paid gig. I don't want to dump my grief on them. Funny fact though, they own a gin company and it is £1200 a bottle! I turned my freebie down.
Have a good day all.

@WendyWagon I feel like an insensitive ass. Just caught up with some of the thread and here I am blabbering about myself when you've just lost you brother. I'm so sorry for your loss, and for being tactless/insensitive.

@MyGhastIsFlabbered no worries.
I only witter away on here as my Facebook is policed! I wrote a post last week after my DB passed away and got told to take it down by a snotty nosed relative. My brother was lovely. He had given up the drink and was going to accept a kidney transplant. He looked much better at Christmas. I had forgotten he was an apprentice hairdresser briefly! Not a ladies man so not the career for him. He went into engineering. I do remember him practicing on my bonce though.
My late mum and dad would have been devastated. He was the much wanted boyo after two girls. My dad took him everywhere. He also got a massive teddy when he was born. I was so jealous.
His older daughter has never changed her name even though she was married briefly. No boys so last of the line.
Hopefully none of his offspring take up the booze.
Thinks get thrown at us on this AF journey. I am amazed I am not laying in a gutter somewhere. Thank you everyone for all your support.

Your brother sounds like a real character @WendyWagon ❤️

Morning all.
DH has gone back to work having taken a few days off to support me. The DD is on study leave. She is very caring and does a fine job. A really funny thing but I have no desire to drink. I have struggled these 14 months still dreaming of champagne parties but I just can't stand the smell. How weird is that? I once said on here I loved the taste and another poster said nope, not after the first glass, It's just the hit. I have taken to drinking bedtime milk but it appears it is making me snore! The DH taped me last night. Curses, I thought I was looking boudoir chic after giving up smelling like an offy.
Have a good day my friends.

Well done @WendyWagon for staying strong! Nothing wrong with a bedtime glass of milk 🥛 😃

Hi all. Can I join? I’m on Day 3 now, but been a long time lurker and decided to go for it. I turn 35 this year and I’ve always been quite a heavy drinker, more so during lockdowns and WFH. I think now is the time to finally admit my relationship with alcohol is not healthy and has not been healthy for a long time.

I’m getting married in 2024 and want this to be my fresh start, my life starts from now.

From reading the thread from the start on Tuesday I can relate so much to the headaches, poor sleep (without alcohol!) and the sweet cravings already. I’m really looking forward to them passing.

Thanks for reading.

Welcome @Adsy1988 ! So pleased you’ve decided to go for it. No one ever regrets going sober! These first few days are the hardest, but things should start to feel better after about day 10 if you can hang in there. Are you reading any quit lit / listening to podcasts?

Welcome @Adsy1988! I also quit in my mid thirties, I’m three years sober now and feeling sooo much better! And congrats on your upcoming wedding😁

Thanks @Onewildandpreciouslife , I really think it’s needed, just can’t continue drinking, my mental health is in the bin, work suffering etc… so I’m really excited to have finally taken the leap.

I haven’t, just really been reading threads on here. Is there anything you would recommend? I’m not really a spiritual person (unless it came in a bottle), so not sure if anything Higher Power would work for me.

@Adsy1988 my top recommendations would be
The Alcohol Experiment by Annie Grace (talks you through the first 30 days)
The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober by Catherine Gray
Sober on a Drunk Planet by Sean Alexander
Quit Like a Woman by Holy Whitaker

The Sober Diaries by Claire Pooley is also brilliant

Others will have other recommendations

And post here as much as you need.

Thanks so much @Onewildandpreciouslife and thanks for the welcome and congratulations @BunniesBunniesBunnies three years sober is a fantastic achievement, I hope to reach that one day!

Going on hols for a week. 5* all incl.
This will be a first, though i drank very little in similar circumstances last year.
Obviously now, I'm fully AF and have been for 102 days

I've reframed the holiday as a health kick. I've taken some gym stuff and plan on getting moneys worth from both the on site juice bar and coffee shop. Lots of walking and distractions available.
Excited and nervous in equal measure.
Another first I can hopefully tick off.
Hope everyone is staying healthy and sober, dealing with the tough days and enjoying all the benefits of an AF life. It really is a much happier place!

I’m struggling today😬 Have been feeling pretty good lately just getting on with my life, work, kids etc. Today I am very tearful and I don’t know why, today is no different to yesterday. I still struggle to know what to do with myself on days like this. I don’t really want to drink but I would like to feel numb, or at least not feel like this. I’m very active and would usually distract myself with work or exercise or the children but I can’t bring myself to do any of these things (kids in school).
I just feel an overwhelming sadness, I doesn’t help I’m home alone a lot at the moment so I don’t have anyone to talk to. I know I just need to wait for this feeling to pass but if anyone has any tips I would be grateful.
Apologies for self-indulgent rant, I know some folks are dealing with much bigger stuff on here (hope you’re doing okay @WendyWagon).
Bunnies x

Oh bunnies. So sorry to hear you are having a blue day. I have come to realise that life does just throw these at us at times. A flat day my friend calls them. Sometimes you can motivate yourself out of them with exercise and sometimes you need to hunker down until the storm passes.

I was speaking to someone yesterday who has had terrible time and she went to a mentor of hers in an isolated retreat type space expecting deep wisdom and ideas to meditate or some other practice. But actually what the mentor did was run her a bath, wrap her up and "mother" her. It was exactly what she needed at that time. So...if that feels like you'd like that then do something that "mothers" you today. And I am here to tuck the blankets in round you and read you a story. 😊

Also hear just to listen.

Welcome Adsy1988.

Yay for sober weddings, sober holidays and even sober flat days. Because whatever kind of day you are having it will be immeasurably improved by being sober.