The support thread (continued) for an alcohol free life. All welcome.

[WendyWagon]

Hello and welcome to the alcohol free support thread. We are a welcoming bunch. These threads were started by @drybird some three years ago.
We are a mixture of sober sisters (and the odd gent) who want to lead a alcohol free life. We chat about everyday things that we use to drink to manage. No question too silly. Someone will have done/thought or been through the same.

@rothbury that's exactly what I'm thinking. Now that the weather is warmer DH is desperate to start barbecuing again. These typically involve Prosecco, gin, cider etc so my plan is buy AF versions to see whether it really is the alcohol that made them so pleasant

Morning all.
Up early for a little peace. Son has returned to London. Daughter off back to uni today. She has done a fair bit of solo driving over the last few weeks. Hoorah.
My new job should be starting tomorrow but I have no paperwork. After the French fiasco I don't want to start without a proper road map. I shall be sending an email later.
Very dry in our house. I noted empty Guinness AF cans. I might try it myself. It has to be better than cola which I hate.
I have Easter eggs which I don't usually get. It will take me a month to eat them. Not a sweet toothed girl. I am thinking of trying the new slimming jab. I have heard nothing more re my WLS and having now met two ladies who are younger than me with disappointing outcomes I am worried. At least the issue of drinking won't be a contraindication. I never thought I would be able to say that.
15 months and 2 days. Onwards and upwards.

Morning all
Have just returned from an all inc week in the sun. Drinks were available and free. Managed to stay AF and wasn't really tempted otherwise.
Currently on 113th day sober.
Will admit to feeling a little flat. Initial euohoria has worn off and I'm at the 'worried that I'm boring' stage.
The better news is that family are starting to accept that I'm not drinking. Extended family event yesterday and I was offered AF options. I love that. However, we bumped into more distant friends (a couple) and have made the promise to catch up over the summer. They're extremely nice, though extremely boozy. I'm unsure whether to avoid any meet up or to arrange and advise them I'm not currently drinking, maybe use my (by then) 6 months sober as a selling point.
Great to read of others achievements. I think I'm just feeling a little uncertain right now. Maybe I need to immerse myself in quit lit or podcasts to keep on track.
The best version of me is the sober me, of that I have no doubt.
Hope everyone has a fabulous, sober day

Good to hear from you @Gymspiration . I think that flat feeling is quite common, but it doesn’t mean we’ve made the wrong choice. And as for the meeting up with those friends- do you want to do it? If so, I’d arrange it and worry about it when it happens. Your brain will be in a completely different place in 6 months (well, it will still be in your skull, but you know what I mean) so see how you feel at the time. And you should be proud of yourself for completing a holiday AF.

Im struggling a bit at the moment- really wanted the “off switch” yesterday- but think that mainly came from getting up at 4.30 for a dawn service and eating obscene amounts of chocolate. Going for a run in the rain this morning so hoping that will restore my balance a bit.

Day 101 for me. Was a slog last week for no reason but back on track now. Off work and not drinking which is a revelation, so much time!

@Onewildandpreciouslife many thanks for reply. I agree with what you say. I think I just needed that second opinion, that 4 eyes check. Ach, sobriety has a lot of uncertain days and moments.
@AthenaWhite I'm in same basic zone. Over 100 days also and still discovering. Like you, last week was a bit crap. Agree on the extra time sobriety provides. An absolute positive, though takes a bit of getting used to.
The interaction on here has saved me a few times. Thanks for being there...here...wherever you are!
G

The extra time is such a bonus isn't it.

I've been trying to analyze what it is that I miss about alcohol and I think it's the change of state it brings. It's a way of turning your brain off without being unconscious.

I have good mental health most of the time but I do miss that break from thinking while still being awake that. I am exploring some breathing techniques and I am using yoga which does kind of do the same thing, change my state of mind.

It takes getting used to this sober lark!

Just about finished Day 14 here. We went for lunch today, had a voucher since Christmas so was a cheap day out together. I was happy to drive, my partner had a couple of cocktails and then we went on to a local pub to us for a couple of glasses of wine and a couple of AF Heinekens for me.

Will be such a strange feeling going back to work after a long weekend and not feeling drained and hungover tomorrow morning.

Good morning lads.
The sun is shining here in the south.
Both DC back to their digs. DH at work.
Well done to all over the long weekend. Every sober day is a bonus. I have a friend popping in for lunch. Just a natter after playing mum all weekend. I need to talk fabric for my new sofa. The DH is so not interested.
I need to start packing next week. It feels very odd. We have waited a long time for the move. I am hoping to do a clothes sort. If I don't love it I am not keeping it anymore.
I have the Marks tins and I am set for the week. A new cordial too. I will let you know. X

Morning all

I had a couple of AF Gordon's G&Ts last night. Really nice but my brain kept thinking they were alcoholic and I'm sure tricked me into feeling tipsy!

Good morning all, looking a bit brighter here today. Rained and rained yesterday 🫤 still home alone but actually enjoying my own company in a bizarre way. Had zero motivation yesterday so today I'm up and at em! Off for a swim and some relaxation in the steam room before I tackle the work emails.. have a great day all xx

I love reading your stories.

At what point do you notice an improvement in sleep and anxiety?

@Clearheaded good morning. Some are sleeping well after a week. Technically cells take 28 days to renew (I am not a doctor but some of our group are). I think a month really shows a difference and then the magic 100 days. After about 7 months I could talk about my struggles. I also lost the shame!

@rockingbird the name is so you. Keep on fighting the good fight.

Morning all. Hope you had a good weekend and a happy Easter. My dog had his first training session on Saturday and utterly disgraced himself. Never mind; onwards and upwards. I have tried a bit of strawberry milkshake for a change. Doesn't quite do it, so back to the chocolate methinks....! x

@Clearheaded it happens differently with different people. After 10 days your cortisol levels are back to normal, and that’s the first point that people typically notice a big difference. then the magic points appear to be 100 days and 6 months.

I will dig out a blog post from Claire Pooley called The Obstacle Course, as lots of people find it helpful (and it explains why we sometimes talk about fluffy bunnies!)

The obstacle course

Went away on holiday with the family and didn't drink. Usually I'd need to to stop the crippling anxiety...oddly enough I didn't have that anxiety being sober!
Have had the odd glass here and there and afterwards thought "why did I bother?" as, although I didn't get wasted, it was pointless and caused a blip in my run of AF day count.
Can I ask what people "reward" themselves with? I've switched to AF drinks which are nice but I'm feeling a bit bored. I've also been wondering who I am and what I actually enjoy doing....? I feel a bit lost, if I'm honest!

I’m going on holiday soon with a group of drinking friends and am a bit worried that I will be seen as awkward.

There’s already talk of kitties etc and I’m getting stressed.

It’s probably all in my head and nobody gives a shit whether I am drinking or not. Or more likely they prefer me when I am not shitfaced 😂

Thank you for that @Onewildandpreciouslife . Very helpful. I love Clare Pooley.

Hi All, can I join in? I have tossing the idea of going teetotal for ages and ages but I know I just need to get on and do it. Daily drinking is just not doing it for me any longer, its a waste of time and money & its destroying my fitness and health. I had an accident recently which 100% wouldn't have happened if I was fitter and less lardy. Need to sort this out.

Happy (belated) Easter.

All peaceful and low key here. Had a family dinner on Sunday and a few relatives were chugging on the vino. It doesn't bother me at all and I'm glad I'm no longer caught in that cycle.

Still feeling peaky, had some bloods recently (have them 12 weekly) and I'm slightly anaemic [not enough for any fucker to call me and advise to up my iron 🤣] my inflammation marker is also a bit high but again nothing that would flag to medical team. Hopefully I'll just ride this out with rest, some iron supplements and keeping things simple. We are lucky to have lots locally (parks, woods, canal plus all the other stuff London has to offer) so the kids aren't being too deprived of entertainment.

Ola! Just checking in after a little holiday. Hope everyone is keeping well. I had a nice time away. My friends and family are so used to my sobriety now they stock up on my favourite AF drinks when I come! I am very lucky.

@Adm1010new I do remember you! So good to see you here and well done.

Tomorrow is a big day for me! I will be three years sober. What a long way I’ve come. Life hasn’t always been easy these last three years but being sober has helped so much and I am grateful for my sobriety every day.

I will be celebrating tomorrow with a small run and a short moment of quiet reflection.

That's amazing @BunniesBunniesBunnies. Congratulations for tomorrow! x

Thank you so much! I just read over my earliest posts on these threads. What an eye opener!

I also started my own thread in April 2020 before I found these wonderful threads. @Crunchymum you found me on there and were helpful😁 @StillDumDeDumming found me there and referred me to these threads😍

My heart aches for my former self but I’m so proud of how far I’ve come!

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/3880005-How-long-before-I-start-feeling-the-benefits-of-quitting-alcohol?page=1

“I’ve been drinking far too much (maybe three bottles of wine and a bottle of spirits per week) for a while now. I hadn’t had an alcohol free day for the longest time and with lockdown I also started drinking earlier and earlier.

I never think of myself as an alcoholic (rarely get drunk, don’t get withdrawal if I don’t drink for a day or two) but many attempts at moderation have failed so perhaps I am...!

Anyway, I decided to stop for a while and I have now not had any alcohol for the last three days. I don’t feel any better though! I still feel quite lethargic, get headaches, sleep poorly, etc. I remember this from it last attempt at quitting probably did ten days without booze and felt no better for it🙁

When will I start to feel the benefits? Or do some people not experience any benefits from quitting? If I belong in the latter group I think I am doomed...🙁🙁🙁”

Mind if I join you?

I’ve absolutely pickled myself this weekend and am fed up of hating myself. I generally drink alone so I’m hurting no-one but myself - but the impact on my self esteem isn’t worth it.

I was moderating well for ages, but a few bumps in the road and the wheels came off.