The continuing support thread for living alcohol-free. Everyone welcome.

[Blackberryblossom]

Hello and welcome to the alcohol free support thread. Many thanks to @wendywagon for holding the reins on the last thread, and to drybird for starting the original thread about 3 years ago.
We’re a broad community who have all chosen to live alcohol free for good. There’s support here whatever your stage on that journey. Whatever you’re going through, someone here will have gone through it too. Don’t be shy about posting, we love all the successes of whatever shape and size, and have all been there too when things get challenging.
Thank you too @rep22 @onewildandpreciouslife for offering to back up host too. I thought there was someone else but I can’t find the post.

Hello all. @drinktilisink I don't have any personal experience but I can imagine the allure of alcohol to soften the edges/ block it out. I hope you can find strength from how well you have kicked the booze. Life can be hard and cruel but hiding in drink stops me from living and making the best of what I have.

Morning all.
Up early with a washing machine stomach.

@drinktilisink I am sorry for your troubles. I was told I couldn't have children, I now have two. I accepted it at the time but we did explore adoption. Please get some professional counseling. You will have family and friends that love you. They would want to help. X

@Crunchymum I think I missed the congrats having been ill with the Trotski. Congratulations my friend.

Hospital for me today, eye check. Then a big tidy up.

Hi all,

I toom a break from, and then started again, a new medicine (retinoid) for my skin and during the break worked out that many lingering "sobriety" symptoms were actually the medication side effects. Still, for a variety of reasons it had to be done...

I'm one week on from my relapse (which wasn't needed and definitely wasn't worth it) and I'm just putting my head down and getting through it. I feel positive that I'm now a "non-drinker" but am excited to get the number on my app up again (silly, I know, but my brain is very reward based).

Drinking once definitely had a much bigger impact on my mental health and cravings than I thought it would. Nasty drug, it is, and I'm excited to be free from it wiht all of you

@WendyWagon well done you!!!! I have had a week from hell so have fallen off the wagon but back to another meeting tonight x

@Mummykins54 you know some of us have blips, some have never done. We move on.
We try each day and when you go tonight all they ask if you haven't had a drink today. I remember the coin for that.
I would speak to your doctor too. X

I'm sorry @Mummykins54 and @Sillymummies123. I've had a grim couple of weeks too and have teetered very close to the edge of the wagon myself. 😕 Please don't beat yourself up. It's happened, dust yourself down and keep striding on. It will be alright.

@drinktilisink congratulations on the whole month, that's brilliant. I'm so sorry that everything else is coming up in sharp starkness now though. That's the trouble I have to an extent - yes, I am enjoying the sobriety and good feelings and health that it brings, but the issues that I was drinking to avoid are still there, and some of them have brought their mates back along with them. I'd say pick one thing at a time to try and fix, but that's easier said than done. Keep going. The world is a better place with you in it. x

Good luck at the hospital @WendyWagon. Hope the tummy settles soon and the washing machine cycle is over (hopefully without a rogue odd sock entangled around the drum 😉).

Strength and love to all. Keep going. x

P.S. I saw my first Christmas chocolates of the year in Sainsbury's yesterday. Hurrah! Just in time for Easter!! 🙄😉

@REP22
I blinking love Christmas. The BFF and I use to start the shop first Tuesday after back to school.
I am in the boudoir due to the stomach. Noisy git. The dog is lazing with his paws in the air. No thoughts of booze other than champagne and I am not flush atm. If I added that on top of the laundromatic I'd explode!
I was never one for mixing my drinks. Even peed as a newt I was fussy. Friday challenges my friends.

@WendyWagon ah, booze-fuelled squits. Happy memories.

My dog is more of a curled-up than a legs akimbo sleeper. However, he usually wears his harness all the time (it seems to comfort him; I think he grew up in a herness that was never removed). This morning he woke up, still wearing it, arms through the necessary holes - but it was entirely back to front. In order to achieve this, he would have had to remove both front limbs from the holes, twist the harness around in its entirety, and reinsert both arms in the correct opposing holes. All while he was asleep.

'tis witchcraft my friend. He's just woken up as I am typing this and is staring. He knows... 😈

Look after your lovely self. x

Morning all.
Better today. Cheese scone eaten. Washing folded. I checked the weight, another kg off.

Daughter has exams now then a few weeks off. Her birthday was quiet as always. It's pretty mean of people. Next year we shall do a big party.
I treated myself to an Ocado delivery. No booze but I was shocked to see how much was listed. I have Cordino to try this coming week.
Haircut booked, nails and togs to sort. I have a new book to keep me out of trouble.

I really love Christmas too. This year will be my first ever sober one as I quit on 31 Dec last year. Can’t bloody wait!

I hope you are on the road to recovery @WendyWagon .

Crodino is ace! It’s made by the same Italian firm that makes Campari.

I am packing today and doing the billions of things one does preparing for a holiday. I really need some sunshine, although I suspect the weather is going to be better here!!!

Another Christmas lover here.

Although I try to hold back on any Christmas shopping until after DC1 birthday in Mid November.

Will be my second sober Christmas. Last year was hard, even though I was 10 months sober I was pissed off that I'd got myself into such a bad place with alcohol I'd had to give it up and I couldn't have any wine at Christmas. I'd never, ever had a sober Christmas as an adult (not with 6 week old DC1 / I had a few glasses of wine when I was pregnant with DC2 and DC3 at Christmas and NY as they were January babies so I was 8 months pregnant over those Xmases - two separate times!)

Drinking at Christmas was so firmly entrenched in my mind and lifestyle that I drank when pregnant [not excessively of course but still].

So yeah last year I was grumpy. Even though I was happily AF, it was a weird one for me.

Bring on my second dry Christmas though.

Off for kids swimming lessons soon and then maybe a trip to the zoo before they go back to school next week.

Hi everyone,

Please can I join? Back on here again after a couple of years…. I managed to totally give up alcohol the first time for about 6 months or so and then sadly it crept back in again. Last time I was drinking every night. This time it’s a couple at the weekend and now, once again, creeping into weekly drinking and almost every night. It’s the numbing effect I seek - mainly from the endless chores around the house and general stress of having children and being in the middle of a building site for the past4 years. Can hear banging now lol! Also copious problems with neighbours.

My children are all under 13, youngest is 4. I don’t want them to grow up seeing their mother drinking. I don’t get drunk as such and am usually in control but it totally affects my mood, anxiety levels and sleep patterns. The problem is that I am exposed to people who love a drink. Husband does, for example and if I refuse a wine my MIL will think that the world is literally about the end. 😂 I need help and support from everyone to do this. My main ploys to avoid drinking are usually saying I’m driving or ‘nursing’ a drink for a long time and then tipping away/back into bottle when no one’s looking 🫣

Well done everyone on here - keep going. Clouds xx

Well done to everyone x for those who had blips - keep going.

Christmas - my first sober Christmas was 2021 and I was 4 months sober. NGL it was the hardest day in the 4 months. Christmas is just so entwined with drinking all day isn’t it. But I bought a bottle of AF fizz and I got through it. And then Christmas 2022 was much easier. So this will be my third sober Christmas and I’m totally unfazed. It’s just one more day. The first year my son wanted to go and spend his Christmas money and I was able to get up early on Boxing Day for shops opening when it was still lovely and quiet and then we went for a Costa. Much nicer than lying around til I was under the limit and the shops being hellish or worse disappointing him and not going at all.

Last Christmas was 11 months AF but my friend died on the Friday and after having my first sober Christmas eve since age 14 ( I used to quaff champers whilst wrapping) I had to have something for the grief. We had a sober boxing day with my dear late brother but this year has been harder. Some days are a struggle but I know I won't need to drink to manage my new job. A first!
You good people are amazing. One foot in front of the other.

Morning all.
Resurfacing after a hectic few days back at work. I can understand why I used to use alcohol as a quick way of switching off from the pressure, and it’s quite the revelation to realise it’s possible to do it without drinking.
Welcome @Cloudsclouds6
Hope everyone is having a good weekend

Morning all.
The books are on the shelves!!

@WendyWagon hooray! I love putting the books in their proper places!

For those I haven't connected with yet and talking of Christmas, I have my first grandchild due Christmas Day and I am down as birthing partner! So that's sober Christmas sorted!

@stilldumdedumming I was due on Christmas day so my mother hung wallpaper. I was born a week early!

@stilldumdedumming

A wee baby Jesus 🤣

The best reason to stay sober (you'll either be waiting for it all to kick off, having baby cuddles or in the middle of DD labour). Drinking will be the last thing on your mind.

Morning all.
Up early as the DH has returned to work. I need to drive the DD back for her final week of uni. She's done all her submissions.
I shall have to up the grooming this week ready for the new job. The hair is now 'curtains' and the nails so long I can't type.
I remember starting one job and getting legless the Sunday night before with the BFF. Jesus that first day was hard but it was nerves. Luckily no chance of doing that again and the DS is going into London that day too so we'll share a car to the station. Booze police so I don't feck it up.
I love back to school days, new pencils and all that. Have a peaceful day my friends.

Morning all. I'm still here in the background 😊 today is day 61. A hard few days as it's back to the real world today. Hectic, skint and stressful! There was a reason I reached for the wine - actually lots of reasons - and those reasons are waiting. Indulged in a lot of sugar this weekend. I really needed something, so tried to give myself a break. Just keep swimming

Help. It's night time where I am, (7:37pm) and the local pub closes at 9pm, I am fidgity and desperate to buy a bottle of wine. 2nd day without one. It's driving me crazy.

It's tough, and I don't know of any shortcuts through the acute cravings- others might?

If it was beer you crave, I'd advise ice cold AF beer today, with the aim of that not being an everyday thing..

All I can say is that these acute, severe urges in response to your behavioral change do get better fairly quickly.

Just catching up. @NameChangeForAddiction hope you managed to ride out your cravings. Routine change helped me- or committing myself to driving/ exercise class/ bath with a cup of tea at times I knew were weak spots.

For all of you Crodino fans, Lidl has a normal and rosso version in its Italian range at the moment- both are v good imo.

@stilldumdedumming what a fantastic reason for being sober over Xmas- great Xmas present too.

I am not a fan of the festivities, I hate the build up for one day and I miss the loved one who are no longer with me, but I love making it festive for the kids, I just breath a sigh of relief when it’s over. I didn’t drink last year out of choice and didn’t miss it.

Kids all heading back to school and college this week. I have been asked out on a date by someone I really like 🥰 and today is my 100th day AF. So things are looking up after a rocky few weeks.

Hello! Apologies for the absence, in the last few days of school holidays.

How are you doing, @NameChangeForAddiction ?

Congrats on 61 days @carlottacandle . I hope your first day back in the real world went well.

Hello @threeandmeandthedog , and what lovely news - 100 days AF, the Lidl AF crostino dupe back in stock, and a date! Congratulations 🏆🎉😉

@WendyWagon sounds like a proper old-school early September week for you and yours. When do you start your new job?