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.

Morning all.
Late up. I went back to sleep. I have a first interview this morning. Telephone this time but I need the slap on for confidence. Mad but there we are.
@justdrink I don't have a sweet tooth so I usually put a squeezed half lemon in anything AF. I don't drink beer and never really drank spirits (I did like a Arthur Daley VAT). Cloudy lemonade seems sharper. I am determined to find the ultimate combination as I have an idea for a name.

Thank you @Onewildandpreciouslife

I was out for a meal. I had every intention of not drinking then my willpower went out of tjr window. Have ordered the Catherine Gray book. And will reset my mind and will try not to let negative thoughts compound things.

Quiet on here tonight lads.
I am off to the boudoir shortly with the ice cold milk.
No visits today and I did the interview. Twas nonsense and a bit of a scam. I cut it short and chatted to my cousin.
No shopping but I have been on fleebay. Curtain bliss! Have a safe sober evening my friends.

Joining please. Day 6 done

@justdrink I hope you enjoy your 12 child-free days! I quite like alcohol free ginger beer, or the Wilfred’s AF aperitif if I’m after something not too sweet.
School strike today so I took dd for her choice of breakfast (Subway 😂), then the afternoon was spent with half an eye on her email for Taylor Swift access codes. Which were delayed. Rubbish nights sleep last night due to rain, seagulls, and tech in bed. Looking forward to an early night tonight.
@rockingbird - go you with your mad DIY skills! @WendyWagon I’m sorry the interview was a waste of time.

hope everyone is having a peaceful evening.

Welcome and congratulations @Thestartofsomethinggood . Great user name!

Morning all.
Woken by the dog. A friend is bringing a gazebo today so we can get the last of our storage. Son's birthday today but he is away with his girlfriend. I shall sneak a picture on FB. He is a very handsome chap and looks like a certain Netflix actor (but not a bit thespian). He got accosted in a famous department store a few months ago. Secruity came to help which was very funny. His 15 minutes! He doesn't eat cake but I shall buy him a steak for the weekend (his favourite and something I ate for the first time in 23 years when I was pregnant). I never had any alcohol gravings during pregnancy not even for the champers. He doesn't really drink and lucky for him. His father's genes on that one.
Have a good day all.

Morning all. Struggling a bit with the combination of school strikes and broken nights this week, but currently sneaking a post school run coffee in a lovely empty caff. Have also finally sent off an old kindle in the hope of getting a voucher to put towards a new one.
Happy birthday to @WendyWagon 's handsome non-drinking son!

Happy Birthday son of Sav, also struggling with the strike days, a bit nonsensical because i have a post GCSE DS at home and another DS who is finishing Friday, and only my DD who is off for the strikes and really no bother. I think is is just the change in routine, the dog feels the same.

I keep having drunk dreams. In my dream I’ve ruined my life by getting so drunk I drive my car/have an affair/have an argument. I wake up and have instant relief when it’s a dream

They’re horrible aren’t they @Overitx ?

I have them sometimes too @Overitx. Especially driving ones. They're quite unsettling.

Much love to you all. Things are mad-busy but OK here. The dog has embarrassed himself on my mother's carpet this morning, but it has been cleaned up and we have both agreed not to mention it to her.

Strength and love. xx

I had one recently (over the weekend just gone) and it was deeply unsettling. Not least because I'm about 17 months down the line 😫

To be fair I don't have them often, they freak me out but also reiterate that I'm totally on the right path.

@Overitx i have day dreams too. Wild sex with film stars, buying mansions, drinking champagne from fountains.
I think it is the brain rebooting.
My friend came today with a candle!
Make of that what you will lads. X

Day 7 done and feel okay

Well done @Thestartofsomethinggood, and welcome

Morning all.
Nothing to report and no visitors today.

Coming up to 3 weeks this weekend. I’ve had the wine witch in my head today. It’s incredibly frustrating. Especially as I just feel like I’m no fun, Oh is being off with me. We go out for lunch with my parents tomorrow. OH will be drinking and said he’d just start early (than normal for our Saturday). I said I won’t be sitting in the pub all day and planned to go to cinema with my daughter at night. OH suggested bowling instead therefore he can still drink. I know he has every right to but just makes me wonder what kind of relationship we can have where we are heading towards such different views/wants in life.

this is when I get my head saying “oh just have a drink with him, there’s no point wasting a relationship, you don’t want to be the boring one”

@Overitx it is early days, my DH wasn't a big drinker but he certainly seemed to increase when i stopped, almost in defiance... he has slowly now reduced and by virtue of hearing me speak to others about the benefits has moved to beck blue himself... a sweeping generalisation but menfolk don't do well to being pressured. Best they work it out for themselves, with some subtle and more obvious hints along the way ;-)

@Overitx this is a big change for both of you, and it may take a while to settle into a new pattern. But please don’t drink just to keep OH happy, because that will ultimately make you unhappy AND make you resent him, which is a pretty toxic mix. Hold fast to your dreams on this one.

My DH got completely wasted last night and is now very cross with himself. I am giving him lots of sympathy (and feeling very smug - sorry not sorry).

Just been in the Marks and Spencer and they are selling off the Herby botanical for £10 (mock gin 50cl). I got fresh tonics too. I am sorted for Friday.
@Overitx well down so far.

I hear you about DH @Overitx and @Fortheloveofgodwhy
DH refused to give up drinking while I was pregnant and is having a similar reaction now.

He drinks a lot (5/7 nights roughly) and is in denial about how much he drinks. I can't mention why I have stopped or how I am feeling, because he takes it as a personal affront.

I had friends call round last night and we had a great time. Too busy nattering to even miss alcohol. We were posh and drank hibiscus juice . One of them also brought alcohol free beer, and we all enjoyed that together. (Except DH, who had wine, of course).

My mum was here to stay and left a couple of days ago. She left half a bottle of rose in the fridge, and I am not tempted in the slightest. If DH doesn't drink it over the weekend, I shall pour it down the sink.

Am going out to a food festival later, everyone else shall be drinking of course. Am going to drive so no temptation there.

I popped into m&s and was surprised by their alcohol free choices. I picked up a wine as this is my go to drink. Was a bit amused when the self checkout wanted confirmation that I was over 18. Will report back on how it tastes.

I survived the food festival! I didn't drive in the end, and equally I had an ice tea and an alcohol free beer. Feeling pretty good about myself

Day8 done. Survived a pub meal. 2 pints of orange juice and lemonade. Was okay once I got past the oh look everybody is having a drink