It's day 1! Anyone else?

[Thepeppapigfanclub]

I'm 45. I've been drinking a bottle/bottle and a half a night for as long as I can remember with the odd dry January/ Stoptober along the way - but I always end up back on the wine again.

I'm a parent to a 13 year old and the shame that comes with this is crippling. It's not good and I know I HAVE GOT to stop. I am sick of the self-loathing, the fear, the anxiety and the money down the drain. Most of all, I'm worried about shuffling of this mortal coil leaving my child before I should.

So it's day one (again) for me. I just wondered if anybody else has picked this as their day one too for some support.

Any tips for the first week?

Many thanks - there's some seriously inspirational people on here reading some of the other threads - I'm in awe of all of those who've made it to six months, a year and beyond. It feels beyond my grasp.

Morning all and hello @TicketyBoo11

I understand the feeling @BoilingHotand50something of almost being pleased to be back at work! I had quite a good weekend - got myself out for some walks in the sunshine and reasonably productive with chores etc. But I was very conscious that I wasn't drinking. When I'm in the office I don't have such thoughts during the day (although a tough work day can definitely be a trigger for me to console myself with wine in the evening).

Day 16 for me today which is the longest dry streak I have had in nearly 2 years.

Wishing everyone a good week.

Morning all- just checking in so I do not fall off the thread. Still struggling here but am just going to get through hour by hour if need be.

Glad to hear people's news.

hi everyone, just checking in. Thank you for the posts…

@Thepeppapigfanclub i hope you’re doing ok - I’m sorry to hear about that awful person in your life. His words seem like nothing more than a feeble attempt to unsettle you. Shame that people project their problems onto others. Story of my life too! I would have cracked and had a drink. Keep being your wonderful self and when the spring bulbs come up you’ll be on your way with this AF journey.

So sunny today. Feeling frustrated and my anxiety is getting the better of me but hey ho 😆

Evening all! I hope you are all doing well.

Thank you so much @Cloudsclouds6. I really appreciate your kind words. I'm sorry to hear about your anxiety. These people...there is no known cure.

I got an apology today but the emotional hangover it leaves isn't good. I've still got a sore throat and feel like crap so it will be an early night for me tonight.

That is brilliant news @Limeandsoda2023. It will be a month before you know it!

Evening all- another sober day done and I am feeling brighter. I simply have to remind myself that once i get through dinner I am fine.

I am glad you got an apology @Thepeppapigfanclub

I hope everyone is well. xx ❤I am holding fast to the idea of spring bulbs.

Evening all. Hope everyone is doing ok. Just ticked off day 36!

I planted bluebells which are apparently a bit temperamental. So might need to plant something more reliable. But loving the spring bulb thing!

I'm loving the spring bulb thing too. Something positive to focus on.

Evening all really fancy a glass of wine tonight been one of those days in work I am also not sleeping well since giving up the wine. then came home to adult dd who had also been working but had a nap when she finished moaning about everything how tired she is etc.

had a bath now waiting to pick ds up from work going to go in my pjs so I don’t call at the shop on the way

so that will be day 3 for me

good idea on the PJs @Spendysis - hang in there!

Well done @Spendysis on day 3. Hopefully you will find your sleep gradually improves.

Thank you @Thepeppapigfanclub - I will be so chuffed to get to a month. Still feels a way off! Really sorry to hear you’re dealing with a horrid ex and feeling like crap - hope you get a decent night’s sleep and feel better tomorrow.

Still waiting for ds to finish work grrr he’s usually done by 9.
my usual trick is to pick him up then say i will just have 1 before bed to unwind then it would end up being a full bottle

Just write a post about how flat I’m feeling and accidentally lost it. That’s a good summary of my day.

@MamaGhina at least you haven't lost your sense of humour. That post made me laugh.

Carry on, just keep carrying on.

😔
Checking in dry. A good friend asked me to go for a drink next week and instead of saying ‘I’m doing sober october’ or similar I said yes.
Sigh. I’m still feeling so torn about what it is I want. I want to do the whole of October dry but I also want to go out drinking with my friends.
I guess it will come down to what’s more important……. Maybe I’ll suggest we go for a run instead. I’m sure she’ll love that suggestion 🤣

@MamaGhina you're putting yourself into a very tempting situation to drink if you go out with your friend. Do you need to test your reserves?!!!

How bad do you want to be sober? If it was me I'd try suggesting an alternative to drinking that you both would still enjoy. This is the point where you find out if your friends or drinking buddies.

Good to hear everyone's trials and tribulations though wish it was always a tribulation for everyone.

I am off work this week. Had my covid jab this afternoon and have developed a peffy cough - jab??

@BoilingHotand50something I spend far too much time digging up bluebells. The little b'ds multiply annually. They belong in the woods not my flowerbeds.

@SpringNotSprung i have some terrible soil which is in full shade and is also full of roots from a gigantic shrub and I am sick of looking at the mud! I may regret the decision to plant them but it will be better than the current situation!

I ordered some other bulbs too last night! I have got a bit obsessed!

I’ve woken up feeling a bit better. What I should have said was ‘I’m doing sober October but happy to go and nurse a squash’ but it’s not the same for the other person and I got the impression she was a bit desperate to get something in the diary.

I’ll see her between now and then so maybe I’ll break it to her that I’m not drinking and see what happens.

The only response a drinker should give to someone saying they want a tonic/orange juice/coke zero is ice?

I hate the peer pressure to drink. I suffered it too when I had a social life! That isn't an issue any more 😂thanks to chronic illness.

But I do know this is one of the hardest parts of going sober. I really had to change my circles if my friends weren't willing to do anything that didn't involve alcohol. You will find sober people and have quality friendship without alcohol, you just need to find your people now and they will be looking for you too, because sober people are hard to find.

@BoilingHotand50something providing you dig in some good manure to counteract the leeching from the trees above, good options are: cyclamen, hellebores, campanula, euphorbia, bleeding heart, bergenia, acquilegia, etc., oh and snowdrops although I have never been able to get them going in any garden. All those things work well in the shady parts of the garden here.

Can you take out the tree - I had a similar problem with an ancient, and huge wisteria that took more work than it gave and had stripped all goodness from the soil. Its roots were bigger than its trunk! To the horror of the neighbours I had it chopped down. The bed, admittedly, not in shade, is now fab.

I don't know what day I'm on except that 18th October is my 100th day.

@MamaGhina could you go and have 0% g&t so it feels you are joining in? Good luck with it.

Hope everyone has a good week.

Just for a cheap laugh. Those algorithms know me. 😂

Note. You need to click on the image to see the words.

@Yocal that is funny! But so true.

@SpringNotSprung thanks for the gardening advice. I have some snowdrops to plant out so fingers crossed I can get them going! I am a bit useless at gardening at the moment - too fat and too bloody hot all the time! Hopefully when the spring comes and all my bulbs pop up, I will be a reformed character!

@MamaGhina glad you are feeling a bit better today.

I walked the dog before work in the gorgeous autumn sunshine so am feeling good today.

Just checking in. Hi.
Really struggling with my kids behavior and just feeling quite numb, like I can't get anything right. Day 27.

Going out with a friend for dinner Friday night and not going to drink; she will probably be disappointed but I have a good excuse which is a weekend run (which I am dreading!)

"Often when we are in recovery, rediscovery of who we are sets up a momentum that sees us attempting to tackle every aspect of alcohol addiction in one go. It's not uncommon to become overwhelmed with reading quit lit, journalling, podcasts, the "work" in sobriety. As with any other skill or behavioral modification, it takes time to practice new skills and to settle into a new lifestyle. It takes time to be able to feel comfortable with self-care, self- acceptance and a renewed commitment to what matters most - our values."
Simon Chapple, Rock Bottom & Rising.

I think we can all identify with the numbness @Steppered and I definitely agree that it is taking practice to adapt to a sober lifestyle. It’s a good quote!