The continuing support thread for living alcohol free, every day. Everyone welcome.

[Blackberryblossom]

Hello, and welcome to the alcohol-free support thread. The original thread was started about three years ago by drybird.

We’re a broad community who have all chosen to live alcohol free for good. Whatever your reasons, whatever you’re going through, someone here will have been there too. People here will have done that first sober holiday, first sober Christmas/birthday/work do/wedding/funeral, first AF night out with the drinking friends, first (and 2nd and 3rd…) AF Friday night/Sunday lunch, first day 31/day 101, first lapse. Don’t be shy about posting, we love all the successes of whatever shape and size and we have all been there too when things go wrong.

If you’re looking to moderate your drinking rather than quit altogether then maybe have a look at the long-running and very active moderation/abstaining thread that’s always near the top on the alcohol support board? Lots of support there too.

Brew yourself a and come on in!

Thanks @livingalivelife and @WendyWagon. Those are good tips.

Just going to do an ocado shop with some m&s posh bits and healthier treats. Anything is better than wine I suppose!

Thanks lads.
I think better out than in.
I am working with a recovering alcoholic atm. He is trying so hard. My boss is not so sympathetic. It does keep me on the 'there for the grace of God go I'.

I have no shame about the journey, I could make angels weep with the bits I've left out.
There were funny times and my Sir Les (Barry Hunphries) impression was legendary. I nearly bought some buck teeth to whip out!
However I'm now like an ex smoker and I take myself home if people are getting too pissed.
One guy was pressing drinks on me last year and I said, 'OK drinking contest, I hope you have plenty of money because I can drink you under the table' . He fled! Very funny.

Thank you all for your support, I couldn't have done it without you x

@WendyWagon could you recommend any podcasts? could do with adding them to the armoury ... thankyou

@livingalivelife Sober Dave does some good podcasts where he does interviews with several women, all with different stories, which both resonate and are motivating.

Morning all - just checking in (Day Two - but I won't be changing my name 😁)

Thanks @threeandmeandthedog i will look those up. I have never actually listened to a podcast, so need to download the audible app i guess.

Good morning @DayOneDoris and many congratulations on day 2.

Apologies for my absence - lots going on and then I put my back out. Mobile again now, and oh my word it’s busy on here!

@Crunchymum and @threeandmeandthedog apologies for confusing you both a couple of pages back.

welcome @DayOneDoris and congratulations! I agree with Wendy, every day is a day 1 but I’m much better at keeping them close together now. If that makes sense.

@WendyWagon your story brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for writing it. 💐 I saw Barry Humphries live once. Very funny.

I shall come back tomorrow and post again. When I’m less sleepy! Well done everyone on another Monday done.

A quick hello to everyone today - I’ve been out and about, and somehow kept forgetting to pop in here to catch up.

@Blackberryblossom, hope the back heals quickly, they can be right buggers.

Thank you for your story, @WendyWagon and welcome aboard, @DayOneDoris !

Today marks 5 weeks alcohol free - baby steps, but I’m happy to be making them. Just one day without wine seemed impossible in January.

I’m still struggling with sleeping through the arthritis pain. Wine did a lot of terrible things, but it did knock me out cold most nights. I guess I just need to keep looking for solutions.

Congratulations @HappyAsAGrig that's incredible!
I'm so sorry you are in pain at night, wish I had an idea for you.
Day 16 here... also can't believe I've got beyond day 1.
x

Good morning lads,

I am up with a barking dog. Still stiff as a board but one tea down and a Marks cheese scone.
Well done so far @DayOneDoris 10 days after starting I felt marvellous.
Day off today but the phone will be busy anyway.
I shall be ringing the hospital about my appointment. Needs must.
Have a good day all.

Morning all
Congratulations @HappyAsAGrig and @DayOneDoris . How are you @REP22 - thinking about you.
I hope you manage to get through and talk to the right person quickly @WendyWagon
I'm stressed about a work presentation i have coming up. Booze would not help.

Good morning everyone - hope everyone's doing OK. Thank you for thinking of me @livingalivelife - I am doing OK and just starting to appreciate again the sober feelings over the urge to drink. Work is a nightmare but I am forging through. Sorry you are stressing about the presentation - you are right, booze would most definitely not help. My work at the moment would make handling things with booze-led brain fog unpleasant and potentially noticeable. No good can come of this.

@HappyAsAGrig congratulations on 5 weeks, that's brilliant. I struggle at night with awful leg cramps sometimes, hope you are able to find a solution that brings you better comfort.

Gang of community service lads at "work" outside my window today. At least two thirds of them are visibly "coming down" off of something. And they're using polesaws and power tools. They've clocked me bringing the dog back in from letting him send a wee-mail and are now loudly and "hilariously" calling to each other about how ladies love thieves and criminals as bits of rough. Brilliant. I might let the dog out again unaccompanied. By the time those rowdy wrong-'uns have spotted his cutlery, bib and the glint coming off his bottle of Taste the Difference Honey & Mustard meat marinade sauce, it's already too late... Save the taxpayer a fortune...

Onwards and sideways. Strength and love to you all. xx

What a shame your dog accidentally ate the unreconstructed idiots, @REP22 ! Ah, well, so sad, never mind… 😉

Hope the back is healing, @Blackberryblossom , and good luck with the presentation, @livingalivelife .

I hope you get your appointment sorted, @WendyWagon

Eugh a horrid day at work when the unmanageable workload has increased again. The desire to switch off with wine is huge.

Best get my pjs on.

Hope you had good news about your appointment @WendyWagon

Hope you x

Having a tough moment making dinner as usual. DH still away but tbh I often feel lonely with him. Need to work on that. It's easier without him. There's nothing especially wrong except the big thing that we don't feel connected.
Being sober means I'm doing bits of work while cooking, present for the DC and can practice the oboe later.
Hope pain better @HappyAsAGrig and that you are happily PJed @Womanshour . Have a peaceful sober evening all.

@livingalivelife thank you so much. I'm pjed and had a good cry.

I hope you have a peaceful evening as well and find a way to build that connection x

Thinking of you@Womanshour . And you too@livingalivelife , hope you enjoy the oboe practice. Isn’t that the one with the double reed? I play sax. That’s better without alcohol too.

@rep22 I’d have found that very trying. Your ddog description made me think of the dog in Lessons In Chemistry though 😍 How are you doing @DayOneDoris ?

Sorry I haven't posted. Have had a ghastly few months, and been off work for nearly 2 months with stress. I have never been more tempted to drink but I haven't and wanted to share something with you all.

How's it going @livingalivelife , @REP22 and @DayOneDoris ?
Hope everyone is managing OK.

Is it normal to be incredibly tearful in the early weeks? I can't stop crying. I'm having a stressful time but this reaction seems extreme... maybe I'm just used to numbing emotions or trying to cover up the hangover. X

@MyGhastIsFlabbered wow. Huge congratulations.... that's absolutely incredible!

That’s a huge achievement @MyGhastIsFlabbered - congratulations! 🎉🎉

Sorry to hear you’ve been off with stress - that makes those numbers even more impressive.

Feeling things and not numbing them is hard @Womanshour, but it’s a sign we’re alive.

Im feeling absolutely exhausted at the moment- partly through work and other commitments, but mainly because I’m running my first marathon in 3 weeks time. Ridiculous behaviour for a woman in her mid 50s, but you never know where the sober journey is going to take you.

Speaking of which, I am officially 2 years sober today. My TryDry app ticked over a couple of days ago,but I think it’s a leap year thing, and I like having 20 March as my sober milestone- the first day of spring seems a good day to mark the start of my new life.

Strength and love to all x

500 days @MyGhastIsFlabbered you are a legend.

Sorry to hear you've been signed off of work and are having such a tough time.

Don't let this detract from how well you have done with your sobriety. Having difficulties and remaining sober is even more bloody brilliant 👏

Many congratulations on the amazing milestones @MyGhastIsFlabbered and @Onewildandpreciouslife . You really are an inspiration. I've had so many failures and I find it vey helpful to know that you are doing it and that I CAN do it.

Best of luck with the marathon@Onewildandpreciouslife I did one (one, once!) and I know what an achievement it is to get to this point in the training. I hope the last weeks go well - you've done most of the hard work now! Have a sports massage, and enjoy it.

Hello @Womanshour - I do think it's normal, and it is really hard to start facing feelings we haven't felt because they've been smothered with booze, especially when you are having a stressful time. Well done on not drinking! I am having a stressful work time too, and personally, and I've decided I'm just going to keep being VERY nice to myself, giving myself treats and telling myself I'm great for what I'm doing. I do think negative self-talk can be a part of what takes us into alcohol problems - not doing that anymore.

I started my podcast listening yesterday with Jamie Lee Grace's sober podcast. She's very friendly and supportive, and it's good to have that extra boost when I'm out and about, keeping being sober in mind.

Morning all.
Congratulations @Onewildandpreciouslife @MyGhastIsFlabbered

I wish I had done the app thing in the beginning. I remember totting up the cash saved and having the red veins done around my nose.

I am a cryer so I can't say I was any more tearful. I was really tired though. 8pm bed time! 😄

Thanks @livingalivelife I think you are spot on about self talk. I have to work on that one. Also perfect timing with the podcast recommendation, I finished the sober diaries yesterday and need something to replace it with. My drive home from work is a time for alcohol lit! Keeping me focused and on track.

I do hope your work situation improves and becomes less stressful soon.

Yes @WendyWagon the exhaustion is so true! X