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!

Happy 2 year anniversary @Onewildandpreciouslife what an achievement 👏 ❤️

(Sorry must have missed that when I popped on the other day!!)

Hope everyone is well and feeling calm as another weekend approaches? I'm counting down the hours until I get to see my 9yo (they've been on a 4 day / 4 night residential and I'm desperate to see them!! I'm so excited 😊)

@Crunchymum I have this too! Keep checking for updates about their departure / arrival back at school. It is my daughters first school trip and overnight not with friends and family.

Hope he's had a lovely time x

Hello @Crunchymum another inspirational name to me .. I'm back after another fall off the wagon. But this time it's it. I am going to be one of the people who comes back here and posts 200 days!!!

Right team tonight is going to be TOUGH and i need all the help i can get. my DP is back after working away. It's a classic bottle of wine situation the moment he gets through the door. I'm going to cook now and listen to janey lee grace and put the becks blue in the fridge. Already looking forward to feeling amazing tomorrow mornign and being proud of telling you that I did it!

Happy Friday @Womanshour my 'days sober' buddy!!

@livingalivelife I can't wait to hear about how great you feel tomorrow morning! Sounds like you have a fantastic plan.

I went for an extra dog walk yesterday evening as I felt so restless. I came back feeling amazing. Felt like the first win. (Well that's not true every day without booze has been a huge win).

Wishing you all lovely peaceful weekends x

Damn you, Ghast! Inspired by your post I downloaded the app and input my alcohol free days so far.

Each time I log a day it gives me a screen with confetti and “Congratulations! You stayed dry!” - which doesn’t make me feel I’ve done another alcohol-free day. Nope.

It appears to be congratulating me on not pissing myself.

I bet you a million quid a bloke wrote that. I am not in full Tena Lady mode yet, but I can see it from here…

Silliness aside, I am very proud of myself today. I was at an event with a group of friends and there was free wine. I took the orange juice without even a twinge - hurray!

Arthritis pain is still causing me a lot of grief, and the urge to self-medicate does sing its siren song when it gets really rough. However, I’m persevering.

Thanks @Womanshour I did it. It's a beautiful spring mornign now and I'm up already working and SO GLAD i didn't drink last night. Well done on the dog walk - that sounds like a really good idea to reset the early evening.

Well done Grig - haha re staying dry!! I don't know about you but I find the orange juice option super depressing, sticky sweetness so extra congrats from me. I am so sorry to hear about your arthritis pain and I can well imagine that self-medication sings its siren song.

Another day ...

Hello everyone can I join you please? I'm 100 days today and that was my original goal so now Ive done it I feel a bit flat. I'm not sure why.
I want to keep at it but I think I'm the sort of person who needs an end goal.
I had a weird experience last night. Went out for dinner with 2 mates. Since I stopped drinking I tend to worry that people will think I'm boring or try and talk me into having a drink, but last night one of the other 2 women also wasn't drinking and I had a strange role reversal where I felt guilty that my other friend would be drinking alone. Like I was responsible for her enjoying her night out. What's that all about?

Morning all.
I am as stiff as aboard. However I didn't even notice the Friday booze lust because Monty was on early. I'm having to take nytol at the moment due to the pain so I'm asleep quite early. I have my op date so less than two weeks to wait. If it doesn't work it's a bungalow for me. Being a property fiend I have found one that looks like a dower house. I can live with that.
@Itsrainingten welcome.

Welcome @Itsrainingten and congratulations on your 100 days! That’s a big milestone and the start of the really good stuff. I completely get you about feeling flat though - I always get really twitchy about milestones and then you pass them and no one puts out bunting (except on here!)

I think that after about 100 days is also when “the work” starts - when we really start to dig into why we drank in the first place. Sometimes it turns up surprising stuff, and being AF gives us the space to think “oh, that’s interesting.. I wonder why I reacted like that …”

Good to hear you’ve got a date for an op @WendyWagon - really hope it makes a difference for you.

Im cheering you on @livingalivelife @HappyAsAGrig and @Womanshour - just too knackered to post sometimes! Got a grotty cold and too much going on - all good stuff though

@livingalivelife Thanks! If fairness, I doubt orange juice was much worse than freebie wine 😉

Congratulations, @Itsrainingten ! Tonight will be 40 days for me, so 100 is dead impressive 🏆

Good suggestion about Nytol, @Womanshour , and I hope the surgery helps.

I hope @Onewildandpreciouslife feels better soon, and wishing a pleasant weekend to all of us on the thread, especially @Blackberryblossom for starting it.

@livingalivelife that's amazing news! A big trigger and you did it!! I hope you've has a lovely day.

Welcome @Itsrainingten wow 100 days. I'm just about hit 3 weeks 100 days feels a lifetime away. Congratulations.

@Onewildandpreciouslife thanks so much for the cheering on! It feels such a relief to be able to share on here.

@HappyAsAGrig Congratulations on your 40 days!
X

Morning all.
I am in the boudoir hoping to shift the DH so I can watch Titmarsh in peace. I was on the milk last night and got asked by my kids if I preferred it to wine! No I said but I'm not going back to being a functioning alcoholic! That shut them up. Blinking confessional.
Got to start a weeks course of steroids as my biologic has been stopped for the op. I shall have a moon face by the end of the week. I might eat some food which I can't at the moment. I have never eaten so little. The family watch me like a hawk. I am a long way from a twig.
I've been handbag buying to make life easier. Cross body bags. I must audit the items I put in.
I use to hide a bottle of oyster bay in my Mary Poppins. No chance with these little beauties. I still laugh with the poster who hid hers in the hedge, mine was in the garaged sports car! The milk stays in the fridge. No shame there unless you get a diet queen who ticks me off for full fat (4%). Whoopy Doo.

Welcome @Itsrainingten 100 days is fantastic. I’m on day 17 and I’d love to be at 100. Have done in the past but this is it for me and the great women in this thread are helping no end.
hope you got gardeners world in peace @WendyWagon and I hope your appetite improves. Love handbag shopping instead of drinking. I’ve bought too many clothes recently but they are pretty and cheer me up and it’s better than putting away alcohol with nothing to show for it but damage.
I think this time of year is a great time to be going sober - spring coming, bit of sunshine in the early mornings …

Evening all. I've been here before and after a successful DJ, things have gone a bit pear shaped in Feb & March. So, tomorrow is day 1 for me and I'm hoping to make it to the end of 2024. I'm looking forward to travelling with you all.

@SylviaB welcome! I'm new on as well. Marking 3 weeks today. I have found posting on here incredibly helpful. I hope you do as well x

Morning all.
I tried the Tanqueray seville orange af gin last night, gorgeous. The DH had some too.
I couldn't reach up for it but the steroids started to work almost instantly.
Red face mind this morning, not sure why.
I have a Marks one to try next with lemon and rosemary.
Have a good day all.

Ooh I bought the tanqueray Sevilla this weekend too. It is lovely.
Glad the steroids are making you feel a bit better

Day 23. I've finished mummy's a secret drinker. Loved it and it kept me focused each day. Anyone recommend the unexpected joy of being sober?

X

Yes definitely @Womanshour - one of my favourites. Well done on day 23!

@Onewildandpreciouslife thank you! Right ordering now to listen on the commute home.

Welcome @Itsrainingten and I hear you re the good dec/jan followed by crap feb/march. am determined to make it stick this time and be one of the great women on here who've done 100s of days.
another fan of the unexpected joy of being sober here @Womanshour
Big presentation DONE last night and went well. AND i survived my DH then suggetsing a glass of wine to celebrate. A tough moment - an engrained pattern for us. He's not being mean by offering - i've declared my sobriety so many bloody times i'm not going through that again. he's understandably cynical, doesn't see a problem anyway. i'm just doing it.
am going to give the AF gin another try @WendyWagon - will try your recommendations.
Have a great day all.

Sorry that should have been a welcome to @SylviaB! Hope you are going well to @Itsrainingten

Morning lads.
I've been typing like Miss Lemon all morning.
Well done to all succeeding on a sober new life.
I have finally broken my next stone barrier. That means my favourite trousers from New York. I look at them on occasion, I just hope the moth have stayed away!
Dear @Fortheloveofgodwhy suggested once that my boozing was self harm and I now agree. Ditto the overeating. It was a difficult thought at the time. Acceptance of the past is wonderfully freeing.

Definitely recommend that one. I've re-read it several times.

Struggling a bit at the moment, but still fighting. Strength and love to you all. x