Tulips, snowdrops and another Day 1!

[MamaGhina]

New thread as promised. I’ll pop on later to tag everyone as I wanted to get this link on the old thread before it fills up!

Link to the old one for any new joiners:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/alcohol_support/4877066-its-day-1-anyone-else?page=40

Congratulations @MamaGhina , very well done. I am 100% in for a Dry May and a new thread. I can't moderate. I need to quit altogether. It's going to be a bumpy ride but I need to do it.
PS) Don't do the Bottomless Brunch. Another story for another day but ... it's a bad idea. Lose the money, have convenient covid or whatever, but just protect yourself xx

Thank you @BoilingHotand50something and @Steppered,very glad to hear I will have some company.

Re the bottomless brunch, since I have been trying to cut back on my alcohol I went for a lunch with some friends. I knew there would be a mix of dry people and those drinking. What I didn’t expect was for the person sitting next to me to sink 6 large red wines over the course of the day. Yes I was counting. It didn’t make me feel tempted. In fact, I felt really sad. Why do ‘we’ do this to ourselves? Why do we think that is enjoyable? It wasn’t that long ago that I would have joined in, got much more drunk than her and had difficulty getting home (not to mention the awful banging head the next day).

I can hand on heart say I wasn’t judging this person, I was worried for her. Worried that she didn’t seem that drunk for a start. Even when I was heavy drinking that would have been enough to knock me out. Worried about her getting home. Worried about how she would feel the next day…

… in one of the first sober awkward podcasts one of the ladies admits she missed her friends big birthday because she could risk going at the beginning of her sobriety. She felt awful for cancelling. Like she had let her friend down. It seemed to be another thing to beat herself up with. I will go to the brunch but have a reason ready to say I’m not drinking right at the start and I feel like it’s a big enough group that if I want to escape after I probably can.

Thanks for the shout-out Mama, I still haven't managed day 1, but I'll try again tonight.

Huge congratulations on your dry April @MamaGhina . That really is an awesome achievement especially because I remember you were finding it really hard at weekends.

I’m definitely with you for a dry May and have sneaked an early start by not drinking since Saturday so I am on day 4 already! This is my longest streak in a while and as ever follows a long period when I constantly negotiated with myself about moderating and failed spectacularly.

Congrats also to @BoilingHotand50something who is just quietly keeping on not drinking and certainly providing much needed inspiration to me.

@IWanderedLonely it’s really hard isn’t it? I would really recommend spending some time listening to some podcasts if you are able to. Or heading out for a walk. Something to distract yourself.

Hi @Limeandsoda2023! Congrats on day 4. I don’t know what the future holds for me and alcohol. I do know I feel so much better when I’m not drinking, even when I’m managing to keep it to a couple of bottles of wine at the weekend. Even that messes with my sleep and skin and temperament. Not having a decent dry spell this year was really getting me down. I’d love to be able to do another month.

Sorry, realised I missed out thanking other posters who also inspire me by keeping dry and my shared experiences with those who keep repeating day 1.

Do you know what I have realised? Since joining this thread I’ve massively managed to cut down on my evening snacking. I’m convinced it’s because I broke that habit of drinking sugar in the evenings and replacing that with junk on the nights I didn’t drink.

Funnily enough, I weighed myself and I’ve lost nothing 😆 BUT! My body shape is different. I’m so less bloated. I feel more lean. I’m drinking so much water. No idea why I haven't lost anything though, I do have loads more energy. I deserve to be at least half a stone lighter!

I’ve totally lost track of how each individual is doing.

I think about @smegley a lot and wonder how her relationship is now with her son.

Maybe we should do a day count round up as it’s the end of the second thread! Or leave that for the start of the next one.

That's great @MamaGhina - congratulations on a huge achievement.
I'm definitely up for Dry May and a new thread.
Having stopped drinking in October, a sober Christmas seemed a big deal. Since then, I've been okay. But...we are going on holiday in May and I just can't picture a beach holiday without a gin and tonic on the balcony before dinner. I don't really think I'll drink but I am starting to romanticise it, so yes please to keeping this place and you wonderful people to keep me in check.

@MissSmith80 will start a new thread for sure. It will be nice to start it in a good place. Holidays are so tricky. All the sober firsts are. I’m not sure what to advise because I still experience that feeling of missing out if I’m not drinking (although that is temporary). Old habits die hard and all that. Best of luck with it.

Congratulations @MamaGhina. Great idea for a new thread. I'll try to catch up soon. Rather a lot going on in real life at the moment.

I didn't manage dry April but it was only peppered with about eight glasses. Must try harder but I'm not disappointed.

Hello!

Its been a while so I thought I'd update, im over 100 days sober now (since Jan 8th).
My mental health is hundred times better than it was and I went back to work this week :)
I hope everyone is doing ok and if your not, hang in there, life gets so much better!

OMG @smegley you’ve kept that little nugget of happiness to yourself 😆 over 100 days sober is just fantastic!! I’m so impressed. Honestly huge well done. So glad you are feeling the benefit too x

I'm still taking the acamprasate tablets and attending groups but I'm doing really well :)
Long may it continue!

@smegley. Well done. I am thrilled for you. I too have often thought of you.

@Bluegirl19 if you do t mind me asking, why did you stop going to AA?

@smegley you little beauty! Bloody well done to you mate. That's incredible & what an inspiration. Well done!

Congratulations @smegley - such good news. Well done to you.

All those congratulations have filled the thread 😆

Here is a link to the new one. I tried really hard to think of a witty title but I’m afraid that’s not one of my strengths…

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/alcohol_support/5066932-day-1-or-1000-all-welcome-on-the-tulips-and-snowdrops-thread

1