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

Morning all! Yes to the rain, it’s here and it’s pounding down. I cycle to work and it’s dangerous anyway but obviously worse when it’s raining and there’s traffic. People take silly chances to save themselves a few minutes. Will need my wits about me today.

Welcome @Tellmeliestellmesweetlittlelies there is certainly no judgement here, so many of us in the same boat.

Have started the concluding chapters in alcohol explained and feeling a bit disappointed. He basically says to take the option off the table and that will kill the craving. I think that’s correct in principle but the reality… it’s so much harder when it’s on your mind most of the day. So he seems to take the position of, tell yourself you are never going to drink again and the craving will either not be there or go.

I do agree that after a couple of weeks the craving is entirely psychological, in that the physical withdrawal will be over but I was kind of hoping there would be some coping techniques to get you through rather then just willpower. Hopefully there will be some in the last bit!

I'm afraid I am back on day 1. We've been away for a few days and I let the wine witch tell me that I would enjoy a few glasses. To be honest I didnt even enjoy the wine when I was drinking it and it didnt make the holiday any better. I should have stuck to AF, back on the wagon today. Hoping to at least to dry november hopefully even up to Christmas. Hope everyone is well.

@SummerScoop that's the thing isn't it, the enjoyment disappears despite the yearning and then the guilt kicks in. Bastard Booze Fairy imo.

Must get my head down at work - between meetings!

@Tellmeliestellmesweetlittlelies
Welcome aboard, I am only on day 6 again!
I feel awful, its like I held it together while working a high octane job, guzzling a bottle of wine a night and now that I have a few days off, I completely fall to pieces. It's a physical meltdown as well as mental. Have rheumatoid arthritis and menopause going on and both have attacked with a vengeance this week. Maybe the alcohol just drowned other symptoms.
I know it will improve, having been through all this before on my long and chequered journey through life, but that doesn't make it easier.
How is everyone else doing?

Day 20 for me & the first time i've really craved a drink. I know it won't just be 1 though & i'd end up drinking a bottle of wine. The thought of being all cozy indoors listening to the wind outside & not having work tomorrow made me automatically think of drinking. Might start a new crochet project to keep me occupied/distracted.

Hello

I'm new to this thread.
Going to have a read through and hopefully find thr support I really need :(

I have an appointment with the local alcohol service on the 16th November.
Seems so far away!

Welcome aboard,
Try to use here as a lifeline to keep you going until the 16th. It isn't easy but there is lots of good advice here

Welcome to all newcomers. You have found a safe place. I just hit 60 days! Whoop! I am trying not to think about Christmas at the moment. Can’t imagine doing the tree, wrapping, celebrating without the witch!

That is absolutely brilliant @BoilingHotand50something CONGRATULATIONS to you! 🌷🌷🌷

Hope you've all had a great day - or as well as can be expected with the dire weather.

Hi all, please can I join? Just reading through the thread and can relate to so much.

I've been a problem drinker to varying degrees since I started at 14. Been involved with local alcohol services twice, although both times 15+ years ago. I have quit for periods of time - longest was around 8 months but always gone back to it, moderating at first but then it increases. As I'm getting older my body can't cope with it, and I'm seriously worried about the strain on my heart as it races all night when I've been drinking.

I'm on day 4 of no alcohol and am aiming to last until the end of November. I know realistically I won't manage December with Christmas parties etc but want at least a month to give my body a break and try and clear my head.

Welcome to the wagon. All aboard.

It's so good to see people keep joining us after reading the thread.

Plant your self some spring bulbs newcomers (if you like) and when they come up in Spring hopefully you will be in a better place with alcohol. They will serve as a methaphor and marker in your journey. How does the saying go....the day you plant the seed isn't the day you enjoy the fruit....I think that is very apt with going sober. A lot goes on before you reap the reward.

Thanks @Thepeppapigfanclub - to celebrate, I have bought a beauty advent calendar. Not a super expensive one but will be a lovely treat and will hopefully distract me from the witch. Like others, I seem to have become obsessed with beauty and self care.

Welcome @PleaseBePacific and well done on Day 4.

That is a nice, well-deserved treat @BoilingHotand50something. That is a great idea. Maybe we should all buy ourselves one for being good? 😂

I'm on day 4 (again) too @PleaseBePacific. Let's day count together?

Very good thinking @Yocal. I'm going to plant one bulb for every sober day I've managed this year this weekend (if the ground isn't too soggy).

Must get my bulbs in! I did some but still got a couple of types to plant.

Can you imagine if the whole country went sober and this bulb thing caught on. The country will be blooming beautiful in Spring.

I do wonder what our society would be like if nobody drank alcohol. Can you imagine? I wonder if we would have more leisure facilities, more hobby centres etc. Would people be really fit and healthy? I'd love to see some sort of modelling of what society would be like.

Be lovely if others fancy a nice advent calendar. We can compare treats!

@Yocal love the thought of sober bulbs popping up all over the country.

The bulbs are a lovely idea, unfortunately I've got nowhere to plant 😞

Loving the messages of positivity today, welcome @PleaseBePacific and @smegley. Yes, there are a few of us planting bulbs. I’m going for a tulip patch in a damp and shady part of my garden. Feels appropriate.

I survived my commute. I love and hate cycling. I love the independence of my bike but I hate the added risk. I get so scared someone is going to hit me or I’m going to make a mistake and have an accident. Especially after a long day, when it’s dark and raining and I’m desperate to get home.

@BoilingHotand50something what a treat! I may look to invest myself! I‘ve upped my skincare game in the last few months and can definitely feel the difference even if it’s not obvious from my appearance 😆

I’m off to bed, can’t seem to stay up past 10 at the moment. Still catching up on all that lost sleep. Have a good evening all!

@VittysCardigan how did you get on with the craving? A nice AF drink in a wine glass sometimes helps me, although the book I’m reading basically says romancing the idea isn’t necessarily the right move. I guess for me it’s just a way of passing the time/craving.

@SummerScoop sorry to hear about how your feeling following your weekend. It’s tough isn’t it, especially if you’re torn between moderating and abstinence. I hope you manage to shake it off and carry on.
Remember, progress doesn’t have to be a straight line!!

Felt like a glass of wine after a stressy day, but resisted the urge. Currently hibernating on the sofa watching DI Banks instead.

Love hearing about everyone planting bulbs, they’ll look so nice when they start popping up.

Evening all and well done @BoilingHotand50something!! hello to all the newcomers as well. @PleaseBePacific i wouldn’t worry about Christmas just yet. It’s so daunting trying to contemplate long periods, but the today, here and now is what counts. So, to carry on the bulb analogy, it is the planting today what gets you the flowers in the future (sorry, I really haven’t done that any justice!)

@MamaGhina I cannot believe you’ve been cycling in this weather. I am in admiration.

Great idea about the bulbs, I planted some , but must start planting more!
7 days tomorrow, imagine I once did 16 years!!!! It seems so far away now.
I know it is best not to think in large chunks of time, but to keep it in small manageable chunks. Have to do a long car journey on my own tomorrow so will listen to some of the recommended 'quitlit'.
I am in the weird predicament of having 'hidden' my four year tumbling relapse, so now I have to 'hide' or double hide my recovery.....if that makes sense?
Good night everyone.
Thank you

@TimesaChangeling you're right thank you! One day at a time. Today I've woken up feeling hormonal and irritable, which is a real danger for me. I always drink more in the premenstrual phase, so just need to focus on today

@MamaGhina I can't believe you're cycling in this weather 😯 Very impressive!