New April continuing thread for living an alcohol free life - all welcome

[livingalivelife]

Hello! This is the continuation of a thread started originally by drybird, and subsequently continued by many fabulous and now sober mumsnetters. It's provides huge amounts of non-judgmental support, cameraderie and good humour to anyone venturing on an alcohol free life.

I've been on the thread several times, lapsed and been welcomed back, which I have hugely appreciated. This time I am determined to stay AF and I'm now on day 44. There is so much experience here on offer - how to get through that first sober Friday night, family party, night out, festive celebration, work do etc etc. And also loads of info on great resources to help in the AF journey - podcasts, books, websites, different kinds of support groups and counselling, or going it alone - the emphasis is on whatever works for you.

This is a thread for those who are living alcohol free, and if you're looking to cut down (lucky you if you're one of those people can have one glass of wine and not think - what's the point of that?), there are other great threads elsewhere in the alcohol topic for moderate drinking.

Looking forward to more clearheaded, shamefree mornings and sober adventures ahead ...

Checking in to the new thread!!

Thanks for starting it @livingalivelife

Hello to @wendywagon @REP22 @Crunchymum @ponzusoup @REP22 @happyasagrig @onewildandpreciouslife @Blackberryblossom @Shymaryellen @whichdayisit @itsrainingten @womanshour @fortheloveofgodwhy
more later - i have a meeting now

Morning all! Thanks for the new thread @livingalivelife

Thanks @livingalivelife [waves to @Crunchymum and @Onewildandpreciouslife 👋]. much appreciated. This thread is a godsend and you are all my heroes.

Unannounced-political-signs-in-my-garden-gate continues. The dog is livid. I have popped him down in front of his Bagpuss DVD, so he can simmer down...

Strength and love to all. x

@livingalivelife thank you. Checking into the new thread. Hi everyone 😊

Hello everyone, on this sunny Tuesday afternoon!

It's definitely not sunny here! Thunder and full on monsoon right now 😂

Thanks for the tag and setting up the new thread!

We've got rain too.

Day 6 here and the mental fog is clearing a bit here, finally! Still struggling to drop off at night time though - planning a gym trip tonight to try to encourage a more peaceful snooze!

I've been listening to the unexpected joys of being sober and it's spurring me on! Didn't expect this sort of podcast to be my thing at all.

ItsrainingELEVEN there then 😉Stay safe in it all. x

Checking in.

OK to join please?
Day 22 for me

also checking in on day 11. thanks for the new thread @livingalivelife and all the support ladies.

@WendyWagon was sad to hear that you had been feeling so low. i know i'm
a newbie on here but you were incredibly kind to me when i joined at a real low point and i want to send you love and friendship.

welcome @Manchestermummax3 ! come on in

@REP22 🤣🤣

@ponzusoup oh bless you. I was in so much pain nothing touched it.
I love my family but I didn't want them tied to me so it was a nursing home or the M4 bridge (I wouldn't really do that as a former emergency service workers wife, but you know what I mean) . I nursed my dad for three and a half years and I wouldn't ask that of anyone. It made me an alcoholic.
I am on day six of improvement so I am cautiously hopeful. Yee ha.

@Manchestermummax3 welcome.

I’d like to join this thread please! Starting week 1 alcohol free this week after binge drinking whilst socialising has crept up to unmanageable levels, it’s only a matter of time before something awful could happen. My mental health and I’m sure physical health are suffering badly.

Feeling good about the potential change and have previously tried 3 months off the booze but my first big challenge will be a city break with friends this weekend!

Well done to everyone in your efforts so far

I’d like to join this thread please! Starting week 1 alcohol free this week after binge drinking whilst socialising has crept up to unmanageable levels, it’s only a matter of time before something awful could happen. My mental health and I’m sure physical health are suffering badly.

Feeling good about the potential change and have previously tried 3 months off the booze but my first big challenge will be a city break with friends this weekend!

Well done to everyone in your efforts so far

Hello, day 2 for me, I have had a bit of an epiphany recently and have decided to stop drinking and I event went to the supermarket today and didn’t fancy buying any wine for tonight. This is massive for me. Listening to a couple of audio books and following these threads has been helpful. Thank you.

Welcome @Manchestermummax3 - day 22 is awesome - you have done the hardest bit!

Welcome @Dazzledrop and congratulations on your decision to quit. There will be plenty of advice and support here about your upcoming weekend.

and welcome @NeedANewOne25 and well done on day 2. Glad you've found some quitlit.

Fantastic to have so many new joiners. The thread is popping as my Dteenagers would say!

@WendyWagon I'm really sorry to hear things have been so bad the last few days. I hope you are on the mend a bit. xx

also tagging from the previous thread @vanlife33 @wineisnottheanswer @myghastisflabbered please do tag anyone I might have missed.

Happy evening all. Cooking, san pell and oboe practice here.

Hello everyone, and welcome to newbies. thanks for the thread, @livingalivelife .

I am on a course all week, and whereas I'm enjoying it a lot, I am really tired. I have stuff to read for it tonight, but doubt I could concentrate, really. I would normally read on the bus going in, but someone else on the course gets on a stop or two after me, and sits next to me, which means I can't. I think I'm going to have to bluff, really, as I know nothing will stay in my tiny brain if I force myself to read it tonight.

Congratulations to everyone who's making progress. None of it's easy - @NeedANewOne25 the first few days are a slog, and after that you have to fight the 'I'm feeling so much better, and can't fully remember how awful I feel after drinking, so just one or two will be fine' feelings. They last for ages, but wear off if you reframe everything to you being a non-drinker with no compromise. Every day is a step in the right direction though, and you've done the real biggie, which is Day 2, IMO. @Manchestermummax3 you're counting weeks now, and it will be months before you know it.

@Dazzledrop where is your city break? It will be fine, and when you've done it you will have so much more confidence that you can do the other firsts. I think the first time I went away as a non-drinker was a mystery tour which ended up being a dreadful weekend in Blackpool with a very hard-drinking friend. It was comically awful - bingo, a 'disco' in the bar, a really crummy hotel in December when even the tat shops were closed. My friend got so drunk she vomited all night, and moaned all day on the trip to a Christmas market. I had to mentally distance myself from it all, and pretend I was a journalist or something 😂The next time I went away was a breeze after that, and whilst I'd expected Christmas Day that year (my first) to be difficult without a drink, it was easy peasy.

welcome @NeedANewOne25 and @Dazzledrop day 2 is a challenge indeed but you've taken a brilliant step in joining here and committing to sobriety. it certainly felt different this time for me. i'm only on day 11 but already my skin is less puffy and bloated and my brain chemistry feels like it is settling down a bit. i definitely sleeping better and feeling calmer and less grumpy. i've been reading the sober diaries by claire pooley as recommended by the lovely ladies on here. also listening to the lovely northern ladies on the bee sober podcasts.

@ShyMaryEllen hope the course goes well.

@livingalivelife thank you for starting the thread and for the tag!

@ponzusoup well done on day 11!

Welcome @NeedANewOne25 @Manchestermummax3 and @Dazzledrop you'll find yourself in good company here! X

That all sounds great, @ponzusoup . It was months before my sleeping settled down.

If it's ok, can I suggest that newbies get some high strength B1 (thiamine) and take it ASAP? You can't overdose on it as you excrete it, but a shortage can cause brain damage, particularly if you have a sudden drop in supplies. You should take it for 6 weeks or so after stopping drinking. It might make your pee orange, so don't panic if that happens😎

Can I join please? Day 174 for me. Apart from my 2 pregnancies it's the longest I've been alcohol free in 30 years. Feels quite shocking to look at it like that.

Have ticked off Christmas, New Year, my birthday and lots of Friday nights.
I've done dry January before but never felt any better for it and used that to excuse myself from trying to cut back. I think I'm
only seeing the real benefits now it's been a few months.

Really scared I'm going to fall spectacularly off the wagon sooner or later.

Thanks everyone for the words of encouragement. @ShyMaryEllen hopefully I’m in a good spot as I am a Marmite addict, but interesting you mention B1 thank you.

I started reading Allen Carr’s book and then the 30 day experiment and the thing in my brain for me is flipping from thinking I am depriving myself to looking forward to a treat after work. We’ve tried loads on AF beers, ciders, wines etc and none of them are great. I’ve stashed up on Shloer, Appletiser and some Goodrays CBD drinks and that has been good so far, just one or two. We had Appletise and Shloer as kids as a treat with roast dinner, and so it has a cosy feeling when I have one in the evening. I’m ignoring the sugar for the moment as I am just keen to break the wine habit.

Bonus too, my husband decided to join me last night with his 0% Guinness (really pleased if I can encourage him too 😍).
I’m excited about finally (hopefully) being able to lose weight and looking after ourselves better