Day 1 or 1000 all welcome on the tulips and snowdrops thread 🌷

[AFmammaG]

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/alcohol_support/4930949-tulips-snowdrops-and-another-day-1?page=40&reply=134961706

Ladies I’m making this new thread as we’ve gone up to 993 posts on the other thread and I need to link it before we fill up!

Will post a proper into later.

Shame must be a big factor with alcohol :(

Morning all. I woke with a headache which is not the deal when you just drank water the evening before 🙄

I can eat my breakfast without feeling sick. I don’t have bottles to hide from my DC or have to worry about what I did with my cigarettes. I slept until 7 and I don’t feel awfully anxious. In the scheme of things, I can’t complain really.

It’s sunny here and I’m hoping to have an early start tomorrow, to enjoy the sunshine with the kids. That should keep me dry tonight. That and the treadmill!

Wishing everyone a good day 👊

@dontlookbackinangerr welcome.It
sounds like you’ve had a really tough time. As @CoffeeLover90 said, you need to focus on the making sure you’re out of the relationship and that you are safe. Wise words.
D7 today, I’m feeling proud that I’ve almost done a week. I’ve also lost 3lb which is a nice bonus.
Out later with DP but I’ve said I’ll drive so definitely can’t have anything to drink! I’m going to have an alcohol free beer with my food.

hope that everyone else is doing ok. Sending strength and good vibes 😎

@AFmammaG i also woke with a headache and it’s not shifted! Annoying as I don’t really get them when I drink 🤪

You'll be pleased to know I have finished the decorating. I'm celebrating with a chicken kebab.
I'm child free tonight the first since my latest dry attempt. I'm going to drink this tea, run a bath, pre order the chicken kebab and (like a slob) eat it in bed while watching the latest jurassic world. The bedroom is the only tidy room in the house, the rest is a shambles but that's a tomorrow problem.

I am so proud of everyone staying dry tonight ❤️

I am also dry! Had a long day, chucked a frozen pizza in the oven. Will put the DC to bed and then treadmill 💪 enjoy your sober evening all x

Hi everyone, I am also dry tonight. I haven’t felt the urge to drink at all today but, for me, weekdays are usually harder than weekends so I’m not getting overconfident just yet!

I’ve been for an early evening walk along the river which was lovely and now back home for some food and TV. My DD is out with friends locally and will walk home but it’s a good feeling knowing I could drive to pick her up if she asks.

Hope everyone has a good evening and well done to @CoffeeLover90 for finishing the decorating! Most impressive.

I had the urge, but it is becoming easier to ignore. I went out for lunch today and I was surprised by how many people were drinking. I didn’t want to drink at lunch as I had the kids with me, but it was on my mind on the way home.

I’ve managed to get myself into a bit of a routine with jumping on the treadmill as soon as the kids are in bed. By the time I finish my walk, it’s too late to start drinking. I’m going to weigh myself on Monday. Really hope to have lost a pound this week.

Woo well done everyone..! Proud to say I have stayed dry today too. I had a moment in the supermarket where I was drawn to the Prosecco but promptly walked on.

Sounds like we've all had headaches! I did too but I THINK it's now passing. I'm noticing mostly now I feel more bloated than ever on day 5..?! I'm trying to just accept my body is readjusting and will do weird things for a while. Awesome news @Cantdoitallperfectly for the weight loss!

Tonight I'm having some self care and hot bath.

Hope you all enjoy your evenings!

I had a fab walk on the treadmill this evening. I put on my favourite show of the moment and just chilled for an hour. Nothing too strenuous, just enough to feel good. I also had a beautiful walk in the woods earlier so feeling quite natured out.

I’ve been totally knackered this week so I am going to focus hard on water, sleep and less screen time. Self care a go go!

That sounds amazing @TimesaChangeling ! Maybe I'll do a long walk tomorrow...

I bloody adore walking @dontlookbackinangerr, great meditation for the soul and the sunshine at the moment v good for the endorphins

ps the headaches might be a combo of dehydration and possibly sugar withdrawals. So make sure you gets lots of water and good nourishing food. I am currently waiting on a pukka night tea time brew whilst I make spiced apple topper for porridge (I am so into my autumn phase already )

Just marked today as a “stayed dry” day on the app and got the usual buzz of pride. Need to bottle that feeling for next time the urge hits me to drink.

Good night all.

I’m just home from night out! Sober!
Had a brilliant time, some nice food and company with a lot of laughs. I often don’t drink on a night out (drive as we live rural) but once I’m home I’ll sink some wine. Tonight I had a cup of tea and I’m tucked up in bed.

It feels good knowing that I’ll wake up tomorrow feeling fresh (hopefully the headache goes!).
HUGE well done to everyone’s efforts.

Morning everyone.. guess what.. Day 6 and the headache has gone!!!

Think you were right @TimesaChangeling that sugar withdrawal was part of it too.

It's a beautiful Sunday, I have the house to myself for a few hours and it's the first Sunday this year I'll enjoy without drinking. Feeling bloody fabulous right now.

Sorting my things for moving out, have had a nice morning walk and hopefully some time in the garden too planned.

Sober night out is an amazing achievement @Cantdoitallperfectly 👏 not sure I could do that yet

@dontlookbackinangerr enjoy the peace!
Do you have somewhere to move to yet? It’s so hard packing up after a relationship ends. You are amazing for not drinking 💪

The house is no longer a shambles, the decorating is all done. The house is fresh, like meeee
What a great, but tiring, week.
And it looks like I'm not the only one... well done everyone!

I came close tonight 😭 I feel so sad. The internal struggle is so hard. I seem to have a couple of good days where the craving isn’t so bad and then boom, it hits me. And I start almost talking myself into it. “I won’t drink next weekend if I drink tonight”. Or “I don’t have to drive tomorrow for the first day in ages”.

The good news is, I didn’t cave. Thank goodness. I just kept putting off the decision until it was too late in the evening so the decision was made for me.

I set myself this target of a dry August and I just have to hit it. I have to. I need to. My body needs the break. My mind needs the break. I need a break.

It was lovely to log on this evening and read everyone’s positive updates and that’s the stupid thing. Because I didn’t drink last night I was able to get up and out this morning. Sunday morning! I had a lovely day in the sunshine with the kids. I was present. I was patient. I was happy. I mean really happy. I had this moment when I was watching the kids and I felt… at peace. That’s what I need to cling to. That feeling. I never feel really at peace when I’m hungover.

Sorry for the long post. I guess it isn’t a totally negative story because it has a happy ending. I’m not drinking tonight. I’m really grateful for that.

Well done @AFmammaG for not caving. I’m sure tomorrow you’ll be so pleased that you managed to stay dry. And your Sunday sounds great with your kids.

I also felt sad today. My DD and I went for lunch at my parents’ house and they suggested a glass of wine with lunch. I made an excuse about driving later but it made me sad that I couldn’t just have one glass with them. They don’t drink much - just the odd glass with the occasional meal - and I know how worried they would be about me (they are in their eighties) if I admitted that I have a problem with alcohol. So I felt crap both that I can’t drink in moderation and that I can’t share something so important with them.

But I know if I had had that glass and broken my dry day then I would have opened a bottle of wine this evening.

Instead I am home and sober and the feeling of sadness is wearing off slightly.

Im back at work tomorrow and worried that the usual stress/irritations will weaken my resolve by the evening but really determined to keep the dry streak (only 4 days!) going.

Hope everyone has a positive end to the weekend and start to the week.

Thank you for posting @Limeandsoda2023, makes me feel better to know I’m not alone. I know exactly what you’re saying about not being able to have ‘just’ one and also about not feeling able to be truthful about not drinking. No way, would I be honest with my family. That’s slightly different though because they wouldn’t be concerned for me 😆 more like berating me for fucking up something else in my life.

Have you thought about a routine to get into in the evenings after work? Having my little walk on the treadmill is really helping and I think that might have been one of the reasons why I was so vulnerable today because my routine was up in the air. When I was talking myself into drinking, I decided it was too late to get on the treadmill so I might as well drink. As It turns out, I’m on it now! Just putting one foot in front of the other. Thinking about weighing myself in the morning to see how it’s going.

Thanks @AFmammaG, I’m sure you’re right about the routine. I have a treadmill too but it hasn’t seen much action recently so maybe I need to restart! I also want to try to walk at lunchtime since that has helped in the past.

Yes! Dig it out from under the clothes.

I’ve never finished a session on the treadmill and thought I wish I hadn’t bothered!

Hi - I had to change user name as updated my phone and mumsnet didn’t recognise my old email address… I needed to log in to check in with you guys!!
previously cantdoitallperfectly
@AFmammaG i hear you. I think if I’d wine in the house (it’s in the garage!!) I might have too. I realise now that it’s when I’m cooking dinner, I get that almost instinctive urge to open a bottle, pour and gulp. That warm fuzzy feeling you get within a minute…. You’re right about having a routine to help - I think I might start making dinners in the AM at weekends. I’ve been an absolute bear today. Kids have been angels but I’m livid with DP for not doing some of the important things I needed done - he’s lazed about hungover both days. I’m back to work tomorrow for 3 long shifts and I really needed him to step up. I have exams coming up at it’s been tough getting through study with alll the other stuff that needs doing.
Rant over. I’ve done the jobs myself! I’m now at the dining table getting some studying done before my 6am start.

Hooe that you’ve all had a restful Sunday.

glad to hear you’ve got the decorating finished and the house all cleaned @CoffeeLover90 🎉
@Limeandsoda2023 I know that feeling of wishing I could take or leave it, or have a glass and stop. I’m just not that person. It always amazes me when people say that they can’t remember the last time they had a drink, or leave some wine in a glass etc etc. I do have a problem, I can acknowledge that here but IRL I don’t say a word esp to my parents who rarely drink. They worry about me enough as it is!