On a mission to moderate or absolutely abstaining, no judging, keep on being strong, new thread autumn 2024

[Nowstrong]

@Amdone123, @Freezingfeetwarmheart , @Bigbus,@Flumpywoo , @FiveShelties , @ForeverTipsy, @Hohofortherobbers,@Jbob1976,@walliedug,

Wanted to post and old thread wouldn't let me, so took the plunge...
Please tag everyone, don't want to leave anyone behind.

Still AF here and even starting to enjoy it. Nearly 2 months. Will write proper post later..
Hope you are all doing well. Stay strong. Wet vibes, 'cos it's raining.

Good morning @BabetteAteOatmeal hope you're doing well and up for day 2!

@LillyPJ you're doing great keep after it.

Well done all you sober troops and moderators

Good morning and thank you Bez! First day completed successfully. We are invited to a BBQ and Eurovision this evening with a neighbour, so I am going to get some nice soft drinks to take along. I don’t think I will find that too difficult, it tends to be at home alone when I struggle with drinking. I am so pleased I found this thread, there is so much strength here

@BabetteAteOatmeal great work well done! I am also doing BBQ and eurovision tonight and planning on some nice AF drinks

@BabetteAteOatmeal congrats - the first day is the hardest and it’s good that you’re planning ahead! I always thought I wouldn’t enjoy nights out without drink. In actuality, I probably enjoy them more - I still have a great time - I’m just not hammered!

Morning all! Had a lovely time at the BBQ and stayed AF. When I was offered a drink when we arrived I said “oh something soft to start with please” then made a Diet Coke last. It’s only day 2 but doing ok. How was everyone’s Saturday?

@BabetteAteOatmealwell done! Off to a flying start!
Alcohol free weekend here too, a meal out on Friday & a BBQ yesterday & I've not missed it really. So it does get easier.
So nice to wake up without the Hangiexty & The Fear!

@BabetteAteOatmeal great work! Honestly the more you do it the easier it gets. I went round to friends yesterday and usually that would mean a full day of drinking. I had 2 AF coronas and some fizzy water and felt great. Had good chats, enjoyed myself. Ended up coming home and watching eurovision in peace but previously I would have cracked open some wine to do that and the ending would have been fuzzy / blacked out.

My 8yo got up in the night vomiting. Was so grateful I wasnt hammered and having to deal with that!

I think "just a soft drink to start" is a really good way to get an AF bev without getting into it.

"I'm not drinking today", "I might need to drive later", "I'm training tomorrow", "need to be up early" and so on. Whatever gets you through the situation is good.

Can I join! I’ve been have too much vino and I need to break the cycle. I’m starting a new job also this week and want to make a success of it!!

I want to reduce my drinking:

for health reasons
to be a more present mum and wife
to not feel anxious (or less) anxious

it’s been a tough few years and want to get my mojo back and enjoy life!

Hope everyone is doing well! This will be my first day without alcohol in far too long!

Welcome @Livingthedreamithink and congratulations on the new job! Good time for a fresh start.

@HorrorFan81 Hope your little one is better now?

Thanks @BabetteAteOatmeal , shes not vomiting anymore but has a temp and is pretty miserable. Her brother is also ill now too. Been a fun day. But would have been SO much worse with a hangover. Instead I took myself off for a sunny 5k run this avo

Oh no, vomiting bug? Hope they’re both better soon, it’s often 24 hours isn’t it.

@Livingthedreamithink I hope day 1 went ok for you.

Yes just winding down and hoping I sleep! Sorry to hear about your family’s bugs! Not nice! Thanks for the welcome!

Part way through Day 4 and I actually slept through the night last night for the first time in ages. I imagine it’s a coincidence as it’s probably too soon for any noticeable change as yet. But it’s made me feel much more energetic and positive today. Keeping on keeping off.

@BabetteAteOatmeal I noticed an improvement in sleeping almost immediately. I used to wake up around 3am almost every night and couldn't get back to sleep. I'd feel restless, hot, anxious, uncomfortable etc. I'd be awake for about two hours, sometimes longer. I slept better the very first night after not drinking and it's generally improved ever since (Day 18 now). I still wake up around 3am for a wee but I usually just go straight back to sleep, and even if I don't, I don't feel anxious. I hope you find that too.

I had similar improvement in sleep. Apart from last night, for some reason I couldn't drop off, but still got 5 hour in the end.

Annoyingly my sleep hasn't improved much but I think mine is peri related 😢

One more week til 100 days 🙌 Big camping weekend coming up, which is usually 48 hours of boozing. I'm actually excited to experience it sober (and at least won't be trekking to the toilet hut every 10 minutes!)

Day 2 here! My aim to have no wine during the week! Here’s to day 3!

@Livingthedreamithink Good luck!

You've got this @Livingthedreamithink !

Im feeling pretty rough this morning, think ive got the bug the kids have had 🤢. Makes a change to feel sick for illness reasons rather than booze tho 🤣🙈

Currently in bed reading through the 2nd Alcohol Explained book. V eye opening

Ah no HorrorFan81. Hope you feel better soon.

Day 2 done! Fitful sleep again but not too sleepy! Waiting for IT to call to give me instructions on how to get onto the computer!

Hope the job is going well so far @Livingthedreamithink

there are high expectations! 😭 definitely thrown in the deep end!

Getting through Day 6 here. I had a vivid dream last night that I had a large glass of wine and was really disappointed in myself. Fortunately not real 😁. I’ve got lots of stress going on with health, family and awful ex at the moment so this would usually be my excuses to drink. However I have decided that I will not drink today.