The support thread for anyone trying to live an alcohol free life. Spring 2025.

[WendyWagon]

Hello and welcome.
These threads were started by drybird in 2020 and have gone on to support many people to give up alcohol and live a sober life.
We are not a moderarion thread and only encourage sobriety. There is another long running thread if that's what you feel is right for you. Lots of support there.
We have newbies and veterans, some who have 5+ years under their belts.
We share life's up and downs (often why we drank) and no question is too silly.
Personally I gave up drinking three years ago. It's the hardest thing I've done and the best thing.
We call our selves sober sisters and even have a mascot, Sid the ship's dog.
He poses often for a cheer up picture.
We're not here to judge, just offer support and friendship.
It gets better I promise.

Oh dear - memories of hiding places! A couple of years ago I was clearing some of my possessions out of my mum’s loft and lifted down a box containing a new pair of boots. Thought it was a bit heavy - on opening the box I found an unopened bottle of port stuffed into one of the boots 😂 Obviously I brought it home and drank it… I seem to remember it feeling like Christmas! My worst example was just before my divorce, and when already very drunk, I took a bottle of wine and a pack of tramadol down a footpath; drank half the wine and took the pills. Then decided this was a bad move, staggered back to the road and was found by a passer-by, who called an ambulance and off I was despatched to A&E. Two days later I remembered the half full bottle, trotted off back down the footpath and retrieved it. Not my finest hour.

That sorry episode seems like a lifetime ago, but it’s a salutary reminder of where drinking will take me. It WILL kill me, quickly or slowly.

On a happier note, I see some fabulous milestones and goals achieved on here - well done shipmates! My personal goal is now one year, but really it’s just one day - I only have to not drink today. Tomorrow is just another ‘one day’ - it’s why I find @mermadeincornwall ’s daily affirmations so helpful. Good luck with the party house @WendyWagon - and with the car hunt. I’m sure there will be a practical blingy car out there just for you!

Checking in briefly as I’m knackered! Love to all, the updates and what everyone is up to are so interesting- and keep the thread feeling human and supportive.
IWNDWYT
DAY 3 again.

Better than Day 1 @Healthynow

Great to see you hanging in there!

Good morning sober sisters.

Off to see my cousin who is giving up the booze. It's bound to be an intense discussion. She's been in denial for years.

Wish me luck.

@WendyWagon When you say she's giving up the booze, do you mean she's already stopped or just intending to? Either way, I'm sure you can give her loads of encouragement and good advice, and that's all you can do. (I was great at skipping over anything I didn't want to hear before I stopped.) Good luck!

Ahoy inspirational and marvellous ships company.
I will not drink today.

Treat yourself holistically.
-Mind....hypnosis/drawing/listening to music etc
-Body....move! Walking/yoga/dancing etc
-Gut.....eat something really good for you/ probiotic/blue cheese.

Aim to do at least one of all three daily

Sending solidarity in the pursuit of improving our lives.
🌼 🌸 🐝

@mermadeincornwall ooh the cheese.

I went to our new marks food hall on Sunday. We were there about 2pm and it was packed and stripped. They had a cheese display. It was heaven. I bought some blue cheese and crackers.
I've had a slither although with the gallbladder I'm not supposed to!

The hospital wasn't helpful yesterday I have to see the quack tomorrow. I'm not healing. Proper stitches next I expect.

@mermadeincornwall thank you! I have tried to tackle a lot at once. I am ever so impatient!

Hmm, things with DH slightly better. I think I have suffered from Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) where I‘be had a separate non menstrual cycle of irritability, unstable emotions, tiredness etc. That might be easing. However, he remains an obnoxious knob but does try when checked- a mild improvement. I am moving house soon and with that will come more freedom, me time, and a better outlook from both of us, hopefully.

still loving your daily posts :)

@LillyPJ cousin is a daily drinker.
Her doctors have asked her to loose a substantial amount of weight. They've offered WLJ on the NHS. She needs to have a knee replacement and she's just so big.
The family entertains a lot.
She has the most beautiful hair (silver blonde) and sea blue eyes. Also rosacea which as I tell my clients nine times out of ten that will go if you give up the booze.

I'm going to see if she will give it ago plus take a birthday gift. She hasn't seen me since the autumn so I'm a lot slimmer care of the NHS menu.
She works in the world of interiors so we are going to debate our former house for which the developer wants a massive profit. She loves the house. I do too. I'm just being tight.

Thank you for your kind comments about my daily posts @FaithHopeCarnage, and for reminding us of the stupid things we did whilst drinking, I think about it now as, alcohol taking me to the 'Upside-down ' in Stranger Things.

I wouldn't let any past cokehead put me off from buying a house I loved. Or should that be cockhead? Probably both,anyway it sounds like you can laugh about it now. I haven't seen a village rozzer in years, which I guess is actually a good sign. Good luck with the cousin.

You made me laugh @mermadeincornwall , however there seems to be an absence of the funny emoji on munsnet?
Cokehead was a cockhead known locally as 'whoops my trousers'. Sh*gged most of the local estate agents. He was my original stalker. I attract them.
It must be because I dare to say no! 😄

Good morning shipmates,

Was feeling a bit down yesterday but back up and kicking bottom now. Sid is on good form.

We will not drink with you today.

Strength and courage. xx

Has anyone else noticed that their gut health seems to have improved dramatically since giving up? So it wasn't the lack of Yakult after all 😆

It's not all roses - I'm tired and crabby right now because there is just too much to do - but it's just so good to feel well!

@taylorean Yes - improved gut here too. Mainly down to changes in my diet early this year, but not drinking is definitely helping too. My digestive system is working better than it's been for years.

Morning my wonderful sober sisters.
I will not drink today.

I will keep going until I have the best life I can.

Sending Yorkshire tea and biscuits. 🫖 🍪
And treats for cabin boy Sid 🐾

Good morning shipmates.

A better morning today. Sid thanks you very much for the treats @mermadeincornwall - here is is, smiling in appreciation. Your daily affirmations are always such an encouragement. I will not drink today either.

@taylorean and @LillyPJ I've noticed improved gut health upon giving up and getting it our of my system also. I've had campylobacter poisoning and C-Difficile in the past (not alcohol related), but since getting the drink out of my system it's improved beyond anything I had a right to expect. Plus the sober morning feeling, free of fear, self-recrimination and nausea (plus the occasional nosebleed) really is the gift that keeps on giving.

I managed Slimmer of the Week at SW last night - been many a month since that last happened. I bl~~dy live for those stickers, hehe

Strength and courage. It's going to be alright. xx

Good afternoon all.
Very late to the bridge of the good ship Sober Sister.

Gardening to do.

Morning all.
Ahoy to everyone.

Big meeting postponed due to the founder being unwell. I need to do some paperwork today, my least favourite task.

Ahoy wonderful ships company.
I will not drink today.

Resilience is a pot you top up daily, with self care and self compassion.
Look after you mental health, physical health and gut health, and take no shit from anyone.

sending strength to stay on the road of happiness 🧜‍♀️

Morning all, and ahoy!

Congratulations on the weight loss (and the sticker), @REP22, and cuddles to Sid. I hope the paperwork's not too onerous, @WendyWagon.

Not much to report here. I agree about gut health, though. I have gastric erosion (probably alcohol related, although that hasn't been explicitly stated) and it is much better when I don't drink. I also had awful nosebleeds, and they stopped altogether when I stopped drinking, so they were clearly alcohol related too. I don't know if this is stating the obvious, but psyllium husks are great for digestive issues of all kinds. They are basically fibre that swells in the gut, and helps to keep you what my mother would call 'regular'. Be sure to get the capsules though - they also come in tubs of husks that you can sprinkle on porridge and the like, which sounds penitential to me.

Alcohol causes so many health niggles as well as the biggies like cancer and cirrhosis. Itching, bleeding gums, wind, fatigue - even fungal toenails can be caused by drinking. Not a glamorous list, I'm sure you'll agree😎. We are better off in so many ways when sober.

Morning beautiful sober sisters.
I will not drink today.

Living a purposeful life doesn't necessarily mean things like owning a million pound company or rowing the Atlantic, it means purposefully looking after yourself. That includes whatever gives your life joy and meaning. Using your toolbox for good mental health and protecting yourself from anything that sabotages your happiness.

Sending serenity and kindness.
Throw love everywhere.

I shall look for Psyllium Husks @ShyMaryEllen, I wonder if they are similar to linseed,swelling in the same way.

Congratulations @REP22 on slimming of the week. Sid's pose reminded me of those adverts for 'Man at C&A'🤔

Good morning shipmates.

@mermadeincornwall - ah yes - blokes in ill-advised underpants pretending to look at something far off. Those were the days. I was a devil for the Kays catalogue myself.

Strength and courage my brave friends. It will be alright. x

Morning All. Suffering a bit of anxiety this morning. A few unimportant things go wrong and for some reason it sparks off this irrational worrying. One of the unimportant things is something's eating loads of leaves in the garden - lettuce, runner beans, dahlias, cucumber... Just skeleton leaves left and no sign of the pest. Other things more important - a friend who's severely depressed and needs a lot of phone time, a niggling health problem, a door that won't open properly... This morning for the first time in weeks, I had a real desire for a drink and couldn't think of a reason why not. Luckily, I got busy baking instead and the desire has disappeared.

Afternoon all.
I'm afraid I have given myself a load of stress over these house decisions.
Our stalker has reared his head in the process. I feel very shaky and upset.

I haven't been tempted to drink but I won't risk going out.