Continuing support thread for those trying to live an alcohol free life - summer 2025

[Onewildandpreciouslife]

Hello and welcome. I’m glad you’ve found your way here. We are a bunch of people who are trying to give up and keep off alcohol. No judgement, just honest support and kindness.

The original thread was started by @drybird in 2020 and we have plenty of veterans and newer members who can offer advice and signposting. You are welcome here, whether you post several times a day, once or twice and then never again, or if you just come to read but have no intention of ever posting.

Whatever your stage on the AF journey, and whatever you’re going through, someone here will have gone through it too. Don’t be shy about posting, we love to celebrate your successes of whatever shape and size - and will support you when things get challenging. We get it, we've been there too.

All we ask is that you’re genuinely trying to abstain completely . If you’re looking to moderate your drinking rather than quitting it altogether then MN has another long-running and very active moderation thread that’s always near the top on the alcohol support board. Lots of fine support there if that is your aim. That doesn’t mean that none of us has ever slipped, or that you can’t post here if you do - all we ask is that you are genuinely trying to stop drinking alcohol completely.

It’s not easy to be sober, but it is so, so worth it. Your alcohol-free life can be better than you ever dreamed. Come on in.

Morning all.

Ice cream is my weapon of choice too @March2027 !
Do whatever it takes to get through these early days - early nights and sugar are your friends!

Morning All! Day 55 for me. I've got a friend staying for a few days. Normally we'd both have wine before (and during and after...) dinner. I offered her wine of course, but she wanted to try the AF Martini I was having. She said it seemed so much like the real thing, it was hard to believe it wasn't alcoholic. Unfortunately, it didn't make the film we tried to watch any more bearable (Woody Allen's 'Match Point') so we had to give up on that and chat instead.

Morning all. X

I thought you'd like this:

'let your success be someone else's tomorrow'
Paraphrased from the late great Robin Williams.

P.S. Well done @Swanchaser @March2027 and @mumzof4x Doing whatever you need to do to get through is the right way to go. I used substitute drinks, jigsaws, cooking, phone chats and reading. Also used the Try Dry app and religiously recorded every day, watching the average units go down and the savings mount up. Unfortunately the app stopped working for me yesterday but it really helped in the earlier days.

Ahoy inspirational and marvellous shipmates.
I will not drink today.

Mind+ body +gut
All three need nurturing daily.

Sending strength to not get emotionally involved in problems we cannot solve

@LillyPJ the Try Dry app is broken for me too, tried to reinstall, rebooted phone, everything so there must be something else going on. I like seeing the little yellow squares add up! 16 days for me now, and some testing occasions dealt with. 🥳.

Good morning shipmates,

I mainlined the chocolate milkshake when I was giving up. Not good for waistline and chins I concede - but the lesser of two weevils and all that. As @LillyPJ says - anything - anything - (legal) that gets you through it in the early days, if that's what helps. There's so much sugar in booze (and mixers) that our bodies crave it and can need to be weaned off. It gets better. I promise it gets better.

Strength and courage. We're going to make it, you and I. xx

TryDry have just posted this on Facebook

“Good morning group members. We are aware of continuing issues with Try Dry® this morning that is preventing people from accessing the app and adding dry /drank days. The app is offline so please check back later for an update. Please do not send in a support ticket. Many apologies for any continued inconvenience and we'll keep you posted on any updates.”

Sorry to hear about the issues with the TryDry app, that's frustrating. I use I am Sober Sobriety App for Tracking Milestones Daily (the free version). x

👋🏻

Just popping in to mark my place.

Thank you for taking the helm for the challenging summer period @Onewildandpreciouslife .

This is my second dry summer and although nothing near a difficult as last year, I am definitely getting pangs when the sun is out an the tables outside the pub a re filled with relaxed, happy looking drinkers. (Keep having to remind myself that they won't feel as happy in the morning)

I do feel the odd pang when it's a hot sunny day... but there is ice-cream, and Lucky Saint!

Too late for me. I've uninstalled the app now and think I've had what I needed from it.

Just popping on to say thank you for all the good tips and well done to everyone- for joining and joining again. I love hearing the bits of news from everyone too I am most caught up in all your adventures.
im sooo tired, im not going to link back to names etc, but wish everyone well. Proud to say I’ve avoided the pub, yay! And I’m on day 5. I’ve REALLY got to get over the first few obstacles to get to the much nicer field. Funny how it feels a bit like letting go of a safety rope.
I DID NDWYT. 💐

I just went out for ice-cream and we sat outside in the warm evening...

Slowly discovering there are other ways of relaxing and enjoying life ❤

Morning all.

Morning Wendy! Good luck with it all, I do enjoy your updates. Being nosy , and trying to start a wee side hustle, I’d love to know more about your mindset that allowed you to set up what seems to be pretty amazing! This whole thing seems to be all about how you think.
thanks everyone listening to podcasts! Much more convincing!
have a satisfying and fulfilling day to all 🌷🌷🌷🌷

Ahoy absolutely amazing shipmates on the top-notch ship Sobriety.
I will not drink today.

I will keep going. I will get on with my life without alcohol.

Sending sunshine 🌞 butteries 🐛and bees 🐝 and a time today to stop and appreciate nature and how far we've come 🧜‍♀️

Morning all.
It’s funny that there are still cafes etc that I go in and feel the anxiety of whether or not they sold booze - that constant need to “take the edge off” whatever I was feeling at the time. Complete madness but when you’re in the midst of it you can’t see it.
Glad you’ve tried the podcasts @Healthynow . Our brains are so keen to keep us safe, and any change looks like a threat to that - so it tries to keep us with what we know, even when logically that’s not a healthy place to be. That’s why alcohol feels like your safety rope. I tell my brain “it’s ok brain - we’re just trying something new, we’re safe”, which sounds completely mad when I write it down!

Morning All! Still on course and feeling steady. I'm a bit annoyed about the Try Dry app as I was enjoying watching the yellow squares build up, but I'd stopped recording mood,sleep etc. Now I just see the dry days mounting up on my calendar and it's one of the first things I think of when I wake up - today is Day 56, which is 8 whole weeks. @Healthynow Yes - it felt like letting go of the safety rope but now I think of it more as taking off the reins. It's freeing.

Good morning - I so enjoy reading all your inspiring posts - I am two days in and I will not drink today!

Morning all - just checking in.

It doesn't sound mad @Onewildandpreciouslife - I think like that too. Little triggers, when the voice internal whispers "you can handle it... you've EARNED it..." and similar deceitful wheedlings. I need to play it forward in my mind to the morning after and give myself a stern talking to. It helps.

Strength and courage. xx

Looks like the TryDry app is back and working for those who find it helpful

hey all place marking new tread thank you @Onewildandpreciouslifeim still sober 14 months now thanks to early intensive support from you lot and like @Drybird2020 i intend to stay this way forever. doesn’t take life’s challenges away but boy it sure makes them easier to deal with x

Great to hear from you @ponzusoup x

Ahoy inspirational shipmates.
I will not drink today.

Being proactive in healing ourselves is a worthwhile challenge.

Stay safe and sober.
Sending butterflies 🦋