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.

Welcome to @aterriblefish

I only use this name here too!

I'm so sorry to hear about your cancer treatment and the steroid regime - you've been through a lot xxx

I'm a couple of hundred days further on - the days mount up very quickly!

What drew me here: I had been moderating gradually over the years but still had heavy nights, though couldn't tolerate as much.

Then, I suddenly realised I'd reached the end - I couldn't do any more nights with broken sleep, depression and anxiety after a big night out. I'd started to feel uneasy about holidays where we would have wine at lunch and carry on all day.

I don't think I stood out particularly among my social group, but I carried a lot of guilt and shame, because I knew myself that it was doing me no good - and quite a bit of low-level hidden harm.

The first week felt a bit strange, though I was a Dry January regular, so I knew it would settle down.

After that - it's been fine! I miss the first mouthful, but not the rest.

We're early adopters of the sobriety trend, which I think is going to become very normal.

I was thinking yesterday about how smoking used to be normal, and how that changed. And vegetarianism used to be seen as really unusual!

I hope this does not come across as insensitive, as I know some are struggling. But…

ONE YEAR, NO BEER!!!

It truly is a miracle 😁🙏

One year ago today, I had just landed in Bangkok, in acute withdrawal. I could hardly walk as the tremors were so bad, couldn’t cope with the travelator as I wanted to be sick, and had to get a baggage trolley to help me walk. Could not think straight, couldn’t find immigration, couldn’t work out where to get the visa, couldn’t find the exit where I was due to be collected etc. I floundered around in there, sweating, shaking and unable to see properly. It was honestly the worst two hours of my life. And here I am today - genuinely happy, serene and grateful for my life and the team I have around me, without whom I would not be in this place. Ladies, please consider yourselves part of that team and I thank you. 🙏

Woohoo @FaithHopeCarnage - that's brilliant! I hope you've given yourself a reward 😁

Happy and serene is genuinely cool. People pay a lot of money to get happy and serene!!!

Fantastic @FaithHopeCarnage - many congratulations. Such success stories are a joy to behold and give hope and encouragement to us all.

I think this warrants a Very Special Appearance from PartySid - for you and everyone for whom today beings a fabulous milestone, be it an hour, a day, a year (😀!) or a decade. 💪🏆

Look at his little face. He can barely contain himself.

Seriously - fantastic news. It's an honour and a privilege to be able to celebrate alongside you, and all our friends on here. xx

Amazing @FaithHopeCarnage. Fantastic achievement and an inspiration - not insensitive at all.

Definitely not insensitive! It's a great incentive to know it can be done. So thanks for telling us and congratulations!

Aw, I’m loving PartySid and his happy little face 😂 I hope you both have a very lovely holiday - I’m in East Devon, which you probably have to drive through to get to the good bits. I shall give you a wave as you speed through.

People pay a lot of money to get happy and serene!!! As did I @taylorean! I was in Thailand for two months, and the money I have “saved” by not drinking has recouped two thirds of the cost. If I include the money saved by getting my teeth fixed there rather than here, I’m in a profit situation.

Lucky I’ve still got some trifle left to celebrate!!
Thanks all for your kind words.

Wow well done @FaithHopeCarnage encourages me decide.
Love how you mention feeling happy, serene and grateful. Definitely what I want for myself..

Not insensitive at all @FaithHopeCarnage , quite the opposite, it’s so encouraging to read such a positive update and so inspirational!

Well another new day and yet again so grateful to wake hangover free. As I slowly come to this sense of relief hits that I didn’t get obliterated the night before and it seems so obvious that to go back would be absolute madness. Just keeping that resolve all day that gets harder as life’s crap gets in the way!

Love the party Sid pics @REP22 😆 and thanks for the encouragement. This thread helps so much.

Good morning shipmates.
Ahoy and all that.

@FaithHopeCarnage congratulations. A year is amazing.

I'm still tidying here. The DS came to view the farmhouse, a face like thunder. The viewing was crashed by a party of five. Bloody cheek. I couldn't test the vibes or ask any questions. They missed their appointment so just turned up. The traffic was horrendous outside so hopefully that will put them off. £50k thatch to do too.

I found the priest hole but I didn't get bad vibes. I have a couple of vicar friends and a catholic priest so I have back up. As we were a catholic family I have quite a few Madonna paintings. I'll stick those up if we buy! The DH isn't sure so it might need to be the BFF for the rubber stamp.

I'm always trying to do too many things at once.
Without sobriety I would just wallow.
A legal contact helped me yesterday as there was a new high court ruling in a similar case as mine. I've got to get our house marketing underway so I can get my ducks in a row for the next hearing. Trying to do both is what's causing the stress.

DD has her birthday tomorrow and it's pizzas as usual. She's been a star the last year.

Hello, 👋🏻 I’d love to join, I’m 14 days AF which is always the longest I’ve ever managed since being pregnant 10 years ago. I’m determined to break that record!

Have felt like my drinking has been an issue for a few years but have been in denial about this, it’s crept up and I have been drinking 5 days a week, sometimes everyday and I can’t just have one glass of wine, half or most of the bottle will go every time.

I’ve been feeling tired and sluggish, going to the Dr for blood tests (all very good happily) and blaming work but now I’m taking a break I see it is the alcohol that has been making me feel like that.

Two weeks has been a bit challenging at times but I’ve done it and I’m not making myself any commitments or promises because that feels overwhelming but I am writing every day down and taking time to notice the positive improvements. I have a health tracker and I can see the trends are improving.

I grew up in an alcoholic household and I’m so ashamed that I’m potentially repeating that pattern. I know I’m setting my kids up for alcohol being a normal and big part of every day life and they have a parent who is too tired to do stuff, which really means hungover, so I want to stop for me and for them.

I’ve never allowed myself to think I can stop completely because I haven’t wanted to, but I’ve tried and tried to moderate and it just doesn’t happen. Is there a point when you accept this is it? And if I don’t make that mental leap I think I’m in danger of letting myself have a glass of wine because “I’ve done so well” and “see you can stop when you want to” and I’ll forget all the times I’ve had to fight that craving and that it hasn’t been easy.

Good morning,

how is everyone?

I did it! First dry Friday in years (well first where I knew I just wasn’t cutting down and looking forward to Saturday night). I had 3 Rochester gingers, and three 0% tanqueray and tonics. Got a bit bored so had an early night and was asleep by 9. Woken up to the sun shining. Felt a little rubbish in the night but I think that was panic attacks, but I’ve woken up to beautiful sunshine.

Next test-today is roast day. I’m not even going to fluff this up as something it isn’t. My husband and I usually drink loads during prep and eating, then after. Today we’re both cracking in with the lovely food and I’ve bought some kylie Prosecco and some frexinet Prosecco which I saw recommended.

onwards and upwards.

edited to add-as I expected it was hardest between 4-7pm once past 7 I was no longer interested

Fantastic @MeAndTheDoggo - such a great feeling isn’t it? waking up clear headed and the sun shining! You’ve got that first Friday out of the way and now you can start building on it.

Welcome @toroyjabali and well done on 2 weeks. I’m not that much further ahead of you and know how hard these early weeks are. I also know that tired and sluggish feeling and like you, knew it was all the alcohol that was the culprit. 7 weeks in and I’m definitely feeling physically better, my morning workout was so much easier today and my fitness is definitely improving.

@WendyWagon I love your endless energy and I can imagine that you don’t ever stop!! But it clearly works and I love the house moving updates.

@Sundaymunch oh thank you.
I use to be so speedy at everything. The mind is willing the body still recovering!

Welcome @toroyjabali we're a jolly bunch.
Personally I prattle on but it keeps me off the drink three years and eight months on. It was never easy for me but I have a non drinking household, that does help.

I saw a post on LinkedIn and it said' employees don't leave companies, they leave leaders who don't value them'.
I'd love to repost that but I'll get 'ooh Wendy take it down. You'll get fired, yarda, yarda'.
I'm waiting and watching. As we say in the Shires I work for a bunch of spawny eyed Wozerks😁

Morning @toroyjabaliand welcome to the group.
14 days is amazing!
You must be noticing some of the benefits now? Like you I monitor through my health app and the difference in my resting pulse since quitting is a real motivation for me.
You’ll get loads of support from this site so keep posting. Wishing you a kind and restful day.
@MeAndTheDoggoi too like a 0% Freixenet. It’s the only one that’s dry enough and feels like you’re still popping something special. Roast sold yummy !
Enjoyed an ice cold Komucha for the first time last night. It was the Elderflour and Lemon one in a large wine glass and was honestly delicious. Drank the whole bottle ! Have tried others once or twice but not out of the fridge or this flavour and it was so different would recommend. Hardly any calories either I think about 20 for the bottle.
I’m going to share my Mantra for today (sad I know but helps me no end so someone may like it ):
Today I rise with purpose, not pressure. I don’t numb myself — I empower myself. This week may be full, but I am fuller. I meet stress with strength and celebration with clarity. I am not alone — one strong proud day at a time “

@toroyjabali Is there a point when you accept this is it?

There was that point for me - I suddenly realised that my biology was in the way and would never change. That there was real enjoyment, but the price I was paying for it was too high.

I realised that people would give well-meaning advice which was actually malign - like suggesting that exercise and eating healthily balances out a couple of glasses of wine a day. But I didn't have time to exercise enough, and the glass of wine led me on to eating too many snacks. And of course the two glasses of wine risks drinking a lot more than you planned, once your defences are down.

There's a lot of moralising. The idea of the 'good drinker' with superhuman self-control is used to beat us up.

The good drinker can stop after one or two - which have magically lasted all evening.

The good drinker gets up early and goes for a run to blow the cobwebs away - after a lovely evening socialising Mediterranean-style with friends, with just a couple of glasses of excellent wine over dinner.

The good drinker drinks incredibly slowly, has a large glass of water every other drink, and always eats a superfood salad before going out, rather than beer and crisps being the main nutrients of the day after a blueberry muffin breakfast and sausage roll lunch.

The good drinker just gets more extravert and happy with each glass. They only ever get entertaining comedy hangovers the morning after - which are over by 11am, and which they power through by working super-hard, getting twice as much done.

The good drinker would never mention to friends and family that they wanted to stop, because they wouldn't want them to feel awkward or defensive.

The roast is on and DH and I are enjoying Rochester ginger and ice topped up with ginger ale. It’s delicious. Tastes like stoned ginger wine

Enjoy the roast.
Well done on 14 days.
Well done on they year.
these are all worthy and amazing accomplishments.

Another day at work for me. And I'm enjoying waking up carefree in the knowledge I've not got any regrets or a banging headache to deal with. Taking stock in the simple things and looking forward to a present day with my children and husband tomorrow. This is my reason.

Hello chums!

It's good to see so many positive posts.

For those interested in fake booze, tins of Gordons G&T are 4 for 3 in Sainsbury's just now (it may be a Nectar deal, I'm not sure), so I have stocked up. Also Zooz (Nootropic mushroom drinks - sound grim, but taste a bit like Aperol) have 40% off larger packs this weekend.

Not everyone approves of them, but I find that having an 'adult' drink in the evening is helpful. I don't like squash, and am not keen to drink hot drinks in the evening.

Safe travels to @REP22 and Sid.

It sounds like good news all round! I remind myself of the benefits every day - feeling more alert, eyes brighter, not spending half the day clock-watching... I've lost over a stone without any effort and my blood pressure, which was on the high side, is now normal. I've saved loads of money and I sleep much better than I had for years. Plus, I've not got that constant nagging worry at the back of my mind. I wish I'd managed to stop years ago and that makes me determined to not slip back into old ways.

@LillyPJ I wish I'd given up when my children were small. They both remember my shenanigans.
I have a couple of corkers. Not funny, just embarrassing. The phantom Spanx flasher of old London Town. I'll never live that one down.

I've done five packing cases. Full of tat. I found my mother's powder compact so that will go to my niece. She has her mega diamond but she wants something personal.

I'm on the milk. I've got a thirst. Best kept away from the shops.

Happy hols @REP22 and dear Sid.

Still here and still sober. Will respond more tomorrow but checking in on day 5 now. Went to the SMART yesterday and it will be my go to every Friday from now on. Will go to AA tomorrow in person tomorrow. One day at a time people 💜

@REP22 I'm in live with this animal! Cutest dog ever 😍

Checking in. Have really enjoyed reading everyone's updates.
A positive from me today. I got ID'd buying nozecco! I am far beyond challenge 25 age so I am putting it down to the improvement in my eyes and skin since giving up. Not looking perpetually tired and puffy.
They sold it to me when I showed them it didn't have any alcohol in it.

Stay strong everyone, and treats for Sid x

Crikey! I've not been ID'd for decades... Yes, I think they always check even when it's a no- or low-alcohol version. I guess that makes sense otherwise teenagers and younger would buy it, and I can guess where that would lead.

@Lavrander Yes same for CBD drinks like 'Trip'. Always happens when I get them from m&s of all places 😆