Sober October Challenge

[KK1983]

Good afternoon 😊

As the title suggests, I have decided to give 'Sober October' my all and go alcohol free for 31 days. This challenge might be a walk in the park for some but this is going to be HUGE for me. In the past 12yrs, I can't even remember the last time I have even gone a week sober, let alone a month!

So, I am a daily drinker. I have 1-2 bottles per day, sometimes more over the weekend. I have a successful job and a beautiful life but my drinking is becoming more of an issue that I ever thought it would be. I think about it more than I want, plan days around it and spend far too much money on it. Alcoholism runs in my family so i'm aware of the signs which is why I need to get a grip asap. I want to be able to moderate.

If you saw me in the street you'd look at me and think I have my shit together. I have the house, the kids, the marriage, the job - the lot! Drinking became a friend when I had none and when I was lonely after my daughter was born and my husband worked nights. Now drinking feels part of my personality, people know me as someone who loves a drink, the life and soul and I used to love that but now, I'm bored of myself.

I have tried to go sober several times but I get to day 4 and give in after finding any tiny excuse to reward myself. Night 1 always feels a bit rough. I role around the bed for hours on end and get a little anxious but nothing too bad. Day 2 I feel hungover without the fun the night before. Day 3 I cry a lot and become quite irritated. Day 4 - I quit! Not this time though, I NEED to do this and I WILL do this.

To help me along the way I have started taking the following vitamins:

• Vitamin B Complex high strength
• Live friendly gut bacteria
• Vitamin B1 500mg x2
• Iron
• Biotin & Zinc
• Vitamin D & K2

Can any recommend anything else or have any tips to help me along the way?

Thank you for taking the time to read this,
Kate x

@KK1983, I hear you re the toilet roll!! What is wrong with them?! Im nervous today about my surgery tomorrow. Would love a drink now but I won't.

Evening. Hope everyone is doing okay?

Today was an ‘easy’ day as I just didn’t feel the urge to drink and have been a bit ‘meh’ all day. A few months ago I’d pour a glass anyway… so consider that progress.

@Manchestermummax3 - thank you. Appreciate the recommendation but that’s actually the FB group where I find the group owner somewhat annoying in truth. There’s a couple of excellent posters though so maybe I’ll try again. I’m finding this thread really supportive and kind tbf!

First weekend done, no matter if we’ve been completely dry or not we’ve all progressed.

All the best for tomorrow

😃

Put my clothes on boiling hot in the dryer and then argued I’m being controlling, and unreasonable, and insane. Same as last weekend. Same as the past 8 years

I’m in.
I went to the pub on Saturday night and no alcohol!
Aiming for better sleep.

Same here! Day 5 done though and still no booze for me.

How is everyone this morning? I had a rubbish weekend but got a bit more sleep last night and woke determined to step back into positivity

Hello all, I’ve really enjoyed catching up on the thread. Most of all I love everyone’s honesty and the window into others lives makes me feel a lot less alone in this.

I had some fairly major cravings/triggers over the weekend (roast dinner, pub quiz!) but managed to stay strong.

On reflection I had one of the best weekends in a long time, even just pottering about I felt a lot more “present” if that makes sense, so a tick in the box for mental health.

physically though, I’m so much more hungry than usual, particularly for sugar, I ate ice cream on Saturday for the first time in literally YEARS.

Reminding myself that I didn’t come into this for the weight loss, that would be a happy byproduct, and I’m hoping the sugar cravings diminish as the months go on.

Planning ahead, I’m considering staying booze free during the week and only allowing myself a drink at the weekend, but that may change.

Good luck with day 6 all and particular wishes to @dumplinggirl for your surgery x

Slightly less bizarre dreams and onto day 3. Finding this accountability really useful so thank you all for that x

Hi all, hope everyone's doing okay today. Last night was my hardest one so far, I get the Sunday Scaries quite badly and would normally have a wine or three on a Sunday night. I had a glass of an alcohol free rose that I hadn't had before (spoiler: it did not taste great but was drinkable with a tonne of ice). Then early to bed.

@dumplinggirl hope your surgery goes well today.

Morning everyone!!

Sooooooo.... remember that half bottle of wine I didn't drink on Friday..... well, I drank it last night 🙄It's a really nice wine and I told myself that I am using Sober October as a way to moderate so really, it's fine to drink it because half a bottle of wine in a week (I stopped last Monday) is a great week! I do actually believe all that but I'm annoyed because it REALLY buggered up my sleep so I wish I hadn't bothered. I don't feel super bad about 'caving' (for all the afore mentioned reasons) but I have been waking up feeling super fresh and this morning I felt a bit shit.

Onwards and upwards everyone and well done for your good work so far. Happy Monday

P.S. For anyone who is interested, this is why you get this very overstimulated feeling after a small amount of alcohol (when you have previously been drinking quite heavily), courtesy of ChatGPT;

What happens when someone has been drinking heavily for a long time

• Alcohol is a depressant: it increases the effect of GABA (an inhibitory neurotransmitter) and dampens glutamate (an excitatory one).
• If the brain is exposed to alcohol regularly in large amounts, it adapts:
• It down-regulates GABA receptors (less calming effect).
• It up-regulates glutamate and other excitatory pathways (more stimulating effect).
• This means your nervous system is basically “primed” to counteract alcohol because it expects it.

When you then cut down or stop drinking

• Those excitatory systems don’t immediately switch off.
• That’s why withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, tremor, insomnia, vivid dreams — the brain is temporarily overstimulated.

When you drink just a little after heavy drinking

• A couple of drinks may not be enough to activate the dampening effect your brain “expects”.
• But your body still overshoots with the excitatory/stimulant systems it has upregulated.
• Result: you can feel “wired”, restless, alert or anxious after only 1–2 drinks.

MORNING - Day 6.....

How are we all?

I had a glass of prosecco with my tea yesterday at sis-in-laws and I dont feel bad for it, it scratched an itch tbh. Strangely enough that one glass felt enough and I'm focusing on the positives. Sunday's I usually start drinking about 12pm whilst cooking and I can do 2/3 bottles of wine easy so compared to my one flute yesterday, I'll take that.

I'm in work today, Monday's are my busy admin/social media days but it can drag. Taking my lunch with me so I dont get tempted to eat off the menu and order crap.

I've also lost 2.9lbs since last week so I'm happy with that. Still got a bloated tummy which is odd cos it's not usually like this but I'm trusting the process.

Have a great Monday guys xx

🙄 Sounds like a him problem haha

He spent the afternoon then coming into kd every 10 minutes pestering me about it bevause he’s ’too scared’ to do anything eith my laundry: o say every time - you are welcome to take my clothes out of the washing machine or dryer and put them in a bag. Every time, he ignores, does what he wants and then spends an hour telling je why my preference is wrong and that I’ve set him up.

There’s a reason why I drink.

@dumplinggirl Good luck today and wishing you a speedy recovery - take care x

Well done on hitting the off button after 1 glass. And the healthy eating!

Im ig to yhd GO for a delightful gynae appointment. Yay.

At least the weather is beautiful

Ok Ladies I’m going to need some help over the next few days. Currently on day ten which is a miracle.

My partner is away with work- loneliness is a major trigger for my drinking and I also have some work stress too. I also tend to binge when I know I can get away with it, in other words it’s secretive - no one will notice.

Ive got yoga classes booked in plus a meal out with friends so I’ll be busy but hopefully will distracted from drinking a lot.

Trying to stay positive. Why is this so hard.

@BountifulPantry it is so bloody hard but you can do it!

Can you invite some friends over for a couple of evenings?

Boredom abx loneliness are hard taskmasters

@Fiftyandme this is a good idea- sadly I think my friends would mean I’m more likely to drink not less likely to drink 🙈 I’m going out for food with friends after work on Tuesday.

Oh I could have carried on all night, it was delicious haha Instead I came home and watched 6 episodes of the Ed Gein thing on Netflix. I am HOOKED! Can't wait to gt home to finish the last 3 episodes.

Hope your appointment goes well. Weather is rather dull and grey here.

@BountifulPantry lonliness is hard, even more so when alcohol is a close companion. We're all here if you need to chat or you're feeling alone etc. I know it's not the same but reach out to us. Maybe invite a friend over and set the tone before hand, state you're not drinking but happy to get some food in etc. Hard I know.

I just saw the advert on Netflix for Ed Gein. I was drawn in by the fabulous PSB ‘It’s A Sin’ arrangement.

Hi all. I’m sorry to report I slipped up too. I had a big glass of wine making dinner last night, nothing after that, just a sneaky one in the kitchen 😞 . I felt really anxious and unsettled about stuff and thought it would be worth it to settle my nerves and cheer me up…I felt so disappointed with myself this morning, about having got through the weekend up to Sunday night. What a fail!! I was just going to slip away in silence from the thread. Im back from work now and Ive read everyone’s posts and see I’m not alone ( good point @KK1983 - having one is still a lot better than the usual amount!).. I’m back with you all. I will keep trying, what else is there?!

…I hope your op went well @dumplinggirl