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

Apologies for the late reply, I have only just seen your mention.

No, not at all. I would say the majority are 'normal' (hate that word but im sure you get what i mean) people that have life stress, kid/marriage stress.... have used it to cope & have realised its become a bottle of wine a night. Binge drinkers that can go all week without & then dont have the off switch.

The group is often where people 1st reach out so you'll find they've posted when at their rock bottom & anxiety is high. Us regular posters generally dont post like that.

We post very very similar to here really & support each other, cheer each other on etc. Share any tips if someone is looking for advice from those longer term sober.
I'm a part of the AF club also which you may have seen mentioned.

They have videos every single day, zoom meetings, quiz nights & in person meet ups all over the country. Plus we all absolutely take the piss out of each other, have stupid face competitions & share probably more personal stuff as we are more 'real life' than just online friends ifthat makes sense?

Again, its a mix of those in their 1st few weeks/months - people with years under their belt. Everyone from nurses, teachers, senior managers. Its the complete opposite to what you'd think stereotypically would appear in an AA meeting 🤣 well, except we all dont drink anymore!

I know you said you weren't keen on Jason, of course its each to their own, but he is fully qualified in what he does.
As is his partner who runs the more well being/Mental health side. So yes, they have real life experience but also the professional qualifications.

Wow - this thread has gone huge since I posted first. I messed up my plan to start early before October started so just started on 1 October. And actually that worked really well for me because I find that when I have started on Mondays I'm super knackered by Weds and Thurs as I can't sleep.

As Weds and Thurs are the days I have to go into my office, I then end up being late for work and feeling so tired by 2pm that I can hardly keep my eyes open. So actually starting on a Weds meant that my worst tired days were over the weekend.

I am pretty pleased with myself having 8 days under my belt but still finding sleeping a challenge. Binge watching all three series of Blue Lights until 3am is not really sustainable.

As you'll see from the time I'm posting, sleep is elusive tonight but spending an hour reading this thread has made me feel a bit more sleepy. No insult intended 😀.

Anyway I'm off to bed now. Well done everyone for sticking to it even if you have had a minor blip. Especially those of you dealing with some difficult life situations.

Morning all! How is everyone doing today? Blipgirls, (im assuming we're all girls, apologies if im wrong) dont be downing on yourselves, if it wasnt hard, everyone would be doing it. And also, keep thinking about the reduction in alcohol

That's great! Well done 👏

Those who’ve had a blip remember it’s just a day of drinking, don’t beat yourselves up. We’ve all done it that’s why we’re on this thread.

Day 12 for me- partner coming home today so I made it through being alone just about. Should be easier with him around, as he rarely drinks at home. He only really drinks when he has an event with friends.

Cannot believe it’s nearly 2 weeks!

Afternoon guys,

Hope you're all ok, sounds like were all doing brilliantly. We've come a long way in 9 days, blips and all. We've all significantly reduced our alcohol intake and are hopefully seeing/feeling the benefits of our choices.

I'm in work for the next 3 days until late so no chance of me drinking. By the time I get home I cba anyway.

Checking in. Day 11 for me. Just checked my app and its saying I'm 35% through the month 😀. No real changes although my face is less puffy. Keeping my fingers crossed for some weight loss. Hope you are all doing well.

@MidnightMoon24 Well done! Do you feel any different in yourself? x

Well done @MidnightMoon24 !

Feeling quite positive this evening. Thought about a glass but no huge desire. Mood has definitely been more buoyant the last day or so that's a nice effect. Hope everyone is holding up towards the end of the week!

Hi all. I’m back at it. Felt utterly exhausted today and sadly have to go back to the GP tomorrow becayse yhd miracle temporary pessary whilst I wait for surgery has displaced in less than 48 hours and I’m so uncomfortable. So, bavk to the drawing board - I cang go back to work like this.

Keep on keeping on everyone - every day without alcohol is a win

Phew, made it through Thursday. I don’t tend to run in the evening because I feel mean leaving DP with both kids. This evening I hadn’t been able to find time all day to go so I stuck the 22mo in the running pram and took him with me. That’s also kept me away from the wine 🥳

Hi everyone!
It was my birthday today and I was taken out for a family meal. I had a glass of wine to be sociable, as a few bottles had already been bought and put on the table before I arrived.
I enjoyed it but glad I stuck to one.
I’ve been gifted a few bottles of wine. I might put them in the garage so they’re out of sight and therefore hopefully out of mind.
It’s the drinking at home for no reason that’s a real problem for me.

Hope you’ve all had a good day!

Happy birthday @CosyAutumn ! Hope you enjoyed your day and well done on the sensible birthday drinking ❤️

Happy birthday @CosyAutumn . Hope you're enjoying waking up not fuzzy and grumpy!

I was thinking how reassuring it is that despite quite a few of us having blips we're still here, giving it a go, and overall drinking a hell of a lot less than normal. If I'd been the only one to mess up I'd have assumed it just wasn't possible for me, but as it's not but we're all trying that shows it's just a bit of a challenge. Like getting up in the dark murky mornings 😅

Ahh no way, sorry to hear that. Will they try put it in again? How you feeling today?

@CosyAutumn Happy belated birthday, hope you had a lovely day 🥳 Well done on just one glass too xxx

@Springadorable I agree.

Tbh, although this challenge is 'Sober October' it almost feels so much more than that now. I feel so much more in control and choosing when I drink instead of the drink choosing me. I chose to have a glass of wine last Sunday and I have chosen to potentially have a couple on Monday when I attend a funeral. I will take this rule with me post October and really feel it's reset my thought process and drinking already.

Previously, 10 days would look a little like this - 20 bottles of wine, £200+ spent, more money spent on take-aways cos I'm hungover, saying no to things cos I'm tired and sluggish, bloated, weight gain.

How it looks now 10 days in - 0 bottles of wine, £200 SAVED, take away money saved, saying yes to things I wouldn't because now I have the energy, less bloated, weight loss, so much better sleep, more present.

I genuinely feel so much better and I know that this challenge was exactly what I needed, something just clicked and I genuinely think it's cos this time I found my people. Thanks so much for sticking with me on here and supporting each other, it's so refreshing to see a group of people really wanting the best for one another.

Happy Friday gang ❤️

Such a great message!

What are you going to spend the £200 on?

Day 13 for me. Having some pretty wild dreams and fatigue which the internet tells me is completely normal at this stage. Hopefully it gets a little easier from here onwards, but who knows. Whatever happens I’m here for the ride.

@BountifulPantry I'm going to wait until the end of the month, see what I end up with and then go away for the night with my husband to a spa or something. Then I'll take my daughters to town and spend even more in Sephora 🙈

The dreams are so vivid aren't they?! I've not noticed the fatigue tbh as I have a brain that's 100mph and I'm never really tired which can be just as frustrating.

Hope it eases for you soon xx

Afternoon.

Such a great message. Something has clicked this last few days in me too. I’m over drinking the way I did, I don’t want it, it just doesn’t serve me. Maybe it’s the brain doing the clever rewiring thing, breaking the dopamine habit.

I poured a G&T on Wednesday night. I don’t know why, I wasn’t stressed, elated, tired or whatever other reason I’d usually find to pour a glass. I had maybe 5/6 sips. I poured it away, it didn’t even taste as magnificent as I thought it might. Don’t know if that means I had a dry day or not but I don’t mind because it just doesn’t feel the same. I haven’t thought about alcohol since.

Happy weekend folks. Sorry - I’ll read back further now, had a busy day or two.

Let’s keep supporting each other. 😊❤️

Totally agree that this is now more than a month of detoxing, I don't want to go back to drinking as much as I was. We've got this!!

Thanks for starting the thread KK1983, and for all the support xx

Happy Friday everyone! I’ve just finished listening to Caroline Knapp: Alcohol, a Love Story. I thought it was a great listen and a fair bit of what she says resonates with me. She talks it about her eating disorders when she was younger, which is something I also struggled with, and how that ties into alcoholism / addictive behaviours. I recommend it if you are looking for some quit lit.

sleep well soberisters xx

Lovely to hear the positive changes ❤️

Also, for any aperol spritz lovers, the yellow 'Trip' cans taste just like it. So nice!

Hope you're all enjoying your Friday. I've just got home from work, time to chill for an hour x