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

Morning.

I did my usual pour a glass of wine last night, have a sip, pour it away routine! One day I’ll get past this. It happens every few nights when the voice in my head are loud. I’ve decided to use it as a positive. Banning things has never worked for me, it would make me want the thing more. Appreciate folk are different. Pouring the glass makes me at least really consider whether I actually want the damn wine. I’m finding I don’t. I think if I didn’t pour the glass, I’d have the voices in my head for another hour or however bothering me more. I’m probably strange!

I will probably continue to do as I am now @CosyAutumngoing forward. I think I’m on the right path for me of really considering whether I want to drink. I think saying Never Again would feel a bit much. I’ve only had two drinks in October (maybe 3/4 units?) this way. Everyone is so different though.

Anyone else got post October plans?

I really want to keep going. Not necessarily teetotal (although I feel that would be a good aim for me as I feel bad when I drink), but trying to drink more mindfully and at events rather than at home. So maybe once or twice a month? If people are keen I'd love to keep the thread going, I've found it so helpful

I’m very happy to keep going @Springadorable so that’s two of us!

I’m going to keep going through November - not total abstinence so I will have a drink or two if out.
Yesterday, I had a glass of wine before dinner, a glass of wine with dinner and a soft drink, then I ordered a glass of wine at a bar but drank less than half, went to another bar, ordered another glass of wine and had a few sips (it wasn’t nice, so that was easy). Back to the hotel and had a peppermint tea.
Slight headache this morning - could be the drink, could be the air conditioning, could be a combination of the two.
Chilling for the rest of the day and looking forward to not going to work tomorrow! I always think the best part of half-term is not having the Sunday scaries! 😀

I'm going to stick to 2 drinking days and pretty much carry these on with how I have been. How about you? x

Sounds like a plan @needastrongoneagain - well done!

I'd love to keep the chat going. I think it's pretty clear that although out plans going forward all differ, we can all say we don't want to revert back to how we were. That's a great starting point right there! x

I have 2 miniature bottles of prosecco I got in a hamper yesterday that I might have later with a movie but not caving yet. We've been for a walk this morning, went to Tesco to buy more pumpkins, food etc and I didnt get the urge to buy wine. I'll just see how I go.

Have a great Sunday guys - you're all amazing xx

Morning.

Lovely sunny day here.

Been meaning to thank @KK1983 for being courageous enough to start this thread. It takes bravery to post your real honest drinking habits but it seems to have struck a chord with many of us.

Yesterday I had a few sips of champagne as Dsil had bought us some to celebrate the sale of our business, as it was a kind gesture and I felt obliged. I gave the rest of my glass to DH. I was driving anyway but wasn’t too bothered about having the rest as we were sitting down for dinner by then. I think if we’d still been sitting relaxing I’d have had the glass. Once I’ve started to eat I’m never bothered.

Hope everyone is okay.

Hi Everyone!! Definitely up for keeping things going. It’s been great having some people to talk to here as I don’t speak to anyone IRL about drinking. Thanks @KK1983for bringing us all together xx

Morning all.

Im
up for keeping on going - this has been a lovely thread.

I may not have completely abstained (with the weekend Diwali celebrations I’m up to 60 units this month), but I’ve roughly halved what I had been drinking and feel all the better for it

I agree - thank you @KK1983 for starting this thread. It's the first place where I've felt safe to be honest about my own drinking and I wouldn't have been able to if you hadn't been brave enough to go first.

I've been thinking a lot about my plan going forward. When I did dry January my main aim was to see if I could go a month without drinking. While I succeeded with that, I didn't make any plans beyond the end of the month so rebounded spectacularly into patterns of drinking that were frankly worse than before.

That said, I'm still not (yet?) in a place where I want to aim for total abstinence. My plan so far is that I want to get back to the idea that alcohol is something I only do socially. So sharing a bottle of wine with DH on a Friday night, or a having a couple of drinks with friends. In practical terms that means no drinking Mon-Thurs, and only drinking Fri-Sun if it's with DH or other people. DH and I also fell into a trap of dirinking different drinks which I want to stop, as I'd put away a bottle of rose in the time it took him to drink 2 beers.

Sounds like we're all keen for a "Sensible Sips, not Glugging Gallons" type support thread 😂

Evening guys,

How are we all? I've spent a small fortune in Costco ahead of tomorrow's family's halloween party, can't wait!

Anyone doing anything for halloween? We're all out or working this year hence the early celebrations x

Thank you so much for your lovely words, I'd also like to thank you all for sticking with me and making me feel seen, not judged and not alone. Honestly, you've helped me more than you know ❤️ So glad we have this safe space xx

We had a Halloween party today for my four year old and two year old and six of their friends. It was not actually as hellish as I anticipated! Pin the bow tie on the cat, make a monster stickers, some dancing - and alllll the beige food! Last year I did carrot sticks and hummus blah blah blah - this year I did french fries, mini sausage rolls and multiple rounds of toast. Zero waste 😂

Ooh, that sounds like fun! I love a Halloween party.

I’ve got my daughter for Halloween - hoping we have a bit of ToT

Morning everyone! Apologies for the early morning message; fortunately I’m not awake from a bottle of wine but I do have shingles 😭 got the rash on Monday and I’ve got bad pain in my chest (also a common symptom apparently 🙄). Bit gutted as im on holiday with the kids on the south coast so feeling rubbish is, well, rubbish. It has stopped me being tempted to drink though so every cloud.

Hope you’re all enjoying the last few days of sober October. Hopefully you are all feeling super positive about your achievements 🥳

Oh that’s really shit. Shit that you’ve got it and shit timing. Have you managed to get any medical help?

Oh no! Get well soon @nowinetimeforme!

Yes, fortunately I was able to collect a prescription down here so started the antivirals quickly which should help. Although they are not like antibiotics where they basically cure you in 24hrs, they just help you recover more quickly. I’m not feeling too bad so hopefully it’ll pass quite quickly 🤞

Thank you 🙏

Glad you’ve managed to get antivirals.

So sorry you’re suffering

Oh no @nowinetimeforme that sounds rubbish, hope you feel better soon!

I've come down with something flu-ey, fortunately MIL is here to help look after the kids for half term so I am trying to rest. It's completely wiped out any desire to drink, so as its already the 29th now I'm pretty confident i can make it through to the end of the month!.

Hi everyone, I’m now 29 days alcohol free! I am not sure what to do about November- I’d like to continue not drinking but have some November events which will make that difficult.

I am pleased to say that my skin feels much better, I’m less bloated, my sleep has improved and I can actually read a book now! Other physical symptoms haven’t gone, the constant pain and stiffness in my body, constant tiredness and brain fog. I’m going to see a doctor about those symptoms as it seems I can’t blame alcohol for them

My worry about drinking in November is that it will roll into December and by the end of the year I’ll feel terrible again. So I think I need to continue my dry spell

Same. I've got an entire adulthood (and let's be honest, the majority of my teens) as evidence that I think I have more control over moderating my drinking than I do...