200 days alcohol-free- the second thread!

[FeelingLessTired]

Hello!

1000 messages snuck up on me on the first thread!!

@Goandygo

@paintcolourchart

@88expertprocastinator

any anyone else who wishes to join or return you are MOST welcome.

The aim is 200 days AF and/or beyond. There is no judgment here and we are supportive of all of us who wish to change their relationship with alcohol.

I stopped at Day 43 and have been drinking since then but am committed to getting back on this wonderful wagon.

Look forward to the next thread with all our wonderful MNetters.

Morning all,

I've had some blips. They are more than just blips now and I need to take back control. Now my submission/exam deadlines are getting closer I'm finding it harder to abstain. I'm not having/making enough time to go swimming so I like @FeelingLessTired feel bloated and a bit shit again. I have however gone out for a walk this morning and today is day 1 for me as well (well day 2 I suppose as I didn't drink last night, but happy to count today as 1 with you @FeelingLessTired).

@Goandygo your post was lovely to read. You sound so content 🥰

You are on @paintcolourchart . I'd love to be Day 1 twins.

@paintcolourchart I am content. I think it's safe to say that since I gave it up, I'm the happiest I've ever been.
I never, ever thought I would say that. My life revolved around it.
I can understand how you'd find it difficult when you're under stress. Soon your deadlines will be done and dusted, and you can get on with your life.

@FeelingLessTired yay! I might do what @Goandygohas done and reread the old thread. I know I felt amazing and so positive and happy and less anxious then so I would love to go back to that.

Shall we agree if we are struggling and thinking about wine we post on here first? We can do this!

@FeelingLessTired how are you doing today?

Evening all. How is everyone doing?

DH is away this week, so that's an easy abstain as I never drink if solo parenting (not judging people who do!). DS has been ill all week too so he's not been in nursery and I've not been able to work until the evenings. Absolutely knackered so having a night off work/study and just catching up on some chores and then will be climbing into bed. It definitely won't be as easy tomorrow night 🙈

@paintcolourchart poor lamb, hope he's on the mend.
It's great that you don't drink when solo parenting. Drinking on my own was my main problem - though no dependents so a bit different.
All good here - taking one day at a time, but mentally strong 💪

@Goandygo to be totally honest that's only because I don't trust myself not to finish the bottle, so I just don't. He's better today, thank you. Glad you're feeling mentally strong!

I remembered I've got a long drive in the morning, so that's an easy abstain tonight as well.

Hi all- sorry for being awol. Yesterday was tough- I was hosting a bookclub lunch. It's more a booze club with a book attached. But got through. Barely.

Hope your DS is much better @paintcolourchart . That's alot on your plate- study, work, solo parenting and an ill child.

Up at 4 this morning as Ds1 was going on a school trip and we had to get him to Gatwick. It's his first trip abroad without us and he is very nervous. House feels weird with 25% of us missing!

DH is working away from December for about 6 months, coming home maybe twice a month for a weekend. So I need to be well settled into sobriety by then as it's going to be full on.

Hope you all have a great day.

@FeelingLessTired ahh, no worries - you sound very busy. Well done for getting through the book club lunch.
Your ds will have a great time I'm sure. An ex teacher, I went on many school trips, home and abroad and I can categorically state I looked after my charges better than I ever did my own !
I think with your dh having a change in work routine could be a good thing. Some new routines maybe. And yes, maybe too busy to even think about the wine.

@Goandygo I massively admire and am grateful for teachers who take kids anywhere! The stress must be huge. DS has a range of SEN and is on multiple medications for health conditions. His wonderful teacher has called a few times last week to clarify things and I have written out a list of when and why etc. She's just terrific. I hope she gets a chance to enjoy herself too!

You are right about a change in routine perhaps helping!!

@FeelingLessTired well done! Remember every time you pass on a drink you would normally have had, you are rewiring your brain for the better. DS is much better thank you. Yes I did feel very stressed but feeling much better now. I'm just back from doing 50 lengths in the pool plus ten mins in the sauna and that definitely helped. I need to go back to my old new habits! as @Goandygo says, it sounds like a opportunity for new routines. It's not the same as it's not for as long but when my DH goes away I do all the things he wouldn't enjoy 😅 or sometimes I just sit there with my knitting and listen to something he would never want to listen to!

Has anyone listened to the new Diary of a SEO podcast? I'm about halfway through it and it's really interesting about women's health. The reason I made myself go for a swim tonight is because I've been feeling really stressed and they explained about how exercise reduces stress. Of course I knew of that but they explained why. Normally when I get to that point all I want to do is drink, and if I wasn't driving tomorrow and hadn't gone to the pool I can definitely have seen myself with the wine witch tonight. It's definitely an interesting listen.

God, I'm struggling today.
The first time in 140 days if you put a glass of wine in front of me, I'd drink it.
I have received worrying news this morning so maybe that's it. Though I never drank before when worried or down - I only drank when happy. Though I suppose I did drink when stressed.
Sorry I'm waffling.
( My brother went to hospital this morning with chest pains, he was taken into resuscitation and is still there).
I'm angsty really. Waiting for news isn't pleasant 😪

@Goandygo so sorry to hear this and understandable why you are thinking about it. We are conditioned to think it will make us feel better/calm down etc but ultimately it does the opposite. Just remember however bad you're feeling now you would feel so much worse adding alcohol into your system. Sending you big hugs x

@paintcolourchart thanks ❤
Just heard from my sister in law. They're keeping him in. He's still in resus and has some fluid on his lungs.
He's in the best place.
I haven't drank. It's just another hurdle for me to clear - not been in this position before IYSWIM.
This is why I couldn't have alcohol in the house though. Not even cooking sherry.
I don't even want to drink, that's the most baffling part.
Hope you ( and little one) are OK.

@Goandygo keep us updated if you're happy to share. Thinking of you. I know what you mean about not really wanting a drink but also wanting a drink.

Ok here thank you. DS back to his usual loud self 🙉 😅 I finally had my appointment for my ankle today and he has ordered an MRI just to double check. He wasn't concerned and said no lasting damage so that's a huge relief. I feel a bit like my wine switch has started to switch off a bit thankfully. I had expected to want a drink tonight but I didn't. I'm going on a walk with a friend first thing tomorrow so it'll be nice to be up and out (I'm not a morning person but when I'm up and out for a walk then back for breakfast I'm ok!). Had a nice bath this evening too and took the whole day off work/study which probably isn't a great idea a month before it all, but sometimes it's needed. Hope you manage to have a restful night despite your brother ♥️

@paintcolourchart good news about your ankle. It's a worry, I know.
Hope you enjoyed your walk. I'm walking to the hospital tomorrow morning - will take about 90 minutes, but I enjoy it. I am a morning person !
Hard day today. Had grandchildren which was lovely, took them for a pizza. Was actually a good thing I had them as I would have caved, I think. Though like you @paintcolourchart the thought of the walk tomorrow helped.
Feel like I'm teetering on the edge.
Great news though that I didn't pick alcohol up on the way home. It did cross my mind, but I thought this journey isn't going to be easy all the time. I'll have to rough it out.
Got snacks, sweets for this afternoon.
Hospital tomorrow to see my brother - 😍

So sorry to hear about your brother @Goandygo fingers crossed for a good news.

@Goandygo walk was very good thank you. We are going again in the morning - I definitely feel so much better for going. How are you doing now? Well done for powering through but sorry you feel like you're teetering on the edge. Really good that you didn't pick alcohol up on the way home - playing it forward really does help because just think how you would feel the next day if you had caved. You have shown amazing strength so far - keep going! Hope seeing your brother is ok tomorrow and he is getting better xx

Just catching up. So sorry to hear about your brother @Goandygo . I hope so much that he is much better soon. What a worry. Hope there is good news today. ❤

Still here. In hibernation mode and white knuckling it really. But still here.

Hugs to all.

@FeelingLessTired @88expertprocastinator @paintcolourchart thanks for your good wishes. I've just got back from the hospital. He's going to be in for a while - heart rate still high, but he looked a good colour and was in good spirits.
I woke up this morning with a fresh determination. I can either go back to how I was ( and I wasn't even happy when I was drinking), or I can accept it's now become a bit more of a mental challenge, and tackle it.
I'm going to tackle it. And I'm going to stop eating so much chocolate and cake. I'll have another addiction at this rate.
So, I'm over the temptation - it's all good.
Stay strong 💪 tribe - we've got it.

Glad to hear you good news @Goandygo . Nearly 2/3 of the way through October so nearly there and today marks 9 months since I gave up drinking.

@FeelingLessTired and @paintcolourchart youve both been here since the beginning and keep posting regularly so I think you are miles away from when you first quit. There will always be bumps in the road, but your commitment to change really shines through. I’m not really ruling drink out anymore but I have no desire for it - I still recognize that on the odd occasion I may have one but that hasn’t really arisen - every morning I still commit to staying af for that day and then just stick to it.

morning all.

Loved your post @Goandygo and so pleased your brother was in good spirits. I am sending your family my very best thoughts and prayers.

Needed to hear your words @88expertprocastinator . You are right- still here. Still posting. And that is something! I am feeling positive today. You are right- forever seems scary. Just For Today.

I am a designated driver for 2 events today - 1 afternoon and 1 early hours of the morning. So that's sorted!

best wishes to you all.

9 months @88expertprocastinator !!!! That is increadible!

@88expertprocastinator well done on 9 months, that's incredible. Never did I think that length of sobriety was possible for me, but I see now it is 🙏