The Continuing Support Thread for Anyone Trying to Lead an Alcohol-Free Life Spring 2026

[REP22]

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 @drybird2020 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 only 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. We don't encourage moderation-only here, as it can be triggering for some to read. If you’re looking to moderate your drinking rather than quitting it altogether then MN has another long-running and very active moderation/abstaining thread that’s always near the top on the alcohol support board. Lots of fine support there from those worthy people too. Keep trying. Sobriety may not be easy - but I guarantee you that it is worth it.
I started trying to give up drink in 2018, succeeded (mostly) in 2019 but had a few “wobbles”, one of which led me here in April 2023. I still struggle sometimes but the posters on this thread have been an absolute godsend of wisdom, support and encouragement, along with my dog - known here as Sid (not his real name), and they keep me going. I hope you find strength and comfort here too. This thread and its wonderful posters has been a lifesaver to many, and have certainly seen me through many good and not-so-good days.
These books were particularly helpful to me and I still go back to them from time to time: The Sober Diaries by Clare Pooley (Amazon - Sober Diaries) and The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober by Catherine Gray (Amazon - Unexpected Joy). Others have found This Naked Mind by Annie Grace (Amazon - This Naked Mind) helpful. There are Apps that help track your AF journey, including Reframe and the ones I use, I Am Sober and TryDry. Podcasts can also be helpful. I have found One for the Road by Sober Dave to be a good listen. But different things work for different people. Feel free to post and ask. There is solidarity, wisdom and support here. This is a safe space where your voice will be heard, understood and valued.
Warmer weather is coming. Keep an eye out for that first daffodil waving in the breeze, and make yourself at home. It's going to be alright. x

Morning shipmates.

I managed a whirl around Marks but forgot the AF drinks. I didn't even buy cheese!

The DS is back to pack up having cleaned the new abode.
My DH is a very infrequent drinker. DD teetotal.
I'm lucky for that.
Sorry if you've heard it before but we have rum older than DD given by the late MIL.

I shall do a bit of organizing. I did receive the handbag, just gorgeous.

@Becky3825 we are all thinking of you. X

Good morning shipmates, Sid has been helping me to get my head together and reminding me how grateful I am for sober mornings. Thank you for keeping faith with me while I was going through a rough patch. The spring-like mornings are here and have reminded me of my oft-performed stage piece (in sober, mostly non-tit days). I'm thinking of dusting it down for our annual staff conference... 😉

How was your night out @JK26? Hope it all went well. I used to think I needed drinks to be the life and soul and a wit worthy of Noel Coward/Dorothy Parker (or indeed a Tom Lehrer). In truth, I was mostly a tedious little tit. It's now very easy to spot similar folks - those who drink too much because they are shy or nervous or because they feel they need it, but have clearly had far too much. I try to look upon them with kindness because I have staggered many ill-advised miles in their shoes.

No cheese @WendyWagon?! - I live for cheese. It's not Slimming World-friendly though, so cheese-cravings need careful management. Enjoy the new handbag - I love a glam bag.

Sending strength, courage and love to you. Still thinking of you @Becky3825 - and anyone else who we've not seen for a while. I hope you are doing OK. It might be (hopefully not) that you've been on a bit of a bender or several and are feeling too guilty, too wretched or ashamed to come back here. Please know that there is no judgement, just acceptance, understanding and solidarity waiting for you here. Anytime you are ready we - and Sid - will be waiting to welcome you back home with love and support. 💐💐💐

Afternoon shipmates! I’ve had a very busy week at work and have been falling into bed each night a bit worn out!
@REP22 finally off to the Marie Antoinette exhibition Monday and cannot wait! Have reflexology appointment next week too and am trying to practice good self care.
Ive been to the gym this morning, got a decent walk in with the dog as it’s been sunny-ish so a productive morning!
Welcome @JK26
Hope everyone’s having a lovely peaceful weekend.
And like @REP22 said we are here for the ups and the downs so any shipmates who have a little time overboard are always welcome to rejoin the voyage. We know it’s not a straightforward path to sobriety and there’s blips along the way.

Ooo - you lucky thing @Carpetburn - enjoy! Keep a close eye on the portrait on the left as you go in... 😉 Just come back from a nice walk in the woods with Sid. Primroses starting to come out. Lovely. x

Afternoon all, quiet night in last night - I was on the AF pink gin from Aldi (excellent and good value at £7.99!) OH on the ciders after a busy few days in London feeling exhausted. Good chats though and caught up on some telly I'd held off watching til we could both watch at the same time.

Been out today with DS to an escape room and lunch whilst OH and DD went round town although OH feeling a bit worse for wear, proper cold through rather than alcohol-induced (but bet 3x ciders last night didn't help!)

Slight drama whilst I was out lunch in that I'd ordered an AF beer that - not to my knowledge - had the same name a fully alcoholic one and they brought the 'normal' one in a pint glass. 😮But after a sip could tell straight away so called them over to change it for the AF version (from a can it transpires) , all done without issue and pleased I was able to sort the situation out rather than just drinking it - times have definitely changed!

Hope everyone else is having a good day, after a grotty start it's lovely and sunny now, I may even go for a run before it gets dark.

Top stuff @JK26 - you are doing so, so well. And MUCH kudos to you for sending back the non-AF beer. That took genuine courage. Brilliant. x

Morning all. Couldn't sleep past 6.30am on a Sunday no less. Very noisy blackbird.
Busy day today doing life admin and work admin so am keeping to a schedule to avoid my mind exploding. Wouldn't have been able to do it a year ago. What would I have done? Just press the fuck it button and then spent the entire week rushing around and anxious probably, and pressing the fuck it button multiple times. Urgh.

Good morning.
Up but followed down the stairs by DS on the way to golf. I can get up early but I don't do conversation until I'm one tea in!

I tied and divided my spice drawer yesterday. One task down. Admin to do not my favourite.

Morning shipmates, 50 days today.
Went to the theatre on Friday night with the family. Thoroughly enjoyed myself and was happy with an ice cream at the interval no fomo at all. We were all relieved to have the car at the station at the end of the night and not have the long walk back home at midnight.
Weight has finally started to move slowly in the right direction (was worrying it never would). Sun is shining which is lifting my spirits. Going to have another coffee before tackling the list of jobs.
Hope you all have good Sunday.

Morning shipmates! A pleasant day yesterday wandering round a vintage market - one we go to monthly - but started flagging in the afternoon, felt grotty in the evening and this morning have woken with raging cough, sore throat and runny nose. Yes, the lurgy that everyone's been having has found its way to me. I'm not entirely surprised as someone in the office was coughing over me last week. So it'll be a day feeling sorry for myself on the sofa today.

Great news about your weight! However slow it might feel coming off, it will be much quicker than if you were drinking!

Morning all.
Looks like we’re going to have a sunny day here - makes such a difference

Morning all

60 days here today. Rather astonished!

Will be glad of the sun as potentially a difficult and depressing week at work. Another girls weekend away from Friday to navigate but feel OK about it having got one under my belt already.

Good news @endlesswashing and glad you’re feeling a bit better @REP22 but sorry about your cold @PhantomOfAllKnowledge

Morning all.
Up early for DS moving day.

@eekwhatnow excellent result.

I shall look forward to no cooking today. Curries by ting!

Good morning shipmates, another sunny day.

Hope the move goes well @WendyWagon - will keep everything crossed!

Strength and courage. x

Hello all.
I hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine and doing okay. I've been trying to catch up and reply properly but not managing so for now I shall say hi! And hope all are well.
Day 80 here! Am grateful for you guys helping me to get here and hope everyone else if doing well.
Love to all xx

Hi @ThistimeImdone day 172 for me so nearly at the 6 month mark, down 2 stone in weight and definitely feeling better than I did.

The sunshine is glorious:)

Hi everyone - no sunshine up here sadly, it's been a grotty drizzly rainy day!
@FiloPasty and @ThistimeImdone and @eekwhatnow - well done, I'm on my 37 day streak (498 units saved and 45,000 calories according to TryDry, which sounds loads!) but still reaping the benefits and seeing the weight come off over the past month has been a great incentive, amongst others.
@WendyWagon - good luck with the move and enjoy your curry! Our dinner is courtesy of DS(12) who is making "minced beef tortilla stack" from his christmas present cookbook for teens - will see how that turns out!

Evening shipmates!
Started the day in an excellent mood and have slowly gone down hill. Just feel this really crushing gloom which I can't quite pinpoint. Probably just tired.
Trying to take some advice from the joy of being sober and get my gratitude game on so here goes:
Am grateful for this thread and the shipmates and ships dog; posting on here real does keep things front and centre for me.
Am grateful for the purple flowers that seem to be popping up in my garden that I don't know what they are but they are rather lovely.
Am grateful forrrr.. gosh this is hard. I might have to come back to it. The only thing that is staying in my head is sandwiches?!!

Well sandwiches it is then.

Hope everyone else is going okay xx

Evening shipmates!
im back home in the shire after a wonderful day in the London sunshine. @REP22 the Marie Antoinette exhibition was stunning, breathtaking, beautiful and poignant! I did pay special attention to the first picture on the left and it didn’t disappoint!
I’ve had such a lovely day and have wittered incessantly to DH about it who has had the decency to feign interest for which I’m grateful. He’s endured dresses, wigs, shoes, jewellery and letters with acceptable levels of enthusiasm.
I went to the palace of Versailles a couple of years ago and now I want to go back!!!

@Lavrander i feel similar, the weather was amazing today but my mood slowly started to slip, lots of intrusive thoughts of how well I’ve done to get to 6 months (well will be in ten days) and that maybe the odd glass of red on holiday will be fine etc, I can moderate blah blah, it’s such a silly dance I’m doing because I know I’ll be drinking on my own again once everyone in bed :(

So feeling a bit meh and annoyed with my own brain that I’ve had a mini row with.

Sober, sober sober one day at a time.

One day at a time and remembering why we're here @FiloPasty. Maybe it was never that bad but then why are we here? Meh indeed.

Grateful for Arthur dog who just fell out of bed and then looked at me as if it was my fault.

Sorry @FiloPasty if it helps my brain has been doing that too. It's always the on holiday thought too 🤦 but as @Lavrander said we are here for a good reason.
Tomorrow is a new day, We've got this really xx

I've got a big decision work wise to make hence being awake now - I used to wake at this time from booze, glad that's passed. I fear I may have to skip the gym tomorrow for more sleep which is a shame because I've grown to love my time in the gym. Tired ramblings 🤣

Lol Arthur dog. My Mollie dog has done this a few times too!

Welcome @JK26, 37 days is very impressive, well done!

And well done to everyone else’s milestones, whether it’s a day, a month or a year, we’re all smashing it.

Hope @Becky3825 is doing OK, I haven’t been as active as usual but do think of her.

I survived Amsterdam without caving to temptation. It was a nice break, just Friday to Sunday but lovely to get away.

Morning all.

The DS has moved so the boys have gone to play golf!

In all honesty to more recent sober sisters I didn't feel 'safe' around drink until year 2.
I was a lecturing bore in year one. Think ex smoker.
Now it doesn't worry me. If a restaurant has seedlip I'm happy. I'm not a beer drinker.

I met two ladies on this thread who have never had a wagon fall. I take my hat off to them. All voyages are different but like dieting we eventually get there (on that one I looked in the mirror and told myself off).

I'm currently cutting back on the sweet stuff to get a healthy BMI. The surgeons said no dieting so I haven't but I'd like a stone off for the summer and then I'm done. Too old for skinny.