The Continuing Support Thread for Anyone Trying to Lead an Alcohol-Free Life Summer into Autumn 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, solidarity 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. 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. You're here because you are strong and want to pull free. However ashamed and wretched you are feeling right now, as you read this sentence, I can absolutely guarantee that someone here has felt exactly as you do now and knows what you are enduring. It can change. You are not shameful. You are strong and you CAN do this.

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.

Evenings are drawing in, the season of hot chocolate approaches. Power up with your favourite anthem (The ever-fabulous Dolly is reminding us "Better Get To Livin'"; and the Wilson Phillips girls "Hold On" in hot pursuit) and find your safe space here. Pull up a chair, and make yourself at home. It's going to be alright. x

Morning all.

Thank you for the kind words.

I’m very upset with myself but determined to try again.

Hope everyone has a good day x

Luckily I only had two of those mini bottles of wine.

Don't quit quitting, @GunnelVallquist ! As long as you get straight back up and try again, you can do this.

I dream of a bungalow, @WendyWagon ... imagine the ease of maintenance... but like gold dust around here, and they're all bought and turned into two storeys by people with more money and heart for the process than I...

@Lavrander , isn't it so... British that the one who doesn't drink is the one with the problem?! But I know I would totally have thought the same when I was drinking...

Shocking restless legs kept me river dancing in bed till about 1am last night, but that'll be the codeine w/d, all process... and in retrospect, had a real PAWS day on Friday... was scrabbling for words, couldn't think straight, felt like everything was turned up too loud, too bright... Sort of day that would have sent me straight to the bottle in the past... But a good sleep sorted me and I was full of boing the next day!

And 7 weeks today, hurrah! 🤪

🥩 A chop for Sid.

Hi all
ive been on another thread here which was absolutely great for support in quitting alcohol. Coming up to 20 months sober now and life is so much better for me - I cannot imagine ever drinking again. What I struggle with though is living with a husband who still drinks regularly …. I’m not tempted but do find myself getting bored with sitting watching it all every single weekend ….

Thank you @REP22 for the new thread, and @Lavrander for the last one. I have read every single post, as always, and sat here quietly smiling, laughing, crying and everything else with you all. I don't post often, but every day I send you all my love, support, strength and solidarity. We've got this, all of us. And this is a wonderful group xxx
Day 614 for me, thanks to you all xxx

It’s difficult isn’t it @88expertprocastinator ? I’m lucky in that DH was never a big drinker - that was all me. It’s a bit like having a hobby that only one of you joins in with - I guess you have to decide whether you can make your peace with always going along with it, or whether you decide to do something else with your weekend occasionally.

7 weeks is awesome @Gribouille

Hello Shipmates,

Sid sends gratitude for the chops. There will be extra gunpowder for your cannon tonight @Gribouille ... Congratulations on 7 weeks! ❤️ A bolt has been added to the chops cabinet door @mermadeincornwall - they key "must have fallen overboard" it seems. I've hidden the ship's stockpile of WD40 and pliers.

I'm sorry you've had it so rough @GunnelVallquist - don't beat yourself up, I know that's easier said than done. Be kind to yourself and keep going. Difficult parents are a very, very common theme in these here waters. You are not alone. You can do it.

Having a bit of a challenge on that front myself. We didn't go to big shops yesterday. After Sid had been walked and prepared for his nap it was decreed that we would head to a distant country park instead. All well and good. Sid was a bit hyper, as he likes his routines and nappage had commenced, but he enjoyed himself in the end. A further walk was abandoned after less than 10 minutes because it was "all too much". Fine. So, today. M is very VERY religious. At the early morning service today, which often means also staying for second morning service. Then lunch with church group. Said I'd pick her up. I'm still waiting. There is a further service at 4pm. So, since 8am this morning, M has been in or around church, alone and with others - she will have gone from lunch back to church to wait for the 4pm service. When this has happened in the past, I then get comments from others, when M has clearly been making a nuisance of herself. I find it immensely triggering - as a child I was beaten for saying I didn't want to go to church, etc. There is literally nothing that I can say or do. Covid was plenty o' fun. I got a home visit from the vicar - "someone" had been putting photocopied pages from religious books and little glossy booklets about how Coronavirus was judgement on us all, and where one could seek salvation, through peoples' doors; was there anything I could to to encourage it to stop..? Nope. I found the boxes of booklets though. So M will be tired later and if DB gets wind of it from his distant shores I'll get it in the neck for "allowing her to do too much".

Aaargh! Sincere apologies for the rant, lads. I'm feeling sorely tested by it today. Normal service shall be resumed... It is great to have a space here where we can all just be our flawed-but-actually-pretty-f~~~ing-marvellous selves. You're all amazing. 💖💖

Fantastic on Day 614 @IChooseTo - the stuff of legend 🏆

Must dash - it looks like Sid's been down in the bilges with cheese and bribery; a little corral of rats have just scuttled past giggling and bearing aloft a set of bolt-cutters... 🐀

Strength and courage. Keep going. It will be alright. xx

@REP22 I do feel when I am a bit more settled in this journey I will need some sort of therapy, that is actually a very helpful quote xx

@GunnelVallquist sorry to hear about your Father, this journey is not easy let alone when dealing with very difficult times xx

The main thing us you are back here and ready to continue on.

My dp is not drinking for now, I am not linking my journey to his as I would in the past, but I am dreading him starting again as he can be extremely irritating when he drinks (so can I obviously lol).

Thank you @Gribouille and congratulations.

It’s hard to believe I managed eight months back in the day. Why didn’t I just keep going?? I’d been through the hardest part!

Then again, I was watching a podcast the other day (Soberful) and the woman (is it Veronica Valli?) said stopping drinking isn’t the hardest bit, staying stopped is.

And this is where I have always failed miserably.

Congratulations, almost two years! That's so great.

Thank you so much @REP22 .

I’m sorry you also have experienced/ are experiencing family difficulties.

🌺

Thank you @pinkclouds26 .

I was really upset with myself this morning for giving in again already, but what’s done is done, so I can only keep trying.

Much luck to you as well.

Luckily my husband is not a big drinker and every time I have tried quitting he’s been really supportive and not bought any alcohol for himself either.

If it’s not in the house, I can’t drink it!

The rats! 😂😂😂 xx

Morning all.

Difficult day today to get through.
Legal matter to fight again. Hopefully the last time.

No boozing last night to stem the distress. I did a bit of munsnet on another thread. I watched some old Mock the Week episodes. And I sold a frock on eBay, so yeay.

I will not drink today

Love and kind thoughts to all of ships company sailing on Hms Sobriety

The story you tell yourself is the story you live - Eddie Perino

Morning all

Hope you've got some blue top to get you through Wendy.

Feeling a bit wobbly myself today but arranged to meet a sober friend after work for a walk in the countryside.

Morning Shipmates!

Morning all.

Good luck @WendyWagon 🍀

Good morning shipmates. Hope all goes well today @WendyWagon ❤️ x

Back from the legal matter. It went in my favour but needs to now be finalized. Hopefully it will be over shortly.

Good to hear @WendyWagon .

Just saw this on Instagram- themagicinthemiddle is one of my favourite sober accounts. Thought it might strike a chord for some (if it ever loads…)

I am hoping this is me being paranoid, but I have been having dull aches in my upper right hand quadrant. I have convinced myself it is liver related. I am wondering would my first stop be my gp to have bloods? Would this show any damage? I really do not want to mention alcohol to them if I can avoid it, I know I shouldn't be embarrassed but unfortunately I am.

Thank you