Brave Battling Babes - Booze No More!!

[Mouseface]

Well, thanks to the refreshingly honest and inspirational JesusWhatNext - this is the third thread, for the battle to beat the booze for all of those who are on the path to do so.

Some are sober, some are trying to be and some are still drinking.

I'm Mouse, I'm new to this and I'm scared. So, come and join the journey.

"Toclearmyhead

"Try just drinking at weekends for a couple of months. If you can't keep it to weekends, then maybe think again?"

It is only my advice, which has no more merit than Forthe's, but, based on what you have told us so far, I strongly suggest you do NOT try this.

And, yes, it's absolutely normal to think that you are cured. This was behind a whole year of stopping and starting for me.

It was not a fun year.

MissPerrier

Don't fast forward to the hangover - you'll miss all the most exciting scenes!

Moomin

I really hate AA nazis.

I once took my then girlfriend's best mate to a meeting in Bethnal Green on a Sunday.

The speaker opened with, "well, in 10 years, most of you lot will be dead!" and then went on to talk about how he was a born-again Christian. The best friend was NOT impressed by her introduction to AA.

I don't give a toss about the speaker - but I wonder if the woman I took is still drinking 5 years on ...

MIFLAW: He was an absolute tosser, the bloke last night. Some of the stuff he was saying was beyond belief! Very similar things to "well, in 10 years, most of you lot will be dead!" Like you, I don't care about him but I hope that his ranting and raving does not put this woman off. I have been to enough meetings to know it wasn't 'normal' but you know how shit you feel at your first meeting anyway - I can certainly remember! - and I would have been terrified!

Morning MIFLAW

Just found this. Is it helpful to anyone? Plenty of gen on the net. Will keep looking!

Mission Statement:
"To Change the Treatment Industry to a solution that works"

Conventional treatment for drug and alcohol problems is "wrong," even though everybody is doing it! Saying that this type of treatment is wrong is part of Baldwin Research's mission.

Baldwin Research Institute's mission is to research and develop programs for recovery from drug and alcohol problems, to guide the drug and alcohol treatment industry and be a force for change, to research and develop drug and alcohol abuse prevention programs, and to honestly and objectively educate the public as to the effectiveness of treatment and prevention program with respect to drug and alcohol abuse.

The Baldwin Research Institute, Inc. is a New York State Corporation. The United States Department of Treasury has ruled Baldwin Research Institute to be a tax exempt corporation as described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. As such the Baldwin Research Institute is registered with the New York State Attorney General's Office Charities Bureau and The New York State Department of State Office of Charities Registration. Additionally, the Baldwin Research Institute has been approved by the New York State Supreme Court to conduct business as a not-for-profit corporation in the State of New York and has been approved by the New York State Department of Education as an institute conducting alcohol and drug research.

Baldwin Research began its efforts in 1989 when it conducted a study of modern Alcoholics Anonymous. Then in 1990 it began a study of 38 subjects with drug and alcohol problems. These studies were initiated to prove or disprove claims by Alcoholics Anonymous of success rates as high as 93% and claims by the treatment industry of success rates as high as 80%. Baldwin Research was able to duplicate the 93% success rate, but could not validate a single treatment program with a success rate greater that 30%.

"Wrong is wrong, even if everybody is doing it, and right is right, even if nobody is doing it." -Bishop Fulton J

tbh forthe - i dont give a flying fuck about which research says which programme can be proved or disproved to work, if someone finds a method that works for them, then thats fine by me!

Any shredding or such horror today mouse?!

Just to keep the girly stuff going, tonight I am dying my hair a 'vibrant' red - bit scared, it's been dark brown for a fair old while! And tomorrow I am getting it cut, thank God as it's a total mess. Might namechange in honour of all this and become RedMoomin! God, the excitement...

JWN - agree, if it works I just don't care!

Right, I think I have changed my name... If it has worked I am getting a bit ahead of myself as the red will not appear until this evening but BrownMoomin just doesn't have the same ring!

JWN, you are flying. Respect.

hellloooo redmoomin!!! you sound like you are getting a bit foxy!!!

That'll be the day !

Qutie happy to be referred to as moomin though - God, how confusing would it be if we all name-changed?! I would not have a clue what was going on!

Have just recovered after being addressed directly by MIFLAW. Thanks you have a good point, about missing the best scenes!
Redmoomin you go girl!
Just a thought, but i agree with JWN its different for everyone. Look at diets they are all about changing habits and stepping out of your comfort zone. !0 different people could swear by 10 different approaches(diets) iyswim. Sorry if that a crap analogy.

Moomin-I can't keep up as it is, let alone if we all name changed!

RedMoomin

Get out of my head!! Seriously, I was washing up - all glam me you know - and I thought, 'Oooo, shall I get a red dye tomorrow or stick to my chocolate brown'

Great minds!!

No shredding as yet, I may do some later if I can prize DD away from the tv..... and she'll want to watch me so erm, maybe not!!

JWN - I totally agree with you re the if it works theory.

TBH - If I hate preachy types...... I'm not sure I could handle an AA meet, even if I coud get there, especially if it was a Godsquad meet.... no offence to those who have faith and are regular church goers.....just not my bag! I'm not good with authority.

I find that this thread is fab and gives me so much support! I feel like I'm getting to know you all!

I love that I can put my thoughts here and not be flamed etc.

I looked over my first few posts yesterday, I am a different person already and that is thanks to the continued support and posts from all of you Babes!

Oh, and MIFLAW asking me what I had to lose by 'trying'............ er, now you mention it..... nothing at all, but everything by not!

MissP - it's so nice when you start getting replies from the posters you have been following, isn't it? I lurked for some time before joining JWN's first thread. And when people take the time to reply to you it just feels great!

This thread is amazing - plus it seems like there's someone 'around' most of the time so you can just pop on if feeling like you need a kick up the backside gentle words of encouragement :o

I'm not sure I could handle an AA meet, even if I coud get there, especially if it was a Godsquad meet.... no offence to those who have faith and are regular church goers.....just not my bag! I'm not good with authority.

There is NO authority in AA - no one is superior to anyone else. If ever you find a meeting where this is not the case, change your meetings, because it's not AA.

I have been throughout my time in AA, and remain, a convinced agnostic. If I hear anyone talking about religion, though it irritates me sometimes, I try to remember that that is their view and they are entitled to it. It has nothing to do with me. As long as no one challenges my right not to believe in God in a religious sense, then I have no desire to challenge their right to believe.

Don't let silly people like this keep you away from a good thing!

mouse - go red! I just feel like I want a fresh start iyswim. Have been red before but not for years so thought I would give it a go.

toclear - I know what you mean!

Re AA - Listen up everyone, please do not think that AA is religious or a cult(!) or anything. My best pal in AA is atheist and our own MIFLAW is agnostic (if I remember correctly?) 99.9% of the meetings are fab. Now and again I go to one that I don't get as much out of. Lecture over!

i would like to state here and now that if i dont reply personally to everyone it is because i am becoming totally befuddled and cannot keep up! please dont forget that i am old and have drunk away many brain cells - i am also the mother of a teenager which has very much the same effect!

MIFLAW - could you do a post with your advice all neatly listed out to save me having to trawl through the old threads?!

Only kidding - but think my dh is getting concerned as a lot of my sentences start'MILFLAW says...'

Seriously though, thanks as the advice is helping so much.

Main ones I am using are:

Play the film to the end

and

Fuck the fuck off

:o

As Jwn says, lots of ways to skin a cat.

TCMH, it might just be easier to give up altogether. It is not a big deal to most people, and if it is a big deal, then it is my suspicion that those people are worried about their own alcohol intake. Lime and soda (incredibly cheap to drink at pub with drinking mates) But if you decide to give up and slip, again, not a big deal.

Miflaw is not saying that aa is the only way. He is saying it is what worked for him.

Miflaw, which college? Balliol here.

Play the film to the end. That's it.

miflaw - i have a 'private to me' faith' iyswim?, i have found that it is a great comfort to me sometimes but i totally get what you mean about AA - i have never been preached at in a meeting and i proberbly wouldnt like it if i was! my cousin who has been in AA for the last 2 years is a 'born again christian', he knows that preaching would simply be the wrong thing for most people.