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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Next Stop Sobriety!

936 replies

Mouseface · 24/08/2010 14:27

Hello, welcome to thread number six!! Smile

I'm Mouse and, thanks to these threads, I quit the booze on August 2nd 2010.

This truly is a fantastic source of support for anyone who wants it! Full of real, honest, everyday people who are all at different stages of quitting the booze, cutting down or being long term sober.

There are no judgmental 'know-it-alls' here, whatever your circumstances, you will be supported all the way.

Come and meet the rest of The Brave Babes........

And, as before, here are the previous five threads for those who would like to see how this all began.

JWN's original thread (the reason we are all here)

Thread two

Thread three

Thread four

Thread five

OP posts:
Fortheverylasttime · 27/08/2010 15:11

George Best and Peter Cook. Well mentioned.

Fortheverylasttime · 27/08/2010 15:15

It is very difficult to tell. AA keeps no records of the number of people who give it a go and then leave. We don't know what happens to these people, whether they drink themselves to death or sort themselves out. Even rehabs keep no records, they give success rates based on what % completed the treatment.

Don says that if everyone who had ever been to his local group hadn't drifted off then they would need to hire wembley stadium. No solid data, though.

MIFLAW · 27/08/2010 15:25

Well, exactly - but I thought you were saying that there was some way of googling success rates?

you say we don't know what happens to the people who give it a go and then leave. Actually, in many cases, we do, though the knowledge is never collated. Often you see the same faces sitting on benches with a bag of cans next to them, often within a stone's throw of the meeting hall. Other times, they have done that AA thing of exchanging numbers, so someone will call them up on a whim to see how they are, only to be told that they are dead or that they have sold their pohne (no prizes for guessing why.) Or someone goes to hold a meeting or visit someone in a prison, hospital ward or locked ward and sees a familiar face in the corridor. Sometimes their funerals at shockingly young ages are announced in the meetings, especially if they kept giving AA one more try.

And, of course, some do come back and stay and make it on their second, or third, or tenth, or hundredth attempt.

Statistics are misleading in this sort of context. But the stories are well known and are often far from novel.

desiretochange · 27/08/2010 15:30

Getting a little bit heavy here methinks Confused, each of us here are fighting our own demons in whatever works for us at present, statistics only clouds things.

RedMoomin · 27/08/2010 15:40

Hello desire!

I am following the argument discussion with interest but up for any chat!!

RedMoomin · 27/08/2010 15:42

I suppose we have to remember that alcoholism is a killer illness/ disease/ addiction/ whatever.

HOWEVER.....

So, let's be light-hearted for a while!! Tell me about your weekend plans!

MsGee · 27/08/2010 15:43

hi Red and desire... I am partly online partly watching the same mickey mouse film again... inbetween packing and telling myself that of course I can do a weekend with the inlaws sober Grin

RedMoomin · 27/08/2010 15:44

I am off to a hen do tomorrow night! I will not be drinking, obviously! Went to 2 or 3 hen dos during my last period of sobriety and it was fine so I am not concerned in that way.

Off to a meeting tonight, much housework tomorrow and hopefully some time with DH on Sunday/ Monday.

RedMoomin · 27/08/2010 15:45

You can do it MsGee and you will do it. As painful as it may be Wink!

desiretochange · 27/08/2010 15:47

Hi Red, maybe am being selfish because just find the discussion a little bit too heavy on here at minute but am probably the only one, so going to sign off and see ye all Monday, let the discussion continue.

Have a great weekend, visiting family this weekend:)

MIFLAW · 27/08/2010 15:47

Fair point.

Wrists still stinging from being slapped.

RedMoomin · 27/08/2010 15:47

Come back desire!!! I know what you mean entirely... COME BACK!

RedMoomin · 27/08/2010 15:51

Who's been slapping your wrists MIFLAW? (Now if JWN was around I am sure she would have some sort of flirty comment!)

MsGee · 27/08/2010 15:53

have a lovely weekend desire.

Red, you sound very positive about your weekend plans, sounds like a relaxing weekend. Is the hen do very 'full on' or will it be a relaxed affair?

I am all prepared for in laws. Lots of non alcoholic drinks, a few books and some work to disappear into. DH continuing to be v supportive and challenging as his parents are (to put it mildly), I can't really blame them for any desire to drink on the weekend. My choice and all that. That said, I could do without a weekend of them right now Grin

Mouseface · 27/08/2010 15:53

desire

The MIFLAW/FTVLT discussion is way too heavy for me too, hence my lack of posts. Smile

I've just been keeping my head down and lurking.......

OP posts:
MsGee · 27/08/2010 15:55

Hi Mouse, nice to see you! How is the packing going? Can I ask where ooop north you are heading?

RedMoomin · 27/08/2010 15:59

I agree mouse - it was all getting a bit much for me too. I am not sure that I got that across to desire and she has taken me the wrong way Sad Never mind, I will 'see' her after the weekend!

MsGee the hen do will be fine, I will probably just go for the meal and then the first bar and head off home then. The bride knows about what's going on with me so it will be fine. I don't envy you with the in-laws! Argh!

MIFLAW · 27/08/2010 16:00

Sorry everyone - I forget sometimes that this is not a pub and that I have not, therefore, come here primarily for an argument!

desiretochange · 27/08/2010 16:01

Didn't log off yet, been a bit like Mouse and just lurking at minute:)
Red, height of admiration for you going to hen party (with or without alcohol they are usually chaotic and messy:))
McGee, wishing you a lovely weekend also.
Miflaw, slapped wrist??

Mouseface · 27/08/2010 16:02

MsGee

The dryer is on it's last load, bags are out but not filled! Will be doing it in stages!

Erm, think we are going to a place near Harrogate. It's not far from there, where are friends live. They've only just moved so I'm still getting used to the area.

I don't think you have upset anyone Red. Smile

OP posts:
RedMoomin · 27/08/2010 16:03

No problem MIFLAW. It's obvious that you are really passionate about how your life has changed and what has brought that about (AA) - which is certainly no bad thing! And Grin re the pub the comment!

RedMoomin · 27/08/2010 16:04

desire - there you are! I think it's back to normal on here now. Well as normal as any bunch of alkies can manage to be Wink!

desiretochange · 27/08/2010 16:05

Oh Red x posted, you said and did nothing wrong, was just getting a bit weary of all the heavy stuff but realised that is due to the fact the I am feeling a bit low today and was annoyed then with myself for thinking that I should dictate what is or isn't spoken about on this thread:(

MsGee · 27/08/2010 16:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MsGee · 27/08/2010 16:08

DD has pooed!! And immediately requested a thomas the tank train... gotta love her.