The Brave Babes Carry On The Charabanc Trip - Leaving The Booze Behind!

[Mouseface]

Hello and welcome!

This is thread number eight!

The Brave Babes are all at different stages of quitting the booze. Some have stopped, some are thinking about it and some are just cutting down.

They are full of support and wisdom for those of you wishing to climb aboard the Bus or Charabanc!!

The Babes aren't an exclusive club, they never judge and they don't charge for advice either!

So, come meet them. I'm Mouse, by the way, and I've been sober since August 2nd 2010, something I would never have even considered without the support of these threads.

Here are the first seven threads, if you want a bit of history.

JWN's original thread

Thread two

Thread three

Thread four

Thread five

Thread six

Thread seven

That's a good idea SAF and put a couple of the cans in the fridge, so they are nice and cold and lovely when you want them, and they will feel like a real treat. Ice too.

Grinning at the thought of you muttering your way around the shops. I use the same mantra at the TV - almost every programme for 20/30 something women is sponsored by a drink company. It really pisses me off now, and I know that before it used to make me think, oh yes, I'll just open a bottle.

Hello, Hello, just catching up and checking in, High and Hubba, nice to meet you and sterling work - keep with it, you sound like your doing great.

SAF you're so right about booze sponshorship and advertising, it's EVERYWHERE! I nearly cried last night in Tesco because a) all the frigging Christmas sweets and treats are out and b) there was xmas booze all over (I wasn't too vexed as it was mainly Bailey's and to me that's a wussy drink hahaha).

Mouse, sorry for your sleepless nights, must be very tough. Going back to your post about your nightmare a few days back, I started new AD's 4 weeks ago and one of my side effects is incredibly bizarre and vivid dreams. I'm not sure if I'm dreaming like this for the first time or have a new ability to remember but I'm getting a bit freaked out. Had a couple I would class as night terrors, woke up in a hysterical ball on the floor, not nice. anyway, thought I would throw that out there to see if anyone thought the AD's might cause this? Ps I even dreamed about you - or my internet based perception of you! You are literally in my thoughts x

Hi dizzy, hope you're having a good day despite the nightmares.

I am off out in a bit, but just wondering if Luci is around today. How are you doing? Please come and post, whatever is going on, we're thinking of you.

Dizzy should I be flattered? Well I am! You can 'see' me on my profile. [smeil]

SAF - If I kept him up he would be HELL to deal with!! He's bad enough with the lack of sleep and then back to sleep. I daren't try that, sorry.

Glad you survived Tesco. I'd rather eat sluggs than do a shop in an actual supermarket.

Haha Mouse, as long as don't think I'm some nutcase stalker, I was just mulling over your post and it reminded me of me(see, me me me me me)

Thanks Venus, I'm wet round the edges but having a good day. I'm currently working out my notice - leaving a City law firm to work in the sticks, I'm so excited but sh*tting myself too, first new job since I stopped drinking so no-one there will know 'me', I'm excited about the prospect of the new start (and no more shouty lawyers )

Dizzy - even if you were stalking me, I am shallow enough to be flattered!

I hope your move goes well! We upped sticks and left the City for rural life 2 years ago. I LOVE IT!!!!!!!

Best thing that we ever did for the whole family. Apart from the fact that there are 3 pubs in the village!!

Luci, there is no reason written in stone why you should not give up on your own. Most people give up that way. Do you know anyone who doesn't drink in rl? Ask them how and they will probably say they gave up on their own. George W Bush did. My local everest saleman did, too.

"Nothing bad happened ...I just feel crap today and very down and tired and annoyed with myself."

Without the middle bit, do you see anything odd about this sentence?

Wasindie

Here, have one of these ((((( ))))), it's a Mouse hug.

Sorry that you are feeling shit but you only have yourself to blame. Have you not learnt that yet?

There is your tough love, okay?

Forthe - I am sorry but I don't think you should be encouraging ANYONE to go it alone. Especially after the posts we have had from Luci of late. In addition to the fact that she hasn't posted for a while.

To me, that would indicate that maybe she wants to be left alone.

By all of us.

I am not saying that our encouraging her to go to the doctors was the right thing to do either, just that maybe we should let her make her own mind up, and support the decision SHE makes.

Venus do you have an e-mail address, want to ask you a question about something you posted on another thread:)
WasIndie looks like you woke Miflaw up, we haven't heard from him in a few days:)

With regards to going it alone, it's a tough one.

I agree that people should do whatever is right for them.

However, I am also well aware of how easily the problem drinker can manipulate a situation to get "permission" to continue drinking.

FWIW I know some seriously heavy drinkers who have stopped without medical intervention. None of them thought it was fun and some of them, in hindsight, would not recommend it - but they did it, and they survived.

If I remember rightly, Luci, you still occasionally go a day without a drink.

If that is the case, do you find that you have fits, psychotic episodes or delirium tremens (i.e. not just the shakes, but with hallucinations) on those days?

If not, I would imagine that you are at low risk of suffering unduly if you go cold turkey.

My advice to anyone interested is not to use waiting for perfection as an excuse to do nothing.

Hi everyone. Massively stressful day dealing with my flat. Am rushing as I have to pick up DD1 from nursery. I'd managed to find tenants to pay enough to cover my costs on the property. The guy I was dealing with from the Housing Association said I could sub-let.
They've told me now I have to seek formal permission to do this (and it still might not be granted) and it'll cost £150 in legal fees and I have to pay back any arrears first.
They don't seem to "get" that I'm skint. I can't pay for anything unless the flat is rented.
Have been going round and round in circles bouncing desperate emails and phone calls back and forward to them all day...all done with DC2 whinging and clinging to me and the FIL tutting at the fucking mess in the living room with all their toys everywhere.
DC1 has wet herself twice today, once on our bed and once on her own and the bastard washing machine is playing up!!!
I looked at FIL's bottle of whiskey and was SO tempted to have a swig but I resisted. Thank God. I can now see that going down that route (I know I'd end up taking swigs all afternoon) is not going to help anything.
I am just so stressed and nervy.
Am not going to drink today.

desire - you can send venus a private message on here. The blue bar, where her name appears, has 'Message Poster' if you click on it, on her name bar.

You can send a message to her that only you two can see.

Thanks Mouse, sent message to her via Message Poster, thanks for letting me know how to do it.

happy to help.

Thanks to all for the welcomes, here I am still not drinking, still feeling quite groggy but I think that might be due to a cold coming on, how long did you all feel a bit rough for after you stopped? On the plus side I am feeling really positive about not drinking and have spoken to a few people in the family about the problem I have and told them I am no longer a drinker! Dh has joined me in giving up too which is great, I don't know if he will give up long term or if its a temporary thing but its nice to have his support in the early days.
Great idea about the ice cold cokes in the fridge, I'll def give that a go, last night I treated myself to some cake off the counter from Waitrose, yum.
mouse sorry to hear you are having a rough time of no sleep, my dd was a terrible sleeper and now at the age of 16 months has only just started sleeping for a decent amount of time, until then it was 3 hourly get ups all night so I sympathise xx
I won't be on now until the 1st when we have our new internet connected at home but I shall check in when I go up the library. Good luck to all and thank you all so much for helping me make the change I needed to in my life for both myself, my dd and my dh xxxx

Look after yourself Hubba; talk to you soon:)

Hubba - thank you. Please take good care of yourself until then and get through life a day at a time!

Keep up with the treats and ready made soft drinks to pour over tall glasses filled with ice or hot chocolate and marshmallows!!

[hungry emoticon]

You are doing great! Bye for now. xx

Luci - take your time to get to where you need to be. At least you are 'aware' of your triggers!

Well done for not drinking. xx

I'm struggling today. I would love to be able to "dull the pain of living" with a glass or two of wine.
I know I can't though.
I have not sat down all day (except to fire off emails to the Housing Association) and every little thing on top of the flat thing seems to have cocked up in some way.
I just want to hide away from everyone.
Sorry for usual self-indulgent post. I have so little time to read and respond to other posters.
Will try and rectify that.
Better go. DC1 is shouting and pushing over DC2 (again) sigh...I will not be drinking today.

Luci - look how well you have done and you've not had a drink! You've done loads today!! All without the aid of a drink!!

That is a huge step for you and one in the right direction!

SAF - I've said to DH that if the extra feed doesn't work, he can get Nemo up with him at 6/7 regardless of the time he wakes.

It's worth trying ANYTHING!!!! So thanks for the suggestion and sorry I said no at first!