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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 Carry On The Charabanc Trip - Leaving The Booze Behind!

1000 replies

Mouseface · 14/09/2010 11:33

Hello and welcome! Smile

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!! Grin

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

OP posts:
MissPerrier · 16/09/2010 07:34

Good Morning! I really want to get this out of my head and on to the thread. I have seen people on here refer to enjoying the grounded feeling that attending AA gives them. (JWN I think) I just want to say, that is how I feel about this thread. I spend most of my time catching up! But as I read I am usually nodding in agreement or staring at the computer with my mouth open thinking I could have written that! I am starting to see the benefits of 'on going' support. I can't believe that just about every fear or thought that I have had, has happened to others, just like me.
Thank you all. Heres to a happy safe and sober Thursday Smile x

MissPerrier · 16/09/2010 07:36

Morning Instruction Have a great day! x

venusandmars · 16/09/2010 07:36

Morning.

MIFLAW, I went to a meeting and a lady there described her 'slip' as more like going over an icy precipice on the steepest mountain in the world - as soon as she started drinking, there were no firm footholds, nothing to stop her, and a potential fall all the way to the bottom.

After struggling with trying not to drink, trying to control my drinking, having 'just one' (or two / oh go on then / let's open another bottle) for years, it is only this year that I have really 'got' the fact that my mind doesn't want me to be normal, moderate drinker, it wants to fool me into thinking that I can get pissed with absoloutely no consequences.

Have a lovely day everyone. After a couple of days of stromy winds and rain, everything here is bright and calm. Although calmness will be very much needed because the Pope will be in Edinburgh today and all the roads are closed. I am running a training course and the 2 external speaker somehow have to get across town.

Anyway, today I will neither be drinking, nor standing in the crowds lining the streets and waving at the Pope as he goes past in his pope-mobile.

venusandmars · 16/09/2010 07:37

Morning MissP and double

swallowedAfly · 16/09/2010 08:36

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venusandmars · 16/09/2010 08:53

Hi SAF,

Isn't it interesting that you describe your struggle as 30 - 60 minutes. Well done for getting through that. I find that when I am in the middle of that fight, I think it will feel as intense as that for ever (or until I eventually give in and have a drink) whereas in reality, if I can get through that bit, then the feeling wears off a bit. Managing to hang on through the worst bit, knowing it WILL ease, has got me through a few difficult evenings.

Fortheverylasttime · 16/09/2010 09:01

www.amazon.co.uk/Living-Sober-AA-Services/dp/0916856046

swallowedAfly · 16/09/2010 09:02

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Fortheverylasttime · 16/09/2010 09:03

Ignore that last one. Posted partly in error, mainly to INSERT MY FIRST LINK on mn.

Ginger, are you around?

Dizzydollybird · 16/09/2010 10:20

Morning to everyone, special shout out to SAF, Luci, Silver, Getting and Miss P - your recent posts struck a chord with me.

I was so terrified in the first few months of sobriety, I had 15 years of bottled up feelings that I didn't want to deal with and had no idea how to deal with. I was like a child learning to ride a bike.

I absolutely raged at the injustice of not having one little drink to take the edge off, I started smoking fags, caning mars bars (AA told me to eat a bit sugar, don't think they meant family slabs of chocolateGrin), anything to take the pain away. I came closer to losing my job in sobriety than when I drank - I went from functioning alcoholice to anxious, fearful, rabbit in the headlights crazy lady. My friends led me from meeting to meeting by the arm, that's how I became Dizzy, I really was walking wounded and I thought I was special and different to everyone else - I wasn't.

As stated, once the novelty and euphoria of not drinking wears off, its just you and all those feelings. It's tough to deal with but be kind - how could I possibly expect 15 years of physical and mental damage to heal in just a few weeks, I had to learn to feel my feelings, cry when I needed, rage when I needed but not pick up a drink or anything else, just go with the flow as 'this to shall pass'.

Also keep talking, come here and let it out, find people in RL to talk to (I used to deliberately sit at the front of the bus with little old ladies who were desperate for a chat I felt that alone Blush). Use those AA phone numbers, people want to try and help you and after a while, you will realise that you're phoning to see how they are too, not just to offload your own stuff - don't get me wrong, that needs to happen at first but the longer you stay away from a drink your outlook will start to change too.

That got long quick, look after yourselves and have a good day x

Mouseface · 16/09/2010 11:41

Morning (just) Brave Babes.

Just wanted to dash in and wish you all a wonderful sober day!! Those who are maybe lurking, stay safe xx

Dizzy - great post from you this morning Smile

Well done to all of you who managed another day sober yesterday. It's bloody tough when the vodka (in my case) fairy is sat on you shoulder telling you 'to go fix yourself a drink, you'll feel better'

The only thing that works for me is to go and keep busy until it passes. Do ANYTHING to distract yourself!!

Anyway, need to dash off. Nap time for Nemo.

OP posts:
Silver66 · 16/09/2010 11:51

Ditto from me

Getting ready to go and meet DP to try and sort things out - I think we will as long as I stay Sober (and straight!) - what more motivation could a girl need. Now I realise how close I have come to losing him, I realise that he means the world to me.

And another bonus is that my mother will get her knitted cushion covers sooner rather than later - as you said Mouse - keep busy - anything to distract yourself when the craving kicks in - I find that keeping my hands busy helps and of course don't forget to have a sugar hit - it really does make a difference.

Mouse - how are you getting on wth the ADs - have they calmed down yet??

xxx

Silver66 · 16/09/2010 11:59

I've just remebered something I was told in re-hab and at the time it really helped me.

HALT -try not to get

Hungry
Angry
Lonely
Tired

Write it on big piece of paper and stick it to the wall......

xxxxxxxxxxxx

Mouseface · 16/09/2010 12:03

Silver - I remember something along the HALT lines!

Re the ADs, not yet. Still getting that spaced, shaky feel but at least now I expect it so can handle it better.

GOOD LUCK WITH DP you know where we are/I am if you need us. Be brave and be honest with him. xxx

OP posts:
Silver66 · 16/09/2010 12:08

Thanks Mouse - the side effects will wear off eventually - I promise!!

Will keep you all posted this evening - I've got till 7.30pm till I have to collect DD from my Mum so, if all goes well with DP it will probably be after that.

Have a sunny spber day Brave Babes

Grin
Dizzydollybird · 16/09/2010 12:11

ooh yes, I love knitting, also got into crochet, jigsaws and very efficient with flat pack furniture?!

Thanks Mouse Blush

Silver66 · 16/09/2010 12:17

sober - duur

swallowedAfly · 16/09/2010 12:25

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Mouseface · 16/09/2010 13:04

SAF - ironic or what!!! Grin

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gettingeasier · 16/09/2010 13:04

Good luck silver

Thanks SAF and Dizzy

I am feeling sooo much better today and relieved that I managed to limp through yesterday without drinking. Well done to you SAF i know that battle so well and curses to the availability of alcohol until so late at night. I am afraid the going out with friends without drinking is not something I can claim credit for as I picked a cinema without a bar !! This will be the next hurdle and probably the biggest for me. However I am doing the one day at a time and today I am home with dc after school so on safe ground.

Yes I need to learn to fully feel the emotions attached to my situation, I dont think I realised how much my evening drinking was shielding me.

Back later and have a good day everyone

Mouseface · 16/09/2010 13:44

getting - I'm so pleased to see that you are feeling better.

'I don't think I realised how much my evening drinking was shielding me'

Yes, I wanted my drinking to 'shield' me. I wanted to hide. To be invisible. I'm still struggling to get out and about. I don't like engaging with others face to face.

I haven't been out of the house for over a week. I will be going out today. I need bread and DH is out all day.

Little steps, small changes.

Keep posting getting, it really does help. xx

OP posts:
venusandmars · 16/09/2010 14:13

I'm neglecting all the participants on my training course (again) to come on here quickly and say hello.

Well done getting for 'limping through' yesterday. No-one said we had to be cheer leaders every day. Sometimes, limping through is just enough.

See you all later.

gettingeasier · 16/09/2010 15:49

Venus you are right but today I am walking briskly if not cheerleading Grin

Mouse that sounds hard do you think as time goes on and you arent drinking you will be stronger about going out ? Your MN persona is sooo different to what your last post showed, I expect you have heard that said before.

You are right posting is helping and more reading the posts of others. Actually 2 spring to mind yours saying if I really WANTED to stop then I would do so early on and then SAF's comments about the volume of wine I drank. It seems absurd that 2 strangers saying to me something I was already acutely aware of should have an impact where all else for years has failed. Although to give myself some credit I knew that I was at a point where the joy of drinking was outweighed by the pain of drinking iyswim?

I know a lot of you say "what joy" or oh so you enjoy feeling like "deep fried dog shit"the following day . I am not at a place where I see drinking as unenjoyable and certainly after a good day with good news the most obvious way to celebrate is with a chilled glass of white Grin

Dont worry though I will go and arrange some flowers or something instead Wink

Anyway hope you got a nice crusty fresh loaf Mouse !

swallowedAfly · 16/09/2010 15:57

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Mouseface · 16/09/2010 17:07

I'VE BEEN OUT!!! I went to get bread and it turned into a strole to the ducks!

Thing is, once I get a housebound with Nemo's needs, I get settled. And then it builds!

Trust me getting - I am usually mighty Mouse!! I'm fearce for one so small. Just in a bit of a loop is all! But now I've broken the cycle, I'll be grand Smile

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