The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Carry On Past The Park Bench!

[HammerMouseOfHorrors]

Hello

I'm Mouse and one of the Brave Babes on the Battle Bus.

The bus is never full and you'll find a real mix of people on board, all with the same goal.

To take control of their drinking. Whether that's to stop completely or cut right down.

Everyone is welcome to get on the bus at any point. You will receive a warm welcome and plenty of support.

Some come meet the others.........

The journey so far.

JWN's original thread

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mouse i've made room at the back here and got a selection of fine magazines and choccies to share out...

Please can I just make a quick point about the Alan Carr book. I read it three years ago and it IS brilliant and very motivating. BUT... for me the motivating effect wore off after a couple of weeks. I tried to re-read it two or three times, but it was not the same. The only thing that has really worked for me is the continuous support of this thread IYSWIM. I think it is because it helps me to refocus everyday, so I keep on keeping on. I have been giving up alcohol for 5 years! I have just passed the 14 week mark (yep still counting) It is checking in here everyday that has helped me. I think it's what MIFLAW recommends AA for partly too. It's worth reading but it is not an instant cure. Well not for me [hsmile]

Hello and welcome to goingtotry / goingtosucceed When you managed 2 weeks without a drink, what were your best tactics? Did you have any support?

You will find that all of us on here understand the feelings of shame and guilt, and yet despite those feelings we've all struggled over manay years to cut down or stop on a permanent basis.

For me, after many years of yo-yo-ing around, and trying to pretend that I didn't really have a problem, I have finally come to a time when I have taken my alcohol problem seriously. It feels good to have done that, and it feels bloody marvellous to wake up without a hangover.

Christi poor you and poor dd2. It has brightened up a bit after the rain and I hope a walk and a bit of fresh air makes things feel a bit calmer for you.

Hi Morticia - 14 weeks - excellent (I was never much of a fan of counting the weeks - I just thought the potential failure would feel bigger).

I too have read the Alan Carr book, I've also tried hypnotherapy, and I've tried willpower. The one that was least successful was my own willpower . I guess if any of them had been a 100% permanent cure then I'd not be on here. But they all have had their impact and my approach in this battle is to try anything and everything that is available, hell, I've even been to some AA meetings .

Agree totally about the support of here being of the best value to me at the moment though.

Venus you are right, they are all worth a try. Welcome home BTW[hsmile]

hi all, and welcome new folks.
Was drinking last night sigh. Didn't finish the bottle but would have been smarter not to ahve opened it in the first place. What is WRONG with me!!
this is the 3rd week of the cut down and feeling momentun beginning to slide despite the fact I've lost a few pounds and two people have independently said that I "look better"
Somebody smack me.

Smack

Not sure that worked it was a bit weak...

SMACK!

The thing is dementedma - I could go on smacking you, but it is never going to hurt as much as what you are doing to yourself. So have a hug instead - 'cos I've been exactly where you are and I know how it feels. Taking care of yourself is immensely more rewarding that keeping on damaging yourself.

Take care of yourself today by NOT HAVING A DRINK

SLAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - ma that is for you.

Pack it in and start again. And here, ((( ))) have this aswell. [gsmile]

Never been one for smacking but here goes . . . SMACK . .

OUCH
you didn't all have to be so enthusiastic!
Ok yes you did.
Today I will not be drinking.

ma - i'll tell you whats wrong with you - that cunning little fucker alcohol has you right under the thumb!!, tell him to 'fuck the fuck off', you would do at least that much to anything else that was trying to kill you, wouldn't you?

right, im leaving you with a red hand mark on the back of your legs my girl!!, now, man up and stand up for yourself!!! give the fucker the heave ho!!

YES to the idea that part of the reason for going to AA is the fact that turning up reminds you you need to turn up ... alcoholism is often called "the illness that tells you you haven't got it" and it is so true.

I know a few people in AA who have been sober for (literally) years and yet who refuse to get a sponsor or do the Steps. Clearly, what is keeping those particular people sober is attendance at meetings and the regular contact (and "fellowship", hence the name) with other people in the same boat that it brings.

well i'll take allen carr or whatever works. Hypnosis worked for me to quit smoking so whatever rocks my boat.

Really struggling with feeling a bit blue. Not a normal consequence as i hit day 4 but will have to put it down to my ill family i think.

"(and this sounds barmy even as I type it) after a couple of glasses it almost feels like hard work..but I have to do it somehow."

It doesn't sound barmy. It sounds like something an alcoholic would say.

Of course it feels like hard work - it IS hard work! You're ingesting a poison and then, when you get the built-in warning signs (thick head, dizziness,numbness) - you're not stopping. How would that NOT be hard work? That's why normal drinkers stop after a few - their bodies tell them (as yours tells you) that the cons are about to outweigh the pros. But, because you "have to do it" - in other words, because you are a problem drinker - you ignore those warning signals and just push on through.

I mean, I'm not a doctor or anything, but ...

By the way demented congrats on weight loss (and compliments):)

thanks Desire. Note compliments say I look better, not I look good .
Makes me realise how rough I've been looking!

welcome going to try and ma ((())) to you.

MIFLAW you talk so much sense.

AntiChristi a treat is in order - sofa tea, whatever will help dd2 and you as well.

I'm on day 2 again - one of these weeks I'm going to get past day 6, but I am hopefuly that controlling it and 6 days out of 7 will lead me to a normal drinking life

not much else to add, sorry

Aw demented am sure they meant you were looking good!

Very very quick message here as off to pick up DD soon but I am finally back in the land of t'internet.

All ok here, although DD bit unsettled by the move and I am stressing out about being behind on work ... so not much changed. Think I posted about drinking last week but more motivated not too now. It just seems very ... pointless to be honest. Feeling fuzzy wasn't loadsa fun, just annoying after being clear headed for a couple of months. Feeling grim the day after even less fun.

Now ... who was going to talk to me about filing systems ... Wasindie??

Afternoon daddy - how are things? You are often in my thoughts [hsmile]