The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Carry On Past The Christmas Party (part 1)

[TheMousefaceBeforeChristMouse]

Hello.

Welcome to The Brave Babes Bus. I'm Mouseface and I used to abuse alcohol and to be honest, there is always a risk that I'll do it again.

This is a bus journey for those who drink too much, or drink now and then, not at all, or actually aren't quite sure what their drinking means to them.

Come and meet the other Brave Babes, everyone is welcome.

Here is the history so far -

Thread 15

Thread 14

Thread 13

Thread 12

Thread 11

Thread 10

Thread 9

Thread 8

Thread 7

Thread 6

Thread 5

Thread 4

Thread 3

Thread 2

JWN's original thread

Hi Nomore I'm new on here and your story is lovely to hear. I'm glad you had a good day without alcohol.

Hi Silver, Good one for the AA meeting

And HO HO the irony, just as I was leaving work to go to the meeting, a lovely man who works here came and presented with a little Christmas Gift - a bottle of Brandy no less.

needles to say I have given it to another colleague x

Hi Nomore how long have you been sober?
Silver good work giving away the brandy:)

nomore - sounds like you had a very fulfilling day, you should be proud

silver - you sound like a very determined lady, glad you had a good meeting.

ruby - welcome aboard, hope you stick around if it helps.

Hiya to the rest of you wonderful Babes.

Everyhting is very hit and miss at the moment. I start ok, do a few days off then get sucked in and have a few days on. Drank a bottle of red last night so felt a bit poo this morning.

Am sat trying to stay awake at my desk following the works Christmas Dinner - full 3 courses plus mince pies and coffee, am fit to burst.

I will not be drinking (or eating again) today!

needless - durr

Every meeting has been a different one so far but all with a few familiar faces at each one - other people who are going to ameeting every day like me. xxx

Sorry - how RUDE of me Ruby - welcome aboard and here is your open ticket.

I'm a bit self obsessed at the moment I'm afraid, because of what is going on with me, so I apologise for taking and hope I will be in a position to give too, soon - and to be ablt to give advice/support as a sober person not a drunken fuckwit

Hi all, and nice to meet you ruby.

nomore isn't it lovely - I had a birthday like that in the summer - I just had fun and enjoyed it without the worry of whether I could have a glass of fizz to start the 'special day'. ffs I am 49, there is nothing special about that - but previously I could have made it a good excuse ('cos it would be the last year of my 40s - that must be worth getting pissed for )

ruby my favourite tactics for 'not drinking' are to plan well ahead. So I know ahead of when I arrive at a party what I will have to drink (no humming and hawing and then saying OK I'll have a G&T). Even if you are going to have some wine to drink, it makes a big, big difference to the evening if you have something non-alcoholic for the first drink, and for the second drink. 3 reasons: first it keeps you hydrated so you don't know back the wine to satisfy your thirst (and you feel better the next day anyway); secondly it lets your psyche know that you are out for party/dinner/whatever tather than just being out for a piss-up; thirdly by the time you do start drinking you will probably have something to eat too - you will enjoy the food and enjoy the wine.

I also stock up with lovely non-alcoholic things for when I get home so I'm not tempted then. I think if I put as much effort into planning my not-drinking as I used to put into my drinking, then I'll do OK.

silver great another meeting. Do you know, you sound so much better .

mouse hope things steady up for you soon. I don't make myself vulnerable to others very often (you know the old 'rock feels no pain, and an island never cries' stuff) and when i do I have learnt to do it in a very safe place, with people who I trust to be with me and hold me together. It is shocking to expose oneself, and find that you are not in a safe place after all. I am not surprised you are feeling a bit wounded. Funnily enough, I (usually) find this place safe. Thanks to all the babes who make it so and keep it so.

Venus is it important to start with water/soft drink first??

Hi Venus and thanks for the very useful advice on drinking. I will def try the non-alcohol drink first. Do you plan how many you are going to have too?

desire (for me) I would say emphatically 'YES' to starting with a soft drink. Partly because it sets your intention (my intention tonight is to drink little/moderately) and reinforces that. I think that if you say that you intention is to drink only a little then immediately start with an alcoholic drink, then you unconscious mind is confused.

Also, if I start with an alcoholic drink (and I have much, much experience of this!), then my resolve is weakened, my alcohol 'taste buds' are stimulated, my ability to make good decisions is reduced, and I can pretty much guarantee that the next drink will also be alcoholic (oh, go on then), and the next one, and the next.......

But I have to say, all this is only my experience of how I behave - no theory to back this up Who knows what my unconscious mind is doing, or if it even exists. It is one of the ways I stay sober though.

just dropping in to say hi - dd's 20th birthday today. When did that happen?
Will be drinking but will be careful - don't want to let the bus down

Demented try Venus's tip and drink water/soft drink as first drink! You can be our guinea pig:)

I had far too much last night, feel better now but knackered, between my XP and I we went through 4 bottles of wine

Ouch Zany

Hello. I'm back.

Hey Ma. Hope your DD has a fab birthday!! xx

Doc was great, really great actually. I told him about yesterday and he was visibly shocked.

He was appalled that the doc didn't even introduce himself or give me his card.

He was a Psychiatrist (SP?) that used to be a GP......

My GP is Austrailian and says that they do things differntly over there, and have a fantastic Mental Health system in place.

So much so that if I'd been seen over there, they would put additional care into place for me re Nemo. They would support me on a day to day basis and take a real interest in ME, not just throw lines like 'you could be worse off...' may way to see if I agree.

Unlike this chap who just wanted to check I wasn't going to gun 30 kids down in the street and try to get me to fit into the boxes on the sheets in front of him.

So, I feel like I've turned a corner at last. I told my GP everything that I felt yesterday, and about my drinking.

He has upped my ADs and given me some sleeping tablets and wants to continue my care every two weeks until the panic attacks ease.

I feel like he finally gets me. Thank the Lord!!

Fucking hell Zany!!!!!

That's two each and about 20 units if was good wine!!

No wonder you feel like deep fried dog shite!!

New thread again for when this is full - here

I know and the worse thing is although I feel bad I should feel worse than this although my XP was drinking more than me. And I still feel tempted to pour myself a glass. My excuse today is that last night was very emotionally draining.

Glad your feeling more positive Mouse

Right off to take the dog out because sitting here crying and wallowing in self pity isn't going to help :)

zany - there's ALWAYS an excuse to pour yourself the first drink of the day/evening. Why don't you make it something non-alcoholic tonight. You'll feel loads better tomorrow - physically and emotionally than if you just open another bottle of wine (and drink it).

We KNOW this is true. C'mon zany.

Oh zany ... please don't pour that glass. Part of the reason you don't feel so bad is probably because, after that amount of alcohol, you're still not sober. Glass of water?

Thanks for the sympathy about the noise everyone - very kind of you!

nomore - that's fab! To take control now. (your alternative day sounds very much like mine would have been)

I don't know at what stage you feel confident you won't drink - I've not been sober long enough to be certain about that. I know I'm not drinking today . I know I didn't drink yesterday . Or last month .

The future..... I'll tell you you then - on thread 784 perhaps "Brave Babes on thie Zimmer Frames"