The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Carry On Into 2011!

[Mouseface]

Hello and a Happy New Year!

I'm Mouse, one of the passengers on this wonderful journey to sobriety!

We are a real mixed bunch of people, all trying to control or give up the booze - ONE DAY AT A TIME.

Come meet the others.........

And here are the previous threads, the journeys so far

hey zany - take it easy and tomorrow is another day

Oh Zany, you do sound unhappy. Does the alcohol blot that out for you somehow? Is that the reason that you started drinking? Are you in control of what you drink, do you think - could you manage an alcohol free night tonight and if it feels good, like venus often says, well, then you can do it again tomorrow?

Bafana I have heard that said in AA too - especially in relation to the 12 steps really being a cure to the human condition, that it's a shame everyone can't have that.

I went to church for the first time (just to go to church not for an occasion that is) in almost 6 years today. I'm not sure exactly where I am at with it all, but I went, and I think I'll go back.
I am more peaceful today. I don't have to drink. Isn't that a wonderful relief! I didn't believe people I heard in AA say it even a few days ago but now I do. I know who I want to ask to be my sponsor too. Bags packed for school and work. Have done some thinking and planning for the week but hopefully not projecting.
Am going to try and do some studying tonight as I now haven't done any for over 2 weeks.
To those who feel ashamed - the shame will go - that is part of the beauty in not drinking any more. I'm not quite there yet - but I'm definitely ashamed of my drinking, and not of my AA meetings.

Love to all x

I tend to drink to blot out feelings but I'm just as likely to drink when everything is going OK. I haven't had anything to drink tonight which will be the first alcohol free day for several weeks. Just feel that I am wasting my life away by drinking and then spending ages afterwards recovering from it.

Was feeling stressed as I got the paperwork for the divorce but the court order hasn't arrived yet for the financial arrangements and now the divorce is final I have 3 months to re morgage and pay my XH for his share in the house but I can't proceed with the re morgaging until I have the court order - all very frustrating

major wobble here - actually picked up the last bottle of wine in the house, then saw it was a whopping 15% and just knew it would make me feel dreadful so am having tea and TWO slices of cake! How am I going to lose weight if I replace alcohol by stuffing my face?

Zanywany - well done on tonight! Forget yesterday and everything before for now just concentrate on the here and now which is very positive, very positive indeed as you have managed something that you haven't achieved for weeks so go you!!

Dementedma, fully understand where you are tonight. Major wobble for me tonight, which took me by surprise. I went shopping with friend and then our hubby's joined us for an early dinner with the children. No-one was having a drink but DH said he could murder a pint but he restrained himself, however it got the little nasty fecker side of my brain working and as we were driving back I was half willing him to say shall we pop into the pub for one (pub is right opposite our house) but he didn't. Got in and told him I was having a wobble, he said he did too and considered mentioning the pub but his wobble was waning somewhat...mine was then in full swing and lasted from 6.30 to about 8.30. Lot's of pacing and consideration but thankfully I think it has passed, had a long tonic drink with plenty of ice which really hit the spot. Must go and get some Tonic I think as have been managing with water and tea up until now, tea usually helps but have switched to deca in the evenings and I think that is not helping with needing something to hit the spot as it were. I have wine in the fridge, could have it if I wanted - don't think it is getting to me because wherever it was be it the garage, the fridge or at the corner shop if I am going to have it I will get it, and in fact I quite like looking at it in the fridge and thinking I don't want you! One of the funny things that was going through my mind though was how I was going to tell you lot I had had a drink - not that I think you would chastise me but I felt like I was letting you as well as me down

spamspam totally understand everything you describe. I have been there so many times - the slightest excuse or temptation - oh yes! What I think is really interesting is that you had a terrible terrible craving, it lasted for a whole 2 hours, but then did you notice - it got less? Isn't that great! When I first stopped I imagined that a craving for alcohol would be there, at that intensity right until the time I eventually gave in and had a drink. but actually it doesn't. if you can find enough to distract yourself / control yourself for long enough it does go away - and sometimes disappears altogether. I think that is why I find the HALT thing so useful as a practical technique. I first try satisfying any hunger I have, then I try to deal with some anger (write ferociously on a bit of paper usually), then I try speaking to a friend in real life, or sending a long overdue email or writing thankyou letters for Christmas cards (anything that is about contact with people), then I address my tiredness - have a bath, go to bed with a book. I have to be honest and say that by the time I have done all of those properly, I no longer have a craving - either because it's passed or because it was a craving for food or company in the first place (but I'd read the signal as a craving for drink).

demented who cares about losing weight today? Of course it does need to be addressed but MIFLAW says 'deal first with what is most likely to kill you' and for most of us here that is our drinking habit. If eating a cream cake or 6 keeps you sober then do it.

Later on you can deal with the cream cake habit (anyway, alcohol has loads of calories, just f''ing loads).

Seriously well done for putting the bottle down. Even pausing to think about it and look at the alcohol content is a maasive step forward.

PS to all, I changed my name 'cos I didn't like being 'marshmallow' - it made me feel all fat and squidgy. Now I will be a lean marzipan fruit

zany how are you doing? Are you still managing to hang on in there? Sending you good thoughts.

noteven - I think the phrase about 'if not drinking today feels good, you could always do it again tomorrow' is paraphrased from MIFLAW - his words seem to get stuck in my head. I also think that if was here he'd say something about not rushing to get a sponsor - take your time - enjoy just being with AA, don't try to work the steps too soon.

Interesting about church making you feel peaceful. I have a difficulty with organised religion, but I do like empty churches, and I like buddhist meditation - all balm to my soul.

Zany and ma well done for avoidance tactics. I don't know if you saw my note yesterday, but I drank two litres of fizzy water between 6 and 8.30 just to do something other than the pour that glass of wine!

Tonight the craving hasn't happened at all .

I too need to lose weight ma (and stop creeping down the garden for a puff!) but first things first
Sleep tight all. xxx

Jwn take it easy or you'll end up with another cold. Treat yourself gently for a while. Glad you are feeling a bit better though.

Mouse hope you have had a good family day, and enjoyed date night.

Spam Very well done on not opening the bottle in the fridge.

I find it's much easier if a bottle is unopened to say "no thanks to you", whereas if it's opened I always thought "I'll just have the one"!!!!.

Sorry, meant Spam and Ma.
zany I hope you are feeling better tonight, new day tomorrow, new start

Hi thurso I'm multi-tasking here, watching 'One born' and mn-ing.

HI everyone

Thankyou for your kinds words, I am feeling alot better now thanks, more annoyed with myself that I went out and now in a sticky situation with my friend as he has texted tonight to ask me our for Valentines night! Will have to have a talk I think.

Agree that you can only sort out your vices one at a time or you make it harder on yourself

Well done Spam and Ma for getting through your wobbles.

Ah zany just say 'no'. It won't kill him, you don;t have to be so nice to everyone. Just be nice to yourself.

Morning all,
It's good to wake up sober especially with a still-non-sleeping child. Off to work today. Hope everyone has a good day and catch all you lovely BBs later. x

Morning all.

It is good to wake up sober and clear headed but I could just do with mornings being a bit lighter. I feel like I'm getting up in dead of night.

Thinking about the weight loss side of things - something I am noticing is that by not drinking I am not picking at food so much. I guess this is because blood/sugar is normal rather than down in my boots. A bottle of wine is between 700-1000 calories but I am sure I eat the same again in hangover treats.

Hope everyone has a good day and manages to keep warm on such a chill day.

Be busy and good!

Morning noteven and gnome:)
Day 10 for me here:)

Is there a seat for one more please??

You must have some great ideas for non-alcoholic drinks for the evening to distract from reaching for the wine.... if you can share any of these with me I would be most grateful... off to the shop later to stock up!

Thanks in advance.

From a long-time lurker (who's been off the wine since January 1 with a couple of blips!) I've been on the cranberry juice and soda water with a squirt of lime juice. It tastes grown-up enough to be a good substitute and healthy enough to remind me why half a bottle of red wine every night was not such a good idea!

Good morning and welcome aboard Anon and Scoot:) With regard to non-alcoholic drinks there are a lot of babes with great suggestions and I am sure they will be along soon Anon, agree with you re the cranberrie juice Scoot got me through a birthday party yesterday evening while all around me were drinking either white or red wine, mine looked a bit like a rose

Welcom aboard Anonymousbird I'll just shuffle up a bit and move the assembled buggies, shopping trollies and large suitcases out of the way (we seem to be quite a mixed bunch).

I like tonic water as being 'grown-up' and not sweet so I sip it rather than gulp it. ASDA no added sugar shandy is alcohol free and tastes good without being too strong a flavour - goes well with meals.

Cranberry lime and soda??? I think I will like very much! Excellent suggestion.

Gnome - I'll "travel light" - just a small (well behaved!) labrador and a few chickens with me, that's all.

Morning everyone

Welcome Anon and Scoot

Day 2 for me and off to Morrisons later to stock up on some lovely soft drinks so the wine doesn't tempt me later.

"he spent most of the evening topping up my glass (yes I know I could have nit drunk it)."

Or, indeed, said "please don't give me any more wine, I don't want it."