The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Giving Up Booze For Lent.

[Mouseface]

Hello.

I'm Mouse.

We are a Bus load of posters with various relationships with the demon booze. Some are sober, some are not and some are inbetween.

So come say hi and meet the rest of The Babes, there's always plenty of room on the Bus, the doors are ALWAYS open.

No judgy pants are worn on this journey, pants yes and even the odd Tena Lady but always of the non judging variety.

Previous Threads

Still here. DH still not speaking to me, sitting at work and just feel like crying all the time. I think part of it is also panic at the thought of not being able to blot it all out with booze when I get home. Usually, I never think about alcohol all day but now because I know I'm not going to drink tonight I've had cravings since about 11am. thornrose I can really empathise with you but, like others have said, it sounds like you've reached a place when you know you want to make a change and I've got really good vibes that you'll do it this time. I also go through patches of telling myself that it's not that bad but I know I'm kidding myself. Even if I can go for a few days without blacking out or falling over, there's no way that I can continue to put away the amount that I am without fucking up all my organs eventually. I'm always rushing around with DCs at 6pm but will be sending out vibes to you to keep you away from that bottle. I might try AA tonight - I'm very sceptical about it for various reasons but will at least give it a try. Will be back here at some point this evening. We're all in this together!

I WILL NOT BE DRINKING TODAY!
I felt so ill at work all day today and someone asked me if I'd been crying because my eyes were red! I hadn't been crying, just had a terrible hangover.
I am going to the shop to buy soft drinks in a minute, I have ice and lemon and limes on standby.

I WILL NOT BE DRINKING TODAY!

Right, ok, TODAY I WILL NOT BE DRINKING.

Not that I need any encouragement with a hangover. I could never do two days in a row anyway

Vodka is down the plughole and I have dusted myself off and I'm starting again.

"you can choose to sit in your bedroom night after night 'enjoying' your wine!, then 'enjoying the guilt and worry, then 'enjoying' playing hid the bottle! sounds great!"
That is exactly what I needed to hear, thanks (and I mean it )

Upsy

Obviously I don't know your husband, but if he's anything like mine (who is a diamond) he will be extremely pleased and relieved if you decide to knock it on the head. My dh has never looked happier if I'm completely honest. It's quite hard to accept that my drinking was making him miserable (he doesn't know I fell off the wagon last night) but seeing him happier is worth it's weight in gold, let alone how wonderful it is to never have the bewilderment and guilt of having done something really bloody awful whilst pissed and not knowing what it was.

I had many many times when I couldn't remember what had happened but could feel the frostiness even by text and I'm astonished and delighted that he stuck it out so long.

isindi - replied to pm!

ROSE!!!! have a {{{{{{{{{{{hug}}}}}}}}}} and a sit down! , im so pleased to see you!

upsy - give aa a go, it may or may not be right for you but you'll never know unless you try!

btw, rose, while you are in the shop, can you get a few nice bathtime treats? or a bunch of spring flowers, i know its not the cure-all, but i do think that starting to take care of yourself, having little treats like a nice relaxing bath, doing your nails (if thats your bag!) go along way in re-building self esteem - something that takes a hell of a battering when you are drinking and feeling bloody worthless!

It's probably worth mentioning that if you went to an AA meeting it means nothing more than that you've gone to an AA meeting. I think one thing that keeps people away is that they think that if they go to a meeting that they will never be able to drink again, ever. All it really means is that you've gone to one meeting on one day and you're hopefully not going to drink on that particular day. If you call their helpline, they will arrange for someone to meet up with you beforehand and walk you in, if you're feeling too wobbly to go alone.

I love AA meetings you hear some really interesting things (some of which will probably make you go... ). It's like having a little window into other people's lives. I've been going to about four a week since I started, sometimes more, and I haven't been bored yet!

Thanks Golly and Isinde am feeling quite overwhelmed at all the support and kindness on here. I'm a nurse and am realising that i find it quite hard to be in the role of the person being helped rather than the other way round. It's just so wonderful to be able to post about things like falling over and getting injuries that i can't remember getting and knowing that i won't be judged. I am not going to drink today, whatever happens.

wow. some real resolve on here today. was just craving daydreaming about a glass of wine tonight, but I can't. I have a party to go to and people not to let down! Catch you all later

There seem to be a good few meetings in my city that are held in NHS places - if you're in a hospital you might find that there's one you could go to in your lunch hour or something? I know, it kind of negates the 'anonymous' bit though! I guess they know that medics of all descriptions are ripe for a bit of alcohol/drug abuse. I don't think I'd feel all that comfortable going to a meeting in my workplace myself, but it must suit some people. I am so far keeping AA on a need to know basis.

There's a meeting very near me that I'm curious about as it's an all women's meeting, but it's held in a church hall where I used to take the kids to playgroup, in an area I used to live in, so I've avoided it up until now. Having said that one of my favourite meetings is just a couple of streets away from me and I've not seen anyone I know (outside of AA) there... yet.

Aaargh, first time of being really, really, really angry about something and knowing that I won't just have a drink tonight and forget about it.

Any tips for dealing with proper, boiling fury sober?! Someone has just riled me so badly that I am physically shaking. I know that having a drink will not help in the slightest, but am furious.

Upsylazy

AA seems quite popular with nurses for some reason - met v few doctors, but quite a few nurses over the years.

Also, the "anonymous" thing just means that we don't divulge anyone's identity except our own to people outside AA and that other people's privacy is respected (it also means yous should never go public in the press about being a member, but for most of us that is a moot point!) Of course, if you see someone you know in AA from outside AA (it's happened to me twice in 9 years) then they're there for the same reason as you so you keep each other's secrets.

I am treasurer of an AA group in the same building where I help run a toddler's group. None of the members overlap, but I think it confused the staff at the building initially!

Tristmum

If you're in AA, get to a meeting and share.

If you're not, make this your proxy AA. Talking about it really does help.

"I guess they know that medics of all descriptions are ripe for a bit of alcohol/drug abuse."

It's often also the case that those particular hospitals have semi-locked wards full of patients who are also ripe for a bit of alcohol/drug abuse!

Someone has been persistently rude to me in connection with some voluntary stuff I've been doing, for no personal benefit whatsoever, and then today has just been gratuitously hurtful. I don't expect thanks, but find snidery difficult to deal with.

I've also put myself in the wrong with an oversight. Am so upset and angry and even more so now I've done that.

It's nothing serious really, I think I must be feeling fragile anyway.

Right, deep breath. Onwards and upwards.

Thanks Isinde, that does make sense. Am liking the punch bag idea. Or maybe a steamroller...

Once I've stopped grinding my teeth I'm going to take this as an opportunity to learn how to try to put things out of my mind without washing them out. If nothing else it's opened my eyes to how much I use booze to blank things out rather than dealing with them.

Sorry upsylazy for crashing into your discussion.

Very busy on the bus today and last night. Hope those with 'no drinking' plans are sorted with treats and distractions and posting on here to help through the 'call of the booze'. The craving really doesn't last forever and taking it minute by minute is possible and once the craving subsides you do have a sense of relief but also achievement. As with most things, the more you practice dealing with the craving, the better you get at it.

Will be looking in on the party as DC and evening plans allow.

Oh, and having done lots of socialising since stopping drinking - it is fun. Yes, occassionally I get that 'oh it would be OK' thought but I now value my sobriety so much I am fearful of taking a risk to see whether that little voice is right or not.

So what time's this party starting then

It's a gloriously sunny evening here

Can I have a quick moan. I bought a train set with loads of tracks, engines etc..... from ebay. Looked fab in the photo. Really great value for money, hundreds of bits to it. All spread over a hallway.

The seller wanted £99. I paid £75. It came today and it's awful. Not at all what I wanted or expected for the money, it looks like £20 worth of tat. It's dirty, bits are broken or missing, odd toys are thrown in, it's got pen all over it, no care has been taken with it all.

I'm gutted because Nemo loves trains, cars, trucks, etc. Loves them. Now I'm £75 out of pocket and have a box full of tat. The seller says no refunds. Now I know why

I'm having a N&DL with ice and lime. (DL = diet lemonade) And preparing the cheese platter for the party to try and take my mind of it. Some people are heartless twats.

Sorry to hear that mouse, there are some real twits on eBay! Can you salvage any of it?

Lovely and sunny here too

iPad obviously doesn't approve of 'twat'!!!