The Brave Babes Battle Bus - We're All Going On A Sober Holiday!

[Mouseface]

Hello, I'm Mouse

Welcome to the Brave Babe's Bus. This is a bus full of drinkers old and new, sober and not, and those who are somewhere in between.

We are all at different levels of sober so you can bet that one of us has walked in your shoes.

If you want advice and support then you're in the right place.

Come take a seat or just lurk, we're happy to have you along for the ride.

And here is a link to the last thread so you can catch up on the journey so far HERE

Am pleased though that I'm not giving myself an impossible list of jobs to do whilst they are away, only paint the fence, paint woodwork in kitchen, transfer programs etc from computer to laptop, meet up with friends, tidy throw out old toys kids rooms, get up to date on bills etc, clear out conservatory so it can be used not just a camping storage area, do filing, go to the gym every day, walk dog lots....oh and work full time

Not sure what to do on day 2

Zany it's good to have you back. On Day 2 you could come and do some of the same here?!

jwn and others I realised my post the other day was very misleading - by substances I didn't mean drugs (though that is not meant to be judgemental on those that have had other addictions), it was more the way I drink diet coke alcoholically (have done for a good 15 years, and have to know where the next bottle is coming from, can't run out, numerous failed attempts to control intake, etc), and my antidepressants (AA can be very confusing about that), and substituting chocolate/ sweet things for alcohol, there are a few others but those are the big ones.

Initially I'd heard not to try and give anything else up for the first (insert timescale, 6 months or a year or something like that) and that made sense, but my sponsor was talking to me about how the steps are more likely to work if I can stop using substances (in its loosest definition!!) to change the way I feel. Aaargh, I'm so confused. And I think too much.

Well done to those nearing the end of their first week - it does eventually get easier I promise.

Evening Babes and Mif,

I haven't had a chance to read back properly, but, skimming through, you all sound so positive .

I will try and post properly tomorrow, RL has somewhat got in the way these last few days! I am ok, not drinking, but wanting to, on a number of nights, so have gone to bed at 9.30!

It doesn't look like Dc1 is going to get back for his 21st birthday, I felt a bit forlorn looking at all the ingredients for the Birthday chocolate fudge cake this afternoon laid out, but I might make it anyway, maybe Dh and I can drive to see him for a couple of hours on the day.

Anyhoo, just heard Dh get in.
Love to all
xxxxx

Hmm well have had two glasses of wine and poured a third which I just tipped out after realising I didn't really want it. Enjoyed the first and the second was so so. On balance think that's a good outcome. Although rendering alcohol ineffective as an emotional crutch is a scary prospect. Food for thought.

Hi Noteven, I think with giving stuff up one should start with most harmful, and you have done that by giving up the booze.

I really don't think you should give up the ADs without advice from your doctor, you have been through a lot, and it seems to me that giving up the ADs too quickly may make life harder to bear, thus putting you back in danger of slipping into drinking again.
Maybe try cutting back on the cola and chocs would make you feel even more in control - which will also boost your self esteem.
Just my thoughts, entirely up to you of course, but I do have personal experience of ADs and I think they can be really helpful at certain times in your life, and I also know that giving them up too fast can cause some difficult side effects. Happy to discuss further with you if you want to PM me.
x

Well done on chucking that glass away Legal, you are going to feel so good tomorrow morning

No-one is rubbish here fly tomorrow is another day. I thinnk it is a good idea to really think about what you want to do - if you have a plan it is easier to stick with it.

My name BB and I am an alcoholic who has not drunk for 9= months, one day at a time, and today I will not be drinking.

Sorry to just leap in, I have been around here since last October, but am often away or working so don't always get a chance to post, but I am frequently looking in to see what is going on and sometimes have more time on my hands for interfering posting.

evening!! really quick in and out, hello feebz!!

noteven - i agree wholeheartedly with BB - you really MUST NOT stop taking ANYTHING prescribed by the doctor! - im sorry i misunderstood your post about the substances but i stand by what i said about your sponsor, thats all she is, someone to help support you in not drinking!, your GP knows your medical history blah blah blah!! if i were you, right now i would trust the GP, he/she is the expert, not your sponsor! take care! L x

Ooh I've had such a great couple of days - things at work have gone well, and my sweet dp has been ... well... just lovely [ahh smile sigh]

Hi to feebz and welcome and post whatever and whenever it helps.

Zany - good to see you back, and hey, how wonderful - a few days on your own!!!!. I remember a time a few years ago (my dcs were .... about 10 and 6 ..??). They were with their dad and I had a week on my own. I could tell you how each day went, but suffice to say that on day 6 I was so terribly sick on After Eight Mints and red wine that I didn't drink anything for a whole 2 days. Zany don't waste your days like that - get out and meet people, live your life and make the most of your time. It really is a gift to have some time.

noteven I'm loving the way we've all worked our way around 'other subtances' . No one has criticised you, and no one has made any great admission. It reminds me how different this thread is from most other threads on MN - here is all acceptance and gracious compassion.

What I would say noteven is that we all use things in life as a means of support. That might be drink, or God, or astrology, or sweeties. All of them may help in some way. All of them can be harmful if they consume our lives in a destructive way.

I understand the concern of your sponsor if 'something else' is controling your life. But I don't think there are many people who are addicted to coke (beyond a habit of enjoying it). Compare that with your addiction to alcohol, and the damage that alcohol does in your life. Noteven no one would take your dd from you if you were drinking coke every day, or if you were on antidepressants for years. Bur alcohol IS different. It changes the way you are and think and behave around your dd. That is why it is dangerous.

Please, please deal with your alcohol problem first, AND take your antidepressants. Then, then, then, at some time, once that is stabilised. Think about other thing that need sorted.

thurso make the cake.

legal [putting fingers in ears to avoid singing 'I'm an alien, I'm a legalalien, I'm an englishman...']

Good. Well done. It's not actually what you want after the first glass.

BB nice to see you around

saf never, ever feel bad about coming here and saying you've had a drink or not had a drink. This is supposed to be a really safe place where you can say what you might never ever say anywhere else.

From what I have seen on here, no one will judge you, and the more you share about an hour or a day or a moment of struggle, the more people will be able to help you, or encourage you, or celebrate with you.

I'm amazed as always at the wisdom and compassion I get here. I'm not going to do anything sudden, don't worry, and not without first seeing my GP. I'm just thinking out loud I guess, and confused. I am going to a friend's today until tomorrow, she is the sort of person I can talk to about almost anything, so I am just going to try and have a relaxed weekend. I am so ridiculously impatient - I want it all sorted, by last Tuesday. Doesn't work like that I guess.

Hope everyone has a good weekend.

aargh. my old friend mr depression is back this morning - I can feel him lurking in the shadows (he has been in and out of my life since my mid teens. The wine has been scaring him off recently). Was afraid this might happen. If it's not one demon it's another, apparently.

[am sure there's some st john's wort lurking in the back of the cupboard somewhere. time for another cup of tea....]

Hello Babes

Just popping in to say hi to you all from a very hot and sunny Wales!

V bad t'internet here so will pop in and out. Hopefully, I'll be able to set the new thread up, it's my job don't you know!

Huge hugs to you all. I hope you can stay strong. xx

Well i managed last night, just went to bed early. Did have a wobble when I opened the fridge and saw two cans of lager!

The thought of posting on here to say I'd failed on day one put me right off opening a can.

Anyway we have friends coming round tonight so I will be drinking but I will wait until they actually get here before I start and I have bought one bottle of red only.

Well done Legal on only having 2 glasses, usually I have one or two but I usually end up drinking the whole bottle

SaF- will keep my fingers crossed that you're right. Even if you're not, will have to find a new weapon as wine, while effective, is not the long term solution. Am anticipating having a couple of glasses tonight but will hopefully be able to moderate myself. Back on the wagon tomorrow.

just popping in. been to Spain to meet DD2s new host family and they are lovely. Now in Liverpool with DH's family waves to Indie
Haven't caught up with the thread, hope bus is full and happy and you are all ok.
Back home tomoz to new diet, fitness and drink-free regime, hopefully

Morning all!

Very early for a Sunday morning, hope I haven't woken you all up .

Dh has just left for the long drive .......to pick Dc up, to come home for a few days, including his Birthday , Yaay!
I made the cake Venus, perhaps all the love and wishes that went into it, did the trick?

I'm not holding my breath too much as Dc may have to get back to Gf's at any time, but it will be so lovely just to see him for however long he can be here.

Ma How are you, my old friend (well, younger than me!). I'm so glad that the trip to Spain went well, does that mean that you are left with just one Dc in the house soon?

Mouse I hope you are having a lovely holiday, and that the sun keeps shining on you.

leagalalien and Feebz Did your evenings go well?

saf I am only looking at this page, so forgive me if I didn't catch the rest of your posts, but just to say that it isn't bizarre at all to drink because you're happy. Just think, most "normal" people drink at happy occasions, and a couple of beers at a friends sounds like a jolly, nice time to do it. As you say, though, only you know what you want to do, and why.
I know, for me, I always want a glass of wine if I'm feeling "up" and happy, (also when I'm feeling "down" and low, or any feeling after 6pm, really), but for me, the first one inevitably, if I'm at home, will have led to me finishing the bottle (and then some, probably).

Writing this I have been thinking that in years gone by, I have used any excuse to drink wine, especially Birthdays.Drinking wine while I was wrapping presents the night before, sparkly with the Birthday cake, wine laid on for visitors, a couple of glasses before we went out to dinner. This time last year I would have woken this morning with a hangover, because last night I was so excited about Dc coming home today .

I am so happy that I am up, writing this, this morning, instead. All thanks to you lovely lot . I'm still keeping it in the day, though, as we all do.

Sorry for the huge "me" post. I hope everyone is having a lovely lie-in! Speak later.

Much love xxxxx

Morning everyone,

I did open the bottle before friends arrived, I was bored waiting! but I finished the bottle and that was it, no more as planned.

I will not be drinking today and any left over booze is down the sink.

Hope everyone has a nice sunday (its bloody raining here again and very windy).

Feebz x

aargh. Drank a whole bottle of wine last night (guess it was only one...) and have a horrible hangover. On the plus side, must be some progress as don't usually have a hangover - and it does put me off the idea of doing it again. so I will not be drinking at all today, even though it is Sunday.