The Brave Babes Battle Bus - On Their Way To Spread The Festive Cheer, Without The Beer!

[Mouseface]

Hello, I'm mouse.

I have an obsession with drinking, I can't have a drink, not just one..... it has to be more. Always more.

So, I got on the Bus, this Bus, full of Brave Babes who will help and support me all the way. Come say hi, grab a seat and a . We're a real mixed bunch that share one thing without any doubt - alcohol abuse.

And if you want to read about our history, it's HERE

See you on the Bus xx

Noteven - it is really difficult to explain, all I can tell is that I'm free, I'm free and I'm happy. The seminar takes 6-7 hours, at the end of the session, you have an hypnotherapy session. It makes you see...For example, did you need a drink when you were feeling down as a child ? Did you need a drink when you felt happy ? Have a look at their website. I was hopeless and in a very dark place and it helped me, it saved me.

noteven re Allen Carr: If I'm correct from reading the book then the method deals mostly with changing how we think about drinking. It offers a strong argument against the seductive alcohol advertising and cultural pressures that we are bombarded with, and sets out very clearly the 'poisonous' or toxic impact of alcohol on our bodies. The book uses hypnotic langauge patterns and I think (but don't know) that the seminar reinforces the process through brief hypnotherapy.

Like all hypnotherapy it will work best on a brain that is receptive and willing (you can't hypnotise someone to do something that is against their unconscious will), and I suspect it would be a less effective method for someone who unconciously did not want to stop drinking.

It does not do anything to change any underlying issues that may be part of the stimulus to drink, but that is not what it sets out to do.

Shake have I portrayed that correctly? I'm really glad that it is working so well for you - it would be great if you could post something about your experiences because that might encourage others to try a similar approach.

x-post with shake

Silly - how about ChillyChillyMum?

Morning all.

I have a bit of drama going on with my new meds. Apparently, I'm not supposed to take two of them together, so I need to find out what on earth my GP was doing giving me the new ones..... Eeek!

venus - I have PMd you lovely xx

DD is still out after going with friends to the town's Christmas Festival l;ast night, fireworks, ice rink and a fiar! She said she had a fab night! I'm a tiny bit as I love stuff like that.

Nemo had a dreadful night, up and down so often, really struggling to breathe bless him. We're supposed to be monitoring him but can't when he's like this, because his leads come off and set his alarms off.

Plans for today include dying my hair, washing, drying, cleaning and then a walk with the boy and wolf later on. It's cold but sunny here, blows the cobwebs away!

Hope you are all okay and safe out there. xx

venus - It sums it up. I really wanted to stop drinking, really badly. I wanted so badly that I had my last drink the day before my birthday bash !

Phew! Have just got back from doing a spot of Christmas battling shopping, it's getting busy out there now but so good for the retailers to have a bit of cash coming in for a change. I fancy the price of chocolate has gone up though! Will have a cuppa and a little think about maybe wrapping if I can face it .

Venus, how is DD at the moment? Will she be up on her feet for Xmas? Thanks for lovely words. DH and i talked last night and we think maybe it's time to have the tests. No time at moment but maybe before Xmas.

Mouse sorry to hear you and Nemo having a rough time of it.

Hope everyone else ok. x

popping in and out. Off to a carol concert, not in a church, but in a reused furniture warehouse! Local recyclers are having the Salvation Army band in and an invitation to guests to park themselves on the tables, chairs and sofas in the warehouse and sing along. Should be a bit different......wish DD2 was here. she would have loved it and been in fine voice...11 more sleeps until she comes home.

Ooh ma thast sounds great. You must be so happy that dd2 will be home for Christmas. I was just writing a Christmas letter to a friend and I was reminded that last Christmas my dd2 was on the other side of the world. Now she is only 40 miles away, and that is fab.

Ma - I am of your evening and I bet you £1 million that you aren't of mine, tis date night!!

Be back tomorrow at some point lovely Babes xxxxxx
PS - thanks MsGee xx

Ah but mouse we saw photos of your dh - now that's a date night to look forward to

fill yer boots mouse rather you thn me! (not that I wouldn't be happy to give mrmouse one, mind you)

No one around on a Saturday evening? Perhaps everyone is getting on with normal life, or perhpas people are lurking just waiting to post.....

I'm here venus .

C'mon lurkers, let's hear from you. How are you doing this evening?

I've been playing computer games to take my mind off the vino. Had our works Xmas party last night so I had a 'few'. Didn't keep track of how many 'cos people just kept topping my glass up and I (old habits die hard) kept drinking. BUT . . . I had lots and lots of water inbetween sips slugs of wine so didn't make a fool of myself and no hangover today, yay! Although I am tired from the late night and all the dancing! However once those floodgates are open I need to use the avoidance strategies to reign myself back in again . Oh well. So far, so good. Will soon be time for bed.

Morning (just)

Blimey, where is everyone? Three weeks today it's Christmas. Who can't wait, who's dreading it? And who has their tree up already?

I've done nothing at all yet - eek 3 weeks! I'd better get my arse in gear. I've not bought cards, I've not given a moments thought to presents. I have planned my dinner though, and experimented with a couple of recipes.

I've done it all . all pressies bought and wrapped, cards written and christmas cake baked. Ds is putting up the tree as I type. Actually he's pretending to be on Strictly with a cuddly santa as his partner and he's waltzing round the front room to Christmas songs!
last night at the carol concert they had non-alcoholic mulled "wine" and it was delish - from IKEA apparently. Must get some. I came home to hot ribena and bed. No boozing on a Saturday..Bloody hell, dunno what's come over me this last week ot so!! Long may it last.
What are you all up to today?

Wow ma I think you are coming around to the idea that you can have a life without a daily dose of booze . I used to think Christmas would be a struggle but it's just another day really. Sure, some of us will drink but hopefully we will do it mindfully and not let it spoil the holidays for us or our families. There is so much more to the day than sitting around drinking. My plan is to try and have a sneaky snooze after lunch so that I don't carry on drinking all day. Any other suggestions? What worked for you (or didn't) last year?

Hello!

This is the FOURTH message I've tried to post today! I have got myself a lovely, new, Christmassy name and I'm dying to show it off but the computer says no... Will keep trying.

Anyway, I am hungover and feeling crap. Like someone else (? Faire) said, the more days I have without drinking, the more I am resenting the days spent feeling like plop because I drank the night before. I am really looking forward to my sober/hangover-free days and I know I can have them. Not as many as I would like but more than I thought I could a while ago.

Well done on the not drinking too much on your night out Faire, and well done Ma for sticking to the non-alcoholic mulled wine! Sounds fab!

Hope everyone is OK. Hope you had a good date-night, Mouse.

Venus I have loads of Christmassy stuff to do too. Dreading some parts of Christmas, looking forward to others. Well I'd better get on with it. A nice, new to-do list is in order I think!

Have good days everyone

Is everyone sleeping? Or decorating their trees? Or gone in a huff?

Hi venus none of the above for me, tree maybe next weekend, that's early enough. We've been making cards and presents for weeks, mind. However the musical season has started and am loving being back into it, singing and playing, a real blessing of sobriety for me.

I have to share DD's little moment this morning - we had a family "Toy" service at church, where children take toys and parents take offerings. No pressure, just what you can afford, and it's a very mixed area. DD took something she would really like. She asked if she could have one for Christmas, and I said yes, but she would have to wait. Handing over this particular toy, with only my word that she would get one, was tough, but she did it. I am so proud of her. And we talked about how we might be a bit sad, but we are warm, fed, cuddled, clean - and plenty of people aren't. So she handed over her heart's desire. And I will go and get her one tomorrow - because for me, not to just give her it, bought and ready, no emotions, just here and ready to say, here you go, you can give it because you've got one.... is quite huge.

I have done a heck of a lot of damage. And I want to make it better. And I am an alcoholic, so I try to make it better NOW. I am tempted to buy more, do more, than usual. But I will go to ELC and buy this thing that she wants, because I have an amazing girl who I am proud of, and in some small way, I have broken the cycle.

Night, everyone. I have downloaded the couch to 5K podcast, so once I've told my doctor about the right leg injury I've been in denial about, I will be running again!!
xx

noteven you are absolutely bloody fabulous, and so is your DD!
i can't believe you are the same person who posted on here in such despair...here, ahve the driver's cap and take us all out for a spin.
Speaking of which , where the Jeff is isindie?

Ah, not really ma and too easy to say.

I think direct giving is a big thing. And the thinking is FAR FAR bigger than money type stuff. Which has to have consequences.

Sorry, that sounded really dismissive!! Can't sleep, again. And, thank you ma for such lovely words - I wasn't very gracious, philosophical is not very helpful! DD did great and I am learning from her.

noteven your post brought a tear to my eye. Your DD sounds adorable. Have a good week BBs, I am girding my loins for Xmas agogo this week, see you at the weekend!
xx