The Brave Babes Battle Bus - On Their Way To Giving Up The Booze For Lent (or just for today)

[Mouseface]

Hello, I'm Mouse

Welcome to the Brave Babes Bus where you'll find a mix of drinker, non drinkers, those who has been sober for a long time, and those who are getting there One Day At A Time.

Come and say hi....... we won't bite

And if you want to know how this all got started, HERE is a link to the previous threads.

Hugs to JWN

IMO, I don't think the glass 'counts'. But do look after yourself today.

Thank you Venus. I do know it's not me that's weak and stupid, just that my choices sometime are. And I realise now that what's probably worse than the actual drinking is what it does to my self-esteem, mood etc on the days that I don't actually drink. My whole life is taken up with worrying about drinking (90%) or drinking (10%) and I'm really beginning to think I have to opt for sobriety, or maybe give it a go for a significant period.

And I drove home over the limit again last night, was practically crawling round the M25 and so relieved to get home and out of the car. I'm hanging my head in shame when I think about it:)

BUT today is a new day and it's started well because I've caught up with all these wonderful posts (JWN so sorry about your harrowing experience) and I'd like to thank Isindie for her round-up of the main players, the Babes whose wit, warmth and wisdom help to keep us on the straight and narrow (sort of). I was in the side-car yesterday but hope to stay on the bus today - out with a friend later who will find it most out of character if I don't share a bottle of wine with her, but I'm determined not to lose my seat!

bloody hell jwn you poor thing. But re the glass of wine which was handed to you - don't make me come down there and administer a hefty slap! (for the beating yourself up bit, not the drinking of it)

Hi. JWN. Hope you are ok? Sounds dreadful.
isinde, bloody petty rules, so frustrating I remember it well.
I am chuffed to be have done 6 dry nights. A record but I must say I feel absolutely awful today. Really a achy and tired. This dull headache is still ongoing. Haven't had any other physical symptoms but thought there would be a positive by now. Had 3 becks blue last night which I feel strangely guilty about.
The resolve is still here. Very relieved my mum isn't coming for lunch after all as that usually means loads of wine and would be awkward saying no, still a bit new and strange.
Thank you all. I am loving this bus and could not have got to day 7 without you.

Well done Herbert hang in there. You will evetually come out the other side a feel the boing .

JWN make sure you tell the police how this has affected you and ask what they can do to help. It sounds like post traumatic stress syndrome which they will be familiar with. I think you should push for some time to speak with victim support as they will be able to counsel you.

The drink? Meh. Just think of it as medicinal. I never ever drink brandy or whisky, can't stand the stuff but I would probably slug it back if it was offered, whilst in a state of shock. As Isinde said, it will be out of your system now, as if it were never there, like all the other food and drink you've ever had it's in the past. Consider it was something like cough mixture, it relieved a symptom momentarily, but will never be considered a cure. You know the cure, you don't drink. Look after yourself, my lovely, hope you get some rest today x

Isinde are you having a reception? You can have all the lovely music you want there. And you can incorporate all your favourite poems in your speech, like some kind of poetic medley

Greatherbert Keep going! I definitely know what you mean about the dull ache thing. Ditto the sunday lunch thing. We're having lunch at home today - 1pm on Sundays is usually wine o'clock. You can do it.

Did you have any shakes or tremors?

thanks so much everyone! police have been, statement made, the man will be formally charged this morning, with bail oppposed - it truely was one of teh most shocking sights i have ever seen, almost kind of film like and unreal, a neighbour is going out in a minute to clear away the blood and gore thank god, the circumstances meant that i was in fear of my own safety, i think the adrenaline is slowing down now (might be the lemsip! ) dh is looking after me today, god love him! he offered to cook dinner, that is SO stressful that i have opted for a takeaway!

still feel very unhappy that i downed the wine, it was only a glass but bloody hell, i gluped it down in a trice! spent the whole night worrying that i was back on the slippery slope, but thankfully, the day is here now, its bright, the birds are singing and dh loves me, cant get better than that!

hopefully - i never got shakes or tremors but i did feel bloody awful for about 2 weeks, it does get better though!

Jesus so glad you are feeling a little better. What a horrid, horrid experience ((hugs)). I bet you feel like you've run a marathon.

I lost my ds on an empty beach in Spain when he was only 4 years old. I was convinced someone had snatched him because I had hardly turned my back on him. I was truly believed I would never see him again. The beach was deserted, he was no-where in sight. I was frantic as you can imagine but then I spotted a little dot looking in the rock pools right at the edge of the sea!! My god, was I glad to see him. But the two minute stress and adrenaline rush left me shaken and exhausted for hours afterwards.

You will need lots of rest and, if possible, someone with you. Unfortunately, as you are a witness, this will hang around for a long time now but as you slowly process it, it won't remain as shocking as it is right now x

All those babes not drinking today (me included ) just remember it is only one day. A few hours. If you get a craving, you know what to do. Habits don't change themselves. Stick with it, we're on a roll .

Had a bit of a giggle this morning. Told Hose I'd had a text from ds to say that due to unprecedented high temperatures there was no snow in his ski resort! DH was gutted for him and disappointed at the waste of money. He googled the ski forecast. 'What's the name of the resort' he asked, 'Apprille Fooler' said I (and then legged it) .

Just whizzing past the pc (right in the middle of doing 100 things) to say to JWN how deeply sorry I am that you had to witness such a horrific incident, right on your doorstep by the sounds of it, and I sincerely hope you are given immediate access to Victim Support or some other counselling service. Poor poor you!!! (don't give the glass of what? another thought).

Will catch up properly with the rest of youze later.

im fine bibbity thanks, victim support has not been mentioned but i think i will be ok, incident happened on driveway

JWN massive hugs to you, what a terrible shock.

Hello Hope, welcome to the bus.

We went out with friends last night on what they'd decided was going to be a boozy night. I drank, but not as much as usual - I even walked away from two glasses of wine because they tasted rank! I'm quite pleased about that, as I'd normally have drunk them regardless.

I woke up feeling rough, but that's because of this horrible fevery chesty thing, not booze, thankfully.

Thanks for the good wishes.
No shakes or tremors at all which has surprised me as I drank every day. Hubby has come home and said beer garden or BBQ.. I hav firmly rebuffed both as big triggers.
Can't believe the determination I feel.
As you all say.....one day at a time.
JWN glad you have your dh. Just go with it, the feelings will pass.

jwn what an awful experience. Sending hugs.
Just wondering at what point do the physical cravings start to subside? Day 7 here but would still trade all earthly belongings for big glass o'white!!

Chasing, just had the mother of all cravings (trigger is I'm cooking for friends, wine chilling in fridge for them, intending not to drink myself). Opened fridge intending to open wine and start before they came but reached for the milk instead and downed a long cold glass.

It's worked. For now :)

well, night night all! i feel a bit better, no alcohol has been drunk! dh took me out for lunch in the end, it was just as normal, i was quite happy with my cranberry and soda!

am off to bed, need to rest my brain and imagination!

thanks for all teh supportive posts, you are a lovely bunch!

L XXX

Sleep well JWN, what a truely awful experience but how fab that you are coping without defaulting to alcohol. You should be very proud of yourself.

Cheerleading pom pom waves to all the babes!

I failed again last night. I just seem to have zero willpower and most things are a trigger for me. Yesterday it was the simple act of sitting down for tea with my family . And a glass became at least a bottle, as usual.

Will be trying again tonight. For some reason I seem to find it marginally easier to abstain on weeknights.

How did you get on janesaddiction?

Hope you are feeling better JWN. Sounds like you coped brilliantly yesterday.

JWN!!! I cannot believe what youve had to endure..... I really hope you are ok and got some lovely restful sleep. The Police will contact you soon (it really should be v soon) from their Victim Support Dept. And when they do - do take it. Im in shock on your behalf. The fucking OUTRAGE! The PURE terror you must have felt..... I hope youre ok and the wine? What wine? It was nothing and you stayed strong. Pretty much the ultimate test - do you think? And you passed with flying colours.... I think I can say on behalf of just about anyone that has read back (I have) or that knows you - that your fecking amazing.

Im on Day 2 and happy today.

Jane - top marks on the milk instead of wine. How are you? How did you do? Dont give yourself a hard time. This business is HARD!

Hi to everyone else here!

x

ferfux - Im sorry to hear that. But its SO EASILY DONE so dont beat yourself up. I had one drink after abstaining for a week and then it took another 11 days before I could start again.....

:o(

It has such a strong grip.

But keep on keeping on. Becuase it will come. We have so many examples of that happenign on this site and it keeps me motivated to keep on being motivated. IYKWIM?

Get yourself ready for tonight. My trigger is the second the kids are in bed. Its my reward. So what else can you reward yourself with instead of wine?

Nice slice of cake? Bag of sweets? Box of chocolates? Cranberry and soda (sounds nice to me right now)?!

Morning,

JWN You poor thing, what a terrible thing to happen. I hope you got some some sleep last night. Do take care though, as the actual shock and trauma about what you have seen and heard sometimes will kick in with a vengeance later on. Can you you take it easy for a couple of days, and do some relaxing "weddingy" things, not be on your own? Pah, to that glass of wine, you didn't follow it up with a bottle that's the main, and only thing. Sending you love xxx

Hello Jane and welcome. I have been on the bus since October 2010, nowhere near as wise, sane or successful as others regarding a bottle of chilled white wine, but I'm in a much better place than I was before I got my ticket . Big thanks to all my lovely busmates xxx

I have set myself a timetable this week, "work" work today, and then 6 hrs min. studying Tues and Wed, maybe Thurs [pigs flying through air icon], and then long weekend off when my boys are home .
I could start by getting dressed.............

X posted ferfux and blanket Morning

ferfux It's not about willpower, Miflaw explains it better than anyone, but it takes willpower to keep on drinking when you are hating what it does to you, and how it makes you feel. I think that's the gist of what he says anyway, and it makes sense, I think. New day, new day xxx

Today I will not drink :)

Good morning lovely Babes

I hope the sun is shining where you are? xxx