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.

Morning all, boing fest here today. Blanket sorry none of us were here within your cry for help window, but do try to come through it again please. MsGee, glad it was a happy ending, I used to always go ballastic about everything lol, now I have adopted the 24 hour rule. If I still feel sad, angry, mad, cross whatever after that time, if I really believe that I am justified in letting rip, I do. It doesn't happen very often and life is less stressful.

Bibbity, it's more the ritual than the taste don't you think? Or the ritual and feeling. Faire as ever is right, she is definitely at the top of my class, habit breaking it such a big part, but without support it can be very hard.

Nigella, it won't have done any major damage necessarily, except made you feel far worse than you should have done. Just keep moving forward, can't change any of that now, so onward and upward lovely girl.

So the armour is on and I am off to battle. xx

Morning all,gosh the boing must be contagious as I too have a little boing.The sun is shining,a light breeze nd all seems ok with the world today.It would seem that without filling my body with booze I have time to think about stuff,some that has been surpressed for a couple of years BUT I am properly noticing the sky,grass ect :o

MsGee am so glaad he came back safe and sound though I did spend some time trying to imgine what passive/agressive sulking would look like

inde I used to love the moral high ground but 1 day I realised that if I did not jump down from it myself someone was going to come up there and royally boot me off,so I got down voluntarily and now when I feel the urge to climb back up I just remember all the almighty cock ups I have made so far in life

bibbity I call them longings as it's not so much a proper full on craving it's a wishful longing for the taste,though for me it's got nothing to do with appreciating the taste of a good wine it's more about that first feeling when it hits and you get slightly fuzzy,thta's what my brain not my body is longing for.

sssm I can'twait till I am there too :o

Right I am off to tackle somemore of the day,will be off out for a run in a minute then hopefully an afternoon/evening without as many longings as yesterday brought me

Have a good one peeps

Hello all.
Thank you all for warm welcome. Its taken me all morning to find where I posted and then read responses.... Ive never written anything on line before and never talked about my boozing habits..... which are pretty terrible.

I feel like crying just typing. Yesterday I rang AA. I was SO HUNGOVER again from yet another bottle of wine. I drink every single night and usually a bottle or more a night.

Im so ashamed. Im hungover and ill every day and I have got to stop.

I cant be this ill and this addicted any more.

Lovely lady on the end of the phone was wonderful. I said Id go to the AA meeting but I was so tired, emotional, embarrassed and hungover - I went to bed instead.

Stayed there all night and didnt drink.

Natrually - am feeling SO MUCH BETTER today. But am planning not to drink alchol again at home.

Thats the plan. Ive made it a million times before and failed. I haven however ever sought out a group like AA before or made an actual telephone call or admitted to myself that I have a problem.

Its funny how you cant go back. I cant unwrite this post (once its posted). I cant unmake that call to AA and I cant pretend any longer that I have a problem with booze.

I just wanted to share and get it 'out there' so to speak.

So there. Its done. Just got to worry about 7pm tonight when I fight the fight.....

You all seem quite wonderful and I love the name blanket.

Thank you.

Hello everyone

Hi Blanket I woke up feeling hungover this morning and couldn't face calling the doctor. I know what you mean about not being able to 'unwrite' posts on here, and that is so true. I am slowly admitting to myself that I have a problem, and some of the other Babes on this bus are showing me it doesn't have to be so.

Hi blanket

Ok - so what can you do tonight at 7pm to help you fight that fight? We all have different plans. Some swear by herbal tea, other non-alcoholic drinks, having a run, taking a bath, brushing teeth etc.

I tend to work - I am self employed and always behind so it usually benefits me to get ahead and then I can relax at other times.

Well done for posting - I know what you mean about not un-posting. Once you face the problem its hard to ignore! Now I am on here I know that I can't just pretend I'm a good laugh and like my drink and its all very fun and jolly. It doesn't always change my behaviour but it changes my thinking.

Right lovely babes, I am off - work is done for the week! Off for a facial before I pick up DD I am terrified. My eczema is painful today so I can't imagine it being fun...

Oh and a Q for the self employed - a new client just cancelled the work (contracts not exchanged). It was going to be regular work and I can probably manage financially without it ... so do I enjoy having some slack or find new work?? You lot hear me moan about work as much as anyone so I'll put it to the Jury of Babes

xx

I have no idea how to get through the evening without a bottle of red. Im too tired to run, I will drink chamomile tea but its not what I want. Havent had a bath since the birthing pool at the hospital 5.5 years ago! ;o)

Last night I took myself to bed. Ive never drunk in bed so no association there. Just watched TV in bed. I was hungover tho and not today so not sure what to do? What am I going to do??

Also, not sure how my husband will feel about my going to bed at 7pm again tonight but I cant see any other way of avoiding the fridge which has booze in it.

Im over pouring it all down the sink (have done that loads of time). I waste my money as just give in giving up and buy more... Might as well leave it there and see if I can find some self restraint.

MsGee. IMO cut yourself some slack. You have enough to do. :o)

Quiet - that fuzzy feeling you describe, when the effect of the wine kicks in, is exactly what i love about the first couple of glasses of wine, and that's the feeling I miss the most. For that reason, I've never been at all bothered about what the wine tastes like, or been any kind of connoisseur!

Blanket perhaps you need to give yourself some treats. Go to bed with some cadburys creme eggs (might not sound like much of a treat to you but it's my idea of fun at least)! and perhaps if you explain to your DH exactly WHY you need to go to bed so early, for the time being at least, then he might be supportive about it.

Oh blanket I know what you have just been through posting that on here as I only admitted to myself a month ago that I had a problem,just like you but posting on here is helping,like you say you can,t undo what you have put so for me even though this is all in cyber space if I say on here I will not be drinking and then I do I feel guilty and that is my most hated emotion so I do all I can to avoid it.I did not go to AA but went to my GP instead,took a deep breath and said "I can't believe I am saying this but I think I have a drink problem",it was such a huge weight off my mind,told mr quiet too.My way of coping with my "longings" is to post on here,was on here quite a bit sunday afternoon and to eat biscuits,my body apparently misses the sugar.Stick with this lot here,the oldies :o as I kno you don't like it,have been there,done that and bought the Tshirt,so you can say what you like as they have seen/heard it all before.Good luck later and no doubt I will be on here to distract myself with my cuppa and pile of jaffa cakes :o

and apparently am now crap at running since not shovelling booze down my throat ,am going to post on a thread like this but on a specific running forum I know of to get some proper advise from ex drinkers but runners

Well done blanket for coming back through the window. First things first, whether you like sugar or not, you have to get some in your system to counter act the lack of it from the booze. And water, or any hydrating fluid. Alcohol has dehydrating side effects apart from the more obvious ones like falling over. Terrible for your skin. Another substance in there, not pretty grapes, is Acetone, a solvent, bit like nail polish remover. You should read the hazards of drinking it neat. Ethanol, another one in there, if you blend it with gasoline, can be a green alternative for your car. This is before we get onto the herbicides and sulphates used on the grape. Did you know that wine grapes are never washed? If I were you tonight I would make a cup of strong sweet tea, and start to read about the downsides of alcohol. And if you can bear it, start to make a list of all the things that you really detest about yourself when you are drunk. Most certainly would also try to talk with dh. If you're not ready, just tell him your feeling a bit off colour, it's the truth, you are. One of the favourites here, just tell yourself you are just not going to have a drink today. AA are great, not for everyone including me, but interesting stats out recently show that 40 years ago when they started the average age and gender was a 55 year old male. Today it's a 22 and a half year old, female.

Just pop in here too, one of the babes will be around I'm sure, it's all about support. xx

blanket if going to bed is what it takes then do it. An early night is always good to help you rest. As Quiet said you might get sugar cravings. Ad drink lots if water to flush out toxins.

Facial was lush but disaster has struck the little life of LittleMissGee. She befriended a ladybird in town and has been sobbing on and off for an hour because she loves her and misses her so much. DH has been instructed to come home on time with a ladybird! I'm scouring the garden too but if you have any ladybirds send them here (and I've tried the ladybirds are wild things conversation but apparently this one was different and a good friend).

Life is good. If my problems amount to a lost insect I'm doing well today

Oops sorry Sarah already explained sugar and fluids!

FWIW I've never been to AA either but there again the longest I've been sober is 3 months. And that was over a year ago.

Day 4- I'm getting there.

Welcome blanket and hi to everyone else. I am still here reading all your wise words and my long term goal is to be able to join in with the advise and help for new joiners just as soon as I am in a better place

MsGee you can make (or buy at inflated cost) ladybird houses. Really it's a small log with holes drilled into it. Could you help LittleMissGee make one and decorate it and put it somewhere in the garden? I'm not sure if they prefer a certain wood or shade or whatever but you could go to the library together to see if you can find books about garden habitats, to find out.

Then she can write little notes to them or make welcome home cards and wait to see if any turn up. (If they don't, MrGee will have to search until he finds some, obviously ). My dcs always loved making homes for ants and worms and woodlice, etc. Kept them occupied for ages.

Blanket Get a really good stock of all the non alcoholic drinks which you like. Lots of variety will give you lovely flavours. So, flavoured teas, hot chocolate, soft drinks, flavoured milk, whatever you want. I like lime and soda with lots of ice and a slice of lemon. Dress it up, make it a special drink. I like peppermint tea, fennel tea, orange mango & cinamon, citrus, etc. There are loads of choices.

Also stock up on biscuits and chocolate and other sweet treats you might like. Find activities which keep your mind and hands occupied such as painting, jigsaw puzzles, knitting, cleaning, redecorating, baking, beauty treatments, whatever you might like to do.

Whenever you think you want a drink have a non-alcholic one and a snack and keep yourself busy. Don't think about drinking, just think about what you are going to do that moment. The craving will pass, usually after half an hour or so. If it doesn't, keep doing other things until it does. Come and talk to us about it .

If you can do that this evening, you won't drink and you will have completed Day 2. We will all be here to help you (and each other), as we are every day.

Rain well done

Faire 8 weeks!!! Bloody marvellous, well done.
Keep on trucking all you other Brave Marvellous Babes.

Hi All,
Here I am again - sorry about this....

Im in bed. With a cup of tea the size of Surrey and a whole melon chopped up. Its all so inappropriate for the bedroom (or is it?? wink wink) but if Im in bed - then I think I can do it again - just for tonight anyway.

If Im down stairs - eventually Ill just say feck it and go to the fridge.

Fairenuff. Brilliant ideas. Ive dragged out my knitting needles and some wool. Thank you. Thank you.

Same acolades to SarahRT. I really need to hear how horribly bad alcohol is. Everytime I google - all I read is how half a bottle or a whole bottle is good for you. It doesnt matter what the journalists say. Drinking a bottle of wine every night of the week FOR ME is making me really really ill.
I bought some milk thistle today - does anyone know if that helps?

MsGee - glad your facial was lovely. And I can imagine the face of MrGee when you ask him to return home with a ladybird! Very cute. :o)

RainQueen - day 4. BLOODYHELL. Well done.

Nigella - cream eggs are a bloody lovely treat. And in bed too. :o) I dont have any but I have had a whole pack of French Fancies!

I got really really twitchy around 5pm - just knowing that I wasnt going to drink when the boys went to bed. What have I become.

I still cant believe that Ive told anyone about me and what Im really like. Im mortified admitting it to myself. ???

Ive got to get on with it now. And Im not going to drink tonight and Ill be back to see how you all are tomorrow....

The cravings do pass.... the melon is gone and after writing all this - I feel better. :o) Thank you all. Really. I feel so much better for 'talking'.

Ive told MrBlanket that Im no longer drinking at home and I need his support. He agreed heartily. :) But we both know that Ive said that a million times before and never made it past 2 days...

He doesnt know about you chaps and he doesnt know I rang AA. Im too shocked by my own behaviour to share with him.

Im turning out to be a bit of a nut case.

Oops - just interruped by DS1 who informs me he has just counted from 1 to infinity! Clever boy!

Quiet - did you get some support re: running? Is there a get back to running group near where you live? The do them where I am and it really really helps.

Failing that the couch to 5k is a great place to start?

x

Isinde, you and me both!!

Rain you are really doing well, just deep joy for you here.

Darling blanket, there was a very good article in the Mail some time ago, I have dug it out, it epitomizes many of you. I am abstinent, but do believe for some controlled/moderate drinking is quite alright and wish I didn't have a faulty on/off button so that I could be one of them.

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1283209/Why-middle-class-women-dying-drink-Alcohol-abuse-professional-women-causing-devastating-health-problems.html

Milk thistle does help repair toxin damaged livers, so no harm in taking it, you need some THIAMINE, Vit B tablets too. Now I have a vision of you plumped up on your pillows, with treats and knitting a tea cosy chatting with the crazy babes with a genius child who can count to infinity. Perfect, far better vision than where you were last night!

thiamine, vit B, milk thistle...

I may off to bed soon. I'm knackered! Take care all xx

Well done blanket! Its great that your husband is on board and supportive. I suggest you simply get rid of all wine from the house. Give it away tomorrow morning (before you get the little voice telling you you'd like a glass of wine!) or ask dh to take it away. Of course you want to be strong enough not to drink even if there is wine in the fridge - and I'm quite sure you will get there - but in the meantime, why not make it a wee bit easier on yourself by simply not having it in the house?

Oy, d'you mind, my dh is a journalist!!

(Actually, he is cutting back drastically like me. He has had a few beers but no wine at all since I gave up for Lent - he's horribly competitive!)

evening!!! lovely to see so many boings!

blanket - how lovely to have you on board our bus! you sound just our kinda gal! i promise you it will get easier!, you do have to put in a bit of effort, but in the end it can all come good!, no more guilt, no more worrying about your health, no more unattainable deals, in the meantime, dont worry about having a few early nights! it will do your mind and body good to have a few nights of peaceful, restful natural sleep! bliss! - thats where im off to, got to be up at bloody sparrow fart to go and be 'beasted' by this sadist of of a trainer, i tell you, if dont look like lara stone by next friday im suing!

btw, had a wonderful day with dd, memories i will treasure for ever!, just hanging out, doing mum/daughter stuff, priceless! wouldnt swap my life for quids!

Morning all,

Mouse I'm thinking of you, and hoping that you and Nemo, MrMouse and DD all had some rest last night. xx

JWN Hmm 7.30, are you tied up to your straps yet .

I've been pondering what Faire said, and I think it's very true that the longer one goes on without the "usual time drnk", the less the monster urge has power. It's so very easy to pick up again after 2 or 3 days (and I do know!), but after a week or so (including a weekend!) the well travelled groove, as Venus said, starts to fudge a bit, and although the want is there sometimes, it isn't quite so hard to just do something else. Not true for everyone, of course, but, I find it that way.

I have to say, that I really, really fancied some wine last night at 5.30 (precisely!), as I have finished with the antibiotics (the old "what shall I reward myself with?, I know!"), but we didn't have any of my choice in the house, and instead of pulling my boots on, and going to the shops, I finished off my college work instead .
I'm not counting my chickens at all, but I would like to keep on waking up as I do in the morning now, when, whatever happens, I will try and deal with it, instead of trying to deal with myself.

Oops, didn't mean to write so much, it's too early .

silver how are things with you, how is your Mum?

Have good days all.
xxxxx

P.s Blanket Hello

The first day I came on here, was the first day that I admitted things to DH, and he has been such a brick and so, so supportive of me, it's fantastic that Mr Blanket is doing the same for you. It really helps.x

Morning. Fail here last night.

I think I'm just not trying hard enough or putting in the effort.

Not sure what to do. In not sure what I'm
aiming for other than a better life - I don't know if this is total sobriety, cutting down or more alcohol free days.

Confused

boing!! thurso, he unties me about 8am! seriously, i saw these on the 'real housewives of orange county' [blush they seem to work for those women so i will keep going! msgee - how about looking at this from a different angle? what would make you happy? just drinking a small amount and stopping?, giving yourself an allowance and sticking to it? drinking a small amount without guilt and shame? or is that impossible? we all have to do things we dont like, work and housework, the mundane things, but drinking is a personal decision, we usually choose to spend our leisure time doing things we enjoy, that enhance our lives, that make us feel 'happy' so, if the answer is that drinking makes you unhappy, that you really cant control it and what it does to you, then its a no brainer! everytime the bastard calls, just remind yourself that you deserve to happy, that you dont need anything in your life that wants to activley make you unhappy! hope you see what im driving at? take care lovely msgee!