The Brave Babes Battle Bus - All Going On A Sober Holiday! <crosses fingers that it stays sunny>

[Mouseface]

Hello, tis me, mouse

Welcome to The Brave Babes Battle Bus, grab yourself a seat, they're really comfy and a , oh and a home-made chocolate chip before they all get eaten!

We're a Bus full of alcohol abusers/addicts, some of us say it out loud, some whisper it and some aren't ready to say it at all just yet.

That said, there are a few of us who just have the occasional drink and that's something that they can handle. There are a few of us who must NEVER have another drink because that first one will lead to many, many more which will only ever end badly.

We're open to all....there are no requirements to join us on our journey to sobriety, there's support, great laughs, tears and tantrums here and that's just me!!!

If you'd like to see how we got here, follow THIS LINK

Hi Babes,
joey glad things not too bad at work, hope you are managing to resist the call tonight.
today day 1 for me too. Good luck. Babes on here will help if you are wavering.
I am wavering but as I live 20 miles from the nearest shop that is still open and sells alcohol not wavering enough to make that journey YET!!!
See you later babes

Funny thing this whole alcohol thing.... I was visiting a friend, and her dh opened a bottle of wine and offered us both a glass - which I declined. No problem at all, didn't want any, didn't feel attracted to it, didn't like the smell of it nearby. Then driving home I thought 'oh we need some milk - and while I'm there I could just buy some wine'.

Immediately my head was back on to an old, old track - knowing that if I bought a bottle of wine and opened it, it would be noticed, so perhaps I could buy one and sneak it into my office, and just buy a couple of those little tins of pre-mixed G&T which I could disguise in a mug of herbal tea, and then later this evening go to my office to do some urgent 'work' and open the bottle in secret, waiting till dp was asleep before I went to bed (reeking of booze). Blimey. Scarey.

I didn't do it, but am at how the feelings (and the secrecy and routines) can just pop up again like that

Have to laugh at my outrageous dds. We presented dd1 with a nice bottle of Tattinger as thanks for organizing our ceilidh last week. Tonight they have strung all the spare fairy lights from the hall in their bedroom and are lounging in a fairy lit grotto swilling decent champagne and having a blast. Where did I go wrong?

wondering if I could do something new and just have the one glass of wine. Don't actually want another (feel really hot and sticky, you know how it is when you have alcohol?) but have NEVER been able to stick to just one.

I'm hot and tired and my arm is painful from sitting at the computer. I don't even want it. Okay I'm going to switch off the puter and finish this glass and go to bed. And if I feel the urge to have another, I do the drill.

Does that mean I'm in the sidecar or on the roofrack? I don't like the roofrack, its scary. I will sit on the step, near the door. Always like to keep my options open!

Will be thinking of you, it keeps me strong!

Joey xxx

ma sounds like you've raised lovely, happy dds

Had one glass and left the rest. Used it to swallow the Meds. Hope I sleep and that everyone else on the bus sleeps welll.

Joey, you mentioned your arm. Is it a trapped nerve from your neck? Of course you don't have to answer. I just wondered.

Sleep well fellow passengers.

The urge to drink passed but I did end up having a curry with bf. ah well. At least it was a sober curry. Day 7 for me tomorrow and running club in the evening so something to focus on. Missing my kids like mad. Seems like weeks since I saw them and yet there are still 5 sleeps to go

Living on my own I haven't had to hide my drinking recently but as an ex-anorexic I am quite good at disguising my intake of food / alcohol. Old habits die hard.

today well done, really pleased for you, day one done and dusted
joey one glass is great, shows control. Don't let the wine witch talk you into drinking more.
I am really craving a drink but resisted going out to buy some and now its too late so day one done.
Getting to sleep is going to be difficult but so glad I won't feel like fried dog shite in the morning. .
Goodnight babes. sleep wellxx

Venus that is very scary how the old drink demon raised its head so sneakily! Were you seriously tempted or was it just that your mind was idling down a well-worn track before you realised it? You are such an inspiration on this thread with your calm and wise advice, it's strange to think of you contemplating secret drinking and deception. Maybe your subconscious was just giving you a reminder of how far you've come?

Sorry my babes,
I drank a bottle of wine and a half, (that I bought in duty free), and I have been really, really sick, thought I was going to expire.
I've had some toast, and many glasses of water.
Never gets any easier, does it?, But I know it does really.
T xxxx

I know I am one of the newbies (and in the side car) but please don't be sorry Thurso. Tomorrow is another day. Maybe I could do a day one with you for company tomorrow?

Isindie , your haiku(s)? were great sorry I'm so late to say so. I stumbled and, 'Like a coward I avoided this thread but now I'm back with bells on!'

Bugger, that was a haiku on my phone before I posted and showed differently here! Hi to Lelli and other lovely newbabes , you are in good hands. Hi to Soma you sound good. I'm on Day 5 with antabuse and I have to say it has been a breeze! Only one night with 4 hrs sleep between 9 +7. Only one moment when I was really pissed that I couldn't have a drink. Like plan to stay on aa for the medium term, only have to take one dose a week really and you're covered for the next ten days. Post again soon, Fire x.

Oh dear,
after such a long time .
I'm like the ballon boy, I've let everyone down, and myself.
Thanks for your kind words Today

At least I was sick, heaven knows what I'd feel like otherwise.

Love to all
Speak later
xxxxx

Morning lovely babes

Well done anyone who made it through day one - that's the worst day done. Good luck to babes beginning a new day one today.

Thurso being sick does have at least one benefit, keeps us off the sauce for a while at least! Much sympathy, I'm a regular vom com when drinking ( I'm not saying you are, btw)

nono think about you lots, you are at least a few sleeps nearer to your children coming home.

theresa wow! glad the anatabuse is working out, you sound very positive. Feeling better?

venus interesting post, I kind of hoped that there was a magic date where the cravings etc all went away

I'm off to see my family today and hope that I don't end up wound up enough to buy a bottle.I feel hopeful at the mo,but I'm not anywhere near them right now

Thanks Gugg,

I don't recall ever being so sick, although I was very scared lying in bed with my head spinning, and came down to make myself sick . I had totally, totally forgotten how horrible a spinny head is.

Anyway, showered, hair washed, all clean and smelling nice and a bacon sandwich on it's way, new day, new day.

today don't know about trapped nerve, I just get bad shoulder/arm if I overuse the mouse. That jigsaw puzzle is addictive! But I switched off and went to bed, and feel very positive this morning.

venus someone on here - ages ago - was talking about how we have a limited store of willpower and if it gets used up, it gets harder to stay strong. It sounds to - even though you didn't want the wine - old habits die hard, and it does take some control to say no.

And then on the way home you relax your defences, and you don't even realise it.

When I was 9 we went on a school trip, and half-way there I was needing the toilet. Getting more and more desperate. Managed to hold on until we got to the toilets. What a relief! I relaxed and wet myself just outside the toilet door

My point was (I definitely had one when I started this rambling story) something about control and will-power and relaxing.

joey I get what you mean.

Venus the good thing is that, rather than just having that knee-jerk reaction, you were able to watch the movie unfold to the point where you were working out how to hide and then secretly drink the alcohol.

This was a bit of a lightbulb moment because 'ping' you suddenly saw the 'alcoholic' behaviour and saw that craving for what it was (the little fecker trying to sneak up on you) and you managed to sidestep it, nice work soldier

Unfortunately Thurso you got ambushed and overpowered. Maybe your holiday lulled you into a false state of security. Or maybe being away, you were truly relaxed and coming home meant coming back to your responsibilities, your (still fairly new) life without dcs, etc and your stress levels started to rise? Anyway, take it easy today if you can, get plenty of fluids and an early night x

It's Try Hard Tuesday. My diet's not going too well. It's tricky during the holidays but I think I'm getting fitter.

Hi joey. I asked because my pain started using a laptop. I ignored it and now have long term problems. I am on a cocktail of Meds and waiting results of MRI to see if I need surgery. Sorry it was just your comment set alarm bells ringing. Don't ignore it!

Thurs. another day. You will be fine. Am just going to physio/acupuncture and hoping that will provide enough relief to avoid adding alcohol to the mix tonight. I am convinced that I (and i bet lots of you) self Medicare with alcohol for physical and emotional pain. Drinking to excess is a coping mechanism I am trying hard to change. I had dark chocolate last night and I think that helped keep me to one glass. Sleep was elusive though. I need to avoid a nap when I lie down after physio. Being tired tonight will help not drink too.

long time lurker here hope you dont mind if I jump aboard. I have struggled with an alcohol problem for most of my adult life, got me into some very dangerous and unpleasant situations. was sober for over 2 years but unfortunately went back to the old way of thinking "oh just one wont hurt" I dont drink everyday in fact I can go weeks without it but when I drink I drink :) blackouts the lot. anyway I am sick and tired of being sick and tired so have decided this is it "I want to be sober for good" on day 16 and feeling good. wishing you all a safe and sober day>>>>> hoops x

welcome hoopie Day 16, sounds like you're doing pretty well, the demon does sneak up on even those long-term abstainers (see venus's story above) Wishing you strong happy thoughts!

today well I do know (have known for many years) that using the computer - especially the mouse - brings on pain. And yes, sometimes I ignore it and carry on. Once I start doing something its hard to stop (addictive personality?!) I will just delete that puzzle from my favourites tonight.

Self-medicating? Alcohol, mirtazapine (do not take with alcohol!), paracetamol (do not take with alcohol!) codeine (do not take with alcohol!) seroxat (do not take with alcohol!) Also if really desperate, an antihistamine can send you off to sleep. Guess what you shouldn't take that with?

Welcome Hoopie, Day 16 for me as well:)