The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Still On A Sober Holiday, Waiting For The Summer!

[Mouseface]

Hello, tis me, Mouse

I'm one of the Brave Babes on the Battle Bus, it's HUGE and never gets full, the doors are always open, 24/7, every single day.

We're a mixture of people who have been drinking for most of our lives and in one way or another, abuse(d) alcohol.

Some of us have stopped drinking every day completely and are taking it One Day At A Time.

Some are trying to control their drinking with medication, willpower, AA, some of us aren't quite sure what we want or where we're trying to get, but we're here, we're all in the same boat Bus, and there's a seat for ANYONE who wants one.

You can find the previous threads HERE and where this Bus first started it's journey, thanks to a wonderful lady, who'd hit rock bottom face first (and she'd admit that to us herself), seeking help and advice from a bunch of 'strangers' on an internet forum........

Come have a peek, take a seat, we don't bite or judge. We listen and will try to help, best we can.

kotinka I think its a lot easier to give up altogether, but I haven't much willpower and every time I try to just cut down I fail! But others on here have managed it.

On the other hand I hate the idea of giving it up completely. Would like to do what you are doing, enjoying a one-off but not having cravings inbetween,

Hmmm. I am drinking. How did that happen?

I am on chat and aibu and credit crunch mostly

I cruise active threads exclusively

You got me

kot - hope you are ok. By that time I was asleep. I drank too much. Feel shite. Why did i do it? Wasn't worth it. Back on the bus again.

Morning all

Kot lots of us do go to bed quite early I'm afraid, many to avoid the lure of a drink, even the lurkers I believe. I reckon mn should have a 'night owls' section for people up late, working, feeding babies, or just unable to sleep! How are you feeling today?

MsGee!! I only mentioned you the other day and here you are. So glad to hear LittleMissGee is settling well into school.

It's another glorious autumnal day here, clear blue sky, bright sunshine. Going to make the most of it while it lasts.

Well, DDs dispatched to their father's wedding. I am feeling smug that I managed to send them off without them having an inkling of the fury I feel that they are bridesmaids to the woman who screwed me over. I am the bigger person

Weirdly, I feel a release of tension - this has been building up for so long - maybe subliminally it's prevented me from giving my all to shrugging off the demon drink - don't know. I feel I just might be able to start day 1 today.

It is a gorgeous crisp autumn morning, so I'm going to don my running gear, and make a start on regaining my fitness and losing the 20 pounds that is contributing to making me feel miserable (reading your running tips with interest, Nono). Hopefully the endorphins will kick in and lift my mood.

This evening I am going to dinner and theatre with a big group of lovely friends, so actually, I won't be able to get pissed - Woohoo.

Sorry again for self-indulgent 'me me me' posting. I haven't really been up to joining in, but lurking and reading everyone's posts with interest. Alcohol would never get on the shelves and wreck so many lives if it were introduced as a novel substance today.

Morning, tis me, mouse

Just a quick hello and {{{{HUG}}}} to Carrie - sorry you're feeling low. x

MsGee - great to hear that DD is enjoying school! Such a relief.

Ma - you'll do what you want to re the drinking, we always do.

DH is in the garden today, so I'm off shopping with Nemo and getting something yummy for dinner, plus I'm going to brave the big bad world of real shopping, with people instead of internet shopping to go and get his iPad that we got from the Family Fund for him. I'm super excited about loading all of the fab games for him, lots of learning for him

Be back later if I get chance, tis date night xx

afternoon babes.

doing ok here - seem to have lost over 3lbs since monday so that's good news - now must try not to fuck it up over the weekend and put it all back on again

i seem to have acquired chickens and all the paraphenalia that goes with them whoops. really excited about having our own eggs though, just hope i know what the hell i'm letting myself in for. any chicken keepers on the bus?

hope everyone is ok. to the people who are trying to drink now and then but acknowledge they are addicts and have to deal with the cravings coming back - is it really worth it? what kind of person are you whilst those cravings are going on? do you think it effects your mood and how and who you are? what effect does it have on your peace of mind?

kot i guess your husband avoids you because he doesn't want to see it - presumably he knows you have a drinking problem too and doesn't like to sit and watch you pour what is effectively poison for you into yourself? it tends not to be pretty watching people self destruct whatever their weapon of choice.

Got our new cat from the rescue centre. He is hiding behind the sofa and won't come out.

That doesn't sound good kotinka - hope you are OK now ?

Don't do it again will you ?

< puts saucer of milk down to tempt out ma's cat >

saf interesting questions to those who still drink sometimes. I definitely felt more at peace during those 7 weeks of not drinking (well, the last 4 or 5 anyway; I was a bit demented with cravings to begin with) So why do we keep going back?

God knows, I think it is partly habit. When I get stressed, it's almost like a reflex to think 'I want a drink'. And then I get stressed thinking about that until the moment I actually have one.

I don't usually drink a lot, and I don't get hangovers. The only reason to abstain is I know that when drinking I become obsessed with it. I just got a tattoo done today and some people say no alcohol for 48 hours!!

ma how old is your new cat? Has she come out yet?

saf I only drink at weekends. I 'allow' myself 1-2 nights of 2-3 glasses of wine, then I don't think about it again till next weekend. I am careful it doesn't affect my behaviour the following day (I.e. I always have plans for days out and stick to them, keep on top of wrk etc.). It helps that this month I am busy with work, school etc. so I keep very busy in the evenings. I am also doing that 5:2 diet which also helps.

I wouldn't say it affects any cravings. In fact 2-3 glasses of wine normally reminds me why I don't drink. I'm not drunk but I can tell the change. I witter, I focus on silly things.

I guess the bigger Q for me is why bother for those 2 days. I don't have the answer to that though. I guess I'm focusing on how far I've come and having a rest before I start the rest of the journey. It's working. For now. But I am under no illusion that this is a permanent solution.

I think it helps having DH now firmly on side. He always makes me question each drink ad we agreed that if the drinking starts to slide we go back to no alcohol in the house.