The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Spicing Up The Winter Nights With Rich Hot Chocolate And Thermal Tights!

[Mouseface]

Hello, I'm Mouse

I'm one of the Brave Babes travelling on this fantabulous Bus, on it's journey to the wonderful world of sobriety.

The great thing is, that the people on here are a real mixed bunch. Some are drinking regularly, some aren't. Some are sober and have been for any number of days, some weeks, months and yep, some even for years.

There's no judging pants allowed, no savoury flans either , just lots of unconditional support from many varied sources. Yes, some of us have been here from the start but please don't let that stop you posting, this thread is for EVERYONE and it always has been

If you'd like to have a look back, here are some links. One to the previous thread and one to the very first, and the reason we are all still here.

See you soon,

Mouse xx

PREVIOUS THREAD

FIRST EVER THREAD

Short post, I'm reading and lurking but in bed with tummy bug, best wishes to all babes today - I DEFINITELY won't be drinking!

Purple I am just the same - ALL or Nothing - I am either on a strict diet, not drinking or smoking, exercising twice a day etc or eating crap, smoking and drinking - Self regulation is so tough I feel as if I give myself a little treat then fuck it, it's treat day and I might as well fill myself with crap (even when I don't really want it ) Balance is so hard to achieve, but is is very difficult to maintain a strict restricted life style long term - we have to find a way to make some concessions without it opening the floodgates to a boozefest - any ideas anyone?

Thanks Purple. Smarties are my absolute favourite confectionary, I used to get through a whole box (remember those) but they don't seem to do them anymore. Baby me too, we had a slip, let's try not to make it a habit, you've done really well and this doesn't undo your good work.

Joey, good that things are moving, what dose of Mirtaz will you be on now? I keep thinking about switching over to it because I sleep so badly. As for antabuse, yes I suppose that's it, I want to be able to drink and find myself yet again racking my brains for an alternative plan.....For a supposedly intelligent woman I feel like such a muppet right now. Hi Isinde and enjoy your AFD.

Hi Green hope you beat the bug soon. That's the trouble with booze for a lot of us - all or nothing. Purple have you had any acupuncture yet? They've stopped doing it at our alcohol services and I was really disappointed because I wanted to give it a go.

purple I'm really sorry you are finding things so tough, I cannot emphasise enough how incredibly well you have done up til now and the inspiration you have been to everyone here, it's all your positive comments about the changes in you that have given me the confidence to change my own life, that is 100% the truth!!!! Also if you do give into the wine witch, it will not make anything look or seem better, I have tested thus theory and everything would look the same tomorrow with the added headache and shit feeling that a hangover brings. Also even non drinkers have good and bad times so
Please be kinder to yourself, you have helped me so much so let us help you x x x

Hi all - just reflecting on last week.... I drank on fri night , cpl glasses, and one glass Sunday night. Very much want to moderate my drinking and that means it has to be the exception rather than the rule. The way I think I can control it is to limit when I drink to special occasions .. and really try to avoid any consecutive days with alcohol in.. Want this to work so much. All the best to you all x

for those struggling with the all-or-nothing thinking, I've read that our brains are wired 80/20, we should eat healthily 80 percent of the time and relax the rest of the time...

Purple I have a feeling quite a few of us here might be perfectionists. I'll just tell myself that I've messed up yet again and onwards and upwards. What alternative is there? It was DD's night with her dad yesterday but they both dropped in unexpectedly when I'd had a couple of glasses. She could tell immediately that I'd had a drink and I felt awful having promised her that I'd stop. Ex-H was quite helpful, he told me that he said to her "don't worry, mum just likes to have a couple of glasses to relax" but I know this will have reduced her trust in me. I'm sort of dreading her coming home from school....

Kiki I hope your plan works. I'd love to be able to just drink on special occasions too but so far this has eluded me.

purple I had a shit day yesterday and went back to my old tricks and gave in to the wine and believe me it felt crap, tasted crap and today I look crap. You are missing nothing believe me infact I'm relieved to know tonight will be back to my nightly bath, cleanse, tone and moisturise routine and a clear head tomorrow, so stay strong!!! To all you brilliant babes drinking or not, success is brilliant but its our failures that teach us more. Big hugs to all

Hello lovelies

I've been busy essay writing so haven't dropped in for a few days. I did drink last night at a uni event so I'm feeling tired today. But I didn't go mental which is great, I'm not planning to drink today. I have a lot of stuff to do - thankfully not essay related!

Hugs to all xxx

soma sorry to hear you're feeling guilty... I don't know what to suggest... is it worth going back to the docs, or to AA? I am now on 30mg mirtaz. not due back at work till thursday, don't know if I ought to tell them I've been signed off. ODAAT

purple I haven't asked for a referral to alcohol services because I've got that pretty much under control now. had a wobble last night but DH refused to buy me any, bless him! If the mental health referral goes okay, I will mention it. If its like previous experience and I get someone who couldnt give a monkeys (and didn't bother to hide it) I will have to consider seeing my previous therapist. a round trip of 30 miles, and £40 a pop.

underlying anxiety all the time, and every time I think of almost anything (work, my mother, mil, christmas, bedbugs) I get panicky again.

THANK THE BUS I am (mostly) in control of the alcohol because I'm getting strong cravings right now.

soba my 13 year old dd would like love to control just about everything I do, it comes with the territory, the more pressure you heap on yourself the harder it will be to change anything, every night without wine is a victory so just do what you can when you can. Kiki I think your doing brilliant, we are defo making progress x

baby - yes, that's how I felt....looked forward to getting back to routine and great sleep! my sleep is amazing at the moment!

yes, I'm a perfectionist too. would also be interested to see who has had eating disorders in past and has history of smoking/drug use too (ahem)

can never leave up to the stupid standards I set myself so usually end up going "fuck it". except this time I am determined to learn moderation and to be nice to myself.

a really short but useful saying that may help some of you (it does me) is something my nana always used to say - "Alcohol is a good friend but a bad master".

yes perfectionist, yes smoking, yes drug use (albeit a long time ago now)

Yes to an eating disorder in the past (a fair few years ago, too).

Yes to perfectionist, yes to drugs and smoking (in the past), yes to binge eating disorder (seems to have piped down recently)

Good luck with your essay kotinka

(and yes to perfectionist, natch!)

no to perfectionist, no to smoking or drugs, no to eating disorders!

just the alcohol problems for me (and anxiety, antidepressants etc)

No to prefectionist, no to drugs, no to eating disorders (except getting munchie when drunk)

Yes to thinking that it is my responsibility to make sure that everyone around me is OK, and happy, and that it's my fault if they're not. And it's particularly my fault if I'm the one who has done something that has made them unhappy. Except drinking. I could easily ignore how unhappy my drinking made people.