The Brave Babes Battle Bus - New Year? So, Let's Go Up A Gear!

[ChristMouseTimeMistletoeNoWine]

Hello, tis me, Mouse (normally Mouseface but I'm wearing my festive name )

Welcome to the Brave Babes Battle Bus, to a place of solace, support and sanctuary, if that's what you seek of course. It's also a Bus full of bloomin' chatterboxes, waffling on about life, love and all things from school reports to laundry!

The journey into 2013 is going to be an ass kicking one as we're moving up a gear to give the WineWitch a bloody good slapping, and the BoozeBeast a kick in the bollo.............

Some of us drink in moderation, some of us drink. Some of us are sober, some of us are trying so very, very hard to be.

Some of us have been dry for days, weeks, months and some of us years...... some of us are just starting out and are scared of what stopping drinking means. It's not forever, it's just for today if that's what you want.

We have a saying on the Bus One Day At A Time. Or ODAAT

Take each moment, each day and each blip as it comes. The support on this Bus has kept me from ruining my life time and time again. The experiences of others shared here has helped me to change the way I see alcohol, the way I see what it does to me.

Although some Babes have been here a while and kind of 'know' each other, we all have different lives, different roles to play, different places to sit on the Bus, but we ALL have or have had abusive relationships with alcohol and we're here because we want that to change; for the better.

Everyone is welcome here so don't be afraid to just jump right in and say hi. Post as much or as little as you like!

So, come say hi, grab a seat, an eggnog (non alcoholic of course ) and a mince pie, or chocolate chip cookie, and meet some lovely, genuine people who are just like YOU.

Also, HERE IS THE PREVIOUS THREAD with a link in the OP to the first ever thread, and the reason why after more than two and a half years, this thread is still here, supporting those in need.

green I'm kinda glad someone else found the website hard to work out! smart seems to be fairly new in the uk. I was massively impressed by how much you found out yesterday. I joined, had a look, decided it was a bit hard so wombled off. No I wasn't the newbie but I will listen in on the on line meeting on sunday.

Thanks Gugg and Green Strangely enough, to all intent and purpose, I look and sound normal when pissed (wtf does that say about what I've done to myself!!??) but I do 'lose' lots of conversations After she'd told me I did have a vague recollection of the topic. I need a breath test on the phone, too. The number of people I call when I'm pissed!! Or text! Bugger this bloody thing! Also, DD, came in and said (triumphantly) "You didn't clean your teeth last night!". She had the toothpaste in her room. I lied (wine is not worth the weight of this guilt!!!) and said I had used some out of my gym bag. How many more signs do I need!!? So, no, thank you Lovely Gugg not doing well at all at the moment.

Hello

Nice to see you all. Well done to you all

I have had another couple of spectacular hangovers and am ready for a sober January. I am reading a self help book about moderate drinking which says that the best way to attempt it is first have a dry period and then put certain things into practice.
If it doesn't work it will have to be abstinence for me.

Thinking a lot over Christmas about why I drink too much. No very good reasons (no abuse, trauma): but I think I have dug something out about responses to people, to anxiety, to my family, and to a need for abundance. Food is a huge problem for me and my mother always treated me as a fat person (she worries about her own weight a lot). I have counted calories since I was 15 and have aimed at ridiculously low targets at times (and beat myself up that I can't do it for long). Having decided that booze didn't count, I am using it to experience abundance (and all the usual things: relaxation, warmth, fake-love etc)

More than anything else I would love to eat normally, drink normally, teach my girls to do the same, and be free. If I can't: I will do my best to eat normally and not drink at all.

Please pray for me and my girls. I will pray for you.

I've been stupid I know, how could I ever think they. Didn't know? It stinks a mile off, needing help .com.

I've been stupid I know, how could I ever think they. Didn't know? It stinks a mile off, needing help .com.

Pippin Just wanted to say, lovely, that my Alcohol Services woman told me that a lot of her patients are Mums who have been reported for smelling of alcohol at the school gates, or been heard slurring their speech and reported to the authorities or visited by the police having been reported by well-meaning neighbours. I really don't want to worry you but, I was (fucking am! )in the same situation as you and could so easily have been caught out and reported. If you are seen as being responsible and seeking help, things are much better for you regarding the children. I finally plucked up the courage and went to the Doc'. I haven't (yet) had any calls from SS and I went a few months ago. Meds will help and just telling someone will make you feel so much better. Courage, my lovely, courage. xxx

(So help me,I'm going to get the technical hammer to this fucking laptop any moment now...... )

Yes, Koti (my DC are impressed I have a friend called Kotinka! ) I got sleeping pills (2 weeks worth) and Campral - which works on the brain to suppress cravings. Campral doesn't make you ill if you do drink but still requires a lot of will power as it's not that strong. Never had sleeping pills before but they took away the panic of that "I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SLEEEP" thing

(Oh, and you still get the sweats (God, they're awful!) but you can manage to sleep most of the time)

Hi, I cross posted with some people. Hi Pippin, welcome.
Hi Kotinka!

Pippin, do you think you should have a medically managed detox? Do you get shakes or other symptoms when you don't drink? If so you need to be careful. I know talking irl is scary but please think hard about seeing the GP

Very best of luck

Purple, I once had a very long involved telephone conversation with my dad about how I would help him deliver a document during a postage strike and the next day did not recall a word of it. I looked so blank he doubted himself and wondered if he had had the whole conversation with my sister... but it was me and I was so ashamed

Hi Curry and thank you. x

I shan't tell them any different Koti! x

Afternoon, tis me, Mouse

Koti - IME you are right re meds.

Pippin - welcome, you've had some great advice here already

I think if you went to your GP, (assuming you've not yet??) you WOULD get specific medication to support your alcohol withdrawal, over a set period of time, done gradually given the amount (3 bottle per day IIRC) you consume currently.

I should imagine that your GP would want you to stop altogether, (not all at once, so not any alcohol at all, not cold turkey I mean ) at least for a short time to give your entire body (not just your liver, much more is affected by alcohol abuse at this level) a break.

You'll be given something to help you sleep if that is a part of your reason for drinking. The last thing that your GP will want is for your body to go into shock through the lack of toxins, chemicals and sugar in wine that your body is used to.

You'll be given a plan to work towards also if that's what you want, I was and found that it helped me to work towards something. A goal every two weeks to start, then weekly, then daily.....

It is up to you really but the only way that you are going to stop drinking how you are now is to go and get some real HELP.

Stock up on sweets, fizzy drinks, pain killers for headaches, Dioralyte is a good call as you'll be dehydrated too......

Pippin - I've not read back properly but will do, just popped in and spotted Koti's question, I hope you're okay and not too overwhelmed by all of the posts

Soma - will come back to you in a bit....... did you ask how I got from 90 units to where I am now? I'll have a think back and try to put it into words that make sense.

Update here - Nemo is still poorly, it took us 4+ hours to get home through freezing fog, traffic jams for no reasons and driving rain, DH is really ill, DD is bored, my pain levels are shit thanks to two mornings on the run of being stuck in bed unable to move for two hours whilst I did my pain drill and we have no food in.

Other than that, life is pretty peachy compared to some out there so I am grateful for the other things in my life, such as wonderful friends, family and This Bus to keep me sane and SOBER!

Be back later,

Mouse xx

Kot the GP can put you on benzos to help with withdrawal/anxiety - Diazepam usually and just a short course because they're worried about possible addiction.
My GP kept giving them to me because I kept asking (drug brain :() and in the end I had to ask her to never give them to me again!

Thanks Mouse yes, I'd be interested to know (when you have time), how you got down from such a high intake to such a very sensible one. Mia I can smell your cooking, I hope it does the trick and you have a lovely evening.

goodness it's busy -struggling to keep up with you all
purple are you ok, dear thing? You sound glum. isnt't that a nice word? GLUM?
am hungry and thoughts turning to wine - the witch has called early today, bastard.
pippin did you get a doctor's appt? Please go and ask for help. I take ADs and they have been very helpful though hoping to come off them later this year. You sound like you are doing a good job with the children so far so well done. That is hard to do while battling an illness. Because that's what you have, sweets.
I second its better than you refer yourself than be reported by someone else.
It is always seen positively.
mouse where you find the energy to be postitve, beats me. You are amazing.

Hugs Mouse Brave babe! Ma Kick her in her bony ass! Mia Can I come round for tea :)

Pippin I do that to, the forgetfulness :( It's so embarrassing :(

gosh this Bus is flying! we must be over the speed limit...

pippin well done for posting. it takes a lot of courage to make that first step

purple Tasty Farmer is good-looking, well-off, has a farm, horses, puppies a log fire, and isn't afraid to get in touch with his emotions...! forget about being a bridesmaid, I want him for myself. the wedding´s OFF folks!

p.s. I've typed Tasty Farmer so many times now that it's coming up as a keyword on my kindle...

Hello, and happy new year to all. I'm away from home for a bit so reading the thread on my phone, but no good at posting from there. Have nabbed a few minutes on my nephew's computer so I thought I'd drop in and say Hi.

Lots of good strong resolve needed at the start of the year but it is a great time to make some baby steps and even some giant strides. Love you all xx

Joey! You've made me choke on my Super Noodles!! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx