The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Posters, Lurkers, Old Or New, Come Take A Seat, This Bus Is For YOU!

[Mouseface]

Hello, I'm Mouse

A huge big welcome to the Brave Babes threads.

We're a varied group of posters, on this wonderfully supportive, non judgemental, gigantic Bus, and we are all heading in the same direction - towards Sobriety.

Some of us don't touch a drop of alcohol, some of us do. Some of us drink too much, openly admit it and are desperate to stop and some of us are trying to manage controlled drinking.

No matter what we're doing, we're just trying to do it One Day At A Time.

What ever you need, what ever your habit, chances are that there'll be another poster who is just like you or has been where you are now, already here, waiting to talk or just listen :)

Yes, some of us have been here for a longer time than others, some of us for just a few days but that's what makes this Bus so great imo, the variety of knowledge and understanding :)

This Bus has been whizzing along various roads now for almost four years thanks to the very desperate cry for help from THIS THREAD BY JWN

And if you'd like to read some of the other threads, maybe how we got to where we are today, then you can follow them back using the links RIGHT HERE

Hope to see you soon :)

lonnika Quote from Ruth Rendell:

Being drunk doesn't stop life from being boring - trying not to fall over just gives you something else to concentrate on.

Can I join? I don't drink often, but when I do I find it near impossible to stop and end up making an absolute fool of myself. I often wake up the morning after physically cringing as the mortifying memories start coming to me.

Before I had DD, and was at uni I went through a particularly dark time where I was constantly drunk for a good few months. I turned myself into a laughing stock and constantly woke up in strangers' beds having no idea how I got there.

I managed to overcome that and now that I have DD I rarely go out, despite being in my 20s and at uni (again). However when I do I just can't seem to control my drinking and end up getting absolutely hammered and being a dick.

I recently met an old friend 'for lunch'. We were drinking buddies when I was at my worst. It was supposed to be a quick lunch and catch up but we ended up absolutely wankered and i missed an exam the next day because I was so hungover.

I don't want to be some drunken idiot who can't control herself anymore. How do people manage to control their drinking? I'm not sure if this is possible for me or if I should stop all together? It's hard to see myself as having a drinking problem, because I can easily go a long time without a drink, it's just that when I'm drinking socially I can't control myself and get as drunk as I possibly can.

Sorry to dash in - Riots of course you can, take a seat, welcome :) x

Ma - is venus okay?

Sorry to not be around, I've got MIL here and I've been trying to support Trinity who is sober and doing bloody brilliantly btw! In the face of it all, she's kicking the shit out of the WW

Anyway, I have to dash, welcome to those who are new, hello to those who are not and love to you all, you big, strong Brave Babes you!

Night xxx

Hi anyone who's awake!

I just want to send all my love to everyone (crikey, sounds like an Oscar speech!). It was my Birthday on Thursday, and Dh booked a couple of nights for us in London, he doesn't ever want to see a museum, or art gallery again, in his lifetime, Ha!!

Anyway, we have just got home, and, before I go to to bed, I wanted to check in, and say, I couldn't have had this nice time a couple of years ago without you all checking my back, so to speak.

Going to bed now, to try and process the enormity of all those paintings, and the stories that lie behind them (Dh doesn't see it it in quite the same way :) )

Thank you
Much love
T xxxxxx

Isindie May I give you a massive squodge (no, it's not in the Dictionary, I'm pretty sure!), and I will try not to think too much!
Processing (Durr!!) I was trying not to work , but, can't help myself :)

Have a good night, when are you bringing the twins down here?
xxxxx

Hey happy birthday thurso . hope there are no unwelcome "presents" to spoil the day.
Venus is doing as well as she can, all things considered. Please send our collective strength for a peaceful passing for her mother who has not much time now.

Hey happy birthday thurso . hope there are no unwelcome "presents" to spoil the day.
Venus is doing as well as she can, all things considered. Please send our collective strength for a peaceful passing for her mother who has not much time now.

Ma Thank you, Dh asleep, so all ok!

Venus My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. I am sending you love, and strength for the day ahead.

T xxxx

Middle of night post (sort of anyway as ive been asleep for 4.5 hours already). I have lovely clear head and general sense of well being on day 17! Will now have another 4 hours and get up at 6. These new sleeping patterns suit very well and I lovevthe middle of night time wnen everything is quiet and peaceful.

Two slightly incredible things are happening this morning. 1) It's sunny outside and 2) I don't have a hangover. Wow. :)

Epic fail. Warm fuzzy feeling that drink gives is small slice of pie. Little boy waking at 5:40am, head splitting, feeling like crap is bigger piece of drinking pie.
Day 1.
Venus thinking of you today x
Wishing all babes well x

Well done edin:-) isnt it lovely world!!!

Sorry clutter x postdd

Welcome to the bus edin, so far so good, keep it up

Hello also to Riots - have you considered giving up drinking altogether? Have you ever socialised without alcohol? It sounds like you really, really, don't want to be that person you become when it takes hold and, believe me, we all know where you are coming from there. Stick around, you'll get there.

full great to hear you sounding positive again, so happy for you.

clutter ouchie! Take some paracetamol and drink lots of water. That hair of the dog didn't work out too well did it? Never mind, it's a learning curve. We have to be so careful and plan to the nth degree. That bloody Wine Witch (or Smice Witch) will do anything to trip us up.

Today is a new day. For all of us.

Lonnika how are things? Hang in there x

Thurso Happy Birthday, that week off went quick didn't it. Back to the grind tomorrow?

Isinde I agree with everyone else who have said what great mums you and your dp are. It's not only the love for those dts that shines through in your posts but also how much you enjoy them, want to be with them, are fascinated by them and protective of them, even when things are tough for you personally or you are ill or overworked or stressed and underworked or falling out with dp or any other times when you are down, your care and concern for them always shows.

< candidate for 'longest sentence' award >

Right, off to test dd on History dates (1918-1956) for gcse tomorrow.

venus you are in my thoughts x

Fairenuff I have considered it, it seems like the most sensible option, but I don't know how comfortable I'd feel having to tell people I don't drink. They'd want to know why and I always find that non drinkers make me feel a bit uncomfortable when I'm drinking probably because they will remember what I do/say so I would worry that if I socialised without drinking I'd end up being excluded or treated differently from the drinkers.

But I suppose that's better than the alternative!!

Faire, it did not go well at all.
Going to my neighbours on friday night and having a couple of drinks has ruined my whole weekend.
Good luck for your dd's gcse.
Happy Burthday Thurso, glad you had a good time
X

Thanks clutter

Riot isn't it daft how we care more about other people's perceptions of us than our own health and wellbeing sometimes?

If I'm not drinking I just say something like, no thanks I don't want alcohol right now, I'd love a nice, cold orange juice, or whatever. I find that even though it might have been a big deal to me, no-one else gives it a passing thought.

You could say you have a headache (or a hangover, even if you haven't really), or that you are counting calories or detoxing. There was a saying on the bus, don't know if you saw it:

If you really want something you'll find a way, if you don't you'll find an excuse.

Do you think you could find a way to do just one social event without alcohol and see how it goes?

Good saying!
I think part of me is afraid to stop drinking, because for the first few drinks I am great. Really friendly, witty and charming, it's like I'm a better version of myself. But unfortunately, I can't stop after a few and turn into a monster.
It's like Jekyll and Hyde.

I am planning to have a night out with uni friends once the semester is over, so I will have to try then. The whole point of the night was to get drunk and have fun, so I don't know that I can openly not drink, but maybe I could drink lemonade and pretend it's something else?

Hi all. It's good to find this bus. I have to stop drinking, partly as I am on Mirtrazine (SNRI) - 4th week . Drank last night (as usual), so so want not to tonight. I am coming off Escitalopram (3rd day). I get to 5pm and all the reasons for not drinking fade away and I buy a bottle. Gave up for 2 years (one day at a time) but started again about 18 months ago. Good to be here. Does anyone else have experience of Mirtrazine and alcohol?

Not me pm but you are in right place for lots of advice and support. You did so fantastically well to give up for 2 years. What strategies did you use to get you started?

Hi fairenuff. I hit rock bottom, threat of divorce and was dicing with death (blackouts etc). I went to AA. Then 2 years into sobriety I got divorced (ex didn't like the sober me). Started drinking again prob due to nerves in new relationship, again 2 years ago. its snowballing back to pre AA levels. My doc put me on Mirtrazine because I had suicidal thoughts (6 weeks ago). But he says I have to come off Escitalopram (for post natal dep - 8 years on them). I am at home 'coming off the escitalopram), v dizzy and shouldn't drink

Other strategies were watching box sets on TV (something to do in eves) and going to meetings as often as poss

here's a website for you pm66
you can watch loads of series for free online. Might save you some pennies, instead of buying box sets!
I waste so much time on there, I watched all 8 series of house in a month or so!!!