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 :)

Hi babes :)
Tis v quiet aboard this bus tonight.
Hope everyone is ok??
Ive managed to resist again for the day - off to watch a film now for further distraction.
Tomorrow I will wake up refreshed - no stale alcohol breath!
Yet I am all aware that it is ODAAT!
Been using HALT a lot. Hunger was/is a trigger for me. I swear I ve put on half a stone this past week!!
Right now Im at the wheel and am heading south.
Speak soon babes xxxx

Jango - you are doing great :).
just watching NCIS - about to get some chocolate and cheese - yum yum :)
Good luck Ma

wow isinde has it really been a year! Have a lovely evening

hope your run went well ma great to hear about Richard, too.

DH has got some mates here tonight, and they have brought wine and beer and whisky with them....

I have my own small bottle of wine (500ml) and I have asked DH if he can get them to take away any leftover wine so there isn't any lying around tomorrow.

I hope they won't think it's weird, that I want them to take it away! DH was understanding (or at least he tries to be, I don't think he quite 'gets it' he asks, can't you just stop at one glass? plus, actually I've never told him that drinking one evening can trigger urges the next day, slippery slope etc)

evening babes :) Wedged in sidecar been off the board for a week or so - will update soon. Love and best wished to all x

mind you, a few years ago I would have been secretly hoping they would leave any leftover wine for me to drink! I can hardly believe I'm Taking Control ™ like this and asking DH to support me!

Waves to green
Thanks to all for race support. I'm having a major wobble about it. It means so much to me to RUN it, not walk, and the voice is telling me that I can't do it, too old, too fat, who am I trying to kid etc etc.its my own challenge to myself and I don't want to fail. I am AF today for the first time in months to give me every possible help. My running app tells me I have been out 30 times since I started in April...THIRTY! And yet I still struggle. Could someone perhaps drive Gerald to the race tomorrow so you can all be there to cheer me on?

Aww will be thinking of you Ma - of course you can do it - you will be fab- Really really good luck xxxxxx

Evening, tis me, Mouse

IsinDe - Congratulations and a very Happy Anniversary to you and your darling DP Much love to you xxx

Good to see you back JWIM and greeny :)

Hey Sweetie and Lonni :)

Ma - Bloomin' 'ek, that has come round so fast!! The very best of luck for tomorrow, I hope that the weather is kind to you, not hot and not pouring down either.

Fux - Goals. Goals are great. Something to aim towards, something to focus on. Something to keep you occupied that isn't drinking, thinking of drinking or drinking and thinking you shouldn't be drinking.

I hobbled 2.9 miles yesterday for charity. I didn't think I could carry on at one point. I didn't think I'd make it. My pain levels were so high, I was shaking, sweating (not for exercise reasons) and dizzy because I'd also doubled up on my pain meds because I wanted to do it. I wanted to help children with cancer, their families, something - that was my goal.

My next one will be to recover from that one and the one after that will be something not physical.

I'm sorry not to NC everyone but I need to go to my bed and lie sideways. Nemo had a party to go to today and it took him a good 30/40 mins to let go of me or DH before he'd settle and even join in. He doesn't understand, his best friend was there because my friend who's DD's party it was, had asked me who he liked so that Nemo would feel at ease eventually.

How nice is that? That cost her nothing to do, make that gesture, but she did it never the less. :)

He's really unsettled tonight so I need to get some rest in before he wakes again. So I'll bid you all a very good, safe and sound evening Babes.

Back tomorrow, to do the new thread :)

Mouse xxx

jango - well done for last night and sorry to hear about your situation with your NSDP. Hopefully having a clear head will make any decisions easier. :)

Ma Good luck for tomorrow and BRILLIANT that your brother will be there to support you. I know you'll be nervous but you're ready for this!

Isinde - congrats on your anniversary. I remember lurking on here reading the lead-up to your big day. Can't believe it was a year ago. Have a lovely evening.

Mouse - well done on your walk.

Thurso - hope your walk is going well, it's tonight isn't it?

Blimey what an athletic lot you all are.

MrBloom - welcome. Stick around no matter what - this bus will give you all the strength you need to turn things around for yourself, :)

All fine and non-athletic here. Though have just bragged to DH that since the 1st of June I've only drunk on one occasion - at a family dinner. He was . Just done some maths and worked out that (going on my previous norm of a bottle of vino a night) so far this month I have NOT drunk 189 units of alcohol. Can that be right??? I'm going on a conservative estimate of a bottle having 9 units (that's the figure I'm getting for 12%).

Evening brave babes and thanks for the welcome. I was on and off the bus for a while ages ago under a different name (more off than on). Just checking in to say that I haven't had a drink today - first Saturday with no booze for a long time. Looking forward to a Sunday with no hangover and being able to remember the night before.
Hi abinito how are you getting on? If you were pregnant relatively recently, you won't have been back in the habit of heavy drinking again for too long which may make it easier to stop? Are you aiming for abstinence or cutting down? I think what I'm struggling with is that after endless attempts at controlled drinking, I've got to face facts and recognise that abstinence is the only way for me. But I find the ODAAT thing really hard so just get panic stricken about the thought of never drinking again.
I'm so glad this bus is here, i just need to use it more.
Night night babes.

Evening babes, had a busy day with dd's today, we went a big long walk in the hills with the dog and it felt good, I've spent so many hours in the past pondering the will I, wont I drink debate in my head, it feels good to have put it to rest at least for now. jango I was nodding my head with gusto earlier about your post re the extra eating, I'm trying to improve my health and my appearance by cutting out booze but I feel like a 5ft 7 Buddha, my weight really bothers me and affects how I feel and stops me wearing the lovely clothes I see in the shops but my desire to drink has been replaced with insatiable hunger and I'm cross with myself for not sticking to my slimming world plan which is very healthy and achievable, I know eating is the lesser evil but is imagined cutting right back in booze would create a whole new fitter me, fatter me is more like the truth!! Anyway mrbloom please post again, there is so much help and sympathy here, let us in, mouse your a wonderful, thoughtful human being, I hope your pain subsides. ma your a brave and determined woman just ask richard remember that tomorrow and be proud, will be willing you on tomorrow. I don't know if anyone else does this but I imagine you all in your day to day lives doing all the things you describe and I like having all these new friends, soppy but true. Life is often a little boring in my brave new world but calmer and that's a start. inside hope your having a lovely evening and im sending warm wishes to everyone that's reading this tonight x x x

babyj weight and alcohol - a wise Babe once said 'tackle your issues in the order in which they will kill you'

So it is great that you are sorting out the drink problem first. PLUS the practice in exercising your 'willpower' muscle will stand you in good stead later on, when you want to tackle other issues. But, one thing at a time, eh?

Morning all
babyjane can't believe when i read your posts now how much you have changed. So positive and calm. Bloody well done you.
I love my bus friends too - couldn't be without them but miss purple and silver and the boingy brilliance of Jesus
Am so nervous about the race have been up since 6 eating chocolate. Not sure this is ideal race preparation.......

Morning all, its a couple of months since I last posted to introduce myself. Lost my father earlier this year. Been doing better, actually got to day 7 last week but after 3 days drinking am back to day 1. So much sad news from friends and my anxiety is through the roof.feeling very depressed and wondering what the point of anything is this morning.

Good luck with your race today, dementedma x

ma Good luck today - you absolutely can do it :)

daisy i'm sorry for your loss. Can you get yourself out this morning for a walk. Practice a bit of mindfullness. Notice the noises around you, the rain on your cheeks, the feel of the ground beneath you. Will help with hangover too. Be kind to yourself xx

And well done on 7 days that's brilliant. How did you feel after a week off? Was the anxiety any better? X

Ok. I'm taking it from lack of response that none of you have tried hypnotherapy, so I'm going to take the plunge. Will try to update you as I go along.

fer would be interested to hear how you get on

Yrs I am interested but nit heard of the hypnotherapy before. Felt so much more positive after 7 days, it seems so far to reach it again.

Good luck fer let us know how you get on x
Daisy - one day at a time - I am still doing that and have done for the past eight weeks ( Eight weeks whoop whoop !!!!!!!!! ) BUT if u dai to me eight weeks ago I would manage a week I am not sure I would have believed you. honestly don't think ahead just concentrate on the here and now - and IF you manage a few days and then have aa drink. - at least that is a few days AF and you can just start again the next day - good luck xxxx

Hello everyone

I posted a few weeks ago determined to board the bus and recognising how much I need to.

Since then I have managed up to 6 days without alcohol but I always lapse and usually at the weekends or after a bad day at work.

I deeply regret starting drinking again earlier this year after 60 days without as I felt so much happier and better without booze, everything in my life improves when I don't drink. I should never have picked up that first glass.

I hope I can offer support as well as gaining some.

Thank you for all your posts which really help, I lurk a lot but I ought to post more.

Just want to share something that I wrote in my diary two days before I started drinking again.

'I don't ever have to drink again if I don't want to. It is up to me and I can just say no. My life is so much better without booze, I am happier, more alert and awake, energetic, more patient, lighter and healthier.'

I hope no one minds me sharing that, I want to be held accountable for what I am doing to myself and just writing it done here has focused my mind a little.

Thank you again and good luck in your event today Ma.

Pink x

Hi Pink - and welcome - I like what you wrote - it applies to me as well. 60 days wow :). - you can do it again - Good luck and I look forward to reading more of your posts xxxxxx

Morning, tis me, Mouse

Ma - you'll be finished by now maybe but I just wanted to post that the fact Richard is going to be there today supporting you will make you feel a million times better and will you on like never before.

Lots of love to you xxx

(PS - I miss Silver, Purps, venus, and JWN too I understand why venus hasn't posted much of late and I know that Purps is really struggling in RL at the moment. JWN may well be shoe shopping for all we know BUT the one poster who worries me the most is Silver )