The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Off On A Journey Far & Wide, Full Of Support, With No Reasons To Hide.

[Mouseface]

Hey, I'm Mouse, one of the Brave Babes on this Bus. :)

We're heading to sobriety, in various different ways, in our own different ways, some of us are there, some not quite yet.

We're a group of non judgemental, mothers, wives, partners, sisters, daughters, girlfriends, and of course all of the male equivalents that run alongside those 'tags', but most of all, we are, or we have been, just like YOU. :) Real people with real concerns about how much we are drinking all of the time.

Our relationships with alcohol are varied, and you'll find most of us are wanting to do something about it..... desperate to stop the cycle of drinking, stopping, drinking, stopping, drinking more, stopping for shorter periods of time and then the reverse, doing ever so well and then 'something' happens and you're back to square one, a place that sometimes gets a little crowded, one little square filled with lots of people who all want out.

Sound familiar?

You're never alone here. Ever.

Come and take a seat, post or lurk. We won't bite but we WILL look after you, SUPPORT you, if you want us to. :)

And for those want to know how we've ended up where we are today, about three years on from THIS THREAD RIGHT HERE

To our last thread JUST HERE

It will be lovely to meet you so why not take a seat and have a gossip about all things booze related but also, DCs, husbands, wives, in-laws, out-laws, and everything in between.

There's always a seat for YOU xxx

Waves to ma hope you are okay

Thanks peeps - yes I've batted her off for another night. She just bloody creeps up though doesn't she? One minute I'm posting to mummy about how I always keep booze out of the house, amn't I good? The next I'm manhandling myself out of the booze aisle in M&S. Ridiculous.

Hi Pink - no, don't think we know each other yet :) I've been on the bus (this time..) since 1st June. Not stopping altogether but no drinking at home (former bottle of wine a night lass). Since I hardly ever go out this strategy has dramatically reduced my intake . I've been feeling brilliant and I'm so proud of myself but some days - bloody norah.

Not been doing well - bottle of wine in this eve and find out a relative has died of liver failure thanks to alcohol. I am glugging water, don't really want to wake up tomorrow. Help help help

Ladame, can't believe breakfast, that sounded heavenly (drooled the cheese, hazelnut coffee and everything else).

Welcome to the newcomers. I am in the side car tonight. Not great but still an improvement on recent patterns.

I still cannot believe how much on this thread reflects my own behaviour. I don't keep booze in the house and I often pour it down the sink when it's leftovers and I don't want to be around. Alcohol repulses me and, on the whole, I am starting to really dislike the taste of it. I am hoping that my brain will soon take this inboard ie. the fact that I don't actually like the taste of alcohol.

Hello anothertime. Sorry to hear that things are tricky for you. Would you like to talk about it a bit more or just sidle on to the bus?

Sorry anothertime, if you are really feeling that you don't want to wake up then please please call someone like the Samaritans. Please talk to someone, on this thread or elsewhere. We are here to listen so please talk - we might not be there in person but well be there for you.

Really shocked, I don't really know what to say/do/feel. That could be me if I don't sort this out :(

Sorry Anothertime I was in bed by the time you posted that last night. Terrible news and I am so sorry for your loss.

My dad died from alcoholism (severe fatty liver) so I do know where you are coming from entirely, it is really scary. Dreadful waste of a life and very traumatic for the family. But it does of have to happen to you. You CAN get help and conquer this.

I think this is where one day at a time comes in because it can be too overwhelming to look far ahead and try and decide the future in terms of your alcohol intake. Just start with today, plan your strategy on how you will manage and if you struggle come and post here!

Please let us know how you are this morning

Pink X

anothertime I'm very sorry to hear about your loss. How are you this morning? Do you have any real life support, GP, AA?

Another so sorry for your loss. Isn't it ironic that tragic news like that can send us straight to the bottle. It's been a first response to any emotion for a long time for a lot of us. It's the only way we have been using to deal with emotion.

But there is another way. Maybe it's time to take those tiny steps to change those automatic responses. It's really important for us to feel those emotions, identify them and label them.

For example, I am feeling angry. I know why I am angry. It's ok to feel angry. It's not ok to punch someone because I am angry. It's not ok to damage myself with alcohol because I am angry.

And then we have to work out alternative ways of dealing with that emotion, if any of that makes sense.

One Day at a time is the best way to change those habits. One hour at a time, one minute at a time if necessary. You will never, ever regret a single minute of not drinking. Honestly. It seems like a massive battle at the time, but when it passes, it's gone. Ride it out, find other things to do to meet those emotional needs and your habits will change.

After a while you may find you just don't even want to drink and the thought of giving up forever will become appealing. There is nothing to be afraid of except continuing to drink and damage your health.

Anothertime perhaps you should consider changing your name to Anotherway and make that commitment, to yourself, to make your life calmer and happier by taking away that constant worry that overdrinking brings.

Whatever you want to do, we will help you. Keep posting. Keep naming those emotions and putting them where they belong. This is a really difficult time for you but we are all here whenever you feel like posting x

another - so sorry, I hope you're okay. Please keep posting - you're not on your own with this.

You will never, ever regret a single minute of not drinking. Honestly. It seems like a massive battle at the time, but when it passes, it's gone. Ride it out. This is one of the most useful things I have ever read on this board - and I've lurked here for a looooong time. So simple and so true.

Anothertime, how are you feeling this morning? I'm so sorry about your relative - were you close to them?

I've decided that I'm delusional with regard to alcohol. I've been sober for about a month but in the back of my mind was telling myself that I'd be able to drink socially (I've been here many many times before). I'd even planned my next drink which was to be tomorrow when I meet a friend. Then yesterday afternoon entirely on impulse, I bought a bottle of wine and had drunk the lot within a couple of hours. DD smelt it on me too and I'd promised her not to drink :( Can anyone relate to this?

I know I can't drink so why do I keep kidding myself? I can't face the thought of socialising without alcohol ((I'm quite shy and that's why I started to drink) and sometimes think I'd be better off living as a hermit hundreds of miles away from the nearest supermarket. How on earth does an introvert cope with going out? Edinbugger wish I was as strong as you. Sorry for the me-me post, feel really pissed off with myself this morning (and hungover).

You will never, ever regret a single minute of not drinking

Love it, thanks Edinbugger

Ma If only you knew how much I wish you were coming.
Waves tiredly back - my hormentals kept me up most of the night last night. I look like a fat tired wet old hen this morning - and it's raining again
Anothertime So sorry lovely. Stay with us. Faire - fantastic post, I've read you on some other threads too. You are one wise, switched on, fabulous babe
I can't really add any advice to what you've been given, I just think that you need to break the cycle - one night - and that will give you some strength to carry on to the next night and the next. You can circle the drain for a long time, but you don't need to go down the plughole, you can break the cycle, so many fab babes have.
Wishing all babes a good day, be kind to yourselves x

You can circle the drain for a long time, but you don't need to go down the plughole :) I have one leg in at the moment but I'm going to pull myself out! Thanks Ladame

MrsMiniver - I can relate to every single word of your post, I am a master of self-kiddiology. I could have written your second para myself - only difference being that I didn't buy that bottle yesterday afternoon. I didn't buy it cos I was with Dh who knows that I've cut out drinking at home - but if I'd been on my own it's possible I wouldn't have been so 'strong'. Don't beat yourself up.

The quote I posted was from faire - let's both of us be inspired by it. Maybe the pair of us are over-thinking things and it really is as simple as faire suggests. I suspect it is. :)

Morning Babes, still not drinking, feeling a bit down in myself but that has nothing to do with not drinking, more to do with day to day shit, not liking my job (more the people I work with rather than the work itself), house a mess, etc etc.

MrsMiniver Pull my leg out too whilst you're there lovely

I can go one, two, maybe three nights off, but then back to square one and around the drain I go again for another few days, until the next day off

Good morning Babes

No WW last night, although I'm very thirsty today, but I think that's because I'm taking milk thistle morning and night. Anyone tried this?

I had an overloaded liver years ago when I was in anti depressants, and the symptoms were rage, confusion, very pungent and yellow sweat, and itchy legs. The itchy legs is a sign your liver is struggling apparently. Thankfully no itchy legs. Although I'm covered in drinkers bruises they're on my legs and arms, you know the ones.

No drink until Friday for me. DP has been given some rum by a customer, so this will be a test. I'll use exact single measures for myself, in tall glasses with lashings of mixer. I will update you on Saturday morning! Obviously you'll also have to put up with me until then too, as I'm staying on here this time

I hope you're all feeling healthy and empowered today x

Also if anyone knows how to get around the issue of crazy amounts of scrolling on long threads using iPhone app I'd be grateful!

Thank you everyone, you've already helped me so much more than you know. I have a quiet day planned and booked a GP appointment for later, and most importantly no alcohol.

Anothertime You are sounding so much more positive! Good luck with your GP.

I can't do this! Day 1 and 2 were ok, today is day 3 and I am feeling agitated. Thinking of having a few drinks and that's it?

Maristella - when you click the + button click flip this thread, just worked it out myself

Mummy Sit down and work out why you are feeling so agitated. Can you do something strenuous to 'work it out'? Go into the kitchen and make something from scratch (it always helps me) like a cake or shepherds pie. If you do have a drink (I assume you mean now?) play the video through to the end. Does that mean you will continue all day and think how that will make you feel tomorrow morning. Ride it out if you can - you will be so pleased you managed it and next time will be easier - (hand holding and )