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

Hey faire that's my line (swishes off to eat cake muttering about plageriasm) xxxxx

Morning babes

Just dropping in quickly before the craziness of the day starts to say hello and offer love and strength to you all.

Baby you said so well about not wanting to sound smug, you're right it is offering hope. And I know that did me a lot of good when I was struggling. And boy, have I struggled at times.

Hard to believe but I made day 11 yesterday. And I will be driving to a work do tonight so I won't be drinking today. This time a week ago I was getting ready to fall off the bus again and feeling some despair about it but thanks to the support I was given here, and the reality check of Green's drinking quiz, I managed to keep going and I am so grateful for that so thank you once again

I hope everyone has a good day. I will come back over the weekend, sorry not to NC (again) but I will do when I have more time. DH doesn't know I am on this board so I fit in posting here and there.

Pink X

Morning I don't mean to sound smug either - I don't feel smug - just very very lucky to have found this bus and been able to give up. Soneone once said If life was fair I would be dead - and I think about that a lot. Happy Friday all - today is meant to be hot hot hot. Faire I have swishy hair too (sticks tongue out at Baby) ! Pink you are doing amazing :).
Love to all, L xxxx

Now that is two of you who have said it so much better than I ever could Lonnika!

< swish, swish >

< slaps on suncream >

It's going to be a hot one today babes

MIFLAW (who has probably now become a legend or mythical being) used to say that the person who has been sober the longest is the one who got up earliest today.

Because we are all only sober for One Day. We don't know what the future holds and, yes, it does get easier the more you do it but today is the only day that really matters.

It's just one day. Probably no more than about 15 hours from now and it will be over. I can do that. I can go 15 hours without a drink. Sure, anyone can if they want to.

See you later x

Hello Babes. Hope you are all well.

I went to the AA meeting but don't think it was quite for me. Granted you discuss your drinking but not the reasons why it started in the first place. I also found it rather depressing that some 36 years later some people still have the need to go to a weekly meeting and essentially pay penance for things they did nearly 4 decades ago, even if they have been sober the whole time!

I have signed up to some counselling, and I know what triggers the need to get wasted, I think I just need someone to talk to who isn't going to judge or pity me. Over the last week I have had 2 glasses of wine and a cople of V&Cs at weekend but didn't really feel the need to finish the whole bottle. keeping busy with other things has really helped as well.

Speaking to a close friend who has had some similar past experiences as myself, she gave me a great piece of advise. 'Just let it go', you got out, you survived and yet you are still letting your past control your actions.

thru I too thought AA was not for me and thank god for me this bus and determination was enough, it's patronising but the past has no control over you , you cant change it, its gone and will keep fading, the future is all yours.. This helps me rationalise all the horrid things I've said and done whilst drinking. pink you sound all sparkly and new, love it love it love. faire you and lon are very wise indeed, swishy hair has served you well x x x x

Oh dear tonight is not going well -keep having another drink because I want it/it's summer/I deserve it. I have been so good all well but completely melted tonight....

I feel like I am my own worst enemy, I always have a voice in my head telling me I'm worthless/not good enough/have failed. And so I drink to drown it out :(

another tomorrow is another day, start again. Why not make yourself a cup of tea now for damage limitation. You are not a failure, it's a slip, it's done now be kind to yourself recriminations are just making you drink more. There is a poster I don't know if she is lurking called helpyourself great name. That's what you need to do, you ARE worth it. Xx

another you sound so sad, we have all heard that voice and done the same thing, that voice brought most of us here along with the subsequent actions. I wish I was wiser to give you the right advice but I'm still new at this sobriety lark and the voice is still there but quieter, your not alone and you are posting here so not hiding it alone anymore, that's progress, sending you a massive hug, hope you feel it babe xxx

Me too, another,

I have got the job (many thanks venus, your words kept me on track). but tonight, Dh has gone to cricket,(good call!!, not!), last day of term and new job and so I am alone, thinking about 13 years at the same place of work, and I've finished!

For the first time in ages, I've got myself some wine, to celebrate!!!
I feel quite sad!
xxxx

thurso so so pleased for you on this amazing new adventure, it's ok to feel sad but enjoy summer and you will so enjoy all the new adventures ahead, it's scary but very exciting when the future is yours to make your own, well done you x x x

I do damage limitation. By forcing myself to be sick. I lose the calories and the alcohol. I really really hate myself.

Oh another that's so not a way to live I promise you things can be so much better and you ARE worth so much more than this. You CAN change things. Today is done. Give yourself lots of TLC tomorrow, water, food,rest and start again. Xx

silver (whispering) silver , silver (shh sh shh) was that you that I saw on here? hi there! It's all quiet on here at the moment, so why don't you pop out and tell me how it's going....

[I'm just going to post a message to Thurso, but please ignore that, and just come and let us know how you're doing today]

Thurso bloody well done. You got the job because you do absolutely deserve to have it. And how crap that dh was not there with you to celebrate / commiserate etc. Do you actually tell him how much you need him? Or the way in which you need him to behave?

I've had a tough few months with my Mum dying, and I've been more acutely stressed than I have been for years. During my Mum's dying weeks my tolerance for minor fuck-ups was low, and my need for very specific support was high (like I need a bacon sandwich - NOW) (and then world war 2 if the bacon wasn't grilled just exactly the way I wanted it.......) And there was no way that dp could have guessed what I needed, so I have learnt to be very clear in expressing what kind of support I want.

Anyway thurso if I were there with you (and I wish I were) I would raise a glass in toast to you, and to your future.

Morning all :)
Another - today is a new day - hope you are feeling more positive.

I deserve to treat myself today - so I am going to :)
Enjoy the weather - it is gong to be hot, hot, hot here !
By the way thanks for saying I am wise - I am really not - just happy to be given a second chance at living a good life :)
Love to you all, L x

Good morning babes, nice to hear so many of you are enjoying swishy hair!

Another - hope you're ok this morning. We've all been there, just start a fresh today and don't be too hard on yourself.

I am feeling very positive about not drinking - it's harder in the sunshine though! And I've noticed these past few days that alcohol is everywhere I look! On tv, spoken about on radio etc. It's not easy giving up but I'm still determined to do it so if ss come knocking on my door I can tell them I haven't drunk since asking for help.

Go Buddy :). Funnily enough I now feel self righteous about not drinking when others around me are - just see it as an indication if how fab and strong you are compared to others :). And remember how great you will feel when you wake up tomorrow :) -

Morning babes! Great to hear so many positive stories on here, you are all inspiring me Thank you! Up and down for me this week but 3 AF nights so an improvement. I am not drinking today. May be tough going to a BBQ this aft where the wine will be flowing. Will go and buy a nice soft drink to take. Have a great day babes xx

buddy and lonn glad you guys are doing so well, big waves to all super babes this morning, my oldest dd is 14 today and my youngest is 2, I was out shopping yesterday and a lady presumed I was my little ones gran!!!
I was very offended but at 42 I certainly could have been. It brought home to me that altho

Bonjour all brave and wonderful babes Have a great Saturday!

Another, you are worth more than this but the horrible thing about drinking is that it depresses you and makes you feel desperate and hopeless at times. That in turn leads to feeling like you're not worth it because you cannot make these feelings stop and feel you 'should' have the control to stop drinking.

But we all know it is not that simple unfortunately. If it was, alcohol abuse would not be the massive problem it is today. You are not some special breed of weak person who can't control themselves ( as I have believed about myself at times) alcohol is an addictive substance and anyone drinking it is running the risk of addiction.

What you can do - and you CAN do this - is take one day at a time and work towards reducing your alcohol intake or stopping altogether. Just because you had some yesterday does not take away from the efforts you have made on previous days and the achievement when you have gone a day without drinking. Focus in that because you can do it again.

I could be wrong but I believe sorting out your drinking is a long journey, and there aren't many people ( but there are some I guess) who decide their drinking is a problem, stop and never start again.

So please don't give up and come back and let us know how you are.

Hello to everyone else, I hope you are all enjoying the sunshine. It's beautiful out there. I have just sat and watched one of my sons at football training. I was out last night with work but I drove and it felt wonderful to come home with a clear head, take off my make up and go to bed sober. This morning I am tired but sitting watching my boy without wondering if I need to be sick and feeling the world spinning was such a reward. It felt great.

Also I remember everything I said last night and at no point did I lurch into the ladies toilet and confront myself in the mirror with drunk eyes that look like something off Tom N Jerry!! And think shit I have had waaaaay too much and everyone will notice.

The sunshine today feels like a trigger but I am determined to resist, I have decided new experiences are good so a hot day without alcohol here I come! I am sure I'll enjoy it once I have done it.

Have a good day babes

Pink X

Ps oh can anyone tell me, is Becks Blue proper alcohol free? That's what is says on the box but I see the label says something like no more than 0.5% alcohol. I do enjoy one with some lemonade but if it has alcohol in it then I am reluctant. Thanks.

Afternoon all and what a glorious one it is

thru I think I just need someone to talk to who isn't going to judge or pity me - you are in the right place for that here. You can talk about anything you want here, as much or as little as you want to say. No-one will judge or pity you.

another how are you feeling today? It's a new day, what's gone is done. Be kind to yourself, we are our own worst critics aren't we? Take it easy, drink plenty of water or other non-alkie drink and have something nourishing to eat. It's salad weather, great for my diet!

Thurso congratulations, my lovely. Quite a daunting change but you will be great. Is it still a term based position? Let us know how you get on. Does this mean you have the summer off, or lots to prepare for?

Pink 0.5% is a tiny amount, the same as some alcohol-free wine. It just means that the alcohol has been removed but may leave a trace, I think. And mixed with lemonade it will be barely anything. But if you are at all concerned, don't have any. No point in risking a trigger is there?