The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Travelling Far And Wide, With Sobriety In Mind.

[Mouseface]

Welcome to the Bus one and all! I'm Mouse, one of the Brave Babes :)

We have a new line that we're taking with us on every journey, thanks to one of our wonderful Babes, Curry -

Alcohol Fosters Inertia.

So when you're drinking excessively, nothing changes, or improves, the sharp edges of our lives just becomes that little bit less in focus, blurred and all you feel is numb. Then like shit (emotionally, as well as physically) if you're honest! Who wants that?

You are only ever better/pacified/happy whilst the alcohol is in your system. And that doesn't last........... it's not a cure, it's a quick fix. A sticking plaster.

So, if you think you're drinking too much, and want some friendly advice, or just to come and have a chat, get to know others who are just like you, who won't judge or criticise you, then hop on board! :)

We're a really mixed bunch and all at different stages of our journey to find sobriety or certainly drinking in a more controlled, less dangerous way.

And, if you'd like to see where we've been so far, have a look at the links below :)

LAST THREAD

THE STARTING POINT AND WHY WE'RE ALL HERE

Hi all :)
Welcome to ART and Balancing . You are indeed aboard a supportive bus.
Im still managing just about not to pick up- thought I have have several triggers during the day. First was about nine am at WORK! Obviously couldnt act upon it but if I hadnt been at work then god only knows :( this was a work problem/stress so I have kind of just detached myself.. telling self that that particular stress will mean nothing in a week or two.

Second trigger was about two hours ago I was doing the supermarket shop just feeling totally overwhelmed with everything! also was hungry. I thought stuff it I will feed dd2 and I in the cafe! It DID work the craving/urge passed.
So for today I have battered the wine witch/bitch!! and she sure is a bitch.
Wishing all babes strength and serenity. I am safe for today.

Not keeping to it tonight will have to make tomorrow my 2/7. Good luck to all other babes tonight.

September not good here, all our taxes come out at once ... budgeting and talks about money. WW was inevitable tonight ... sorry if that makes me sound weak, having to wind up my catering company and dd off back to uni with all the expense that entails. We pay tax for the house and global tax, as well as recalculation for our yearly tax. OMG so much to find.

Failed tonight day one again tomorrow x

evening all
jango well done for resisting.
ladamesounds stressful.finances are always a trigger for me too. fresh start tomorrow.

day 4 here for me, and I am struggling massively. I wont give in tonight, off to bed soon...but...these last couple of days I have felt awful. It feels as if my depression and anxiety are just spiraling out of control. I have drunk so much less over the last 3 weeks, only 2 bottles of wine in fact, but right now I feel worse than I have done in months.
Anyone else experienced anything like this? I don't know how long can bare feeling like this will it pass? I just want to hide under the director ever

Thanks guggs and baby I love 'deal with what is killing you first'. It is so overwhelming to try to think about solving everything at once.

ladame stress is a massive trigger isn't it? I think we should try to not beat ourselves up about being human. Who said we have to be perfect anyway? I am on day one (so far so good) and I am trying to practice compassion to myself and others. There is a book called The Compassionate Mind which I would recommend. If we could all stop the cycle of negative self punishing thoughts leading to horrible feelings leading to self medicating with alcohol/food/whatever....

Sorry - starting to ramble!!! Anyway I love being on this bus and feel the most positive and hopeful that i have in years thank you so much xxx

lol, under the duvet for ever....no directors round here

Hi babes, 6 weeks AF today, still being vigilant, that ww is a crafty sod!!! Everything in RL us the same but I feel stronger and less anxious in dealing with my lot, an extremely lively toddler, a moody hormonal teenager and a grumpy, selfish dd, even the dog's hormonal!!! I just do my best and keep on keeping on, oh and have lots of baths to pass the cravings so I'm sober and very clean, stay strong babes x x x

Baby do you feel great x

Baby do you feel great x

Well done Baby x

bobbly i know it seems as there is no light at the end of the tunnel but stick with it. I remember feeling really angry at this stage. I had quit the booze and yet things seemed worse than ever. You are allowing yourself to experience your true feelings without the edges rubbed off so its normal for the emotions you had numbed to surface. I also learned that unfortunately, giving up booze doesn't mean that life will be perfect. I found it difficult to actually confront my feelings without being able just to say fuck it and pick up instead. Its part of the journey and so you are on your way.. stick with it and focus on finding strategies that help you in the here and now. This will pass and you will be stronger for it. You are doing so well. Its just the most difficult thing but you will get there xx

thisis I feel like a different person. My depression and anxiety were at crisis point and had succumbed to a few daytime drinking sessions and I know I was in very dangerous drinking territory so by far the biggest benefit is being free of the sick heavy hangovers and despair that filled me with shame and fear. I have lost a bit of weight and taking better care of my skin but up til now been having way too much sugar (seems to help with cravings). Today I have started slimming world properly and I've had all my long blind hair cut into a bob and people say I look younger. I go swimming most days and take my little one

Baby I'm at the same point with dangerous point? It's easy to drink n feel better in the short term

Out more than ever before. I won't pretend my life is perfect but it's the life i have and I want to remember how I live it. Finally my teenage dd admires me for fighting back against my depression and realises her mother is strong and capable and that I love her more than wine and misery. Oh and I laugh more, much more..... X x x

My depression is unbearable cant see the light at the end of the tunnel I wish every day to be over x

This just focus on today - the here and now. One minute at a time. Do you know any breathing exercises?

Well done baby. Ive just got through day 6 through some miracle! I also think the big problem is then dealing properly 0with life without fuzzing it out with wine! I got to 30 days recently and had got through and dont know why reverted back hopefully not this time!
Meant to ask isinde - how did it go with your sis on sunday? Did you survive ok? I hope so!!
Nite nite all.

Evening babes,

The bus is moving so fast these days I can't keep up! I keep promising myself I will NC everyone as it meant so much to me when I first started but then I see how much I have missed, can't keep up and don't post at all.....I think I am going to have to post what I can when I can and please forgive me if I look rude or unsupportive!

Hello to all newcomers, you are in the right place and hang onto your hats as things so move fast but the babes will all help you Strength to everyone who is struggling at the moment, horrible repetitive Groundhog Day feeling! I had a bad craving at the weekend but managed to resist (well I had to, I was driving!) but it took me by surprise and made me realise the WW is ALWAYS lurking and ready to pounce.....I don't think I will ever be able to let my guard down.

Anyway day 22 done and dusted for me, has anyone on here every managed a AF Christmas can I ask? Was it easy?! Wouldn't be thinking that far ahead but......

Well done Baby you are fab. Hi to Lonnika and all other babes,

Pink X

Sorry this xposted. I dont know if it will help but I felt like I was being hit with stress from all directions when i stopped blocking it out. I tried to just let it flood me and accept all the awful stress and anxiety hoping it wouldnt actuallyvkill me. And it didnt but things became easier. Dont know if this helps but it might?

Hi all end of a long long day. THIS IS sorry your feeling so bad. I have days like that but I know they are a lot to do with the situation I find self in - in the middle if a messy break up- with the pratt from hell!!
The one thing that sustains me is knowing that this will pass, I dont know when but it will.
Well done baby pink you are both doing so so well.
Night al babes xx

Faire don't really know any breathing exercises was thinking if taking up yoga? Dr prescribed me AD but scared to take them thinking of trying acupuncture xx

bailstersmum great post to bobbly
ladame sorry to hear you sounding so down my little Camembert. So hard to have the energy into fight the ww when worried sick about money

thisis AD really really helped me, don't rule them out, I was in a dreadful state with depression and they lifted my mood heaps, after I stopped drinking they kicked in even more, booze cancels out the serotonin as its a depressant . Yoga also has helped, use every tool you can to help yourself xxxxx

Hi all, am new here.
I wrote recently on another post I created about my concerns with alcohol, how I have gone three years without drinking, and have just started again. I came to the conclusion that I should not drink, because I became obsessed with thinking about it. But then last weekend I thought, I'm ok... so I bought a bottle of beautiful red pinot noir and ended up drinking the whole thing myself. I know I cannot stop at 2 glasses, and I need to stop drinking completely so I stop thinking about it. I think I am at the right place for support! I hope I can help you guys too in some way. Thanks....