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

Good morning Conquita, get on the bus! I only just got on so a bit uninformed but others will be along soon. Well done on your 3 years (raises mug of coffee to your next 3 x x)

Thanks ArtV, I hope you are coping being AF too : )

yep, three years, and it is amazing how I got back into bad habits so quickly, it has only literally been 4 weeks since I bought the first bottle of wine. I would drink 2 glasses on a Friday and 2 glasses on a Saturday, all very civilised. Then as each week went by I was drinking considerably more just on a Friday and Saturday, and then last week I drank a whole bottle on Saturday night. What makes things worse is that my partner does not drink so I am secretive and act as though my behaviour is normal, when obviously it isn't. I decided two weeks ago I would stop, but like I said I thought I would be ok, but I am not. I absolutely love red wine, I really wish I could stop at two glasses I really do....I went so long not drinking [the reasons why are another story] I know I can do it again. I just have to get rid of the thoughts and cravings.
Thanks for making me feel so welcome.

Morning all and welcome to conquita. What were you doing up at 2am, was that wine related, children, insomnia? Anyway, well done on 3 years, that is fabulous.

I was wondering, when you stopped the first time, did you just stop and not touch a drop for those three years? Or did it take a few attempts to get there?

Isinde you are brilliant! Telling your dsis is a massive step in your armoury against the ww. What was her response? Supportive, I hope?

My I'm a nosey babe this morning with all these questions

Have a good day all

I'm not in the UK
When I went three years without drinking, I just stopped, I also gave up smoking, so took up knitting! which worked with keeping my mind off the cravings! I think I may take up knitting again as off Friday. Thanks for the welcome, you are not nosey at all

Morning all babes and a very warm welcome to the very exotic sounding conquita. Can I ask everyone reading if anyone takes the AD venlaflaxine. It has worked wonders for my depression and anxiety but is causing me vivid and disruptive nightmares (at least I think that's the cause) it's really messing up my much needed sleep but I don't want to change again as these suit me in every other way. Any feedback appreciated. conquita if you gave up before without this bus, this time with the support of the feisty females here, it will be nae bother for a sassy lady like you. ladame I'm sorry you have to close your little business, financial pressure is a bitch, hope everything turns out ok. Feeling a bit bleh after horrid dreams but time stops for no woman so off to walk dog and dd while its dry and sunny, love to all super babes today x x x

Morning bailsters thanks for your reply.you are right with all you say. I guess I am just struggling with facing up to the realities of life now that it isn't blurred by alcohol. I do feel a but panicked and overwhelmed and as if I can't make things better, it is hard to see any ways I can make changes at the moment which is why I ended up turning to drink I suppose...anyway, one day at time.
indis well done on telling your sister.I hope she was understanding.
coquita hi. 3 years after, what an achievement.
art thanks for the coffee!
baby how long have you been on venlafaxine? When I started fluoxetine I had really vivid dreams for a few weeks.they did stop eventually. (I'm now on citalopram and didn't notice them...so.much.with that....)

Right, I need to be positive today. I Struggle so much with the evenings , I in fact the whole time from school pick up till I fall into bed at about 10. Bedtimes have become a nightmare and it is taking me hours to get the youngest 3 in bed... I need a new plan.
Instead if letting it overwhelm me I am going to try and create a better routine....
Anyway, trying to pull myself out of feeling so rubbish...bleurgh!

Right must dash, back.later.x

Hi everyone,

I hope you don't mind joining your thread. I have started one a couple of days ago asking for advice on how to cope with other people's attitude towards my non-drinking. It has been really helpful.
I'm reading Jason Vales "Kick the drink..easily" and I'm half way the book. I'm feeling pretty confident, no fear about stopping but unease on how it's going to be received by my entourage.

You see I have stopped for a year a couple of years, not everyone was really supportive and I'm getting a bit stressed about it.

I shouldn't have gone back to drink full stop, it doesn't agree with me at all. All it took was an "innocent" mulled wine last christmas and it went slowly downhill from that moment. I'm not as bad as I used to be but it's still bad and unacceptable.

This is my story !

Thank you isinde, what makes me stop last time, was a easyway to stop alcohol seminar, it worked, I just lost the way really.

I hope you can avoid the situation tonight !

Hi bobbly been on these AD's for s while and since stopping drinking they have had an amazing effect but as I'm more "lucid" when I'm sleeping, they are vivid. Violent and eating away at my daytime energy. Can you get out a few evenings??? Maybe a yoga class or Zumba, even a swim???? My 2 year old is sleeping in bed with us and doesn't go to sleep til between 10pm and 12, I've tried everything, it's a big trigger for me as frustration and tiredness kick in, if you have any advice/success please please share, you to inside Crikey you have double trouble!!! This issue prevents dh and I having any communication/private time and it needs fixing, previously wine would quieten the chaos. bobbly I find that when I go out in the evening, dd behaves better and dh gets to see how hard it is, and I get some "me" time ..... Could you manage this??? Xxx

Day Two again. On more positive note I'm finding it much easier than before to get back to having af days after a couple of days of drinking. Before it was mostly daily drinking with maybe one af day a week or fortnight.

Well kids were back at school yesterday and I'm hoping that with drinking less I'm going to be able to get alot more done. I have to redecorate the house and so far I've felt overwhelmed by how much I have to do. I hope I'll be in a better place to do it. That said from 3pm it's a constant battle with the dds which leaves me angry a d frustrated and reaching for that glasss of wine....

Sorry not to name check, I'm on my phone and struggle to even write a literate post!

Hi Ratatouille I saw your thread, welcome to the bus I'm sure you will have lots of good advice

Isinde this could be an opportunity for you. You could face this head on. Is it just the one night? Could you go all out to break that hotel drinking habit?

Make a list of all your reasons not to drink. Make a list of all the alternative drinks you could have (including bringing your own). Take the list with you and nip to the loo to read it if you feel a wobble coming on. What about a picture of dts and dp?

Decide now what you are going to order at the bar for your first drink and stick to it no matter what. Think of a reason you can give for not drinking if anyone tries to pressure you. Eat right before you meet so that you already feel full?

Isinde lots of people said already but well done for telling your sis and good luck this evening. Im getting through day 7 with great difficulty atm.

Day 3 here. Determination to stick to low carb boot camp is helping banish the wine witch. If I had the choice of wine or bread tonight I would take the bread.

Well have had sh@t two weeks - so many positive Stories on here :) Do not feel positive myself :(

Hey lon I was doing ok then ruined it with 3 days of drinking , back on day one feeling full of regret are u still AF ?

Hey Lonnie what's up? Sorry to hear things are tough. Stay with us!

Well done Ma and hats off to low carbers, I tried it once and couldn't hack it at all!

Thisis I have been where you are so many times and it is horrible feeling but it's true all you can do is take a massive breath, square your shoulders and start again. I really hope I one day stay off altogether and never start again so I don't have to pull myself back out of the pit (again) as it is truly a dreadful feeling. The anxiety I get when I drink is horrid to say the least.

Anyway love to all babes out there, thank you for how much you all help me every day,

Pink X

Hi lon sorry your feeling down, can we help?? Your doing so so well and RL alcohol free is tough, stay strong and be proud of what you've achieved... inside very brave telling your sister and I hope your coping ok at the hotel, thinking of you!!! Off to bed, hugs and hope to all my babe friends tonight xxxxx

I'm thinking if I am stopping drinking then if I want that muffin or biscuit then I will bloody well have it!

When I gave up drinking for those 3 years, I lost a lot of friends through it. I was almost met with suspicion because I wasn't the same wild and crazy conquita anymore. So now, I have no social life, I don't have people I meet outside of work on a Friday or Saturday anymore. But do you know what, that does not matter. As long as my home life is happy than that is all that matters to me. So those of you who are concerned about the opinions of others when you tell you have stopped drinking, please be prepared to lose touch with some of those people, it will happen. Friendships I had for 20 years suddenly disappeared.

Also, I am by no means exotic! I just like this name!

Also, I just wanted to add whilst I am not working when I should be thinking about this, I have found life to be boring. Yes, it is boring without the alcohol. I know that sounds controversial but it is true. Not only did I lose my social life, I also lost the buzz I got from the drink. This is why I started drinking again, I missed it and when I was drinking I really loved the feeling, but I just can't stop at a civilised amount - and that is why I have to stop drinking completely again. I envy people who can stop at two glasses, who can enjoy a glass with their dinner, I wish I could be like them, but I am not...

Morning everyone. Day 8 but not feeling that great. Seem to be getting tireder by the day.

Omg well done on day 8 that's great morning conquita day 2 here for me wish I cud even get to day 8 ;( any ways all you can keep doing is trying x

Hi everyone, I'm still reading and willing you all on to success. Still not drinking, seem to have given up cigarettes as a side effect... Keeping busy and then going to bed tired out is what's working for me. Conquita mentioned knitting - yes, I'm knitting up a storm :) Baby - yes also to yoga :)

Anyone noticed their children are much better behaved when mama isn't drinking every night? My DS is noticeably calmer and less whiney - I feel pretty guilty about that. Just going to use that to stay AF.