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
I'm on day one again but I did it
Going to set myself of no drink until Friday, id looooove to get till Friday seems a long time
Alcohol is such a problem in my life it would be better for me to not drink at all then problem gone,
And the money with only 100 shopping days till Xmas I could do without the £160 a month beverage bill
Iv got to be strong iv got to be strong ....

Friday night I did not drink. However on Saturday something happened that really stressed me out so I bought a bottle. I drank three glasses though, and my bf drank one glass with me. Then yesterday I drank the remaining one glass. It was ok, I was happy with it. I thought to myself if maybe I just drank on a Saturday, then I might be ok. We will see if the situation remains to be civilised......

Morning everyone welcome all new babes haven't got much time this morning, so sorry not to nc.

Just wanted to say hi to Ma - four days, FOUR DAYS!! Well done, I thought I'd never stop smiling after going four days AF.

I'm done with the Low Carbing, I honestly just can't do it. The thought
of another egg or chicken salad fills me with dread. I can't not have toast or sugar in my tea. I'm going to do SW, I did it before and lost loads. Now that I am (at least four days AF, I can save my Syns for my nights on and not feel deprived. Sorry to hijack with diet talk.

Marking my place for later. I will not drink today

its the inner French tart indie
hi to duck and flumps
Well done to tango - you sound determined.
whydid good luck today

thanks all for the support - as always

shout out to venus and thurso and silver and purple and all lurking

Morning all, am crawling back on the bus with fuzzy head, fell off big time after only two AF days. Will be AF today.
I have lots and lots of difficult things going on at home, but I know they are not helped by my heavy drinking.

Hi gorgeous babes, latrollope I'm on SW too although I'm not really being as committed as I should be, still fighting the sugar cravings but have bought vitamins to help me combat this, we can do it together. inside your back!!!!! We missed you girl. alias chin up babe, guggen and faire I love your posts to the newbies, so wise and supportive... To all babes new and old (you know what I mean) have a great Monday, good day to start again, we all start this week with an "A" xxxxx

Morning all babes, and welcome newbies :) sorry not to name check, , I'm on my phone and about to go to work :(

Day Two today. Im going to try to remain af till Saturday. It's my 40th so I'm sure I'll be drinking then, will be expected to. I'm already dreading the hangover...two glasses of wine and i suffer the next day.

Anyway I've renewed my gym membership, if I'm not hungover I can make use of it, and im semi low carbing for the rest of the week. Sort of doing sw red days without unlimited fruit. Im thinking that once my birthday is put of the way I will try to focus on getting fitter. Of course I plan this all the time, like every Monday!

faire I think an 11-year-old could hurt an adult quite a lot - considering the amount of damage she could do to her room with a sharp pair of scissors and a heavy mortar & pestle! The word "HATE" has been chiselled onto her dressing table...

She is so angry (with us and herself and... the world)

DH is also angry (he seems like he's uptight all the time about... everything?) I am thinking maybe we all need parenting classes (or anger management)

alias my goodness she sounds very angry indeed. Its often donned on me that when we have babies, so many people show us what to do and monitor our well being, I think the same should be done for the transition to teenage girls, they are all mixed up and angry and their cruel words leave us hurt and baffled, it's a minefield that no one can guide us through. Maybe family councilling would help, I think chiseling hate is extreme behaviour and she might open up to someone outside the family and a trained councillor will ask the right questions. I know how stressed you must be, I hate when there is tension in the house, it's meant to be a safe haven for all the family but sounds like your on a war zone!!! If it helps my older dd was an angel until she turned 11, then she got all cheeky and ungracious bit it all calmed down again when she got her "time of the month" you could even call the Samaritans for advice, they will know the best help available, I know that sounds extreme but they must deal with teenage angst every day, big hugs. .flumps hi there, we all have a poison of choice and we all struggle to manage it so your very welcome here, many people on here have had alcohol AND drug issues so your most welcome... Xxx

Inde I'm sitting in a see-through tight black blouse, typing whilst squinting through the smoke drifting up from the Gauloise stuck on the bottom of my jammy red over-lipsticked mouth and shrugging every couple of minutes. I can SO do inner French tart, although I might not be able to keep it up Je suis un fabuleux Tart français, non?

Why Thinking of you, hope it's going well.

joey sorry to hear about your dd, I've had many problems with mine and anger is very destructive at that age, i know

babyjane I've dug out my SW folder. Welcome back jacket potatoes, mushy pea curry, spag bol and SW chips .... Shall we do it together, lovely?

Day 2/7, today I will not be drinking j'espere.

Passez une bonne journée tous les bébés xx

Thanks babyj and latrollope She was able to talk to my friend who she loves and thinks the world of, and she knows that she can pick up the phone to her anytime.

Yes, chiselling "HATE" is pretty extreme - especially if we can't get it off - I don't want her to have to live with that in her bedroom.

I've looked up about parenting classes and can't find anything in the near future. Can't afford anger management. Maybe could get something online, but don't know if DH would agree to it. I don't really blame him for my drinking lapse on Saturday - we were all pushed to extremes and it was entirely my responsibility to handle it that way.

Je vais essayer de practicer (?) mon francais ecrit, que j'ai pas utilise depuis plusieurs annees. Premier lecon: ce matin j'ai eu un pain au chocolate pour petit dejuener. J'ai fait des grandes taches sur mon blouson, mai je n'arrivee pas a les voir qu'avant je suis deja installe au boulot. Merde.

Bugger, I hate it when that happens!! Was it the chocolately bits? Can you not slowly lick them off during the day? (Haven't had chocolate for aaggees, would lick it off a scabby horse). Ahem. As you were.

Alias Tres bon mon ami xxxxx

latrollope yes your inner French Tart is really showing there...

Hi babes
Am scared now. Really scared. This has got such a grip on me now. I feel sick to the stomach when not drinking:( and nearly as ba when drinking. Feel like I ve no escape any more. Ashamed to even think this but have considered not bein here anymore:( I'm a robot on auto pilot and I'ts only a matter of time before I make a big mistake and lose everything . I just feel I can't do this is really the worst I have ever ever felt and I've been really low many many times. I ve not felt happy at all this year! Ever I'm faking it always ! Someone will Suss me out soon I know they will xx

jango there is no point in trying to fool people anyway. You are only fooling yourself. What are you trying to cope with? Is there anyone to share the burden and give you the chance to prioritise?

You need to look after you right now. And I do mean now. Everything else can wait. You must tackle the drinking first because that is the most important.

An old babe called MIFLAW used to talk about problem drinking as being in a lift. The lift only goes down, life gets worse and worse and worse. You can get out whenever you like but the longer you stay in the lift, the lower you will sink.

Get out of the lift jango. Take all the support, AA, friends, family, the bus, your gp, anything and everything and use it, my lovely. Use it to get yourself well again.

Are you drinking now? If not make that decision to not drink today. Just for today. And tomorrow get on the phone to the gp. If you are drinking stop. Have something to eat, clean your teeth, have a bath and put your pjs on.

Please come back and let us know how you're doing. You can do this.

Joey I'm surprised your dh confronts dd when she's like that, it doesn't seem like a sensible choice. So sorry that she is being destructive but at least that anger is coming out, instead of internalising and self harming. Her school will have a counsellor, it would be worth getting in touch with them so that they can help.

You are obviously such a loving and caring mum, you are trying so hard to help her. It will get better but your dh might have to learn to walk away and let her calm down. I just think you need a big ((((hug)))) right now x

Hi everyone
I just wanted to ask if anyone has had trouble with sleep after giving up alcohol? I've had a few alcohol free days now after drinking quite a lot on and off over 4 years. I feel knackered now, but need to go and get DS in a mo and know when I climb into bed later I just won't feel sleepy. Last two nights I've not got to sleep until far too late. It's driving me mad and I'm just so tempted to have one just to get to sleep. Though I know this won't help in the long run!

Jango So sorry you are feeling this way. The alcohol is fuelling the anxiety and the anxiety is driving the need for the alcohol. It's a horrible circle and the only way to get out is to break it and the only way to break it is to stop. Each AF day will give you just a little bit more strength. Remember, One Day At A Time. Do anything to help yourself this evening .. even if you have to go to bed NOW, with a book and a hot drink. Don't be in a position where you can just pick up. Please decide that you can do this. If you've read back over the threads you will know that you're not the only one to experience this feeling and it can be stopped - YOU can stop it. Make your first stand tonight. We'll all be standing behind you.

Hi lovely's
I'm on day two! And I do t know how iv done it but I have and I have money spare money that would of been a big drink no questions

velvet I always struggle to sleep when not drinking I guess it passes

jango you are depressed, I know this because I could have written your post myself 2 months ago!! The only place booze will take you is down faire is spot on as always, you need to get help, are you on AD's? I PROMISE you things will get better if you can get out of the wine rut, I'm almost shouting at my phone, please please see your GP and you need to share this enormous burden with someone, I wish I could give you a big hug and tell you face to face that things can get so much better and fairly quickly if you can find the strength to help yourself, I'm 6 weeks from where you are now and everything looks different and life has went from barely tolerable to hopeful, it can be done jango, I believe in you, we all do xxx

Why is this so hard? I'm tired but still have to keep going. The kids are screaming at one another. I need to go out and take the eldest to training. I really don't want to stop at the shops on the way home. I do need a couple of things but they could easily wait until tomorrow.

The exhaustion is getting to me this time and it really is forcing me to challenge myself with this. Sick and tired of feeling sick and tired!!

I am really appreciating all the wise words right now. I know they are aimed at Jango. But I can hear my own battle with myself in my head. Needing a drink is screaming at me. But getting day one done is so important to me.