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

Sorry to let u babes down time time again as I always do I don't deserve my place on this bus as I let u all down time time again

This sorry to hear you feeling so low. You don't earn your place on the bus, you just have it with no judgement and no 'letting down'. What's happened to make you feel so awful? Sorry I have not been keeping up very well lately as now the holidays are over I am so caught up in work so not sure how you have been getting on.

If it is any help I have been where you are SO many times, the guilt, regret and self loathing are a killer but This there is hope!! I bet you have had more sober days since you have joined the bus than you did before, yes? That is a positive in itself, every day that you are AF or cut down is a step along the right path. Tackling this problem does not happen overnight unfortunately BUT you are tackling it! That is a good thing and something to be proud of, some people never manage to even face up to it and remain in denial forever.

If you are feeling rough get some coffee in you, plenty of water and pain killers and then come and keep posting today and there will be support here for you. And next time the WW comes calling you can read your posts from this morning and inspire yourself to kick her into touch, I have used some of my old posts for that reason quite a few times.

Sorry I have got to dash, sending love and strength to all on the bus, hello to the new people I hope to get to know you all better in the future.

Day 30 for me and it is a simple fact that if it were not for this bus I would never have got here I would still be drinking 60 units a week and living with constant fear and anxiety.

Have a good day babes,

Pink X

Good morning Babes x Still here, still AF- day 12.

I really hope that the babes finding this hard are able to visit their Dr or Psychiatrist. Being crippled by anxiety and unable to sleep will destroy anybody, drinker or not. I can't sleep unmedicated, it doesn't make me weak or a bad person, just someone who can't switch off and get the rest I need.

The pain in some of your posts is unbelievable - you are doing your best in such difficult circumstances. You are truly brave. Please get a bit selfish, treasure yourselves, listen to what you really need and take it. Maybe that's quiet time, maybe its time to exercise, maybe its some new clothes or hobby equipment. Just take it. Anything is better than the WW.

Have a positive day babes, look after yourselves and be proud of yourselves x x x

Morning all babes, especially to newbies and Duck, Beaches, Art, Mrs Pickle, Daisy, Velvet, Blue and Annie, Conquita (funny lady!), Blue, indisguise, OMG and sausages. If I haven't already said so, welcome to the Bus

Why So great to read your post (apart from the bi-polar bit - but at least you can get some help with that) you are already sounding more positive

Babyjane Great posts, you are such an inspiration for the new babes who are struggling.

This is Please try to find someone to help you sweetheart, you need some RL help, it sounds like it is all getting too big for you, hope you are ok today.

Ma My veg patch is very damp at the moment, sadly I don't think I'll find any more large vegetables in it.

Inde Je suis en forme ma cherie x

Mouse Hope you're ok, I know you have a lot of stuff going on in RL.

Day 3/7 for me today. I will not be drinking. Much happier with SW, I've dug all my stuff out about it and feeling better today.

Very rainy here in France, the dog dragged my knitting into his basket - (needles still attached) - and he growls when I try to get it off him. He is a bad dog.

Love to all today, especially struggling babes. Purps - you ok sweetheart?

Art wow, 12 days, that is fantastic

This if you only promise yourself one thing, please make it that you will keep posting. Did you make that appointment with the gp? I think you should go today. Just pick up the phone and say you need to see someone today. Then come back and let us know what they said x

Hey LaTrollope, still rummaging around in your veg patch I see

Just reporting in. I'm at work so can't stay. I must admit I feel better today than I have in months. Didn't sleep particularly well. Woke up really itchy and had a cold sweat! Weird!

With day one under my belt though, I feel more positive about managing another. Today I will not drink. Thanks babes X

wel done daisy bloody well done and a big cheer to art for a fantabulous 12 days.
this it is impossible to let anyone down on this bus and if I hear you say that once more i shall smack you round the chops with Barry the squid who is here for that very purpose
Keep posting, keep talking to us....
jango are you out there? are you ok?
waves to faire and latrollope and all the other babes.
Puts out a MIA for purple and edinbugger

I was reminded yesterday at my NA meeting (know its not alcohol but may be useful) of my responsibility to keep trying.
If I fall over I have to keep going.
I had a blip about 2 months ago and beat myself up massively but back in to it again and I am doing it.
You can too, thought I'd show my support.

Hi thisis I've just read all your previous posts to get a feel for your situation, I found lots of warm, concerned intelligent posts to a lush called babyjane, shit that's me !!! At a time I had crippling depression, panic attacks and utter self loathing there are lots of kind empathetic words to my broken self. Fast forward 6 weeks and after depickling my liver and brain my glass is half full not half empty, poor analogy but IT'S THE WINE that's creating this despair, you need to get to your GP and tell them how you feel, AD's have changed my life and i also have a 2 year old so I know how hard life can be. You told me I could do it and I did, now I'm telling you!!!!!!! Big squishy hugs xxxxx ps READ YOUR POSTS, your fabulous xxxxx

Well done art that's amazing, how do you feel??? X

Sorry to read so many of us were struggling yesterday :( posting from my phone so I can't name check. I don't think I dare go on dhs pc anymore. It's been freezing up and the last thing I want is it freezing on this page....

Anyway day three today. I'm not sure if counting days like this helps me. On the one hand I can see I'm finally managing af days, on the other it's a bit depressing to never get past day six. I'd love to get to double figures or get to the point where I no longer needed to count. I don't know if that's possible though. I read the alan carr book and I think he said you can never go back - your always falling further down. Then again I read it twice, wanting to stop drinking,and I didn't cut down at all. Not sure why as I pretty much accepted what he was saying.

Wow was that only six weeks ago babyjane, you've really turned it around :) x

Hi Babes, day 2 for me. Woke up after a deathly sleep feeling a tiny bit proud. Big hopes for day 2 and onward.

I love to hear that some of you have noticed a reduction in anxiety, I swing from moods quite regularly. One minute I can feel strong and capable then out of nowhere I am like an unsure child. Covering up the insecurities and inconsistencies is very draining too. I am so hoping that if I do not drink for a while then my head will just calm down a bit so I can work out how much is the way I am and how much is the effect of all the wine.

Well done to all of you that are trying so hard and thanks for being so welcoming.

Afternoon, tis me, Mouse

Welcome to all the wonderfully new and brave Babes who have hoped on board this wonderful Bus of fabulousness!

Sorry that I've not been around, life as Trollope said, is crazy busy right now with lots of hospital appointments for me and the boy. Lots going on at school too, homework, reading, trying to keep a close eye on his emotional state and also his physical one. He's complaining of shoulder and back pain due to his disability and I think that it's having an affect on his day at school, bless him.

Anyway - low carbing is going well, I'm back on track. :)

I'm sorry to say that I've not caught up properly because there's just too many wonderful posts and people who have been chatting away, helping each other, supporting one another and caring. I love this Bus xxx

So, I'm starting from here if that's okay.

My friend is coming over from the I.O.M this weekend so I have lots to do, DH has painted and tiled the kitchen and it looks absolutely AMAZING! He has worked so hard, so very hard :)

DD is settling in really well with this term, and might have a new friend who she likes rather a lot at school, he sounds fab. Very friendly..... :)

As for me, well, I'm having physio, acupuncture, hydrotherapy and using my TENS at the moment to try and help get through a day! My crutches are helping though.

TMI - I've also got a period which has thrown me given my GP and I are pretty convinced that I'm in early menopause, so anyway.... there you have it, TMI over!

So, there you have it, an update from me! Now I'm off to a 'Good as new sale' at school so that I can see if there are any tiny items for sale for my tiny Fish :)

I hope to get to know all of the wonderful knew Babes in time, hello to the rest of you mottley crew!

beaches your doing great, day 1 is tough, your body is already detoxing, drink lots of water, eat nice clean foods, do some excercise, be good to yourself and each day will get better and anxiety will defo improve, well done so far xxx

jango please check in. Don't make me hand out the body armour and mobilise the SWAT team to come and get you.....

Annie you could try Latrollope's method and work on one week at a time. So this week you are aiming for 7 af days out of 7. So far you have 3 out of 7. Just see how far through the week you can get. Then start again on Saturday.

Well done Daisy, beaches and anyone else ticking off the days.

Can I second Ma's shout out for babes MIA. Just drop us a line, let us know you're ok. Remember the bus's motto - 'You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave' (or 'Once a babe, always a babe ).

Mouse thanks for making time to pop in and keep a beady eye check on us. I expect Nemo is finding school very tiring but it sounds like he is being brilliant as usual. Take care of yourself, lovely x

Ma and faire touched you are thinking of me .. I still feel like I'm in a fog, but a little calmer today so small steps. I know I checked out but I ain't leaving x

Ah, well done Ma that flushed her out . Lovely to hear from you Jango, are you planning on an af day today?

Apologies for my usual typos!

Thank you Faire - I'm struggling with the homework aspect actually Nemo is just not interested. He can count to 30 and tell you the alphabet in full but just doesn't want to hold a pencil.

I'm exhausted with trying not to turn it into a battle but have spoken to his teacher who has said, as long as he does 'something', makes a mark on the floor outside with chalks, pens on a whiteboard, that sort of thing, then she'll mark his work.

So basically, if I write in his home link book that he wrote or scribbled a certain letter on paper, or the bath with bath pens, or in the sand etc, anywhere really, to say he's tried, she'll accept that.

And he's in the local paper! They put the pictures of the new school starters in the press :)

We're going to contact them to get a few prints! He's the only one that is really smiling a massive and he's right at the front!!!! What a star!

[It's dusty in this Bus, wipes tear, sniffs]]

Be back later to see how everyone is getting on..... Keep on fighting that witch bitch ladies! You can do this xxx

His teacher sounds fab! Very understanding and sensible too. If he can have fun making marks, the rest will follow. How grown up he's getting!

Soooooooooooo grown up Faire :)

Jango - the thing about this Bus and it's current 47 passengers, is that we all think of someone, someone is always wondering about another poster, hoping, caring and praying that they are okay and getting through life the best that they can no matter what.

Thank you for letting us know you're around lovely :) I'm sorry you feel a foggy.... you know that you can talk to us about anything and not be judged I hope?

The vulnerable need our support not our judgement xxx

jango how's things with you babe? Is everyone else ok tonight??? Xxx ladame my lovely friend, I'm going to
PM you later with a brilliant fat free alternative to butter I've discovered, it's tastes like the real thing but easy on the syns? Don't want to hijack the thread but if anyone wants in on my secret I will spill xxx

< Opens door and tentatively pokes head round >

I think I might need some help . JC this is difficult . Just want to be back in control , which Im not just now . Im fine till 5pm Fri then it just spirals and to be frank I feel like alcohol controls me from that point on . sober fom sat - fri but starting to think that might not cut it anymore

will lurk for a while x