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 baby defo want syn free butter! Knitting stuff arrived and im half way through first top. Definitely helping take mind of things.

Ps hi tweed and welcome hadnt aeen your post when posted last one. Fridays are hardest day. I try planning lots of exercise for saturday but itdoesnt always work.

Hey jango. I knew the threat of the swat team would do it! We're very scary in body armour
mouse you make sure and give nemo a big squidge from his auntie demented. What a big clever boy he is now. sniff
Lapsed tonight and drinking. Felt so ill today. Headachy and wobbly. Don't know if its the low carb thing but felt soooo crap.

Welcome Tweed

Do you know the best thing about this thread? YOU are in control of how, when, why and what you post.

Take your time, PM people if you feel you would rather ask something privately before putting a thought or question 'out there' as such and remember - we have no idea who you are in real life, but, we are here for you, no matter what x

Ma - I am the most proud mummy in the history of proud mummy's ever. Fact!

My little Nemo has flown, he's spread his wings, he's grown, he's been brave, he's faced each day of fear with a brave heart, a brave head and I admire him.

I actually admire my four year old son for tackling his emotional, social and communication difficulties, head on.

I think I could learn a lot from him, I really do :) He makes me swell with pride. Every day that passes, he is a better, brighter, shinier boy.

With fire in his belly and so much love in his heart for everyone. His courage is amazing.

When we go through the gates in the morning, everyone says 'Morning Nemo, hey Nemo, hello Nemo, how are you?'.......... I go home knowing that he will be okay, he'll be more than okay, One. Day. At. A. Time.

And now I'm taking him to bed as his feed has just finished!

Hope to be back later, if not tomorrow - so just in case, night xxx :)

Hi tweed welcome and happy lurking, it's really good to post, it's a bit easier than saying your feelings out loud initially. OMG your sounding much better, if I've learned one thing through all this its that drinking is mostly habit, changing your routine/hobbies really helps and as the days/weeks go by it becomes less and less of a brain seeper. Onto the important business of butter. Lakeland sell a great product called butter buds, it basically powdered butter, sounds weird but sprinkled over veg, meat, seafood it gives the same taste and silky finish that butter does. It's only 10 cals 0 fat and works in any "wet" food (ie not toast) but it's been a life saver for me as there's only so much boiled or roasted food I can take. It's not even that expensive and a little goes a long way!!! Anything that helps with the fight against fat should be shared. If it helps anyone I have worked out that we eat most meals in roughly 10 minutes whether it be salmon and veg or fish and chips then I spend the other 23 and a bit hours hating my body so is that 10 minutes eating the fish and chips worth that sacrifice, NO its a rubbish trade, it's helping me to look at it that way. In wine terms the 2 hours I took to drink my bottle of wine, only really enjoying the first half hour takes ALL of that night and next day to recover from and god knows how many thought hours, once again we are robbed by that cunning witch. This may sound bizarre but it's true for most oif us or I'm just bonkers!!!!! Xxx

Your definitely not bonkers!!! Your up there with the top inspirational posters. Im going to try some of that butter!! Your dead right about habit breaking. Im just back from shop but bought no wine. I find now that imabstaining more that I get worse hangover than before so literally cant drink much anymore and its easier not to.

Have well and truly blown the low carb tonight. Sorry, but sitting sipping yet another glass of cold water versus a couple of glasses of wine with cheese and lovely salty, crunchy carby crackers....no contest!

Did anyone have any objection to me contributing here?
I'm in NA so don't want to make irrelevant comments!
I still do one day at a time even years on...

I also think that instead of the nights we drink as being failures we should turn that on its head and the days we don't should be victories!! I have also decided that everyone reading this is being brave and courageous because every time that big fat wine wine wrestles us painfully to the ground In a hard hitting thud, everyone of us get up, dust ourselves done and look hard into her wrinkled, red rimmed eyes and we charge towards her all over again... Surely if we were the shit wives and mothers we think we are we wouldn't fight for our lives and families so bloody hard!!! So there xxxx

Oh well said baby Jane
I like that analogy.
Flumps no problem at all. Addiction is addiction. It sucks whether it is drugs or alcohol.

Fab thanks I was a bit unsure even tho I've asked already sorry I'm a numpty that needs to be told about a million times before I accept I'm welcome!!
Sometimes it's not even one day at a time because a whole day is too overwhelming. An hour at a time works for me sometimes, may be helpful, and yes celebrate that hour or that day not ridicule yourself for slip ups!

What is your poison Flumps?

Cocaine. 2 years clean apart from one relapse.
Nearly died at least twice.
Party's well and truly over.
On the plus side my nose hasn't fallen off and I no longer rock the crazed junkie look.
I feel really good most days and congratulate myself every day that passes as I'm further on in my new life.

I really surprised myself tonight. Got home from work and h said something like 'Thought you'd get wine'. I hadn't and for the first time in lord knows how long it had not occurred to me when driving home. Ordinarily ifI had no wine in and was not working the next day I'd have been debating all the way home whether or not to get any. I hope this is a sign my thought processes are changing - regardless I'll consider it a minor victory against the ww :)

Flumps two years clean is awesome.
Well done you. Share with us how you did it.

Baby - In wine terms the 2 hours I took to drink my bottle of wine, only really enjoying the first half hour takes ALL of that night and next day to recover from and god knows how many thought hours, once again we are robbed by that cunning witch. - fantastic words!

ROCKING IT!!!

And you are right, it's all habit. Wine or whatever you're weapon of choice..........

It kind of goes like this, doesn't it?..........

~Get home from work - your fix.
~Bad day with the DCs - your fix.
~Celebrations/disappointments - your fix.

~Argument with DP/H/W - your fix.
~Stressed out/Happy and smiling - your fix.

STOP!

STOP!

STOP?

stop - please?

Don't come home to the wine or any alcohol waiting for YOU. Don't get some on the way home. Please? Don't let the WW or BB (BeerBastard) get to YOU.

Come home to life, love, children, family, partners, DH/W/Ps? Just come home......

YOUR LIFE is precious, it matters, it's once, just once. One change to get through this, this life, the hand we're dealt.... cruel or kind, happy or sad, it's a life, and people within that life of YOURS, ours, is important. One. Day. At. A. Time.

Look at what makes you smile away from alcohol and focus on that? Hobbies, knitting is supposed to making a comeback I hear?

Life is fucking tough, I'm not saying that it's not, what I am saying is that it's more important than drinking, losing hours, days, months, loved ones, friends, family..... memories.

Look in the mirror. Look in the mirror, really LOOK

What do you see? A recovering alcoholic? Someone who used to drink too much, or someone who still does?

So now what?

STOP!

If you're still nailing the alcohol, STOP.

You have us, GP's, Community Support Teams, AA, Church, Friends, Family, Work Colleagues, - there are people who will and want to help you, and this Bus is part of that, the healing you need, or want, or both.

There are posters here who are sober, have been for years, months, days, hours and even minutes.....

There are posters here who are pissed reading my post, nodding or shouting 'fuck off Mouse ' at the screen as it appears before them.......

There are posters out there desperately crying because they do not know what to do. Desperate, crying out for help, needing a hand, help, holding for a while, and we are here.

So are you.

Please, no matter who you are, where you are in your quest for sobriety, or not, however deep you are in the pit of despair, please read and reach out to us, someone you know, or not, just won't be beaten by alcohol, drugs or any other addictive substance.

Flumpy - you asked about drug abuse.... addiction is addiction, an unwelcome habit is an unwelcome habit, no matter what.... so yes, take a seat, join the Bus, the doors are never locked from the outside, leaving is another matter!!

Seriously though, life is too short to let something so cruel, nasty, cunning and twisted destroy it..... every heartbeat is precious, every drink or drug inhalation takes at least one of those away.............

Be brave Babes, be Strong, be Safe, be Honest and become YOU again.

Sorry for such a deep post but I suddenly wanted to post and let that all out.

I am so busy that I feel like I've abandoned the Bus of late..... But I'm here, still reading and trying to keep up. I want to keep you all safe, wave a magic wand, make it all better.

That's not how it works, YOU are the only one who can change and STOP. Change and stop......

I'm going to shut up now and go to bed.

See you all tomorrow Brave Babes xxx

The tipping point was seeing myself in the mirror waking up in a hospital bed. The vision of my face in that mirror will say with me forever.
Then the admitting of the problem. Huge.
NA my rock.

I have my journal from NA which catalogue it so ill try to be more concise its such a huge story so ill try to condense and post it on for those who may benefit from hearig it.

Flumps - sorry, misunderstood :) Nice one! Two years clean is bloody awesome xxx

Ha ha mouse! X post, the mirror!!

flumps your very very welcome. I reckon the wine witch and the coke cow are related so lets take em down TOGETHER. I love that your still vigilant and grateful , I've been caught out so many times, your post is so upbeat and very relevant, well done on your success xx

mouse amazing post nearly had me in bloody tears! And I'm sober day 3, I feel good and didn't make it this far last time thank you you fantastic bus and the amazing babes that ride beside me

mouse I truly believe you should rule the world, your our Winston Churchill, you inspire me every day and I don't say that often. I'm so glad your little fish is thriving, so good things DO happen to good people, I'm smiling for you. Xx

Crikey its a wee lovefest tonight xxx

annie well done, these moments are milestones and every night AF widens the gap, every nights a victory and your self esteem will soar,you wont want to give it back to the WW xx

mouse another great post

Hello everyone, babyj ma (how's your brother doing?) ladame