The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Driving Through The Autumn Scenes, Searching For Our Sober Dreams.

[Mouseface]

Hello, I'm Mouse :) Welcome to the Bus, (aka Gerald ).

I'm one of the Brave Babes on board this fabulous Bus of travellers, all in search of their sobriety in one form or another.

We have those who drink in moderation, those who have a set pattern of days on and off the booze, and we have posters who have been sober for minutes, hours, days, weeks, months or years.

There are two lines that the Bus has painted down the side, one on each -

The Vulnerable Need Our Support, Not Our Judgement and Alcohol Fosters Inertia

So, if you think you're drinking too much or you're worried about another person, then come find a seat.

We get through our days chatting about all sorts of things, life is, after all, full of plenty of things to fuel our desire to drink, and we're all very different people

However, our common goal is sobriety. :)

The Last Thread

The Reason We're Here - The First Thread

Hi babes, just been reading back and want to hug sharpkat and shout mega well done for tackling your drinking with honesty and do much courage, I have no doubts your gonna beat this, your determination shines through cyberspace, can you be proud of a stranger ?? You betcha!!!demonica same to you babe, hope your SMART meeting goes well, let us know how you find it, I'm also interested in their meetings. greeneggs and sunshine you have jumped on just at the right time, so many strong and positive babes changing their lives for us all to witness, the human spirit and our determination to be the best mothers and wives makes us lionesses who will roar at the wine witch and tear her to bits. I'm proud to be among you all. purps ma rural green and the ever fabulous mouse and beaches warmest wishes from a chilly Scotland, love this bus xxxx

More tears.

My mum would support an in patient detox. She just did not want to support my idea of a nice private centre with menu lists and spa treatments she will support me me now.

I am going to do it as soon as they can get me a bed which may be weeks in London.

I am so determined.

I love the babes x

Great news sharp you are obviously ready for this battle. Keep strong, you are going to win xxx

Sharpkat that is fantastic news. You've done brilliantly to get to here.

whydid, I'm worrying about you on a park bench. How are you, my lovely?

Welcome to everyone else, and keep on bussing.

Morning brave babes. Hope you all had a good night.

I am overwhelmed by the support on here. Thank you all so much from the bottom of my heart.

I am even more determined than ever today.

I confessed a lot to my mum last night and it feels better. I know she will be disappointed but as I said in a previous post you have to be honest.

Going to go to supermarket now and then see if I can get the house clean. Need to get prepared for going into hospital.

If I can do this then anyone can.

I am SO grateful for the support I get here. I have been on and off the bus before but writing my first post this time was the best thing I have ever done.

Have a good day everyone x

Morning babes, sharpkat I'm rooting for you with every ounce of energy I can muster, your on your way to the life you deserve, can you remind me do you have a dp or kids?. inside how are you my lovely friend, as always your posts are so warm and kind, why I'm also worried about you, you ok??? ladame and alias you guys ok, not heard much. We also need koala venus and jesus to throw in some wisdom. I'm doing ok, still sober but struggling with anxiety, it's mostly just lifestyle at the moment, my 14 year old dd is cheeky and confrontational and I'm trying to get my 3 year old to sleep in her own room and at a set time but she's always wide awake til really late and extremely lively and always want ME all the time, between my crohn's and my 42 year old bones I'm tired and irrational which leads me to wine which softens the chaos for a while!!! If anyone has a bed time regime for toddlers please PM me, I'm demented and teary with tiredness, sorry to digress xxx mouse hugs to you as always xx

baby big welldone on not reaching for the wine so far!

Shame I can't say the same. Did not cover myself in glory last night. Day 1 again today, onwards and upwards. Looking forward to when I can exercise again it definately helps. Have a good day all x

Baby, things sound tough for you at the minute so bloody well done on not reaching for the bottle.
Green, today is a new day; like you I need to start up some sort of an exercise regime, even if it is just going for a walk in the evening.

Just spoken to my key worker to say I will not refuse inpatient treatment. Need to see the doctor on Tuesday to get a referral (day before my 34th birthday) and then wait for a bed.

Mum so pleased. Best friend agreed to look after my post and flat.

Brave babes we are doing this together one step at a time and we will all come out the other side.

Without you lot I would probably be dead from banging my head on the sink after a seizure. I want to hug you all and remind you how wonderful you all are.

You have saved me from ruining my life. Plenty more of that to live.

No DP or DCs so feel a fraud on MN but it makes me laugh and just look how much help I have had in the few days I have been back on the bus.

Whether it is day 1 or day 499 you are all such special people and I well up every time I read this thread xx

Sharp bless you :)

I know I have been amazed at the kindness of strangers on here and the support I've had when I really needed it. Your progress is fantastic - you will beat this.

Thank you typhoona It certainly is - feeling crap but I know I'll feel better tomorrow :) I was angry last night, the whole relentlessness of working motherhood, feeling guilty about not spending time with DS, guilty about not doing enough work for my clients, the state of the house etc - stuck between a rock and a hard place. I can confirm drinking hasn't made any of it better!

Well done Sharpkat you have done a really brave and amazing thing.

I didn't drink yesterday and feel incredibly anxious today - I think the anxiety was always here and I've been trying to kill it with booze. I may need to speak with my GP about upping my ADs which also help me with anxiety.

I'm meeting friends this afternoon, I'm going to force myself to go out. I realise I've been arranging to meet people and cancelling lately which is all anxiety based, so it'll be good for me. And it's a non-booze situation (exhibition) which is even better.

Big hugs to all x

sunshine I have been described propranolol for anxiety, it's a beta blocker, I don't know much about it but I find it difficult getting out the door, heart racing, sweating etc and that and the AD's have really helped. You will find that your anxiety may heighten a little but that's because your facing RL issues without the ready brek glow wine provides however a few days sober, your new found inner strength will shine and any wine withdrawal will pass. Get b vitamins, lots of water and nice food and fresh air really really helps and MOST IMPORTANT of all, keep reading and posting, love to all xxxx

Isinde I will definitely come back with a cultural report :)

Thanks babyjane, I'm hoping this intense anxiety is temporary, I had my wonderful elderly cat pts 2 weeks ago and have since adopted (in emergency circs) another cat. I know that I'm still grieving for my boy.

sunshine you will feel everything including grief more intensely but stay strong because soon the good feelings will also be more intense, hiding grief in wine is just postponing it, just let your feelings show themselves and you'll feel better, sunshine in Scotland so I'm off for a walk with the dog cos it'll only last 7 minutes xxx

I'm really struggling been drinking more that doctor told me to stick to, I don't know what to do any more I feel like not trying any more its def got me hasn't it, I so much want to have today AF and just don't know how I'd do it
Hope everyone's having a good day x

Inde - Hmm you are so avoiding that argument aren't you? Y'know the one where you wail that she's neglecting everyone? It's easy if it's just you but it's not is it? And I can bet my bottom dollar that she's letting you get away with drinking because you aren't challenging her on the part of the deal where she's also letting the side down. What are you going to decide to do about it? ((((hugs)))) not NM but fcuk it!

Hi everyone Indie, Baby, Scary, Ma, Mouse, rural, Purps, Guggs, Silver, Thurso, Bproud, Joey

Hi also to Why, beaches, tortoise, louiseaaa, typhoon, Sharp, Demonica, Soc, Sunshine SN, Green, Mrs Bennington, Catinboots, Shallweshop

Phew ... Full bus and did I just catch a glimpse of horridbabydoll? Who let her out of her box?

Why Hope you have found somewhere to stay, what is the timescale for all this? Sending you strength (not that you sound like you need it!!

Mouse Hope thing are ok with you lovely lady x

Baby Well done for keeping it up, you're doing so brilliantly, I wish I could say the same

Indie You're going to have to have that 'talk' my friend. It's not fair or equal and resentment will just build up - sorry babe, but the sooner the better for your own sake?

Well, I have been getting stuff ready for my new job. I start my training in the beginning of November down sarf. If I'm not posting much it's cos I am running around a bit. Also, I'm not being very good tbh and so I'm not very inspiring. I'm a sort of hologram in the side-car at the moment.

Lots of love all fabulous babes x

Lovely, lovely Mouse and lovely, lovely Isinde you are always there for everyone else. You give and give and when there is nothing left, you give some more. I don't think I have ever met such selfless people. You are amazing and I am in awe of you x

baby Bedtime routines - decide what time is bed time and work backwards. Bed 7.00pm, so goodnight kisses/cuddles 6.55pm, so story 6.30pm, so go for a wee/clean teeth 6.25pm, so last snack/drink 6.15pm, so pjs on 6.05pm, so bath 5.30pm, so run off energy/play 5.00pm, so dinner 4.30pm, etc.

Once tucked up in bed, no more engaging. Back to bed routine.

Now, there are so many new posters right now, I am struggling to keep up, so please, please keep posting. Your thoughts, feelings, worries, what you had for lunch, anything. We want to chat with you, we want to get to know you.

Soc are you around, my friend?

Just a quick check in WW is on my back.
NSDH is possibly going to be refered to as FW in future posts. Sorry babes me me me post but really am thinking of you all. mouse hope you are ok. ma hope the period of death has abated. why hope you are ok. sharp keep going u r awesome. Isinde thinking of you, think things do need talking out with dp. sounds like she is not happy with sahm

Sharp.

I'm so happy that you have sought, and found help.

I was in residential detox, many years ago, LA funded, not private.

I can honestly say, I have never laughed so much - sober, genuine, truthful laughter. Getting sober with other people trying to do the same, from so many different backgrounds, so many different lives, but all with the same goal. A goal which trumps everything else. There is no class/race/age/gender/income divide when you have all been brought to your knees by the same thing.

You just have to hold tight now until a bed is available.

Look after yourself and take the advice of your support workers wrt drinking until you can detox with medical supervision.

Take lots of sweets and chocolate in with you - you will get a very sweet tooth to replace the sugar that alcohol has been giving you

You come across as so determined and "sick and tired of being sick and tired".

You can do this

You CAN reclaim your life.

Because you ARE WORTH IT

And that goes or every person on this thread.

You are worth it. X x

indie stop with the avoidance tactics. This is only going to end one way if you don't deal with it now. louise was spot on in her comments.
Had the most awful day in work fielding media calls about the closure of the petrochemical plant then came home to dh being a complete fucking tosser. Of all the days for him to start, I didn't need it to be this one.
Arguing over what's for tea ffs and there not being enough chips....SO EAT SOMETHING ELSE YOU FUCKING TWAT!
Close to tears which is stupid.....