The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Stepping Into Christmas With Sobriety On Their Minds.

[Mouseface]

Hello, tis me, Mouse

This is a thread for those who are worried about their drinking habits, relationships with alcohol, and/or drugs.

Even if you think your intake has gone up more today than the last or this week than last, come and join us on Gerald, the amazing, always room for more, fully stocked with glorious treats and donned in his Christmas Decorations, Bus!

We are a supportive thread, full of very different posters, from various backgrounds. Some of us drink in moderation, allowing ourselves the odd glass or two as a treat, or just because we're in control of our drinking for that day.

One Day At A Time.

We have those who abstain completely, and those who wake every day to Day 1 and hope with all of their hearts that they can, and will, make it to Day 2.

If you've followed our journey to date, you'll know who most of us are by now smile and we kind of have two 'sayings', that sum up who we are -

1. • The Vulnerable Need Our Support, Not Our Judgement
2. • Alcohol Fosters Inertia

That said, we will not have any bashing of support groups, such as AA or Community Addiction Support Teams, or even other support threads, posts like that will be reported if the need arises, so 'Orange Paper supporters' don't waste your time please :)

This Bus is a place for honesty, sanctuary and safety, something that has taken almost four years for a number of very special, very lovely, very honest and caring Babes to establish.

So, come find a seat, grab something warm from the supply cupboard at the back of the Bus, it's filled with (non alcoholic or narcotic) delicious, luxury treats and HUGE fluffy quilts, plus anything else you might need to help YOU get through YOUR day a minute, or an hour at a time.

And, if you'd like to see where this all began - This Is The Reason We're All Here, The Original JWN Thread

And This Is Our Previous Thread, With Links To Those Over The Past Few Years

We hope to meet you soon :) x

Welcome dancer and furdy, keep posting sometimes just writing down daft random thoughts helps to keep the mind focused :)

Baby hope your feeling better and recover soon x

Well after putting off redecorating the living room/dining room area for the last two years I'm finally getting on with it. It felt like such an impossible job that I put off starting - classic case of alcohol fosters inertia. So when I'm finally getting on with it I only go and decide to make a Sunday dinner, today, having never made one before! I'm seriously thinking that I just like to over complicate my life. I end up tired and overwhelmed, and reaching for a glass of wine :(

Wow, go anne, redecorating & cooking dinner at the same time? Shall I pass you the broom?
Hope you're able to stop to enjoy that dinner!

Hi all
I'm planning to not drink until Xmas and then show my dc how to drink a glass of wine with dinner and stop
I realise this be a tad not very realistic ah hum but I like a challenge

Sending hugs to mouse today x

Mama you said earlier about treating yourself to a bottle and 2/3. (I get that you were questioning the sense to it) That is EXACTLY the kind of treat I hanker after, not a small glass, no point in that at all. But when I really think about that treat it is absurd. It is a guaranteed route to an upset stomach, banging head, drinkers dawn, jittery anxieties and an increased desire to do it all over again. It is madness. I will probably push through the first few mouthfuls despite not even enjoying the taste. It makes NO sense to me when I look at it like that. It is only a treat in the way that getting the flu is a treat

I am very grateful to come on here and read all your thoughts. It really helps.

Welcome to the new babes, dancer, furry and chit (not clit ma , sorry you've not been well baby and hope you are on the mend and hi to all babes. Good luck and take care tonight xx

Mama I've managed to do a bit of ironing too! however it's not as impressive as it might sound. The house is a mess, furniture in random places. At one time that would have totally frustrated me, and I would have run around in circles tidying up things to move them a few hours later. Since cutting down drinking I'm a bit better at keeping things in perspective and thinking more clearly :)

Gosh, Mouse that was so very quick

I will be thinking of you and your family and have lit a candle for your mum. So sorry for your loss

Hi baby good to have you back, sorry you've been unwell. Hope you are on the mend now?

Welcome to dancer and Furdy, stick around and you will get lots of advice, inspiration and some giggles here. It was horrendous hangovers that made me change my drinking habits. I just got sick of feeling sick.

Furdy if 'only' one bottle is good for you, then feel free to post about it, no-one will judge you here. If you decide that you want to cut back further you can do it when you're ready and if you don't, that's ok too

Anne it sounds like you are getting some Boing. Don't overdo it though, pace yourself and make sure that ww doesn't sneak up on you. I've got loads done today too. House has been cleaned, collected some parcels from the sorting office, ordered some more Christmas presents, washed all the clothes. This is what we can get done when we don't have hangovers

Thanks for everyone's warm welcome!

My hangover is subsiding but I still feel and look really rough. Also just feel a bit raw about the whole realisation that I have a problem etc but also quite positive that I am going to make a change to my life.

My LO has been with her dad today so at least I have not had to deal with looking after a small child. Have just ordered some greasy chinese for delivery so hopefully that will soak up some of the hangover!

beaches yes, that's exactly what I need to remember when I recover from this sodding cold so I don't slip. Funny,I had the urge earlier, despite being so snotty, and doling out advice here to newcomers [sceptical - it toyed with my head for about an hour. I played the film to the point where I was sitting out in the cold, gulping and dragging on a fag and didn't even need to play it to the point where tomorrow would be a write-off. I made a chocolate cake this afternoon and if I drank tonight, I wouldn't enjoy a slice, I would have been much more interested in the wine. So I beat that witch for now!
anne, sounds like you're doing great! Good for you to get that balance (I know exactly what you meant about doing too much and then getting overwhelmed and diving into the wine).
dancer it's great that you're feeling a bit better and more positive. Try not to beat yourself up, that is part of the depressive effect of alcohol and only serves to keep you in it's grip. Keep posting, even if you keep drinking. One day when you're ready, we'll all be here to encourage you to take that first step.
Hi faire! Hi i'm! That £20 will be yours, I'm sure of it!!!

D'oh! [sceptical] at me doling out advice! Anyone would think I'm 9 years sober not (nearly) 9 days

Derrr [hmmm] not [sceptical]
Forget confusion about how long I've been sober, people would be forgiven for thinking I'm pissed as a fart

I give up No more emoticons for me Or wine

Another one decorating here. House looks like a bomb site with stuff everywhere.
Also need to buy ds a bed - just before bloody Christmas. He's sleeping on a mattress on the floor in a half stripped room....poor wee soul!

Mama you made me proper lol there (grin) [grinn]

Ma I got ds's bed from amazon.

I'm really enjoying things I did not expect to like
going to bed earlier and waking up feeling good
Not sweaty in morning
Not bloated stomach
Clearer skin
More cash
Eating better meals
House more in order
My head is clearer
Not taking silly risks

This is me after 5 days I'm determined to keep going these benefits are well worth it i feel.

Keep strong lovely babes x

Quick update from Mouse. She's home now but says the reality hasn't really hit her yet. She has sent all her love and thanks for all the thoughts you've all posted. She is going to probably post tomorrow. xxxx

Thanks purple x

ma snap I'm on mattress on floor its not that bad x

Thanks purps
Please give her my love

Purple thank you for posting about Mouse, hope you are doing ok.

Great list Im, I love thinking about the benefits, going to bed early and waking up feeling good is the very best thing for me.....or maybe it is the clearer head. Anne also mentioned keeping things in perspective, I have definitely noticed that instead of feeling overwhelmed I seem more able to deal with one thing at a time. I would also add that lately I have been able to remember the end of the film the next day (so often I have completely forgotten what I was watching )

Mama you made me smile, those pesky emoticons! Hope you are enjoying your chocolate cake

Spannahow are you babe?

furdy sorry for calling you furry in my last post

Hi to ma and faire and any other babes around tonight x

mouse So sorry for your loss Thinking of you your DF and all the family at this sad time. I have lit a candle for your DM. xx

purple thanks for updating us about mouse s mother.

And how are you doing?

beaches I'd normally fall asleep through most films and drop my wine the times iv woke up on the sofa with a wet patch from spilling my wine .... Oh not good

And when you said I love thinking about the benefits you made me realise that things have changed in a positive way with my drinking as a few months ago I did not care about the benefits they ment nothing to me, if I slept or ate or fought with him I did not care, but now I do!!

That's brilliant Im, you definitely sound more positive too. Be gone all wet patches on the sofa

beaches I am in the uk, just seem to get the urge to post much earlier than other people! Or did you mean would I post my chocolate cake overseas? It was a bit meh. But the icing was good!
Agree, your list is fab i'm, early nights is not a new found love for me, I've been reverse engineering a lie in for years now, before DS was even born! I would add
Better mood
Brighter eyes
More patience
Smug factor (yeah, nobody else likes you when you're smug but it feels DAMN good)