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

evening all,

Just checking in to say sorry for your loss to mouse. big hug to you x

So sorry mouse

I meant post the cake Mama I am always keen to eat cake! (actually chocolate in any for usually works )

I'm going to be very vulnerable to temptation in the next few weeks... (but the great thing is that I'm aware of it - after hanging out on the Bus all this time. And can - hopefully - take steps to avoid or at least know its happening)

I've agreed to increase my working hours from 20/week to 33/week. This is pretty terrifying to me! I haven't worked this much for 12 years! Of course, the extra money will be great (I could pay for the dentist for a start. And the dogs vaccinations are 6 months overdue... ) But I'm very nervous about it. 2 reasons:

1. well can I do it? Simply, manage work and home life. Can I organise husband, kids, dog, boss, in-laws, family, groceries, laundry (my god - the laundry ) etc.

1. I'm already always tired. Even DH asked if I would manage this. I need to manage my sleep better (says she, 11.45pm still on mumsnet )

And I KNOW what my brain will do in both these circumstances. For No. 1, anxiety - turn to alcohol. For No. 2, tiredness - turn to alcohol. I know my weaknesses. Especially the tiredness - it's a habit. And it all feeds into a vicious (sp?) circle - anxiety turns to alcohol turns to insomnia turns to school run chaos turns to stress...

Sorry for the me, me, me post. I just needed to get it out - because I start on Monday! and the Plan for A New Me has to start tomorrow. Plans:

anxiety - I'm going to be taking Kalms & extra vitamins
laundry - DCs have been told in no uncertain terms that if their dirty washing is not sorted it will not be washed (this threat may take a few weeks to hit home )
tiredness - oh for gods sake, why don't I just go to bed at a reasonable hour like any normal person?

So sorry to hear about mouses mum. That's sad x

I'm hungover. Didn't drink much but certainly feeling it. Am a bit pissed off with myself but not hugely. Still doing well in comparison and each time I drink it reminds me why I'm giving up. It's a waste of time. I didn't really enjoy it last night and feel disgusting this morning and will just get through the day. To think I used to do this every day. Grim.

So babes. Don't do it! :-). Xx

joey well done on being offered more hours, this is probably a sign that you are doing a pretty good job already. Alongside that, you manage all the other stuff too but maybe this change is a good time to share some of those jobs out a bit? Are the dc's old enough to walk the dog, does the dh understand the workings of the washing machine? There are probably ways that they can help ease this change for you. The tiredness/insomnia is a bugger, maybe there is a small chance the extra hours may mean you sleep better [hopeful]. I guess I would suggest making sure you have 'down' time to rest your body and mind and definitely Kalms if they help you sleep. At least it won't be unpaid dentist bills keeping you awake! Good luck for the week ahead. X

soc thanks for the reminder, it is so easy to forget the shitty hangover feeling. Take it easy.

Mouse. I hope you get some rest tonight. Xx

Deepest sympathies dearest mouse.

alias yes you can do it. Its all in the planning. You need to get very organised and make sure the dh and dcs know what the schedule is and what their roles are. I worked full time with 3 dcs,still do but only ds left in school now, and things which helped me were
Meal planning- do a menu for the week, stick it on the fridge and stick to it. Anyone who is home before you and old enough to manage,starts prepping.
Laundry - cut back on it where you can. Jumpers etc can be worn more than once.
Ironing- most of it doesn't need to be done.be selective.
Housework - dcs have to help. End of. If they persistently leave stuff lying around, but said stuff in bin. This is very effective!
Prepare the night before for lunches,pe kit,money etc.
Enjoy!

I know its early not sure if anyone's around need a hand hold having major panics this morning think I'm going to go in a refuge calling wa in a min just finding some strength I'm worried scard and panicking sorry its me me post hope everyone is ok especially lovely mouse x

(((hugs)))) No wise words I'm afraid Im but am thinking of you

Delurked to offer condolences to Mouse so quick and so very unfair

Only here newly Im but am awake if it helps. I can't see much from your posts on this most recent thread other than that it sounds like there's a meanie ex. Has something happened since your post last night? Sorry if I ought to know backstory

im I'm here. Holding your hand and sending all my strength. Xx

Im hope you are okay - have you called wa? It's a positive step and one you won't regret. Call now and keep yourself safe x

Thanks all trying to get through now feeling so sad and scard

Oh Im. Sometimes I'd love the bus to be real. We could swing by and collect you and wrap you up in a blanket and feed you opal fruits. And you'd be safe and well protected. Imagine any idiot stupid enough to take on the bus full of babes.
But even though it's not real we are still here for you. Stay strong. X

Thankyou soc that was a nice post I could do with some opal fruits
I'm scard of refuge

Oh Mouse I'm so very very sorry sweetheart. Much love from me, you'll be in my thoughts all day.

Oh, I'm, I hope you are OK babe - please keep posting and let us know how you are. Not sure what your situation is, but hope you can get some help today - can you call someone in RL to help you? Big hugs from me

Also condolences to Mouse. I will also light a candle for your mum next time I am anywhere that I can do that (funny, have been a lapsed RC for 30 years but still pop in a church in a new town and light candles for my parents and grandparents from time to time). Look after yourself dear Mouse, and let you loved ones take care of you xxx

Welcome to new babes Chit, furdy and Dancer. I made the mistake last time round of stopping posting on here once I had got over my guilt and fear induced abstinence and gone back to having a controlled drink cos I was embarrassed, so many people were trying for AF and I didn't know how to post without seeming weak. So eventually over a few months I got back to the point where my drinking was not controlled and I was binging again (weeks off, going to gym, eating well, then Anxiety/argument/stress led to a blow out followed by a week where I couldn't stop. Then the guilt and the abstinence and so on again.) Had I been on here I think it would have kept me on my guard against WW and so I am not leaving the bus again (promise to be good, not steal opal fruits, will bring treats). Even if you just lurk, stick around ladies.

I did go out last night, as dh expected me to. I had 3 pints over a couple of hours, got in, saw half bottle of wine from last week and quickly made a cup of tea and two humungous tuna melt toasties to stop the craving. Had I not been back posting here, I would have got stuck into that wine, had a vodka or two, started smoking again and felt crap today. As it is, I fell asleep before the end of Dr Who (which we recorded) but from tiredness, not being drunk as a skunk.

Off to get the washing done now. Sorry not to namecheck everyone, some great posts on here today about the benefits of not drinking

And Joey best of luck for Monday honey - get your family to help with the washing etc, lower your standards on housework, cook double portions of chillis and stuff at weekends so you have emergency freezer meals for nights when you are really stretched, and the odd ready meal won't hurt either - you can do it. And if you get stressed you can post on here and I will bring you a gingerbread latte onto the bus to cheer you up!

Hi i'm, there was a post fairly recently (last few weeks) in relationships, about someone who went to a refuge with their DC and was really frightened about what it would be like, what kind of people would be there etch etc and they found it really good. I'll try and dig it out for you and post s link. Hunny you've done so, so well by reaching out to wa, things are going to get much much better now. Big hug.

One space in Wales got to call back in morning at 10,30 hes got one dc and is coming back later

Shit how do I do this without a drink

Stay strong I'm. You were one of the first people to welcome me here, even with all you have to face yourself, and I wish I could be there with you to help. We all care about you. You can do this xxxxx