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

Morning all,

Take care mouse,look after yourself as much as is possible. I hope that dh feels better soon,I'm sure you need his help.

this good to see you here and well done on the 3 days. How are you doing today? Ready for another af day? I won't be drinking today,care to join me? I WILL be consuming my body weight in mince pies and chocolate and getting to bed early to get as much rest as possible. I enjoy being sober and selfish these days after many years of tipping into bed while the room span. Good luck today.

Hi all, hope you have a good sunday x

Morning babes, welcome back this

I'm aiming for a sober Sunday, I've drank the last five out of six days :( Everything feels like it's getting overwhelming but I suspect my drinking is contributing to feeling like that. I've had about half a bottle a night, I'm ready for bed at ten but just want another glass then end up staying up till nearly twelve, then I'm tired the next day and eating rubbish. I don't know why I do this to myself, I know I'm miserable but I also know drinking does not help

annie sorry to hear you are having a bad time. That drink-don't sleep-grumpy-drink-don't sleep cycle is horrible,isn't it?

How about today? Ready to commit to an af sunday? Only if you want to,of course. If you could stick with af for a week or so then you can re set the sleep pattern.Good luck.

Yes guggen I really want to get back to af days. It's beyond stupid of me that in the run up to Xmas, when I have more and more to do, I'm acting in a way that adds to the pressure - and gives me an excuse to drink as I need to unwind, deserve it, etc

Hi ladies,

Hope all are well and that it gets easier for any struggling. Not posted recently as this time I've found it so much easier - contrary because it's been easier BECAUSE of you guys, but I feel bad about not finding it harder IYSWIM. TWO WEEKS, in December, including two 1am parties where everyone else were off their tits and I would usually be the most pissed.

Anyway what I mainly wanted to share is that you are even there in my sleep :-). I came closest randomly last night where I was on my own on the sofa thinking how much I would like to feel the hit at the back of my throat. Not enough to consider going to get any, just had the thought (does anyone else find the same? Not the actual taste itself or effect, just a something not tingly, but actually physically feel in your mouth?). I went to sleep sensibly, but in one of my dreams I dreamt the same thing happened, then posting in my dream and deciding not to after replies IN MY DREAM. How's that for psychologically deep-rooted?

Thanks everyone and I remain lurking, good luck in this festive season although there are always excuses if it isn't Christmas of course, like it's a day with a "y" in it.

FIF

The any day with a y I meant has always been me! Not anyone else here!

I will join you for an af night tonight guggs.

dancer I drink like that too, once I start I almost always finish the whole bottle. So when the emotions got too much it triggered the drinking? I do completely get that. I think it is probably self medicating, dulling the rawness of the feelings. I try and think 'what would I do in the morning with all those feelings?' (Because mornings are not an acceptable time to start drinking in my brain). Music. Singing. Eating. Talking about it. Walking the dog. Crying. Writing about it. Anyway, I am not suggesting for a minute that I have the answers but it does help me to think about other options. (Even if I don't choose any of them). Two weeks is fantastic, please don't be too hard on yourself, you are doing great. Really.

fanta I am a little jealous really pleased for you that you are finding it quite easy. . Haven't had the 'hit the back of the throat' thing personally but maybe others have.

hope I loved your post to mouse

Love to all, have a lovely Sunday babes xx

Hi all
Have spent the entire weekend trying to organise the house,Christmas,dd2 and her new job/university exams/osteopath combo and am fecking knackered!
To cap it all have a raging dose of the sh**s which I could do without.
Poor dd had just sunk into a hot foamy bath when she had me hammering at the door yelling "get out, get out I need the loo.Now!!"
The joys of one bathroom.
However, the main tree is up and decorated and all sparkly, presents wrapped,cards written, secret MN Santa parcel ready to post,little silver tree and nativity up, cake "fed" and freezer stocked. Have sorted out dad,mum and visited Richard. Jobs all done.

Evening all you Brave Babes

Got through Christmas Fair on Friday after school so much organisation went into an hour and a half of manic chaos hopefully raised some much needed money for the school, counting the money tomorrow, cpa on Friday, had 2 pints of cider, having done 3 days af could have been alot less moderate with my drinking, as I just wanted to got WAAAAAAA

Drank 2 glasses yesterday of wine (small ones) in London with family.

So AF today but secretly pleased that I drank sooooo much less than I would have normally.

Hope lovely post about your mum (DF for me 6 years ago)

Mouse sending you love and strength, I hope your family are feeling much better (and haven't passed their lurgies on to you x)

Beaches you are doing so well babe how's the temperature over in those waters Brrrrrrr x Hope you're ok babe

Soc hope you have a good Monday. You are doing amazingly well the WW is a bitch

Hello Nuff Rural Isinde Ma Anne Why I'm Baby Guggen Fanta Dancer and all other Babes sorry I know I've missed some of you.

Hope you all have a peaceful Sunday and I wish you all a good Monday.

Soc are you driving? Beaches what colour tutu did you choose in the end? Can I suggest thermal underwear I think it may get quite cold on the roof

Ma where are the opal fruits left over from the garlands

Xpost Ma sorry! LOL re bathroom, DD and bath still giggling now . I hope you're feeling better, starve it out (I always find it difficult not to eat )

There are no leftover opal fruits spanna
Someone has been eating the garlands!
thurso are you out there?

Am I driving!!!! Hold on tight. We're on a mad mission today. I hope that tinsel is tied down properly.

I am feeling absolutely fabulous this morning. I feel like I can do this.

Loving my almost-sober life. So grateful I'm not where I was 2 months ago and although I'm not 100% AF I'm gradually drinking less and less. I nursed one bottle of wine all week-end. Unheard of. There's definitely been a switch in my addled brain somewhere and I am definitely NOT going backwards.

Thank you babes. Love you all....

Will be back with more after I've shuffled everyone off to school.

Hi babes, I think I might need to ask your advice.
I've been drug free for a while now, but this weekend I think I've been hugely overdoing the alcohol.
Perhaps because Xmas is near lots of my friends are partying and I've subbed drugs for booze mainly to get through the evening!
I have a horrible feeling I might be slipping into another addiction if I don't get a handle on it.

Any thoughts welcome x

Hi babes, just checking in, loving everyone's posts, every one of you are awesome !! I'm feeling low, on a huge dose if steroids for my crohn's flare up, they are working but I have swollen up all over, I look bloated and have steroid induced "moon face" I'm not eating much due to the nausea caused by my meds do it it seems so unfair to look so bloated and my face doesn't look like my own. I'm sorry to sound so self indulgent but it's odd when you look so fat when you don't even get to enjoy the journey and feeling sick day and night is horrible, imagine your worst hangover that lasts weeks and still you have to deal with all the usual domestic duties and try and put a brave face on for dd's sake!! Anyway this wonderful bus reinforces my faith in humanity so thank you babes for that. mouse although we are strangers I pray for you every single night and Why and thisis, however hard my life seems to me , your courage gives me courage too. My love to all of you xx

flumps sounds as if you are at risk of swapping one drug for another.
I don't have any sage advice for you though...can you swap the booze for sweets or chocolate for the sugar hit?

Stupid advice - if only it were that easy!

babyjane that all sounds really tough; really really tough. So go ahead and post whatever makes you feel any slight bit better.

flumpy I found that the best thing was to get completely fixated on something clean and healthy - my current favourite is Tropicana raspberry and apple juice with a wee bit of Belvoir ginger cordial, topped up with Schweppes tonic. Or Cawston rhubarb and apple with ginger cordial and tonic. Or Schweppes blackcurrant and Roses lime and soda. For me my 'addiction' is now about getting the right kind of lime juice, or the right brand of tonic (there's a Bottlegreen pomegranate pink tonic which is so fab you would prefer it without gin).

flumps my h went to GA for a time and it was warned about replacing pne addiction with another. It seemed to be common - at his meeting they were encouraged to exercise, would love it if that was my bad habit!

Sober Sunday done and having an early night. Three times h tried to get me to buy wine, I now find it easier to refuse but if it's there I drink it. I no longer even go in the wine aisle - I know the three for two offers will mean I'll spend nine days drinking so are a total false economy.

ma and baby hope you both recover soon x

That should be he was warned, not it, although it might be more appropriate!

Hey Babes. Big week coming up with court on Thursday. Expecting the worst but hoping for the best. Tomorrow I have the big 90 days sober and get my first chip. My sponsor is beaming with pride. Still not seeing my ljttle boy, who sobs big fat tears when its time for him to leave at the paltry visits I do manage to get.

Maybe that old saying is right: the darkest hour is just before the dawn.

why I'm sending you every bit of good karma I can muster, this may seem random but the number 12 is one of my favourite numbers, a nice warm even number so it suits you well, good luck my friend. Thanks ma your such a lovely caring lady, love to every super babe out there today xx

babyj so sorry to hear about you being poorly - steroids do have horrid side-effects I hope you can look after yourself right now

at 11pm last night I was thinking "maybe I should quit drinking completely, I don't even enjoy it"

at 3pm this afternoon I was buying more wine...

at least I've managed to control the urge to bring it in the house! It's still in my car, till tomorrow at least.

Hi all

Venus I love fever tree tonic water. You're right, if you get the mix right, lots of soft drinks taste way better than alcohol.

Why congratulations on 90 days, you are doing so well and I so admire your attitude x

Joey I used to do that all the time. It's horrible to feel so out of control isn't it. You will get back into when you are ready. Well done for leaving it in the car.

joey leave it in the car. Then tomorrow give it away as a gift.

Actually a double gift - one for the person who you give it to, and one for yourself becuase you won't have it around tempting you and then making you feel rotten and guilty.