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

Oooh Venus what a plan!
Love the " free rangle" living
Ds got the bus today, heavily supervised by hovering dh and all went well so both of them are happy now. Ds is a sensible chap but was a wee bit nervous he would get off at the wrong place but he was fine. Dh suffers from paranoia - genuinely I mean - so he was in agonies of all the things that could go wrong. I don't know how he lives like this...permanently stressed that something has happened, or is going to happen, or won't happen.....
Anyway, the bullying has stopped and ds is happier now. You can see him on my profile pic at the mo.
I am having a drink tonight but in a measured rather than a desperate way. Had long talk with lovely boss and there is a real chance I will lose my job next year, unless things change drastically. It hard, but I am higher paid than the rest of the staff and I can't justify being kept on on my salary and expecting others to have their hours cut.
Life sux.
why" so so so,proud of you! You are the new Jesus*

trinity it's great to hear about a success story! Well done

Sorry, I've not been around much lately, just so busy and tired. The wine bottles are still in my car though!

Morning all,

Hey isinde new day,new start. Forget yesterday- sounds like it sucked anyway. Keep in mind ODAAT and stop with hating yourself lovely! Hope today goes better.

Hi everyone. I made it to the brilliant wimmin's meeting last night and one of the many topics which came up was the sheer insanity of drinking night after night. What could possibly be inside that bottle of liquid that we put everything aside and move heaven and earth to get at it?

Anyone found a winning lottery ticket at the bottom of a bottle then? A genie? a way of getting slim whist via consuming carbs cooked in hot fat? [yum] Nope, just a hangover then.

guggs great post and so so true xx

Hi there baby how are you? Hope you are well and enjoying the erm..fog? Hope it's sunny where you are.

Hi guggs I'm doing fine, i'm still upset about gaining weight because of the steroids but I guess that's something I'll just have to deal with for now, I really love your posts, they are calm and consistent with quick wit and intelligence I really really enjoy reading them. I know you can't be too specific but can I ask when and why you stopped drinking ?? The way your posts come across you seem so "together" just like venus I want to be like you guys when I grow up and I'm 42!!! All of this meant as a great compliment. why I just wanted to send you my love for tomorrow I have everything crossed for you and You've worked so hard and deserve your boy back, Love to all super babes out there xx

guggs agree, it is insanity. I have definitely not come across a winning lottery ticket in the bottom of any bottle!

I am on day 3 again. Have drunk 2 nights so far this month and it is so much harder to resist in the days that follow. Yesterday I was obsessing about which nights I would allow myself, how many nights would be 'ok', etc. However, last night when dh opened a bottle I suddenly didn't fancy it at all. Was able to hold onto the thought of a decent nights sleep and waking up without a fuzzy head. Surprising really after the day of obsessing! Trying to stay very conscious of my drinking and all the associated thinking patterns this month. Will be going totally af again in January.

Im please let us know you are ok babe, I have been thinking about you. X

Lots of love to all of you, spanna, rural, isinde, Baby, hope, why, Venus, joey, Ma, soc, mama, mouse, faire and all of those names I have temporarily mislaid xxx

Hi. I am a very long term follower of the Brave Babes and have occasionally posted under a different name. I have never become a regular poster as I'm terribly ashamed of my complete failure to address my own drinking, but I take great hope from those of you who are doing so well, as well as those of you who jump in and out of the sidecar but never give up.

Anyway, after years of denial and drinking roughly/at least a bottle of wine a night (except when pregnant and the occasional AF day here or there) I have finally spoken to my doctor about my inability to give it up. I was dreading it, but in fact she was incredibly supportive. I've had blood tests done and will see her again next week to find out what damage I have done to myself.

The thing is that now I've finally taken this test I am completely obsessing about what they are likely to reveal. I'm fully prepared for fatty liver, as that seems pretty inevitable given how long I have been drinking so much, but I gather that is generally reversible. What is scaring me shitless is the possibly of hepatitis or even cirhossis (sp?), especially as I am experiencing some pain in the liver area (though God knows if it could be pyschosomatic). I have two young children. How could I possibly have put myself and them in this position?

Does anyone here have experience of the blood tests and any followup scans? How bad does your drinking have to be to cause permanent damage? I won't find out any results until the middle of next week. Obviously in my state of terror I should be abstaining altogether, but I have 3 Christmas dos to attend in the next 10 days and don't know if I can do them completely sober. And to be honest, part of me feels that if the damage is already done, what difference does 3 more evenings of drinking make? Irresponsible and selfish but I guess that is what drinking does to you.

Sorry. Long, fearful rant with no namechecks. Just really hoping to hear all is not lost.

LO there beaches you've done really well babe,stay strong.

Trinity that is wonderful,I hope you are really proud of yourself.

Hi ilove hmm... I've had some tests done and years ago I had raised ATLs or some such thing.My Dr laughed it off,so my guess is that your tests may not come back with bad or terrible news at all. It may be 'meh' kind of news. That is only a guess,of course so what really interests me is- what will you do when you get your test results? Because the big temptation is to go back to a wine habit,and anyone one of us would be tempted to do so, please don't take it personally!

Best of luck with those tests,I hope (and think) that you will have reassuring news but I also hope that it might be time to think about that wind habit and use it as a chance to control or cut down. I wish you well.

Thanks for the reply Guggenheim. I do think I could be ready to cut down or even cut it out now (at least for a few months) but I kind of think two weeks before Xmas isn't the best time to start. At least in jan loads of other people will be full of good intentions too.

I'm thinking damage limitation til jan then a fresh start. Guess I might feel differently if dr says it's really serious though.

Hi ilove, no experience of medical tests but certainly suffered the paranoia of liver damage. I do hope the tests do come back with no issues for you. It must have been a big step confiding in your doctor though, well done for that. Christmas season is a tough time for anyone trying to control their drinking. Perhaps you could start with damage limitation, as you say, and work on having move af nights in preparation for January?

guggs the wind habit?! Made me smile

I have missed the bus so much I have had no phone but paid my bill today so I'm back on for now

I have no read back yet as I wanted to just post, just hope your all ok x

Things are not happy in Im's house right now, too many people involved so much going on but mostly hes still at his old tricks I don't look to pretty right now, trying to get locks changed x

Luvs to the lovely ladies on the bus tonight xx

There you are! Good to see you Im but so sorry to hear you are suffering, nasty ba&@$rd. Hope the locks get changed soon babe x

beaches I find that interesting what you said about your DH and him opening the wine, do you think if he had not opens it/ drank at all that you would?
I just wonders I mean when my GP told me to drink x amount I didn't want to I'm prolly talking bollocks
I find for me its a reverse of something so when my dd said I could not not drink I had to not drink iykwim or prob not ??

Thanks lovely
He's not nice iv got a SS visit soon and my face is a mess I'm trying to get things in place to protect us
X

Does that mean the police can now charge him? Keep him in custody? I really hope so.

Not sure what happened in my brain when dh opened wine, could have been the rebellious thing like you suggest, just knew I could not have it and it would be ok.

i'm it's great to see you babe! So sorry this shit keeps dragging on for you. Guessing there's still no news of a refuge place away from your bastard ex that can take you & 5dcs? Glad to hear your locks are getting changed at least. What have police said about this latest violence? Don't worry about answering if you're worried about identifying yourself, just wanted to welcome you back. I hope you stay safe lovely.
why I have everything crossed for you for tomorrow. I am so hoping for you and your DS to be reunited as quickly as possible, you deserve it so much (as does he)
Love to all you brave babes tonight. Not drinking today!

Morning babes
just wanted to jump in on the 12/12 and say all my thoughts are with why today. So hope it's the best news for you. xx

I,m is your face a mess because of him?
What a cunt!
Sending you strength.
mouse thurso rural are you ok?
Where are our coloured friends, green and purple.and of course silver

Yes it's because of him, I sat in my course today like this it was not easy but I did it they were to polite to ask me direct what had happened.

I reported one thing but iv not reported the last few police are making king it worse for us

Jesus i'm there has to be something that can be done to keep you safe. D
Is there a restraining order in place?
What is the plan for Christmas?
How can you keep him away?

Hi Brave Babes

Why so much luck for today. I hope you get a positive result and that it all goes the way it should. 90 days is awesome, you should be very proud

Beaches babe you are doing so well, pat yourself on the back amazing babe x

Ma so glad DS bus journey went well

I'm really glad you're back on the bus and here for our support. If he's assaulted you will they not take him into custody. Please let SS know what's happened, can they not recommend re-housing you? Take care babe and be safe x

Welcome Ilove stick with us. I've found the bus has been an enormous help. I hope the blood results are not too bad, at least you'll know where you're at.

Soc

Isinde good to hear from you babe, hang in there

Guggs wise words, thank you

Hi Joey Baby Nuff Rural Mouse Mama Trinity and all lovely Babes

Day 1 again here (3 Day 1's in a row) I'm really stressed about house sale, that's all going through, but still nothing lined up to move into . Waiting for a particular house which has a delay on and until that's sorted he won't accept my offer - urgh
All reminds me why I don't like moving. I suffer from psoriasis and I am now covered again Anyway this is nothing in comparison to others suffering. Felt as rough as a badgers bottom today, horrible, depressing, anxious, guilty

Big love all x

Oh, I'm, I have been thinking of you. I am so sorry you are not in a shelter yet, social services need to do more to help you. I want to kill him myself now, am so fuming, how can he treat you like that? You are amazing, stay strong for you and dcs, I hope you get away soon. Who is driving tonight? Can we mow the b@st@rd down with Gerald?

why best of luck tomorrow babe. And to all you other lovely ladies, take care x