The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Walking In A Winter Sober Land!

[Mouseface]

Hello Brave Babes, I'm Mouse :)

Welcome to the 'Bus Of Fun' (now you've come of age!)

This is a thread for those who want to give up drink completely, or are maybe thinking about doing controlled drinking, or cutting down slowly, with a view to quitting or not... it's up to you.

You know your limits, you know what is required, it's in your hands. And only you can make it happen.

Whatever your goal, you'll find support here. Always.

There will be talk of drinking and those who fall off the Bus (arse over tit) will post about it, so if that is going to jeopardise your chances of complete sobriety, then maybe the DRY thread would suit you better, as they are complete abstainers. :)

That said, this Bus is happy to have you no matter what, as long as you can cope with chat of drinking, nights out/in, failures, cyclical drinkers, etc......

Everyone has always been welcome here and shall remain to be.

No-one is ever turned away. EVER.

There are no hard and fast rules, other than the support here is unconditional, it may be in the form of tough love at times, but it's always meant with the very best of intentions.

There are two sayings that we like here -

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

The rest kind of happens as the posts appear.

I hope that's okay with you all.

You'll find the last thread HERE, THAT WILL LEAD TO THREADS BEFORE IT, SOME HISTORY

And the original and real, truly heartfelt reason that we are here in the first place is HERE. A VERY SOBERING READ

The Bus may be 'mythical', but the support is real, honest and will help you to achieve what it is that you seek, as long as you are honest with us, but mostly, YOURSELF

See you soon. x

I'm how are you doing babe?

Hi,

I have been reading this thread for a while and was hoping you could help me since you all seem so friendly/wise. I want to cut down on my alcohol intake drastically, it is has risen to extreme levels the last few months. The last month or so I have been drinking at least 1 but normally 2 bottles of wine a day. I didn't drink yesterday or today - the first two days in a row for a long time. It's been about 48 hours since I last drank I am wondering if I am suffering withdrawal symptoms.... I feel headachey and sick, with weird stomach pains. Is this normal? Will it pass? I've been drinking lots of water and resting but I still feel pretty awful.

Thanks in advance x

Hi amiok
That all sounds very normal to me. It's almost exactly what I experience when I stop drinking. Usually only lasts a few days. It's horrible. Take care. x

Thank you so much, I was really starting to worry!

Welcome amiok and well done for being brave and posting. New Year is a difficult time for all of us.

amiok it's totally normal but passes quickly, it's a good idea to take some vitamins particularly vitamin b, you will also be having sugar withdrawal as wine is full of it so you should have some sweet treats closeby. Sounds like your doing great so far and keep posting here, the bus is an amazing source of support and advice. Go YOU xxx

Quick check in, af day done :)

spanna at twunt! Sorry to hear about your friend's partner and really hope he starts making a recovery soon. Life is fragile and it comes a such a shock when someone close to us has a scare.

Hey soc, enjoy your New Year's Eve, then you get to drive us all into dry January

Welcome amiok and I hope you feel a bit brighter in the morning.

I am indulging in a bit of 007 tonight, the very handsome Daniel Craig. Happy Happy!

Well don Annie I'm chasing your tail as of tomorrow.

Lucky you beaches Daniel Craig is gorgeous.

amoik stay with us. This bus really helps

I hope you all note my new user name....

I'm actually excited about being sober again......the hellishness of drinking has been heavily reinforced this past fortnight. I'm really pathetic.

I'll be in the drivers seat at 12.01am tomorrow. Can't wait.

Hi spanna not that great honey, I'm still trying to move x how about you?

As I face an uncertain New Year all alone, I am depressed and anxious. I must supress these feelings and yet again call upon my inner warrior to carry me through and back to my son. I just wont give in to self doubt and despair.

To that end, I plan on not so much ringing in the New Year with joy, but am planning a Pot O'Love. Everytime anybody says something nice to me, or I read something I enjoy, or share a laugh or have a bit of luck, Im going to write it on a scrap of paper and put it in my jar. When the year is over I plan to read them on December 31st 2014 with my son. Im going to create the conditions for my own happiness. Bring it on, 2014.

I'm and why please stay strong. You've both got such unbelievable challenges in life at the moment and on top of that trying to give up/moderate your drinking. I'm in awe of both of you. I crumble at the first minor hurdle. I truly admire you both. Please look after yourselves.

2014 is going to be our year. You will get your son back why and if I don't drive over your 'thing' (not sure what to call that poor excuse of a species) first, you will get away from him, I'm. Apologies if that's not PC, but DV makes me utterly mad.

It's a basic human right to be safe and happy in this life. x

Love the new name Sober Soc Happy New Year to you.

Why what a lovely idea 'Pot of love'. Keep strong, keep going, stay positive you have come this far

Mouse I really like the idea of burning the stuff on the fire, quite a Pagan thing to do - out with the negative and in with the positive.

amoik all of those physical feelings are quite normal, mine tend to go on for 4 days with weird taste in mouth, shakes, feeling generally like shite BUT sweets do help especially green opal fruits (as Ma, Soc and I can vouch for)

Beaches oh yes Daniel Craig does look lovely in a suit and those blue eyes (he's still a bit blond for my liking)

I'm babe, special hello to you and

Day 2 here today. Have a good day Brave Babes x

Hello there sober soc I love your new name you sound very positive I like your attitude to the new year

why your idea of the pot of love is a really very good one I'm impressed with that idea.your strengths incredable, stay focused as I know you are.

spanna day two, well done honey x

Morning all. The last day of 2013 and battling the black dog of depression who stalks New Year. Happens every year, it will pass. Just an awful sense of foreboding rather than a bubbly optimism.....weird.

why your pot of love is a great idea. Start it with this:
There is a group of women scattered across the world who think you are awesome. Who have followed your story, wept for you, cheered you on and be struck dumb at your strength and the power of love you have for your son. You inspire us. Your little boy has a truly amazing mother.

Perfect words ma

just wanted to pop in quickly before tonight to wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year.
I had a bit of a "moment " when out shopping with DD a few days ago.
Cos she is now working and has cash to splash :) we were in a couple of naice shops :)
Anyway as she was browsing I had a look at the price tags on a few things and thought " no way would I pay that for a pair of jeans/ dress "
and then I had a lightbulb moment or perhaps my guardian angel whispered in my ear .I started to do a mental tally on what I must spend on booze in a month and I stopped counting when I got to £150.
Now I know that that is probably a conservative estimate if I spend around £6 on a bottle of wine.
I have been thinking a lot about this since and also thinking I used to love clothes but I now wear what I call my fat uniform.
I felt as if I had woken up and had seen what I had become and I didnt like it .
The slide really happens so slowly it is hard to see what is happening.
Anyway on a positive note I feel that it has given me the kick up the bum that I needed.
Positive vibes to everyone for tonight especially why and mouse

Here here mawise words to why* come to think of it every one of you wonderful, brave babes are a hero in my eyes xx

I couldn't agree more soberisthenewblack, I think these things do creep up on you. It used to be second nature for me to buy a bottle of wine when shopping, then I'd baulk at dd1 for wanting an overpriced kids magazine and feel like a selfish hypocrite.

It's funny, I'm trying to get dh on board for dry january, and was pointing out how much we'd save on wine. I was saying we got through at least three bottles a week and he was like 'no way!' He actually thought we drank less!! I thought I was the one with the problem but he has no idea how much we drink (getting through five is more likely). It really surprised me but I suppose if you don't think you have a problem, so don't think about it

Anyway I managed an af day yesterday but expect to drink tonight. I really don't want to go overboard, I hate NYE, I find it totally depressing. Normally the enforced eat, drink be merry actually puts me off...that said I hope everyone has a Happy New Year's :)

Afternoon all, tonight is the last night for a month and I feel strangely cheerful about the whole affair. It's almost like I am up for the challenge, any challenge in fact.
In the past I was always up for the next new thing, recently that has just slipped away and the idea of proving myself, even if it's just to not drink for 31 days is strangely enticing.
Good luck to all struggling with NYE celebrations (or not) Roll on 2014 :)

I did a budget spreadsheet thing today and the amount dh and I spend on alcohol is both staggering and shameful.
Should see a big difference this month.
Got a bottle of bubbly for tonight and then dry January begins. Remember ODAAT - dry January 1st and then we shall take it from there.
Should all the dry January babes have a special part of the bus? Or should we just climb onto the roof rack and hang on for grim life?

Good luck tonight everyone.
I am on day 3 and feeling fine about not drinking tonight right now. We are staying in until just before midnight when we will nip to the party at my best friends to see in the new year so it doesn't feel like too much pressure.

Ooh Indie I got a fab poetry anthology for Christmas. Shall we have a poetry face-off?