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

Goodness spanna how terrifying! Glad dd is ok and well done you for not letting the ww take advantage of the situation.

Evening babes

Got a few minutes to post but I can see I am waaaay behind. So many new faces! So apologises for not name checking, I will have to try and catch up properly at the weekend.

Posting to say that yesterday was 70 days without booze for me. Last year when I was first posting I did manage 60 but then kept falling down again and again, I never got back to 60 and I thought I never would. It feels like a real milestone, I hope to keep sailing on and never go back to day one again - but we will see.

I just wanted to say thank you really. And offer a bit of hope. It is possible, it is doable, especially when you have the bus to help you

Pink X

Beaches - rattling chains? Now that is a rather polite way to put it! I'm just so gutted for Nemo, he gets ever so anxious. Bless him. And it hurts him too, the travel, his back, sat in his seat for all of that time.

Of course it's a lot of words, I've been AWOL for ages. Time I got back into the swing of things, even though grief still holds me back some days, I do try to wake each day and see it as a new sunrise, rather than see it as a dark cloud over my day. If that makes sense :)

Anywho, Smurfette - perfect if it's okay with you :) It's just to save confusion, that's all.... I'm so rubbish with who is who at the best of times!

Right, off I go for an early night with my lovely DH. He has been ever so supportive :)

Night all. xxx

Hi all, just want to apologise for swearing in my last post. It wasn't called for, and I feel so ashamed.

Just so grumpy today, even though it wasn't a bad day IYSWIM, thinking maybe its a full day on my own thats done it, no work to distract me. Or its just withdrawal symptoms. Did anybody else get grumpy around the 4 day stage? Dh has had a couple of pints this evening, and was a little surprised when I declined to join him. I was tempted though, first time in 4 days......

Sorry, I'm on my tablet so cannot see who said what previously, but sending my support and love to the posters who have been through a lot in the last few days, must be a worrying time, whether its children or pets, hope all gets better soon

Spanna what a day! Sounds like a right old ordeal but so glad the final outcome was not anything more serious. Must have been a very worrying time for you and I am sure you will be glad when tonight is over. I never knew you could faint with your eyes open either . Well done for avoiding the WW, you have good reason to be proud

Pink wow, 70 days! Very well done and it is good to hear too, thanks for posting.

Ma sounds like day 8 is in the bag, well done.

Mouse love your positive sunrise thing, of course you have lots to catch up on and I always enjoy reading all of your words

itsthe don't feel bad about swearing! you can't beat a good fuck it, wanker, tits sometimes just ask Ma. Well done on resisting tonight.

The SW is coming to see me Friday to give me her report and the meeting is next Tuesday 14th, I'm worried but I'm not I keep sweying she seems supportive, I'm waiting to here back from housing soon as, I have been offers a hostel but for are making do with mates floors etc.

Feel dead inside emotionally dead hes had his hands on me, I'm in the sidecar tonight cover me over x

Oh Im honey, I really don't know what to say . I wish he was not able to come anywhere near you and you could relax and know you were safe.

Pink - WELL DONE!!!! You are one true Brave Babe for being so determined, hitting 60 days, falling off the Bus and then getting back on it! You are such an inspiration. Thank you for posting and staying with us xxx

I'm - this has to stop. NOW!

beaches - lots of natter to come then :) xxx

It'sThe - get it off your chest my lovely, however you can! Better that than necking a glass or seven of wine eh?

Spanna - I really hope that your DD is okay tonight and that you both get some sleep. I'll be around as Nemo will be unsettled.... he has his Educational Psychologist is going into school to see him tomorrow. Big hugs to you for having all that worry sweetie. xxx

Right, I am going to bed before I take up this entire thread.

Sleep well brave Babes. I've missed you all xxx

spanna!! how scary. So pleased your daughter is ok and well done for not succumbing. xx

Pink well bloody done. I'm jealous.

mouse big hugs. Good to have you back with us. The bus is not quite the same without you.

its swearing is sometimes all you can do. I don't think there is a judgmental soul on this bus which is why I love these babes so much. Day 4-6 are by far my worst ever. I'm a complete bitch and really struggle. Just hang in there.

I'm I swear if I was in the UK I'd come and kill that prick. Without any qualms. Sending you big hugs.

And all you other lovely babes, beaches isinde ma/demented purple and everyone else.....sorry if I forgot you.

Soc
x

beaches thanks ill be out of here one day soon I hope x

Hello sober soc thanks lovely

Hello mouse hope it won't be to long now till we are away x

morning brave babes!

Everyone is going through such a lot. Love and strength to all of you

Day 8! Feels good, but scary Friday is just around the corner, my mam is coming for a few days, she's a good friend of the ww but has said she'll be supportive and bring ice cream :)

Have a good day all x

Good morning my lovely friends, I hope you all have a great day today. Yesterday was a hellish day for me and I experienced every part of the HALT sphere. I ran out of petrol, dh had my bank card, dd2 pushed every button, terrible sleep, massive fight with dh and a bit hormental. Anyway life threw me all the triggers that send me hurtling towards the wine aisle, however I came home and went to my room and cried like a teenager then continued with the dinner. I'm clearly relearning how to manage stress and anger but a small step for baby, a giant step for sobriety!!!

Baby well done for yeaterday can I ask another question about AD took first does tue felt crap missed one yesterday and felt great and I've took another today not feeling ewt yet is it worth just trying every other day till I get used? Or just put up with the strange feeling?

thisis I just wrote you an epic post and lost it, need to rush out but will message as soon as I'm back, you WILL get better xxx

mouse lovely to see you again; I know it must have been so frustrating yesterday, but can only think they would have done the scans if they thought the situation was serious enough - but they didn't know whether it was until they actually saw him - so, in a way, good that they don't think he needed urgent tests.

But all that worry, and travel, and waiting - it's exhausting isn't it

I do hope also you are allowing yourself some time to grieve for your dear mum. I know you have to be strong for your family, but sometimes you need let yourself feel the emotion otherwise it just bottles up and comes out at the most unexpected times.

Well done baby you are doing really well to dodge the wine aisle after such a trying day!

I am still taking one day at a time and am now on Day 2! I also have not smoked a cigarette for 7 days today!

Morning, tis me, Mouse

ThisIs - hello sweetie :) Can I ask you which AD's you're on? I was put on a various range of them when I first stopped drinking to help with the root cause of my addiction and relationship with alcohol.

I finally settled on Citalopram for a good 9+ months, as it turned out that anxiety was main reason for me abusing the booze.

Everyone reacts differently to the ADS that they are put on. I would follow the advice of your GP as it is early days. However, if you're feeling very 'odd' or strange, then you need to speak to your GP again, see if you can get them to give you a quick call between appts?

I know that it took me a while to settle on Citalopram and you do need to be on them for at least 6 months for them to even have half a chance to work :)

They will make you feel weird, drunk, wobbly, a bit skitish, jumpy and sometimes much worse before you feel better. PM me if you'd rather not say what you are on and why :) Well done for taking action though, it's never easy to say you need help. xxx

Joey - it's the fact that the consultant requested the scans asap. No-one contacted the cons at all, it was a senior radiographer that said it would be better not to do the scans. That's what has made me so cross.

That and the fact that Nemo has had sedation and much more numerous times.

Anyway, today is kick ass day.

WRT grieving for my mum, I am not really allowing myself to now that I think about it. I'm worried today for my Dad, it's his birthday and I wish that we were nearer....... he is in Manchester and at work. No card from my Mum, no present, nice meal, lovely words said, etc.

I'm so worried that today will be too tough for him. Another first that he has to face so quickly. First Christmas, first NY, first Birthday.....

I can't let go because I am scared of what will happen. I can't let it out. Not yet. It's still not hit me, DH thinks that it had but I can feel that it's not. Not really.

Thank you for your kind words xxx

Baby - WELL DONE! That has to be a HUGE trigger of a day for you and you didn't give in. Every possible shitty thing that you faced yesterday hit you hard but you nailed it lady! :)

Brilliant, just brill! xxx

Dancer - well done to you too! And on the smoking front! That is ace. Giving up one addiction/habit is hard enough but two is amazing. :)

Libertine - try not to worry about tomorrow until tomorrow. Eight days is awesome! Absolutely! That first week is always the hardest, the first few days are crushing. You've got past that huge first marker; a week! Well done.

As for tomorrow, lets worry about that then? I'm glad that you're mum is on side with you, hopefully she#ll just bring cake and not wine too :)

I'm - you are so close to getting out, you're in my thoughts all of the time. I so hope that this is the corner that you need to turn, I hope it's within reach. xxx

Right, time to get out of the house for the first time alone in a long time.

I'm nervous but can't keep hiding behind the closed doors can I?

Have good rest of the mornings Babes xxx

Pink - way to go!
I'm - thinking of you :( x

Hi all,

Well done baby, for recognizing all those triggers and for choosing not to drink. I had forgotten about HALT. My dh decided to have a few glasses of wine last night and it caught me off guard. I quickly made a cup of tea and then ate (slice of quiche and a brownie) which scuppered my diet but at least I avoided the wine. I know that will be the end of his dry Jan so have to prepare for having red wine hanging about. Thinking of all of you really helps me though, and reading every single post. Still focused

Hi to all brave babes

Hi Mouse I'm on citalopram 10mg had strange feelings nervousness and sweaty Palms first day missed it yesterday took it today no side effects at all I kinda think my drinking is may be because of my low mood feeling if something's missing I think x

Hi thisis as our lovely mouse said it may take a wee while to get the dosage and choice of AD right, I started on citalapram but switched to venlaflaxine as it is an anti anxiety med as well as AD. It's a big ask but give it 2 weeks following the dosage suggested, keep busy, know that any strange sensations are merely one step nearer to your mood lifting. I can tell you this I was sick with nerves and rattled with anxiety and between the AD and cutting out booze I feel very day my mood lifting and the fog of despair diminish. Keep going, have faith and if you want to talk on a more personal level I'm only a button away xxx