The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Wading Through Winter Blues Without The Booze!

[Mouseface]

I'm Mouse, nice to meet YOU.

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, it's all up to you. And of course all addictions, so if you are taking drugs of any kind, prescription or otherwise, you're very welcome here too!

You know your limits, you know what is required, it's all in YOUR hands.

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

There will be talk of drinking quite often and those who fall off the Bus will post about it, so if that is going to jeopardise your chances of complete sobriety, then maybe the DRY threads would suit you better, as they are complete abstainers, but EVERYONE IS WELCOME HERE :)

There are two sayings that we rather like here -

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

For those of you who'd like some history, here is the very first thread and the reason that we're all here now. FIRST EVER THREAD

And the most recent so you can work your way back through time IS JUST HERE

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

Mouse xxx

stalk away I don't mind

I don't think I have any tips really, sorry

Basically I was on medication for a tooth abscess and the dentist told me I mustn't drink on them as I would vomit.
I'm an emetophobe so no matter what there was no way I could have drunk whilst taking them.
I had a 5 day course and he said leave it two more days for them to be out of your system.
I had previously organised to drive down to my mum and dads and it just so happened that the 8th day was the day that I would be arriving at my mum and dads.

I remember clearly thinking as I drove the 456 miles to their house 'cant wait to get there and have a drink'

When I arrived it was very clear that my mum was further along with dementia than I had allowed myself to believe.

She told me about the daughter she once had that lived in Scotland (me)
she asked me if I had children, she spoke to my girls as if she had just met them
dd1 was very upset, they were extremely close before we moved away

basically, I had lost/was losing my mum but she was still alive

the pain was crushing my chest

I went back to the hotel with the girls (we already knew that staying at the house would have confused her) and realised:

I can either trawl around trying to find somewhere that sells alcohol
get drunk and feel worse in the morning and then just count the minutes till I can drink again

or I can never drink again and face my life
face the guilt, the pain, my girls pain and trauma and fight

I chose to fight

ooops sorry that became a huge post, sorry

Evening, tis me, Mouse

Thank you very much rural - I feel pretty invisible right now....

Im - You are utterly, totally amazing xxx

Trin - My darling friend, you have come so far, SO FAR! I am so very proud to see your post and the number 21 next to the word months and sober.

You have no idea how much this means to us, The Bus, what a testament you and the other successful sober Babes are..... you can achieve what you want and need to. One Day At A Time.

Love to you and the DD's sweetheart xxx

Night all :) x

Sleep tight mouse

Drink some water isinde, sleep well babe x

rachael welcome aboard Day 3 already, well done! Feeling crap in those first few days is pretty common, some describe it as 'seeing the hangover through to the end' rather than topping back up each night. The poison finally has a chance to leave your body. Hopefully in the next few days you will start to feel better. Feel free to post whenever you want to, we are a friendly bunch.

trinity your post was really interesting, and moving. Thank you for sharing. Such a sad situation with your mum but so amazing that it seemed to flick a switch in you about the drinking. 21 months is incredible.

mouse sorry you are feeling invisible, a horrible feeling . You do pop into my thoughts, dealing with the heartache and loss of losing your mum, I just forget to write it. take care babe x

Spanna I think Thursday was your moving day. Hope all goes smoothly for you and your girls and you settle in to your new place quickly. Pop back soon xx

Im love your lists. guggs how about berk? That's another good one! faire wondering what you are dressing up as. Hope you don't win the chocolate back Waves to joey, rural, Anne, baby, soc and all babes.

Hi beaches how's that diet going? I've fallen off, I got so bored of 0% fat everything... but I think I'll hop back on again.

Welcome Rachael and well done for being brave and posting.

I'm feeling ridiculously stressed over nothing - I have such an easy life compared to some of you! I'm going to the GP this morning and worrying

a) I have something seriously wrong
b) I have nothing wrong and wasting his time
c) I have something wrong, but they can't find what it is
d) my boss is fed up of me calling in sick
e) all the above

Alcohol temporarily takes away anxiety but increases guilt (and then causes more anxiety about trying to stop drinking) I've taken some Kalms instead...

Sorry if this is in the wrong thread, just need to write it down:0

Until last night I hadn't had a drink in ten days. No problems, found it easy to go without, or so I thought.

Last night I 'just fancied' a glass of wine. Actually had two, just two, admittedly not small, but my word can I feel it this morning. Absolutely banging headache, and can't stop going to the loo. It's definitely as a result of the wine. I just don't understand how so little can cause such feelings, when I regularly drank much more.

Why the hell didn't I just have a cup of coffee.

Must try and remember this feeling the next time I just fancy a glass!

Best wishes to you all X

Hi all,

I'm back again... Only day 2 but day 2 of not smoking too. I've realised the drinking and smoking really do go hand in hand and so I'm going to have to do both at once.

Wish me luck.

Thanks for the welcomes!
Shaking like a leaf this morning....not sure why!
On shift tonight, so as long as I get to lunch will have another day under my belt.
Thank you for this thread, seeing the support between you all helps so much!

Morning sisters

Stay strong we're going to batter old saggy tits together tonight a bit of team works in order I feel, why do it alone when there's a whole bus of awesome babe'ets that can do it together?

Get your treat cupboards stocked up for later with sweets, warm drinks chocolate anything you like to treat yourself x

Back later

Hello babes

welcome rachael. try and not drink today. the first few days are hell. Drink loads of water. I also eat a shit load, but that's not every one's thing.

Hello 50. I had almost 40 days AF and then had a 3/4 bottle of wine and it hit me like a ton of bricks. I reckon any time AF free gives your body time to recover and then when you drink again it really doesn't like it.

alias hope your visit to the GP goes ok. A good GP should never mind how much time you take of theirs or how many times you see them. So scrap that one off your list.

I so love hearing from posters who are well into the sobriety so thank you trinity

And hello all the rest of you slags.
I’m fated beaches isinde mouse annie gugg faire baby rural looking lonnika and anyone else I’ve forgotten or who is lurking.

Day 4 done for me. Aiming to make the rest of March dry which will then put it at the top of my dry months with only 2 days of drinking. But really I’m just hoping to stay sober today. Am reading copious amounts of books and blogs about giving up alcohol. There is some amazing stuff out there.
Love to you all. xx

Actually. It's only day 3. Sigh....

Am having a bubble bath to get me through to my pre-shift sleep, than another day done.
Would welcome book recommendations.......tried the AA Big Blue Book, but

Oi bitch! Oo you calling a slag? . Keep going Soc, as you said it is those early days which are rough. You know you can do it this time. Xx

joey hope it went alright at the doctors and you got some reassurance. Anxiety is such a silent condition but so very powerful X

Rachael I have never tried the AA book but have read a few drink related novels. Drinking by Caroline Knapp is mentioned a lot, a women's own account of her alcoholism. Are you looking for more of a guidance book? Well done for today, you can't beat a bubble bath

im I have strawberries,blueberries and cream lined up for my treat later. Thanks for all your support x

Hi and welcome (back) to 50 and fated.

trinity I really like your story its things in life that sometimes come to a point like that, its something different from our everyday life's and its these things that mold and shape who we are ... I like the way it makes us think.

beaches I'm at your lovely fruit and cream lined up for later sounds delisuos honey x

soc remember your name change, you bounced back on the bus with that new shinny name don't forget that honey, be proud of it x

Hello to all the newbies x

50 when you are drinking, your body gets used to the poison and learns to cope. If you stop, your body responds appropriately. I never used to get hangovers - now that I've cut down, yes I will get a hangover if I drink. And that's exactly what should happen. Anyone who says they can "hold their drink" is probably an alcoholic!

Hmm, maybe that's what's wrong with me? Liver disease? Cirrhosis?? Although the pain is lower down in the pelvis. Doc is sending me for another scan & blood test & urine test. He suspects UTI especially after I mentioned the leaks.

Had my sleep, and much more positive now!

Beaches - not sure what books, but as with anything, I feel if I'm well read about it, I feel well armed - if that makes sense!

Hope you all have a good evening, shall be thinking if you all as I go off to work

Keep me strong lovely's its nearly past my witching hour

We are having pancakes
Then later I'm having a chicken tika kebab

Not long to go now then Im, you are doing so well, you will be pleased with yourself tomorrow x

Going to bed :). - ODAAT :)

Sometimes an early night is the best line of defence, night lonnika

Thanks nuff made it just... Had bath painted nails read some of my book and drank cold cola with ice I feel surprising relaxed ....

Friday morning check in.

Despite my 'blips' my drinking has infinitely improved. I now find it quite easy to have days and weeks AF and am not even bothered by the fact that it is a Friday and I have no intention of drinking. Not so long ago, not drinking on a Friday was absolutely impossible. So I seem to be getting better at stopping. I'd still like to be a teetotaler though as I have no control over my drinking.

rachael here are some books:

"Kick the drink...Easily" by Jason Vale
"Why you drink and How to Stop. Journey to freedom" by Veronica Vallie
"The Sober Revolution" by Sarah Turner and Lucy Rocca
"Drink: The Intimate Relationship between Woman and Alcohol" by Ann Dowsett Johnston

And then I read some blogs. Start with "Mrs D Goes Without". She has a blog roll and I read some of them too.

I find it very helpful to read about woman who have been through this. It's all the same shit that we experience.

Have a good evening babes