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

Hi kelly welcome aboard, I wonder how many of us escalated our drinking because if an ex?? I know I did so well done for resisting, your best revenge really is to look fabulous, slimmer, dewy skin and swishy hair, all of which you will achieve through less drinking and our bus!!! spanna aren't you fabulous to manage to encourage others whilst moving, RESPECT.. im your doing brilliantly, your taking control back of your life and your drinking, your horrible ex is losing his power. Geez I sound like a man hater today, not so just looking out for our babes xx also on soberiestas there is a kind of photo diary of a woman that's stopped drinking and the beginning picture to now is like a different person and it's only been a few weeks, hope for me yet xx

Hello all babes

Im truly amazing honey! Love watching you blossom.

Spanna, good to see you babe I started off well for dry March, stumbled after the first week and have been skidding around behind the bus ever since. Seriously lacking the motivation at the minute. I am glad the move went ok and you are on the way to the new place. I can imagine that the pressure of a big mortgage was a big weight, nice to see the back of that!

baby I may check out that site, it may give me the nudge to get back to it. Hope you are ok babe.

Welcome to the newer babes and congratulations on the small HUGE triumphs so far. Hang in there louise.

hello louise and welcome

hi babyj how are you doing? what's happening with you and your DH, is he still moved out?

waves to all other babes Last night was hard, DH in a mood, DD being 11-going-on-15 and I nearly reached for the drink.

Not sure why I didn't really, other than the habits are changing, and I realised it was a reaction rather than actually wanting a drink. I also knew that a) I can no longer get as drunk as I used to and b) that just having 1 or 2 drinks wouldn't satisfy me - so there wasn't any point having anything at all!

It would help if there wasn't any alcohol in the house though, I keep asking DH not to buy gin - if he could just stick to beer or whisky - he says his stomach has become intolerant to whisky and he just fancied gin. Of course, the stronger I become in resisting the urge, the less work he has to do in supporting me

Baby just cut/pasted and went onto soberiestas - looks interesting haven't found that woman yet but joined so I can read more thanks for that honey.

Beaches what a pair - we are, we need to find our get up and go, which has currently got up and gone need to pop out, back later x

spanna and beaches yeah soberiestas is a great site for success stories and while it's not a patch on our bus, it all helps. alias dh and I are very much together, a little time apart done us good, thank you for asking. It's a lovely sunny day in Bonny Scotland and I'm going to get out walking this week, every week starts the same positive and full of promise then by the weekend I just convince myself i can moderate then history repeats itself, well anyway day 2 and will keep fighting the good fight with the help of all you fabulous babes. louise keep posting and try getting as much fluid as you can and some sugary treats, big hugs xxx

Baby, I will join you in Day 2:)

Great obrigada can I sit beside you? Xx

Afternoon, tis me, Mouse :)

Sorry, I've not read back, I'm so sorry but I just wanted to check in to say I'm okay, life is very busy here and I am still struggling with losing Mum.

My fantastic GP has been very supportive and has given me something new for my pain as that has gotten so much worse. So now I am on Cymbalta 60mg, which has Duloxetine that increases the Serotonin and Noradrenaline in the CNS. I'm not sure how this is going to help the searing pain in my hips yet, but I'm willing to try anything at ths point.

Sorry not to NC you all, I hope that you are all okay?

Mouse xxx

Hi babes had half a bottle of rose last night, still got to the gym this morning but I'm aware the drinking is creeping up again. I won't blame my friend's death as really there is always an excuse if I want one. It's funny how some weeks im fine, barely even think of drinking and will be happy with a couple of glasses on Saturday night, and then at other times I'm struggling not to drinkeevery night

Hi louisa I think I've seen you post occasionally, hope your feeling better today :)

Mouse I hope your new medication gives you some relief soon, it's so much harder to deal with life when you're in pain x

Hi all. Sorry to be trivial when you all have bigger issues, but feeling so down. Tried on my dress for big awards dinner on Thursday and I look hideous. Sticky out belly is awful, dress doesn't sit right. Tried the big strap it in underwear but it rolled down and made a ridge and looked even worse. I have spent 9 months organising this event and will look like a fat frumpy middle aged bloater in a stupid dress.
bursts into tears

Right ma firstly we never see ourselves the way
Others do so I bet you are being way too harsh. I swear by herbal tablets called water balance, they get rid of all your excess fluid safely and gently for that less bloated feeling. If you really feel like something radical is required a body wrap drop inches all over straight away as it sucks all the toxins and fluid out albeit temporarily but it works for a "big night out" which this sure as hell is!! You will be stunning whatever you do, I know it, hope this helps xx I used to speak at many public events and swore by them x

Will the wrap work in one night?

Tonight is hard, the sweets aren't working and I really want a beer

Can I join the bus? I've been doing some hard thinking today and need to talk

Talk away wanna, there is always someone around who is listening.

I scared myself this weekend. Drank absolutely loads from thur right through til last night. All in the name of socialising but I carried on when I got home alone. I've always been a drinker (uni etc) but it didn't interest me in my 20's much. Now since having my dd I seem to be terrible with it.

I don't know if I have a problem but I certainly think my drinking is problematic. I threw up this morning before work and there was some blood in it. I am petrified I have done something to myself. Been looking up articles all day about liver disease and never slept a wink worrying myself sick about it. I have a tendency to lean towards anxiety about stuff and health issues in particular. I think though, that this is justified.

I can't bring myself to go to the GP. I have cramps in my stomach and feel like throwing up again. Haven't eaten much all day. I'm overweight so it's not like I don't eat.
A typical week for me would be possibly not drink in the week but binge at the weekend, drinks all 3 weekend nights. Sometimes I will have a drink mid week too, like this week. I feel disgusted with myself. Called my DP in a panic and told him how I felt. He is a big drinker too and I've certainly fallen into his way of life. He was supportive though and said we could work together to cut right down. I was surprised that he acknowledge it at all as he isn't fond of people commenting on his drinking.

He thinks i am overthinking it a bit and that it's my anxiety playing up but agrees that we both need to change. Right now i feel like I've poisoned myself and the idea of a drink makes me want to cry. I've never felt like this before. I'm not sure if stopping completely is what I'm aiming for - this is kinda hit me up the face a bit today and all i know is that I want to get a serious handle on it.

The way I've seen myself change in the last few years is that I've got 'greedy'. Always want another, will have a nightcap or 3 when I come back from the pub. I 'think' about drinking way more than I'm happy with, for example, will wake up on a Sunday and decide I'm going to drink while cooking dinner.

It's not good is it?

Writing all that down just looks terrible.

Thanks. I like the Idea of a diary and one seemingly simple thing that struck me today was that I have never given a moments thought to the recommended units per week. I can't believe I've been such a tool.

Alcohol addiction runs in my family. I am terrified of addiction and let it play on my mind, yet incredibly find myself here. The doc once gave me some sleeping tablets for an unrelated incident and I took half a packet and convinced myself i was heading for addiction. Literally tore myself up about it. There is definitely a fear there and some irrationality about it. Like I said though, I believe this time my fear is justified. The way I drink is a problem and I don't like it.

wanna you've made a really brave first step t write all that down honestly. From my experience, you are likely to spend the next couple of days feeling slightly remorseful, and then as the whole effect begins to wear off, you will feel somewhat belligerent and foolish. You'll start to think that you were premature in posting, that you've not really got an alcohol problem (despite all the evidence), and you'll be convinced that this weekend you'll manage to drink sensibly (and certainly no more than any other woman your age).

All of this is false thinking, and many of us will have gone through that cycle week after week after bloody week.

So, go on, take this chance now. Notice how good, really really good, it feels to go to bed sober and to wake up the next morning feeling clean and clear. Work out when it feels like a difficult struggle, and understand what is going on in your head and heart at those times. Experiment with all the non-alcoholic options - things which are sweet and comforting, things which are sharp and dry, things which make you want to spit it out immediately .

Welcome to the bus. It may be a bumpy ride, but it's a good journey to be on. x

Hello Wanna, and welcome to you. You will get loads of help on here, keep posting. We have all been there in one way or another, nobody will judge you, but you might have to put up with a bit of insane banter

Louise, Kelly - nice to 'meet' you too . Grab a seat and as you are all new I think you are entitled to a welcome opal fruit. Just go easy on the green ones, some of the sweetie monitors on here are a bit fierce (looks round nervously)

Ma I bet you look gorgeous in your dress, and I think that sucky-in underwear is over-rated, whenever I use it my, erm, generous bits just pop out somewhere else! Unless I wore a wetsuit I don't think my bumps are tameable, but you know what, I actually look better when I'm not wrapped in an elasticated tube. I bet you look great without the fat pants so leave them at home. (do wear the dress though, it wouldn't do to go nude to your party. And maybe some normal underwear unless you have the bottle to go commando. And come to think of it, why do commandos not wear underwear?? Why??)

Spanna, happy new home babe!!!! I know you aren't in your proper flat yet, but you are on your way and that big mortgage is off your mind! Onwards and upwards lovely!

I'm, keep on going babe, you are getting close to being rid of him...

Mouse - I hope your new pain meds work for you. Big hugs xxx

Anne, hope you are OK. We are all here if you need to talk about your friend. When is the funeral?

Been on a training course today and had to do the work I missed when I got in on my laptop as we have no staff and I don't have anyone to help out when I'm not around - just noticed it's nearly midnight, so despite not having finished, decided to stop and hop on the bus for the night.

Hot chocolate for everyone who wants one on the dashboard! Good night Fated, Baby, Isinde, Beaches, Soc, Faire & co. Big wave to all the babes I have not namechecked - don't mean to leave you out, just can't keep up.

See you all tomorrow x

Oops Venus, cross-posted - hello. Brilliant post there, that exactly describes my journey the first couple of times I stepped on this bus, and then stepped off for way too long. Then came slipping apologetically back a few months later after ending up back at square one. You are a spookily wise woman.

Wanna - yeah, what Venus said (bows head in deference to greater wisdom)