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

Dog you are funny but I know exactly what you mean :). Faire :). Violent mum hope ou are ok - welcome to the bus :)

Welcome to the bus violet, have you had anything to eat this evening? Try having something sweet - sugary tea if you have nothing else in.

I used to just have a glasses of wine to take the edge off the day. I'm slipping back into depression now though and I can feel the want to have the wine coming back and i'm afraid I can't stop it

Hi im dogwalks Annie inside beaches spanna mouse sober why lonnika faire ma beaches venus joey guggs trinity and every single babe out there, if I have forgotten anyone it's only because I can only read so far on my phone, you all matter, every single babe xxxxx

violets sorry x posted. Your very welc

Sorry on my iPhone, your very wtlc

Bloody false nails, welcome violets xxx at last aaahhh xxx

baby if I didn't know better I'd say you've been at the gin

faire it's my new new nails, I promise xxx

Yeah, yeah, course it is baby

Nah, just kidding, bet your nails look lovely. I can't have mine very long because they get in the way when I take my contact lenses out.

violet whatever brought you here, you should know that at last you have found a place where it is really safe to be honest (with yourself and with us) about what you're drinking and how you feel about drinking.

Every single person here, has posted because they have recognised something that feels out of control. It doesn't matter so much whether you want you stop completely or cut down, or have a break, or just take a new look at how you drink - the most important thing is that you have started to accept that 'something is not right' in how you drink, or in how you think about drinking.

So please, feel safe. Tell us what's going on. And you will be surprised by how many people have been exactly where you feel you are now. And then even more surprising you'll find that it is possible to move on from that.

Eeew! Long nails in eyeballs. I have to squint now, just at the thought!

Hi violets, hope you managed to get through the evening without going to the shop. Are the shakes and itchy skin related to heavy drinking? Stick around, there are many babes, old and new, with stories and advice that you will relate to.

rural I was wondering where you were, how are the ewes? And are you knee deep in lambs now

baby £65 a week that is a really appealing treat fund - are the new nails part of this week's reward? It's good to see you around more.

im how are you doing honey? I have been thinking about you and your ribs. Did you manage to get back on track after Sat night?

anne well done! 3 af days on a week off is brilliant.

dog what a treat - pale yellow wee!! I always feel pretty pleased about that too.

joey how are you feeling?

obri not just st Patricks day, the rugby too! Well done on the dry weekend.

Spanna hey peanut

Waves to ma, isinde, soc, guggs, faire, hope, why, mouse

Day 5 here. Did a 90 minute class tonight, now draped on the sofa trying to muster up the will to wash. Not looking very likely now either

Take care all xx

babes checking in. Sober and so much happier for it. Why the fuck do I keep reverting to old behaviour. Anyway, I have one foot on the bus and one foot in the sidecar. Have a major overseas holiday coming up which involves reunions and fabulous stuff so I know I'm going to drink. Just trying to not give in right now. You know how the anticipation of something is almost as good as the real deal. I'm so excited I want to drink to celebrate.....but yuck, I also don't want to go back to that anxiety, depression, poor sleep etc. etc.

Welcome new babes.

xx

Soc you can keep the ww at bay by telling yourself 'Not now, if I want to I can have a drink on...' (whatever date). Once you make the decision, the cravings will lesson. Honest. Be firm with yourself and every time you get an urge to drink, tell yourself to wait, it will still be there on that day. You might go a bit overkill on the day though, so when it gets a bit closer to the time you might need to put some minimising strategies into place.

I read about someone losing weight by cutting all the rubbish out of their diet and this is what she recommends: Ask yourself, will there ever be another opportunity for me to have this? If the answer is no, then go ahead and have it. If not, don't have it right now because there will be another opportunity in the future.

I thought this applied quite well to stopping drinking, one day at a time. Alcohol will always be there. There is no great urgency to have it today, right now, other than the fact that the craving is crashing in waves. Ride it out, it will pass and there is no loss. There will still be alcohol in the world but it won't be poisoning your body today.

Have a great day babes

Hey. Just checking in. Coming up to just over a week and a half of my six weeks dry and am really not missing alcohol too much. I have the odd thought "oh it's sunny I should be drinking wine" "of I'm bored, it would be good to have a drink" but have managed to stay strong. I did some exercise last night and am feeling quite healthy and really proud of myself :)

faire I love that post. Am going to print it and carry it around with me. Thank you. The longer I don't drink the better. Xx

Day 3 here.
Welcome violet you will find lots of help here, keep posting.
beaches no lambs yet but any day now
faire such a insightful and wise post as always Are you the only DM babe left?
Im thinking of you and really hoping you are ready and able to get away the twunt soonxx
soc well done, keep going you too kelly A week AF Awesome!
mouse hope your meds are settling and you are finding some time to rest. Hugs xx
Love to all other babes, off to check my girls (the ewes).
Catch you later xx

Hi babes day 3 here, beaches your doing brilliantly, day 5 AND a class, that's fab, and my nails are part of my look better feel better regime, only problem is I can't do any housework, shame that!!! violet how are you feeling today? I have been thinking of all the reasons I use alcohol and my self esteem is defo up their on the list, since turning 40 my body has changed so much, Ive always been "curvy" but my waist is disappearing and I resemble a log more than a woman? I also find a new wrinkle every day... So I'm drinking a bottle of sugar every night which goes directly to my wine waist and I dehydrate my skin sucking the goodness out of it then I hate the way I look so I buy more wine to cheer me up.... Does anyone see a flaw in this plan!! DUHHHHHH xx

Wise words faire, it's something I try to tell myself, I can have a drink later. I don't know why I struggle with it when I feel like time is flying by yet sometimes I will look at my work schedule and think 'if I don't drink tonight, my next opportunity won't come till friday so I'd better drink tonight', totally stupid.

Day 4 today and with that said I won't drink today :)

Afternoon, tis me, Mouse :)

Another hospital appt for Nemo today, it was for his sight, no real changes but he did manage to see the letters, which is ace!

Today is a hearing test to see how he's getting on with his ears. He's been complaining of earache.

I'll be back later, time to get my back side into gear!

It's lovely to see some new posters too! :) x

beaches yes I did get back on track I surprised myself tbh
rural keep going honey.

Hope everyone is doing ok

Keep fighting

Ha rural I'm sure I'm not the only DM babe left. I know why will be out there kicking the ww to the kerb, and many others too. Would be great to hear how everyone is getting on though.

Am trying to muster up the energy to get on the treadmill again. Perhaps I'll have another coffee first...

See you later x

Dont worry babes, Im still totally dry 2014 and Im driving the bus!