DRY 5

[allhailqueenmab]

Starting this before the old one gets filled up!
this is the thread for the alcohol free.
Join us!

flamingo Just taking the whole thing off the table is the most monumental relief. Totally agree with this. For me it's just like smoking, it's the internal battle of shall I, shan't I? that causes me the anguish. As I said before, I had got to the point of having to turn down social invitations because I dreaded how much I would drink at them. Now I see I am still turning them down - but at least I'm doing it for a different reason!

Well done on your 16 days too 70. I felt really proud when I got to two weeks, it started to feel like a 'proper' decision from then on. I think this was partly because I wasn't a daily drinker anyway, so it was no great shakes for me to go a few days without anyway.

Lucy - Soberistas meet was small but really nice. Good to be small in a way because we got to chat properly to each other; it wasn't too unwieldy. Definitely up for more meets - was just what I needed and somehow really quite powerful to have talks about AF life face-to-face.

Day 17 - feeling stronger this week than last week - Good morning all - here's to a great day :)

Thats great 70

Ugh bunged sinuses were causing my headache. Head banging so there goes my run I had planned today. On the plus side it looks like a lovely, crisp autumn day out there. Think I have a nice long walk with the DC and their bikes. Have a lovely day y'all.

Off to meet my MN postnatal group tonight. Haven't seen them in ages but one of our number is visiting from Oz and another is relocating back there, so we will have a big turnout. Looking forward to it although previously would have been quite a boozy affair ...

Hope everyone is good. Well done Biggles on reaching a year and the inspiring post. And AlsoF into your third year ... wowsers!

Broke my no sugar diet whilst away with the DC quelle surprise. Felt it was too much and sobriety takes priority of course. Back on that wagon now.

Hope you have a good evening, Haggis. And no surprise on breaking the no sugar thing. I have been mainlining junk food all week so far - definitely something to do with half term!!! Hey ho - will get back on track next week. No point agonising over it. Interesting to watch what happens to my eating, though. So obvious to me that it has become my outlet now that I no longer drink.

Hope everyone is having a good evening.

Day 18 - whoop whoop - and a sober half term as well x

Go 70!!!!

Well done 70 half term can be a testing time. I tried to give up sugar a couple of weeks ago and lasted precisely two days so hold my hat off to those who can.

One week under the belt! Can't believe how much my mood has generally improved over the last few day. I struggle with patience a lot of the time and can be quite short tempered. Now I'm not careering from hungover to drunk to hungover most days I definitely feel more relaxed. Even dd's temper tantrums I feel able to walk away and not get exasperated.

First weekend without dc this Fri which I'm a little nervous about I have to admit as it's normally when I push the fuck it button.

Well done on a week Broken. - get ready with a list of things to do this weekend so you are not tempted - good luck :)

Agree - make some fun plans. Or even slightly boring chores (that may make you feel satisfied when they are done).

And my advice - when in doubt or wavering - go to bed! When I want to just get 'out of it' and switch off that's what I do now.

Ditto Also bed is my no 1 sanctuary and refuge, followed closely by a bath. Hangover free half-terms are the best :) Well done 70 and eggshells!!

Plans made for Fri night. Saturday night will have to be an early change into the pjs as I know once I get them on that's me in for the night.

Reading another thread on here tonight and the general consensus seems to be drinking two bottles of wine over a weekend every weekend is far, far too much. Shows how scewed my thinking is when that doesn't sound like a lot at all to me.

2 bottles OVER A WEEKEND?! Jesus. I would have been polishing my halo if I'd managed that.

Hi there-I' m brand new to this thread. I have just finished Allen Carr's easy way. Have any of you read it? What did you think. I can say it makes sense but then I am not convinced that will power is not involved too. I can clearly see all the advantages of not drinking and that there are only disadvantages from carrying on drinking.
However, most of my social situations with friends involve drinking so I am a bit concerned I might look 'odd' suddenly sitting there sipping a sparkling water.
Was thinking I would start by saying to friends that I am doing a no drink month through November and then take it from there. If I start saying I've given up for good I will look like I have had a bad drink problem.
Does this make sense? xx

Hi sunflower. I have read AC's book - and actually attended one of his seminars which was my catalyst for stopping completely. Don't worry if you're feeling like that, I came out of the seminar thinking the same thing but haven't had a drink since! (98 days and counting...)

AC says not to avoid social situations, but I would to start with if you feel it'll give your sobriety a bit of a kick-start. If YOU think you have a problem with alcohol - or rather, just think you'd prefer life without it, then really it's nobody else's business.

sunflower. I have been mostly honest with people saying I am giving my liver break - I like alcohol I just like it too much etc. TBH most people don't give a toss - you may get initial questions and people trying to foist alcohol on you but staying strong for 5 minutes and people will give up. If you cant do that avoid social situations altogether.

Day 19 :)

Hi sunflower haven't read the Carr drinking one but the smoking one so would imagine its pretty similar to that. Lists all the reasons why you are 'giving up' nothing and why it's bad to say giving up ? Jason Vale book reminded me of that except HE DOES A LOT OF SHOUTING!!!!

Agreed nobodies business but your own so tell them what you feel comfortable with.

Hello all . I hope everyone's enjoying the mad weather! welcome sunflower.
Had a bit of a week of it here. Took a friend of mine out running as she had asked me to help her get for for a wedding where she is being a bridesmaid, so I did my 'get me I've done a 10k' training bit and all was going well until we were about 200 metres from her house when she suddenly went flying! long story short she has torn ligaments in her leg and badly sprained her ankle. I felt terrible!

She should be off crutches in a few weeks I know it wasn't my fault but I do feel bad.

On top of this, mad week at work with all sorts going on, and I am really concerned about D's. he is 14 and has always been a sweet sensitive boy but he's getting some strange and worrying obsessions lately. He has spent exactly 5hpurs and 22 minutes each day revising -, if it's not exactly that he gets very worried. Also he has got obsessed that there is a scratch on his phone and spends hours cleaning it. He knows this is irrational behaviour but can't stop, so I am taking him to see the gp to see if we can get some counselling for him . it's a bit of a sorry - he's such a lovely handsome caring boy and I can't seem to help. Hopefully we can get through it before he gets out of control. If anyone has any tips I'd be very grateful!

Having a quiet day today ,- taking dd to spend her pocket money - unlike ds it has to be spent immediately - another thing he is odd about - he hoards his money and gets very distressed if he has to spend it. Then a run tonight!

Keep sober and smiling

Eek your poor friend Biggles, hope she recovers soon.

No tips for your ds I'm afraid, I'm inclined to think gp for a referral to counselling would be the best option. Would he be worried, stressed or depressed about anything? What does he think will happen if he doesnt do those things? Hope you get a sympathetic gp and if not go to another as it seems to be hit and miss when it comes to gps and issues like that.

Lovely weekend had with dp, no booze and lots of food. He's an occasional parkrunner too so we were meant to do the healthy thing and go for a run Saturday morning but slept in. He rarely drinks and is totally off it atm from starting new med so made it an easy weekend to accomplish sobriety. Told him I was thinking about giving it up for good and cited it really affecting my mood as the reason why. All good then he says 'sure we'll stay off it til Christmas then have a blow out' arghh. Not ready to tell him the real reason yet as its still early days with us even though we go back twenty odd years. I've a feeling it would leave me too vulnerable and exposed right now.

Right off to get house tidied before the dc get back mess it up again in half an hour Have a great day.

Hi again:
Well I unfortunately caved and had a glass of wine at my friends and then bought a bottle on the way home and had a glass when I got in. Then last night I had a large glass then tipped away what was left. I guess its better than a bottle Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday which my weekends often look like.
So it's day one again for me. Still feeling positive though xx

Morning Sunflowers - well done for throwing the rest away! Just shows how it goes though - "one glass can't hurt" immediately goes into buying a bottle... I don't think I'd have been able to resist drinking the lot though so you did well!

Biggles - hope it goes well with your DS at the GP, obsessional thoughts are very common in teens as all the grown-up worries start to descend, and thankfully are quite easily nipped in the bud if he sees a good counsellor to help him learn a few techniques to help him deal with stress.

Nothing much to report here - have started a low cal/low carb diet so my preoccupation with food has knocked my preoccupation with booze out of the window! Did start thinking maybe I'd have a few at Christmas, but woke up this morning realising that it would honestly serve no purpose (except to make me want to drink more, of course!)

Morning all - day 22 but cheesed if as no weight loss - how can that be - off swimming this morning - this weight has to go !

Morning all
Jeez that was a shitty w/end of cravings - bloody Halloween!
Hi Sunflower from me & welcome :)
Eggshells well done
Biggles sorry to hear about your son. There should be a school nurse that he can see in school who can help with this if no help forthcoming from GP/wait time too long.
70 don't worry about weight loss just yet - it will come!

Biggles - sorry to hear your son is struggling. As others have said, getting some help sooner rather than later is a good plan. I hope things get better for him soon.

Got through Halloween and PMT more or less ok. Two of my kids had a 2 week half term so rather enjoying the peace and quiet now they are back to school.

May I join you? I think I need to stop drinking but I don't know how to stop and stay stopped. I drink in 'cycles' depending on how stressful my life is. I drink when my mood is low (which it currently is) and it makes me feel worse. I don't think I'm someone who would be able to have a small glass of wine or one beer, although I've never tried moderation . It's beginning to have a really detrimental effect on my mental health and like others mention, I don't feel great physically either. I gave up smoking after doing the Alan Carr clinic and I don't miss it at all, even in the company of smokers. if i could achieve that with alcohol I'd be so happy.

Any tips for starting a new chapter and sticking to it would be so appreciated.