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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Starting the New Year in Fine Style

999 replies

venusandmars · 13/01/2015 12:36

Hello, I'm Venus, and standing in for Mouse (who usually starts all our threads)

This is a safe and welcoming place for anyone who is facing up to a problem with alcohol. It may be something you’ve known for years, or it may be that struggling with dry January has made you re-think your relationship with drink.
Anyway, welcome old and new, lurkers and posters. It can be a weird thread at times – travelling on a bus called Gerald.... he takes us up and down and this wondrous land, searching high and low for Babes in need of some support, a warm place to sit and chat, and to have someone to listen to them.

So, grab a seat as we swing by your way. There's lots of hot drinks, food and fleeces, places to just be and places to sit around and chat if that's what you want.

We don't judge, because we've all been in your shoes, be they stilettos, wellies or crocs!...

We're just us, we're just honest and we just do what we can to help, if we can, when we can. If you find all the banter off-putting just jump in with a cry for help.

And HAPPY NEW YEAR xxx

Here is the very first, emotional thread if you would like to see where this all started

Our most recent thread, if you want to catch up

OP posts:
Thread gallery
16
SweetLathyrus · 02/02/2015 19:40

Corrie, a cup of tea and a snugly blanket. Day 33 nearly done Smile

dementedma · 02/02/2015 20:02

khalisiiiiiiiiiiiiiii woo hoo! That made me smile. We want ALL the details.

dementedma · 02/02/2015 20:03

33 days is awesome sweet
I'm hopeless. Back in the sidecar

SweetLathyrus · 02/02/2015 20:17

You're noy hopeless, Ma, are you able to sign with a glass in hand?! Grin

dementedma · 02/02/2015 20:30

Signing didn't happen! Couldn't find the fecking class. Drove round in the dark swearing at the sat nav going round in circles in tears so came home and had a glass of wine!

PopcornNuts · 02/02/2015 20:57

Hello babes, I'm back again. I need to go back and have a catch up with all I have missed, sorry.

I've made a docs appointment, finding life a bit tricky at the mo. I cannot be bothered doing anything, no idea what to tell doc other than I'm a right miserable cow.

Anyway, I'm not drinking tonight which is a start. One day I want to come on this bus and be fun and positive and helpful, not the moaning and self indulgent pest I have been so far. But so you all appreciate me when I am, I'll have to stay and annoy you in the mean time.

Rubyredlips · 02/02/2015 21:22

Hi Popcorn nice to see you here again. When's your appointment? Just be honest with the doc.

Hi Hope nice to see you again too and bloody well done on raising money.

Yes Sweet, Mr Ruby has apologised but i'm still annoyed Angry. At least i'm not drinking.

I think I need to keep a watch on the units I'm consuming rather than just when I'm drinking. Cos I binge I might not drink for a week but then consume 20 units in a night - which is not good obv. Blush

SweetLathyrus · 02/02/2015 21:45

That would have set me off too, Ma. Can you still join next week or is the moment lost?

Ruby, make him work for it. Well done for resisting.

Popcorn there's no requirement to be anything other than honest, so if you feel miserable, come and let it out.

PopcornNuts · 02/02/2015 22:19

To be honest, half the time I'm not miserable, I'm not anything, the thing that I should be miserable about I'm not feeling at all. In fact I think all emotion is screwed. And I can't sleep without wine, which I justified for a while, but I shouldn't drink it cos of a health issue, but still do. Work is also a massive problem, if I didn't know how people off sick get talked about and treated I'd have had some time to deal with stuff, but they are really awful behind people's backs. I just want to stay in bed.

Ok I'm posting this before changing my mind, you've had the massive whinge off me, now I can just crack on with being a useful bus babe, will be back when I've caught up (next week?!)

GetSober · 02/02/2015 23:03

Hi everyone, and thanks for your support as always. It's not entirely the wanting to drink that I'm struggling with - though that's part of it, but tbh that's my stubborn side coming out, more than anything else - the bit of me that just does NOT like being told what I can and can't do, and wants to go and do it anyway, just to show...who? Well, that's the point, innit though.

The bigger struggle is just with managing my emotions in general. I had a traumatic time growing up, when people were vile to me and the people who should have protected me, didn't. In those years, I learned to hide my feelings away. No one took any notice of them, so they were too painful to have around. They were doing me no good. I got used to quieting them with food and later, drink.

Now, with the help of my counsellor, I'm recognising that that's what I did, and trying to let these feelings out in the open a bit more. This is really scary. I hate feeling incompetent and out of control. And that's what's bothering me right now. I'm scared.

But I am still AF Smile

lookingforhope · 03/02/2015 01:39

Hi babes. Tis me. Not proud of myself, but have had the worst day at communications day with work colleagues in forum I helped set up, though since then it has worked out I am redundant, so had to turn up as facilitator to forum where I am now the only one not to have a job after March 31st. WB picked fight with me tonight after he mentioned issue over his dad's will and I questioned the amount because he had spent all weekend screaming that the stepfamily he hates were cheating him. I said I didn't care about the money, it is his, but was just trying to show supportive interest as he had been going on. I have supported him financially for almost 20 years, including paying off 10 grand of his debts and all our sizeable mortgage when my parents died in 2005, plus paying for every single damned thing before and since while he pursues his fucking writing dream. and now he says any money he gets is none of my business. I don't want his money.I don't care how much he gets. Not interested. Part of me hopes he uses it to get a bloody flat and leave me so I can cope on my own, redundant or not. But the worst thing is my 14 year old ds tried to take him aside to tell him how unfair he was being to scream at me when I was just trying to ask a question to check he had a fair deal. And he went on a massive rant which ended up with me going upstairs to bed and crying. And having then be comforted by my teenage child. What the hell? I feel like such a shit mum. He should not see this. I have necked neat vodka tonight which shows what a bloody farce Dry January was (though didn't cheat and over £400 for cancer is OK). I have spent a lot of time tonight on the EA forums lurking. It will be my 20th wedding anniversary in August. The thought makes me want to throw myself off a bridge. What a waste. I have the loveliest dcs in the world but am married to a man who hates everything about me except for my financial contribution, and who now, 8 weeks before I lose my job, is picking a fight about his dad's will. FFS!!!!!! See, this is why I have stayed away. I so love you all and want to offer supportive comments, but am a ludicrous needy thing at the moment. Sorry, sorry, sorry. Will come back in a couple of weeks when I am better, but kind of need to record this in case next month I pretend my life is OK and trick myself again...

Rubyredlips · 03/02/2015 06:59

Morning all.

Hope sounds really tough and good on you to let it out and record your feelings.This thread is here for support and to lend an ear (eye) and help through difficult times. Please stay around and post if you want to, there's no pressure on here. I find it a good way of working through my thoughts and feelings.
So what are you doing today?

Get it's brilliant that you're af, that shows how strong you are. You are af for a good reason because it was damaging your health and life and you were going to lose your family. You've made the choice not to drink.

Popcorn i'm no medical professional but it sounds as though you're depressed. When are you seeing the doc?

Ma sorry you couldn't find the signing class Sad

Right I'd better get ready for work. Hope you all have positive days.

lookingforhope · 03/02/2015 07:49

Thank you Ruby. you seem lovely, as do all the new bus babes I have missed. Today I am going into work again to spend the day trying to muster enthusiasm for the pointless things I have to do in the run up to being phased out after 14 years as a senior comms professional. (Yay, may get to update some contacts lists to help the bosses after we are all kicked out}. Getting up in 5 to wake the kids and shower. Am so, so sad that ds saw me cry last night. If it wasn't for that he had an OK night, did so well at training (he is a serious athlete) and we had a laugh in the car home. He shouldn't be a fucking marriage counsellor. I feel guilty for not leaving my marriage sooner (coward!!!!). What template for relationships am I setting for Ds and dd? God, here I go again, listen to me, whinge, whinge, whinge. Even I bore me which is why I have stayed away. Am usually nicer and funnier! Sorry. Got to get up now. Wish I could just write funny helpful posts about khalisi's builder (already in awe of her, she seems to be the cool sexy rebel of the bus - yay Khalisi!). Big hugs all x

GetSober · 03/02/2015 07:53

Oh Hope, that sounds awful. Please stick around and keep posting, we're all here for you as Ruby says. Thanks

Thanks Ruby, I think I may be getting the hang of this ODAAT thing! Felt quite low last night and nearly bought a bottle of wine when I was out, but I didn't. I had a good night's sleep after a good, knackering gym session and I am better this morning.

There's a phrase from The Dead Zone by Stephen King that keeps running through my head. The lead character is tutoring a high school boy who has trouble with reading comprehension. The tutor teaches him different ways to think, that help him around his mental blocks. He calls it "learning how to switch hit". That's how this feels for me - thinking my way around my previous normal thought patterns, almost tricking myself into getting through every day AF. I am learning how to switch hit.

Rubyredlips · 03/02/2015 08:25

Hope think you're being hard on yourself there. Redundancy is a very difficult situation to be in, I've been thereand it really hurt. Is there anything out there worth applying for? Do you want another job? Your ds sounds like a lovely caring young man and athletic too so you've obviously done a fab job at bringing him up. Think your h could be doing a better job of supporting you though Hmm. Sounds like your mind is wizzing with so many thoughts, I find it does help to write them down.

Hey Sober good on you for learning how to switch hit Smile

TheKhalisirules · 03/02/2015 08:33

Good morning, my darling Babes.

beaches Its been a long time since I had the urge or even the thought to lick someone's face! Wink

Ruby Mr. Ruby behaved very badly. Take your time to forgive him. Its horrible being humiliated in front of dcs and friends. What the fuck was he thinking?!

ma now I have no stockings in my office, iyswim. Wink
But I just might finally take you up on the challenge to sort out the knicker drawer and buy some! Grin

Popcorn We keep it real on this here bus, babes. We might fake it till we make it in RL but on here, we get raw, bloody, soft but above all, we get take care off. Please don't hold back because you feel justifiably sad.

Get You know, life gives you some tough shit to deal with. It still breaks my heart but I've been NC with my mom and most of my siblings for three and a half years. I just got to a point where I knew I'd never be good enough. Even though I've done ok for myself and kept taking care of her. It was never enough. I have so many people who love and value me but I know I will never get that from them. Its not ok, but I can live with it.
Keep your head up, my bun. Flowers

Hope I stopped lurking on the EA pages because they were triggering me. I literally would get panic attacks and nightmares thinking of the things my ex-WB did or said. And to think his ex-W stayed with him for 20 years! I used to think she just didn't take care of herself but the longer I was with him, I realised she was a broken woman and that he really hates women and was also trying to break me. I remember asking him why he was with me when he hated everything about me.
When dd2 was home from school and told me, in tears, that I talked like an abused woman. (I had said 'I know when he's horrible he is the worst person on earth but when he's good, he's good. Blush'
I still cringe when I think of that talk but what is important about it is that she was right. A few months after this I'd thrown him out.
Mind you this is a person who lived off of me for 8 out of 9 months; but literally asked me what I'd done with the few hundred euros he'd given me on two occasions! Hmm
I suppose I just wanted to say stay strong, my darling. I know what you're going through.
Please stay on the bus. Even if we can't help in a physical way we are here for you.
Tight hug Flowers

SweetLathyrus · 03/02/2015 08:57

Right, I am going to get tough with all of you (and I may raise my voice, but it's for your own good).

STOP APOLOGISING!

Stop apologising for letting out that you are having a bad time. If you can't do it here, where we understand, where can you? And, as Sober's post so eloquently points out, sublimated feelings always find a way out somewhere, in our cases, they pour out disguised as a cheeky little pinot, or a warm comforting shiraz.

I am hereby insisting that you don't stay away and keep it to yourselves - because that is when you will reach for a glass - go on check out your posting patterns - I bet it's true.

So, let other Babes lend you some strength, you'll be in a position to offer it back eventually, but not until you've got some to spare.

There, lecture over. Hugs, or embarrassed arms pats for everyone, depending on your preference.

Hope you have every right to feel awful about your situation. You also have every right to sing from the roof tops that you have the most A-MA-ZING darling, darling boy. For what it's worth, my ExP (DS's father) was so like your H sounds. He was a 'musician' and relied on me to provide financial security - which I did, sometimes doing three jobs, accepting a full-time academic position when i should have left it six months whilst I finished my PhD. Anything he earned was his. Anything I earned was his. He would never have left - he resented me, hated me, made my working life difficult, cut me off from friends and worst of all, sucked the joy out of the first three years of DS's life. So, difficult as it was, after 13 years I left him. It took me six months to get him out of the house I paid for. He left the heating on all summer and told me he had threatened suicide Hmm. Yep, he was so pathetic he wouldn't even threaten to throw himself off a bridge directly, he told me he had thought about ringing the Samaritans. There is loads more. Hope, it won't get better, and he will not take any action for himself, but if we can help you keep a bit sane, then stay on board.

Sober, is this the first counseling you have had? It can be tough. I used to come out alternating between euphoria and desperate uncontrollable tears. I'm still as mad as a box of frogs (and not in a wacky "I'm mad me" way), but what little sanity I have is thanks to counseling. That stuff you have packed away needs to come out, and once it does you can begin to build the resources that will stop it sneaking back in.

Pop, keep posting when you can. I promise you that wine might help make you feel sleepy, but it IS NOT helping you sleep. It takes some time AF to reset, and you may need help in the short term from your GP, but when it settles down, it is one of the things that makes everyday stresses easier to deal with.

Morning Ruby have a good day at work.

Right, having got that off my chest, it is snowing here, something of a novelty - I let Puss-the-Cat out to see it - she was not impressed. I had a really good sleep last night and feel ready to tackle some 'stuff' today - might even have a bit of Boing! Grin

SweetLathyrus · 03/02/2015 09:01

X-posted {hugs} Khalisi

obrigada · 03/02/2015 09:34

Morning babes, haven't been on thread for few days. Had some wine on Sat night but instead of opening another bottle I had a mug of tea Grin.

All in all I drank 3 days out of the 31 days of January so happy with that !

SweetLathyrus · 03/02/2015 10:25

Well Done Obrigada. Do you have a goal for Feb?

venusandmars · 03/02/2015 11:43

ma how frustrating, I've been the same driving round crying because I can't find where I'm supposed to go. However, that doesn't mean you need to give up on your dream and your plan to be YOU. Call up the signing people, ask them for directions and get them to explain where you went wrong in finding them, reconnoitre the venue this week, and next week turn up extra early. Your plan for YOU has been delayed, not ruined.

lookingforhope I think you are teaching (and have taught) your son many wonderful things - that mean behaviour by one person causes upset for another; you are teaching him how to be compassionate; you are teaching him that adults have emotions and that it is OK to show them; and ultimately you will tech him that it is right to try to save a relationship but one day enough will be enough.

getsober I find the most difficult thing to deal with is when I have two conflicting feelings within me - one saying that you want to be sober, the other arguing and saying 'go on, do what you want'. It feels like there are two different types of 'me' at the same time. However I really don't think that our psyche is split like that, and ultimately each one of us is a whole, sane and rational person. I was taught an exercise to look at the 2 contrasting types of feeling and behaviour and to work out what might be the underlying intention that was the same for both. For example, once when I was in an ongoing horrible and abusive situation one part of me wanted to run about shouting drawing everyone's attention to what was happening, letting everyone know that it was wrong and unfair and bad. The other part of me wanted to lie as still and quiet and hidden as I could, barely breathing and completely unseen. But what both of those feelings and behaviour craved was safety. Once I worked that one out I could make a proper plan to achieve that (and guess what? it didn't involve lying quiet and unseen - although that was part of my tactic of getting to the ultimate plan for safety).

OP posts:
venusandmars · 03/02/2015 11:47

sweet well said about NOT APOLOGIZING. This is not just a place for happy cheerleaders sailing through life (the bus would be remarkably empty if it was). This is a place where we can post any and every time that things are happening - good, rude, bad, mad, sad.

Although I am a fine one to talk, I know my tendency is to go hide in my cave, but I've come out to give everyone an embarrassed arm pat (and a huge bosie for wry )

OP posts:
dementedma · 03/02/2015 13:54

big hugs for you hope

SweetLathyrus · 03/02/2015 18:06

Lovely to see you and hear your wise words, Mouse, how are things at the mouse hole?

I had a proud moment this morning. We had our first glass recycling collection after the post-Christmas shame. We hadn't filled it, there we a couple of bottles of DHs red wine and beer, but mostly cordial bottles and food jars .

I've also noticed that after years of thinking that I had genetically bad visible pores on my nose, that I don't. It was the booze Blush. I now have to get right up to the mirror to see them, and I don't think my eye-sight has deteriorated so much in just a month.

Watched the first episode of Fortitude this afternoon - good stuff after the confusing beginning - anyone else seen it? Dan Anderssen, god cop, bad cop, or just plain arsehole?

Fairenuff · 03/02/2015 18:14

Completely agree with you Sweet, there is no need for anyone to apologise, this is exactly what the bus is here for. We are all amazing, we all have talents, we all have empathy and humour. That's what makes us human and we are all part of the same race, all equal, all valuable, all worthy.

And yes, we all have shit days sometimes Grin

Ma can I second the suggestion that you persevere with the sign language and have another go at finding the venue. I had great fun learning it a few years ago and find it especially helpful to be able to sign swear words Grin

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