DRY 7!!!

[mollyonthemove]

The new thread for the alcohol free and the wanna be free . come and join us

Morning teapot! I don't mind being open about my alcoholism depending on the circumstance of course, my colleagues don't know for instance but I don't see the shame in being an alcoholic who doesn't drink. The shame lies in knowing you're a problem drinker, that you're hurting those around you and doing nothing about it. I'm proud of how far I've come in the last few years and I've never had a negative comment about being sober now. I don't make a big deal about it though, I don't want to make any events all about me and my sobriety but if anyone asks (outside of a work context) I'm usually quite open.

Hi Foolish and welcome - I am a relative newcomer to the thread. I've been on the Dry June thread and am 29 days today not drinking.

I am still wondering where this is going to take me - at the moment I feel none/ very little desire to drink. I have tried to cut down/ have a break lots of times before and it's never worked for me but somehow this time something seems to have clicked.

Your drinking sounds just like mine. Before June I was having a bottle of wine most nights - sometimes more at the weekend. I was definitely the person watching the bottle. Sometimes when DH went out of the room I poured some of his wine into my glass. I'm pretty embarrassed to admit that.

On what to say to people - I've just been saying I thought I'd have a break, I felt like I was drinking too much and wanted to see whether i could stop for a bit. EVERY SINGLE PERSON has said to me 'but you didn't drink that much?'.

I don't know whether I would describe myself as a alcoholic to myself, let alone friends. Am still trying to work that out and suspect the answer will inform whether I try moderation or not in the future. Sorry for waffling - it's all a bit new still and am still trying to work it through.

Afternoon all and welcome to any new faces Back from an ace week-end away with 15 other ladies who now chose to live alcohol free and it was a blast. Anyone who overheard us would have thought we were p*ssed but we were fuelled on cake and tea only!! Who needs booze?
The app I use is called 'I'm Done Drinking' and you can find it on iTunes.
polly If you've stopped drinking then the milk thistle isn't necessary for too long as it should be healing itself anyway :)

Thanks Lucy I'll finish the course then and leave it at that.

I have no symptoms of liver damage but am paranoid about having done myself some permanent harm. I guess the only way to check would be to go to the GP? Does anyone else feel like this?

You could ask for them to check your blood, LFT's specifically, but this only shows acute not chronic damage. If you want to see if there is any damage then you'd need a liver fibroscan which you can access privately (and I can share a blog post link if you'd like more info). I don't want to know and am optimistic that with time it will repair Why do I not want to know? It's £400+ and if my liver was okay I worry that the addict voice would pipe up - no damage done away you go!

Welcome foolish

I really like that tsonly. One part of me thinks there's no shame in being open with people, then I read things like the poster under the guest one about drinking and how she looks badly at alcoholics. I don't blame her as it's obviously due to her past but I do worry about being judged. My own issues, I care far too much about what other people think. Stupidly often people that don't matter in my life. I'm working on it.

Sounds like a great weekend Lucy! I've thought that about getting the blood test done and it's the reason I decided against it. Whilst would be good to know, I worry that a good result will give me the mental go-ahead to start boozing all over again.

Had a great weekend myself and met up with friends I haven't seen in a long time on the Saturday and Sunday. Drinking meant I wasn't making an effort to stay in touch with people as I was either too drunk or hungover all the time. Was easy to fall into hermit mode trying to hide how much I was putting away and especially being quite introverted anyway. Definitely makes a difference to the way I feel making myself be more social.

Day 29 here as well Polly
feeling pretty TSP here :) Pink cloud and all skips away, singing

seriously - feeling so much better for stopping, again. Need to bottle and remember this feeling for when I waver ... :)

Gleaming yeah I've seen that post on the guest thread but to be honest that poster is judging only on her own experience and doesn't seem to be able to see beyond that, it sounded like her ex was extremely abusive as well as alcoholic and we're not all like that! I don't particularly understand people who put things in little boxes with no wiggle room for individual differences. It's quite narrow minded to assume that all problem drinkers are a write off even when they're sober, bit of a sweeping statement that isn't it? I totally understand the reticence and it's entirely understandable that she would be wary but it did sound like her ex was now sober and doing the right thing with regards to the kids including paying his share. Maybe she will come round given time, maybe it's all quite recent.

I don't want to hang around with habitual drunks either (whilst they're drinking mean) but I wouldn't write them all off as a waste of space and everyone deserves a second chance especially when they're working hard at not doing the thing that makes them likely to screw up.

I suppose if I were to ever get a reaction like that poster on the guest thread I would simply nod and smile and wish them well. It's no skin off my nose if someone doesn't want to know, but I haven't once had anything other than positivity and encouragement.

Thanks ladies, ???? my plan is to be moderate and in control of it. I want to only drink on a special occasion, enjoy it and know when to stop. I'm dry tonight, and tomorrow I have a waking night shift, so that will help. I need to have a good think about the way forward for me

On my phone in the garden (finally, some sun here!!) so just a quick one to say six months today!! Been feeling a real shift in my own mental well being the last couple of month. Definitely calmer and more content. Long may it last now the stressful summer hols have arrived and the 'I'm bored/they're hitting me/I want' begins

I suspected as much from that post too tsonly. I find it reassuring to hear that you have had only positive responses back.

Hope everyone is having a lovely day!

Congrats on 6 months last!!

Thank you very much Lucy. Sober treat of some gorgeous new bright turquoise trainers Now if only my sore back, foot and cold would behave themselves and do one so I can christen them with a run!

Oooh lovely sober treat but give it a few days first. Went out for a run first thing this morning = too bloody hot!!

Morning all. Checkig in and saying Hi. Congrats Last !!

Morning all. Start of Dry July here for me :) Too bloomin hot to do stuff outside so retreated inside with computer work/mending/sewing
Have good days everyone

evening all.
Just checking in as I haven't posted for a while.....
day 33 for me here - although tbh I haven't really been keeping count of the days(have just had to check back on my posts and count up!)
have had a few tricky moments. I had an horrendous day at work yesterday, had a real urge for a g&t when I got in! but still hanging in there.
Will go and read through thread now and see what I've missed....

Well done bobblypop

Heading into month 2. Day 32. thanks for the feedback re: liver damage lucy - I think you're right about giving myself permission to drink if I found out was ok.

At the moment am focusing on the many benefits about not drinking rather than fear of health issues.

Met up with a friend last night and was very upfront about why I wasn't drinking. I said I thought I had been drinking too much and was worried I'd lost control of my alcohol intake. Felt good to be honest.

Well done bobbly & polly - you guys are a day apart! Good plan re focusing on the positives not the potential negatives and honesty is no bad policy :) Glorious day here again and went for a run but jeez I almost melted Day 650 for me tomorrow

Morning all!

Struggling with triggers in this heat. Going out to a hen's night tonight and am designated driver which I am regretting as it means I might have to stay on and on and bloody on while other people enjoy themselves. Feeling very curmudgeonly!

Have discovered Celebration Shloer. Tastes like pub Cava to me, which I have been loving!!!!

Fantastic stuff bobbly and polly; a real achievement. :)

Corn - my sympathies to being designated driver. Will people be getting pissed? Just be sure to keep all those thoughts in your head about how shite they'll be feeling the next day while you'll be all shiny and new... Another tip I read on here ages ago was to book something nice for you to do first thing the next day as a treat.

All okay here. Coming up to my year soberversary which I find pretty shocking. I really cannot quite believe that I am that person...

What date is your year soberversary Teapot?
Corn Can you take bottle of celebration shloer with you tonight? :)

Day 33 here :) Feeling good :)
I tried making mock pimms last night - did not like it!

Lucy - it's 25th of this month..

glad - I had that out at a restaurant recently, it was really lovely although I did wonder what it was made of and imagined it would be hard to pull off..

Day 1 tomorrow. I had a choice, I could have said no. I almost did but the temptation of instant stress relief after a hard week at work and endless after school clubs, I have in and had a "fuck it moment".
Off to bed. Tomorrow I will actually make a sobriety plan to help me steer through future feelings like this.
I post intermittently but I read this thread every single day, at least twice.