DRY 8!!!!!!

[CheesyNachos]

Hello! This is our 8th! thread for those who are abstaining from alcohol and for those who want to abstain. :) We love newbies and lurkers. We have people who have been DRY for years, for months, for weeks, days, and hours. :) ALL are welcome. We have heaps of tips and we offer support at any stage.

DRY 7 the previous thread is here...

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/2347295-DRY-7?

Morning everyone. Huntswoman that thought that we can just have one glass is something I think we all have now and then. For some reason when I stopped the penny finally dropped that that wasn't the case for me.

In my case it's not that if I have one glass I turn into but more that I finally realised that I will ALWAYS drink faster than almost anyone else I've ever been with, and that after one glass I will ALWAYS start wrestling with myself a bit about having more. That's where the willpower comes in for me, after I've had a taste of it, and that's why it seems much easier to have none at all.

Although I don't like the terminology that classifies alcoholism as a disease, for me the 'thing' that I have is this bizarre need to drink quickly if I'm drinking alcohol. I have watched other people at dinner and they can naturally sit with the same glass of wine for hours at a time. I can't, for whatever reason. And it's that impulse to drink quickly that a) I feel powerless over, really and b) I know takes iron-clad willpower to overcome.

Lovely to read that you've woken up feeling good Hunts; assume you're the same glad? :) We're off to Hyde Park lido today, it's 8.30am and I'm two coffees down and ready to start packing/making a picnic/dressing two five year olds. Before stopping drinking I'm not sure we would have made it out to something like that at 9.30am on a Saturday morning....

Welcome back glad I'm a newbie and this is day 16. Hope you feel great this morning and ready to enjoy our brief British Summer (rumoured to be happening between the hours of 9 and 3) without a hangover!

Selfishly your lapse is a very helpful and timely reminder to me that one is never enough - I think I would very easily be back where I was very quickly. So today I won't be drinking.

Thank you all for your reassurances re sleep.... Will be downloading some of those podcasts and you are absolutely right that not sleeping but being sober is a million times better than drunk, parched, nauseous, fretting, anxious, sweaty etc etc. to my shame I would sometimes lie awake convinced I was going to die from a heart attack/liver failure/some other Middle-of-the-the-night-paranoid-disease and the thing I would be most concerned about was when the empties I hadn't yet got rid of would be found. How selfish and pathetic was that.

Anyway, this thread is so helpful. Keep at it everyone!

Thanks Teapot I also drink extremely fast compared to anyone I know!! If I see an empty glass I will fill it! I have woken feeling relieved that I had the sense to go to bed as I know it's not always been the case. Readytostop Glad both doing so well and hope you both have an amazing day

thanks all :) Felt pretty grim last night so thank you all :)

Day 2 revisit for me - rather than day 100 :( which is what it would have been :( but oh well, I did it before and I can do it again :)

And I have drunk SO much less this year, which has to be worth it

Also, now know I have a new trigger to be aware of - being bored! I am very rarely in a situation where I have nothing to do - I think that was what snuck up on me this time .

Boredom is a total danger for me too glad.

ready your last para about paranoia etc.... that is me also. I also drink faster than everyone......

All okay here Chez Nachos. :)

Hi everyone.

Have had a busy few days - didn't drink at the party yesterday evening.
Its day 50 for me !!!!
No one batted an eyelid ,I was asked by one person why I wasn't drinking and I told them it makes me feel ill, so I don't.

I was annoyed with DH for asking if I would drink but he says it was on the terms of it being "the first" so birthday ,Christmas etc.
Not that long ago I couldn't envisage an evening without opening a bottle at 5pm and have had 2 glasses by 7pm let alone a Friday or Saturday or a party.

I think identifying /avoiding the triggers is the way to go.
I was usually tired, stressed and hungry at 5pm , I still feel like that but choose a cup of tea ,early dinner and a walk instead.
My evenings have been packed actually, Im doing so much more and am out a lot enjoying the summer and hit my bed after midnight last night !

Much better day today and day 7 AF!!! So glad I didn't go and buy wine last night have had a chilled day the usual chores but feeling relaxed and ready to take the dogs out later tonight. Thank you everyone who posted regarding my doubts it was the addiction talking and I am grateful for everyone's wise words xxx thank you so much xx

Day 7! fantastic Hunts well done!

Well done everyone for doing so well! Bit with hubby. He only drinks on a Sat and we usually have a drink together and listen to music when he comes back from the pub after a few pints in the afternoon.
So he comes back from pub and is really disappointed am not drinking! WTF? 'I really enjoy that' he says 'it's the only time I have a drink' So said I'll sit with him next week and keep him company but tonight am going upstairs with a camomile tea and a book. He was fine with that as he knows am trying but wish he'd engage his brain before he opens his gob! It's hard enough. p.s loved that link to Father Ted Teapot ! Laughed my head off! x

Hi everyone,

Love reading all the positive posts. :)

Have a new book I am reading;

www.amazon.co.uk/Blackout-Remembering-Things-Drank-Forget/dp/1455554596

It is newly released by a woman named Sarah Hepola. I am really enjoying it. She is a professional writer/editor/journalist so it is written really well, but also she describes the despair of dysfunctional drinking so so perfectly. She spends alot of time on her early years which I had to plough through a bit, but her writing about early sobriety is really interesting. I am only three quarters of the way through but can highly recommend.

For the first time in more than a year also I am NOT hiding the fact I am reading a book about alcoholism from DH......... I usually read my stash on the quiet. THis I am reading openly. Progress!!!!!

Anyway- feeling good here. :)

Have a good evening everyone.

Thank you PPPTO chuffed everyone is doin so well !! Positive vibes x everyone have a relaxing stress free evening see you all tomorrow xx

off to bed now :) Day 2 of re start done :)

Just wish I had not given in to wine a few weeks ago :( and messed up my 100 days (hmmm maybe that was a trigger? I do have a track record of self sabotaging?)

Actually, that IS a pattern - I do nearly a month, or three or six - then bugger it up by lapsing ! Self sabotage!

but hey ho onwards and upwards and all that :)

Also a very fast drinker. Last time I slipped I was shocked at how slowly everyone else drank, it's something I hadn't noticed before. When your alcoholic friend comments on how quickly you can guzzle a pint you know you're in trouble.

Glad fab. Forget about the 100 days, this time you will do it!

How did the picnic go Teapot?

Some great achievements, well done ladies! Whoop Hunts on your first week and day 16 for you ready. That's brilliant going to a party Pink, I think I was still a hermit at that stage.

Wasn't that the author that someone linked one of her articles on here cheesy? Progress indeed :)

Getting to that point too. The whole incident here made me realise that I don't really care who finds out about my drinking. I'm not going to shout it from the rooftops or mention it myself but if someone did put two and two together and asked, I'm comfortable with that. I'm no longer ashamed and guilty about it. Finally I can let go of some of the baggage I've been carrying around and lighten the burden.

Will take some time for him to get used to it too I would think yellow. It's an adjustment for the both of you and I really don't think sensible moderate drinkers can get how we can't just have the one or drink for only one night.

Got up at the crack of dawn myself for a run and caught the only two hours of sunshine we had. Then went out for coffee and chat with a meet-up group, which was nice for a change.

Hope I haven't missed anyone. Peaceful dreams and night all

custard I am lost with all the name changes
Who are you !?

It felt ok to tell someone I know well that I no longer drink, whereas before I daren't in case I lapsed and then I thought everyone would judge me/ laugh at me ( not more than I would judge myself).

Several people have commented along the lines of "oh yes I cant drink at my age any more " and a few people respond with "I could do with cutting down"
No one has badgered me to drink so far.

Picnic was great custard (I think custard was LastGleaming, PPP) although by the time we left the lido in Hyde Park it was absolute mayhem with the crowds. We got there early enough to get a good spot and had a lovely few hours. Having a much quieter day today... how long is it left on the summer holidays???

Off to Battersea Park zoo tomorrow to see my SIL and the girls' cousins. Feel like we should be up and out and Doing Stuff all the time but today will probably largely involve videos, making a cake, and a bit of crafts.

Been having some interesting talks with a friend who is contemplating going to a 12 step meeting for co-dependency. She's really struggling with relationship issues and self-esteem. I was reminded of Tommy Rosen's belief that all addiction boils down to the compulsion to "look away" from our lives, whether that be by using alcohol, drugs, relationships... all very interesting.

Hope everyone's having a good day, rain or shine.

Ah ok thanks.
Is Degust still around???

Thank you TeaPot Custard, Glad PPPTO so much support on this site! Am having a good day today, have cleaned, cooked Roast and pots now soaking for cleaning later, rain has just started so watching film and eating cake! what could be better on a Sunday afternoon?? Hope everyone is ok and having a restful day (despite cooking cleaning etc), can't believe I'm on Day 8 AF!!! happy days!

Hunts you can call me Pink ,otherwise I have to try and remember what PPPTO stands for

Im so please for you and glad you are having a good day ,despite the rain which is pouring down here as well!.

I have cleaned, washed all the bed linen and am just going to put a roast on.
Summer pudding and cream for pud.
The show jumping is on now- trots off!

Afternoon all Busy thread after a quiet spell! Spent the day at the seaside yesterday and looked like we chose the right day to go along with everyone else! Welcome and congrats all round from me :) Agreed teapot about is it the end of the holiday's yet? Another fast drinker here too who's currently sipping tea and for those who'd like a chocolate meditation, here's one on me for my day 700 yesterday Oooh and saw adult colouring books of all kinds reduced in Saino's yesterday too!

Hi- just popping in and out..... today ended up being a nutty sort of day.

heard this on Radio 4 while cooking..... was very interesting.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b064ygls#play

hope everyone is fine, see you all tomorrow! Cheesy

Brilliant on the 700 days Lucy :) I'm liking the chocolate meditation a lot. Have heard about doing mindful eating but this is right up my street and the perfect excuse to eat chocolate

Yes it is indeed me pink. I have seen degustibus around on other threads a few days ago but not here.

One more day left of the summer hols here!! A little bit sad at how quickly it has flown in. On the whole though looking forward to getting my house into some sort of order again and back to cooking proper dinners every night. Have let things slide with days trips out and kids traipsing in and out all day.

Yes Teapot I agree on the whole for me it was an escape.

Morning everyone. I hope degust is okay......degust if you are lurking please drop by and tell us how you are. .

All fine here.

Cold and rainy though!

Dear DRY-ers..... I need your help. We are having an enforced frugal month and I am totally out of inspiration for healthy, child-friendly, realtively cheap meals. It has been pasta and pasta bake and rice for days and days and days! Can I ask for your fave go-to meals? My brain can't think of ANYTHING!!!! (Last night we resorted to baked beans on toast).

Thanks in advance!!

Hope everyone has a great day!

cheesynachos tuna and rice baked in the oven, jacket potatoes beans n cheese or bolognese, fried dumplings eggs and baked beans hope this helps xxx

oooo.......fried dumplings. Never made those.... It's on the list. Thanks!

Hi everyone, can I come back to the thread please? I haven't been here for ages as I totally fell off the wagon. Last night I got pretty plastered and really don't remember much at all. I woke this morning feeling awful, and so guilty about my 2 DSs. They are at school and nursery now, and I am drinking water and coffee and trying not to beat myself up too much.

DP and I both drink far too much, and he has bad psoriasis, which I'm sure the booze aggravates. We have both signed up for the Dryathlon as we did the January one and both felt so good, but we spoke this morning and want to just start from today. Friday might see us having a drink, because it will be one year since DP lost his brother, but then I know I won't drink during the Dryathlon because I feel guilty if people have sponsored me! Then I want to keep it going for good after that.

Sorry for the long post. I really want to stop. And I want to stop thinking I don't want to stop IYKWIM.