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?

custard my sister swears by echinacea. Can't do any harm.
bubble we've had no boiler for almost 2 weeks and the engineer was here to fix it at 7.45 hence the early start! Hot water meant I could go for a long overdue run, which is a vital tool in my sober toolbox

Congrats on 10 days!! :)

Two weeks? I've had no boiler since February . Getting a new one on Monday, just in time for the colder weather. I expect I've saved a fair bit in heating bills in the meantime hopefully.

I am not in the business of pissing people off and I definitely wouldn't want to put anyone off getting support and help but I do agree with Lucy that this thread might be best placed to be kept dry, in that it's not helpful to some people if drunk posts are made. There's always the brave babes bus for support in those circumstances. I'm not a daily poster though and I definitely don't own the thread .

Booze in service stations always puzzled me too, even when I was still in the grips!

I didn't even know they sold booze in service stations. Just as well cos I spend quite a bit of time on motorways.

I had a broken boiler for years, couldn't run the hot water unless the heating was on. It was madness in the summer when we had the heating on and all the windows open. Got a shiny new boiler last year and my gas bill was practically zilch this summer and now I am saving on all the booze too. I think I might start thinking about next years summer holiday.

In the meantime my garden is in dire need of some tlc so off to find my somewhat dusty wellies.

How are you feeling today misshoolie? Congratulations on making a start.

I have a question for you long timers. Was there a point at the early stages that you felt ok only to miss the booze later on? I ask as I only started this month with a few blips but already I feel like a veil has been lifted and I'm seeing things clearly and really not tempted to buy wine. I'm going out later and driving. I've booked a spa weekend with my mates and told them I'm not drinking.

Am I in some false bubble that will burst?

Absolutely Hadron AA call it the pink cloud and you can read about it here. Enjoy it while it lasts and preserve the memory of the feeling by doing something like writing it down so you can read it back when you aren't feeling quite so buoyant later on :)

misshoolie well done!

I haven't lost my "PinkCloud" its here to stay.

Still really happy Im not drinking,everything is so much better.
BUT I have had sad days, angry days, pissed off cos its Monday days, woooohooo its Friday days,happy its sunny days and fuck me Im tired days.

But that's normal, whereas before all I had was the above plus feeling utterly miserable and anxious with a side of self loathing.
If Im tired - I sleep or relax.
If Im angry -I ask myself why
If Im sad- then Im kinder to myself.
Ive stopped feeling the need to be "On" all the time and present a front that other people see.

Hadron, I think we are both on exactly the same page at the moment. Early days and new awakenings - but I have been here before. I was dry for several months about five years ago. I felt in control, I could now enjoy one glass of wine on a night out like 'normal' people.

But then it crept up on me again, my teenage daughter got cancer (now in remission ), my 2nd marriage fell apart and my only 'friend' was my wine. It dulled the pain I was going through but put me right back to square one. I know I cannot manage my drinking, it is all or nothing and I am determined to stay dry.

I just read the link lucy put up. I intend to hang on to that pink cloud, even if it turns grey. Grey clouds make rain and rain makes the flowers grow.

Some good answers there. I had the 'pink cloud' phenomenon in the early weeks, and have had some definite down periods since (although I am also going through a shitty divorce so that doesn't help). I do think though that there can be some glum moments when you realise that life hasn't suddenly become PERFECT just because you've taken the booze away. Ultimately I do think the booze is often symptomatic of other issues and when you take it away it makes it easier to tackle those other issues, but the issues themselves don't disappear.

Just checking in :)

Film, meal, spa, friend fabulous. Conference - ok. All Dry :)

Totally agree Teapot. Life may not be perfect but at least I feel I have an element of control now, which I didn't have when I was drinking.

Well done glad. Here's to continuing a sober weekend and beyond.

also just checking in. Last day of my own conference and up early to finalise what I need to do for the final plenary. Also went to a film last night.... saw 'Everest' in 3D!! (Fuck me that was a pricey ticket though..... I winced when they told me it was £19.00.....I am so out of touch!).

Have not felt the pink cloud myself for a while...... but I have to admit being able to drive DS to school safe in the knowledge that I am not over the limit is something that makes me feel deeply deeply content.

Finally starting to lose the booze bloat too. :)

well done glad and cheesy :)
Agreed Teapot. Was lying in bed having woken early and was musing on why I don't seem to need lie-ins anymore. That'll be the absence of hangovers!! 2 years ago today was my last hangover - although I do miss booze and the temporary release I would not trade it for what I have now irrespective of how tricky life can be sometimes. Sorry came over all TSP

Hi everyone - I've been sober nearly 2 years and have occasionally lurked but decided that it is time to say hello waves and grins inanely at you all

Sharing and supporting others who want to stay dry is a big part of my life - and Mumsnet is a big part of my life - so it's about blinking time I connected the dots!

I definitely floated on my pink cloud for a loooong time and still pop back up every now and then when I am hit with a huge rush of gratification for everything thing that sobriety has given me.

I also have shitty days but I go to AA meetings and find that the 12 step program means I can usually work out or work through the route of the shittiness pretty quickly and get back on track.

If you are having a bad day and thoughts turn to booze, rember that a lot of us have been drinking to forget or minimise emotion, upset and pain for a long time. We've not experienced these powerful emotions since we were much younger and it can be scary to suddenly find yourself faced with raw emotion and no where to hide.

But! That's all part of recovery and part of growth into sobriety so hang on, feeeeel that emotion, ride it out and the wave will pass and you will be calmer, happier and much much stronger.

It's lovely to find such a supportive thread and I'm looking forward to being part of it.

Hope you all have a wonderful Sunday

Welcome Fusion and congrats on almost 2 years sober. Ace isn't it?! Happy to have you aboard :)

Welcome Fusion. Hearing from people who have managed to get past all the major hurdles I have yet to face such as 1st xmas, new year, birthday, etc. gives me hope that I too can achieve this.

Like Hadron, I feel like I am in a bubble at the moment and am dreading the moment that bubble bursts.

But because I have relapsed before, I know what the cost is and its a price I don't want to pay.

I'm off to the garden centre now. Autumn is the best time to plant shrubs apparently so I'm going to get my garden ready for next spring.

Waves at Fusion it is good to read about long term sober people :) Very encouraging :)

Conference about to end - I make the closing speech, so it doesn't end until I do :) and after the packing up I have a long drive home. Can't wait to be in my own bed tonight! Looking forward to watching the GP highlights and cuddling the family and the cats :) and the chickens, of course!

Evening all. Hello Fushion.

My pink cloud has deserted me this weekend . Didn't update yesterday as I had quite an emotional day. I really opened up to someone about everything. It has left me exhausted and melancholy.

Then to top it all two friends who I rarely see tried to involve me in their silly spat via texts. For gods sake they are in their late 40's .

I have had a quick read through and sounds like eveyone is doing well.

Enjoy getting into your own bed tonight glad. There is nothing like it.

Sea

Thanks Lucy

Cheesy, Was the film any good?

hi bubbles it's good to know that you are on the same stage of the path as I am. I also love how everyone else here can voice my emotions and feelings so much better than I can - it's clearly a well trodden path!!

How are you now sea? It's amazing how emotions can leave you exhausted.

cheesy I went the pictures last weekend and thought I'd mis heard the price!!!!!

glad you'll love your own surrounds tonight.

Thank you everyone for your support I wouldn't have been able to reach this point without you xx

Welcome fusion and loving your positivity!

Fab job at the conference glad and enjoy your own bed tonight.

'Not my circus, not my monkeys' springs to mind Sea :) Hope tomorrow is a better day for you

I'd quite like to join in if that's ok...I am a habitual wine drinker. End of the day, tired out from it all, getting the children into bed etc. I'll have a glass of wine to take the edge off which turns into half a bottle. Not dire I know but I would happily do this every day which isn't great. I did stop entirely for about six months and I looked better, was less tired and was really happy. Over the summer though I've got back into the habit and I'm feeling it. Cutting back doesn't help me somehow, I just need to totally stop. I'm going to read back a bit to see what's been going on

Welcome Marrou :)
Glad fab job re conference and enjoy your reward of slumber in your own bed
Hadron You're doing great :)

Evening all!
Watching Xfactor with DS and drinking Cawston Apple and Rhubarb juice- its lovely
Have had a lovely day,soooo sunny and I went out for lunch ( diet coke!)
Have got homemade apple pie and custard ready for Downton
Welcome to the newbies !

Hi there, can I join you please? Have been lurking for a few days and feel I need some been there, done that support as I attempt to go AF again.
Had two dry spells this year but have slipped into the daily habit of a glass to a bottle of wine most every night again and I feel so bad about it.
Am going to do it again now, and make it for good this time, can I get a few shoulders to lean on here? xx