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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

DRY 8!!!!!!

999 replies

CheesyNachos · 24/07/2015 12:22

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?

OP posts:
ready2steady2stop · 22/09/2015 08:36

Congrats on two years lucy you are an inspiration showing just how doable - but not necessarily easy - this is. Thank you!

BamBam21 · 22/09/2015 09:39

Hi everyone! Day 2 for me today - woohoo!Grin It was quite hard going, but once I got to about 7 o'clock it was okay. I had a couple of crackers with cheese when the boys ate, and that tided me over until tea time. I then had a stressful time between 9 and 10.30, when our toilet totally choked - up to my elbow in pooey water urgh.Envy Basically DS1 has a sluggish digestion, and regularly chokes the pan. So it wasn't the relaxing evening I had planned, but I got through it (and DP too)!Grin

I had an amethyst bracelet but it snapped, so I have one of the wee amethyst chips in my pocket. I might treat myself to something nice with the money we save.Smile

ready2steady2stop · 22/09/2015 09:48

Oh nice one bambam the first couple of days are by far the worst as you will probably remember from January. Having said that tho with a tiny bit of distance as horrible as they were they beat the hungover, hating myself, paranoid, pathetic but still desperate for the next drink days hands down. Definitely treat yourself - what have your I. Mind? I've splurged in the No7 3 for 2s - have the electric face washer brush thing now I actually can be bothered to do it before bedtime!

ready2steady2stop · 22/09/2015 09:48

What have you in mind even bambam Grin

Seabiscotti · 22/09/2015 09:48

Congrats Lucy and MissHoolie.

Well done Custard, fabulous time.

Day 23 for me. Overall I am sleeping and eating better. Frustratingly, I am tired in the evenings and could quite easily continue sleeping in the mornings. As yet I have no get up and go :-(

Hadron21 · 22/09/2015 09:56

sea I'm the same. I thought that I'd be full of energy by now but I must be catching up on years of lost sleep instead.

Congratulations to everyone else, starting and hitting long term targets Star

BamBam21 · 22/09/2015 10:50

lucy your before and after photos are amazing! You really look so much younger, healthier and happier.Star

ready I feel quite proud of myself for having got through last night sober. I feel quite cranky and jittery today though, and I was really crabbit with the boys this morning. I guess it's just the first few days though that I need to get through. I'd like to treat myself to a nice bracelet (maybe with amethystWink), but my very favourite perfume is Cinnabar, and I have run out, so maybe a nice bottle of that. We are seriously skint just now though. Does the electric washer thing work?

TeapotDictator · 22/09/2015 11:56

BamBam well bloody done! Am proud of you Grin Star Star

TeapotDictator · 22/09/2015 11:57

Lucy - huge congrats on your 2 years! I also hate photos of myself, well done for posting before and afters; you look fabulous.. :)

BamBam21 · 22/09/2015 12:05

Aww thank you teapot Thanks

I actually feel a bit emotional about it, more so than I have done on past attempts. I suppose it will take a wee while for my emotions and moods to settle a bit.

TeapotDictator · 22/09/2015 12:08

One day at a time BamBam - are you all set for today? Keep those treats at hand...

BamBam21 · 22/09/2015 13:20

I am feeling a bit wobbly teapot, but I am going to head to the shop for some treats (not booze!), and stay strong. I have been back to square one so many times and don't want that to happen again.

Pringles are calling my name.......Grin

custardcreamdreams · 22/09/2015 13:48

Thanks everyone.

BamBam that is just bloody fantastic, well done Star!!! Really proud of you too. Keep going and munch away at those pringles if needed. You won't believe how much money you will save eventually.

Felt a little emotional looking at your photos for some reason Lucy, must be going soft or something today :) Can't get over how much you have changed. Not just physically but you look a lot happier too.

BamBam21 · 22/09/2015 14:29

Thank you custard!

Right, Pringles and chocolate bought. I really fancied some dark chocolate digestives, but they didn't have any. Oh well!

Other good news is that I drove to the shops with DS2 in the back, and it just felt so much more natural and easy - I'm not a sweaty mess!!Grin I think I'm getting more used to my wee car.

FusionChefGeoff · 22/09/2015 15:37

bamBam another one here whooping and hollering for Day 2. Amazingly well done. Keep that motivation going as this evening could be just as hard so same things apply - keep everything else as easy and kind to yourself as possible. The only, and I mean ONLY thing that takes priority at the moment is getting to bed without having a drink - even, as someone said, that makes bedtime 8pm!!

To those who are still feeling tired / ill you are right, it's just your body taking its time to adjust. If you've been drinking heavily for years, it will take a while before your body can fully relax. Don't forget too the humongous amounts of sugar in booze so you are also more than likely on a sugar come down. Shops have started their deals on the mega tubs of Christmas chocs already.... Just saying... Grin

I also like to have treat soft drinks - cans of lemon san pelligrino for me. They are so expensive and full of sugar I do make sure I limit them so it is a treat for those moments eg relaxing once kids are in bed in a luxury bubble bath. I steer clear of anything 'pretending' to be alcoholic but I do always have ice and fresh lemon in my evening drinks.

For me, towards the end, I hated myself for drinking and I drank to forget those feelings of self loathing. Throughout my life, I have needed alcohol to give me confidence and to allow me to put on a front to the world. The freedom that my sobriety gives me helps me to truly build my self esteem in hundreds of small ways every day and has given me that actual confidence and self belief and its better than anything I could have imagined. Anyone can do it if I can!

Marrou · 22/09/2015 15:43

Feeling very pleased with myself...we went out for dh birthday last night and I drove and drank sparkling water. It was only at home before we left that I was wobbling. Once I decided to drive I was fine and didn't feel at all bothered.

So today is day four. Next week we are going out for dinner with work colleagues of dh. That will be the next big obstacle.

Has anyone had nausea for the first few days? I've been feeling quite queasy and a bit lightheaded.

Lucy2610 · 22/09/2015 15:56

BamBam woohoo!! Atta girl Grin & DP too :) You'll have more confidence driving if you're not jittery with a hangover Wink
Marrou Congrats on day 4!! Nausea is a symptom of alcohol withdrawal as can be light-headedness. Days 1-3 are the worst so it should start to ease off.
Thank you one and all for your kind words. It was a bit of a heart in the mouth moment tbh but I've had nothing but kindness and compliments Flowers.

Hadron21 · 22/09/2015 16:54

Lucy you look fab in your pictures - I'm sure we can all recognise parts of our own reflection in your before photos. It was very brave of you to post them, congratulations on having the courage to do so.

Bambam you can get through tonight. You're halfway there already. I've just had a ferrero rocher (sp???) on your behalf ?? keep up the snacks and those pjs on asap.

gladistopped · 22/09/2015 18:17

Fab blog post Lucy !!! Congratulations on 2 years Flowers

bubblebathandcandles · 22/09/2015 21:06

Well done Lucy. Fab pics and something for all us newbies to aspire to.

I'm now on day 13 and it will be 2 whole weeks tomorrow. Grin Weight loss is a bit disappointing but it's still early days I suppose. Like many of you I am replacing the wine with sugary treats and the darker evenings aren't helping much either.

Time now for my nightly soak, at least I won't be raiding the biscuit tin whilst I'm in the bath. Biscuit

custardcreamdreams · 22/09/2015 21:41

Fantastic, well done bubble, worth a something celebratory tomorrow then :) Weight loss can come later, one thing at a time. I'm only starting to lose my sweet tooth now. Actually had a couple of tiny bits of chocolate earlier and put the rest away which is unheard of for the last few months. Enjoy your bath.

How are you getting on BamBam, hope you're ok.

Can you drive next week Marrou? I found lining yourself up something nice for yourself as a treat when you got home invaluable.

I've just made my excuses and turned down a boozing session a friend was trying to organise soon. I'll admit it took me a few days to mull it over as I said leave it with me, had a bit of a battle in my head. The usual maybe I can go back to normal drinking? And you know what, there's a possibility I could but I came to the realisation that actually I don't want to anymore.

I miss it at times but overall majority I really don't. Alcohol added little to my life and I can't see, bar the odd night where maybe it would help me feel one of the crowd/social aspect, how it ever would again. I think even with the hypothetical remotest chance if I could go back to drinking the odd few times a year, I'd constantly be watching myself, worrying about it and on edge. I'm almost scared to take a drink and take that chance now as I know it could also go horribly, horribly wrong either that night or a few weeks later. What's the point in that?

gladistopped · 22/09/2015 22:01

Right off to bed for me. Fizzy water, catch up tv and a bit of crochet has filled the evening but I am so tired and am off to bed. Nunnight all :) Sweet dreams xxx

gladistopped · 22/09/2015 22:02

custard popping back to just agree with you :)

BamBam21 · 23/09/2015 12:04

Hi everyone! Day 3 for me! Woop!!Grin I am dead tired because DS2 has a bit of a cold and kept waking in the night, but at least I'm not hungover. I just took my mum for her messages at Asda and it was lovely to not worry about being over the limit or smelling boozy.Smile

Hope you enjoyed your Ferrero rocher hadron - I appreciate your solidarity!Grin I managed to get my dark chocolate digestives at Asda, so I will be tucking in tonight.

custard I remember feeling scared to have a drink after I did Dry Jan, as we got through to about mid-February and life was so much better. I just knew that having one would lead us right back to square one, and it did. Well done for resisting.Thanks

Hadron21 · 23/09/2015 12:10

Well done Bambam. Dry 3 already. Enjoy the chocolate digestives later!

I've just been to Asda and walked down the wine aisle without the slightest bit of interest. I'm feeling very proud of myself.

Custard another one here who agrees wholeheartedly with your post.

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