The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Waving Goodbye To Summer Nights, Sipping Mocktails.

[Mouseface]

Hello, I'm Mouse Welcome to the Bus. :)

Well, it would appear that Autumn is on it's way I have the heating on and can't wait to use the log burner.... shhh!

So, who are we? We're just like you. Married, single, divorced, lots of children or no children, working or a SAHM, it doesn't matter, we all breathe the same air.....

We're just trying to live our lives on the Bus, like you do each day. Well, except for one thing...

I know don't start my day with a swig, or seven, from a litre bottle of vodka (choose your poison) any longer.

And that's what has kept me here, for years now. And no doubt many more to come. Reading the stories of others struggles, wanting to say "I feel like that" or "I do that too!" but being to ashamed to be the first to put your hand up.

Well, let me reassure you here and now, there's not much that we haven't read about on here or done ourselves over the years.

We've laughed at stories of haphazard nights out, we've cried at the loss of loved ones and we've shared the pain that only an alcoholic knows when all that they want is to STOP!

Push the pause button, get off the ride, shut the door, bury yourself under the duvet for days. We've all felt that sickening feeling in our gut that makes us want to curl up and hide forever. And we've shared it all on here.

You see I don't know you and you don't know me, so we're just words on a screen to each other. Eventually, you'll get to know me more and I you, and the other fantastic Babes too, some will stay, some leave us, then some come back.

One thing I can PROMISE - here you are safe, here you won't be judged, turned away (unless you're not genuine) and we even have a huge stock of Opal Fruits but that's all down to Ma.

So, if you think we're you're kind of lovely bunch of people to help you stop drinking, slow down, hold your hand while you decide what to do, then come find a seat!

OUR MOST RECENT THREAD

AND A VERY SOBERING READ, THAT LEAD TO THE BIRTH OF THE THREADS THAT FOLLOWED

Wasted, I find those sorts of situations horrible too, but I hold on to the fact that if everyone else there is drinking, they're not going to notice I'm not, and if they do, by the time they are on their second, they won't care, and they will think what a good listener I am as I smile and nod! The first couple of times I did it, I did get home with an aching jaw from clamping a smile on my face, but I also found watching drunk people fascinating - they really are full of shit! Can you see another GP instead? I found writing what I wanted down helped, because if you find it too hard to be assertive or end up in floods of tears (yep, that was me), you can just hand the list to the Dr. I have ADs which helped hugely with the low mood and depression, but haven't touched the anxiety, which if anything has got worse, but I was referred to a CBT course, which has taken time to get on to, but I'm working my way through now, online and by phone.

Thanks sweet Think i'm going to have to brush up on my people skills, read a book or something, I'm useless with people, I'm so awkward and say crazy weird stuff because of my nerves. A few gins completely changes this.
I thought about writing my feelings down and handing them over to my Dr, not sure why but I'd feel silly doing so. Being completely crap at getting my points across face to face I'm just going to go for it. I also really worry mentioning my alcohol problem to the Dr.
I've been trying to get hold of a few local CBT therapist today with no luck, just waiting for call backs.
Does anyone feel like their brain cells have been completely zapped from years of excessive drinking.. I can barely string a sentence together, I used be very creative, now there is nothing. My mind feels dead. Id love to get a little job , and to start doing positive things in my life, but I'm completely empty. Anyway, no booze tonight, I'm going to lard up with cupcakes I made with the kids. Dh is home tomorrow, that will be a struggle avoiding the vino.

Hi all , can I just ask if everyone is trying to give up for good or is anyone cutting down to drinking a lot less ? My plan is to have more non drinking days than drinking days and I don't want to put my foot in it here .

Checking in. Last night in Krakow. I have, surprisingly considering WB is here, had a very nice time!

Just back from the theatre, lovely evening with DH, but perhaps could have done with something a little lighter than The Seagull

Wasted, you, the real you is still in there, just a bit hung over. Don't worry about saying crazy things, if you are talking to someone who is drinking, you will be the most erudite person in the room.

Howlong, for me, and I think for some of the other Babes too, I can't contemplate giving up 'for good', but I also know that I am incapable, really truly, incapable, of having just one drink, so, just for today, I'm not going to drink. That's how I've thought about it when I've done longer AF periods; if I start thinking about 'never' I tend to press the fuck it button.

Morning all.

Mad morning here, the cat is 'in a mood' - think dashing about, pouncing and generally winding the dog up. The dog has a serious case of the 'zoomies' because I took a mouse off him, (a gift kindly donate by the cat), and I think there may be another rodent in the house behind all of the building materials because of the way the animals are sniffing round!

Off for a walk now, then working from home on a research project. Fortunately, having builders in means I would be much to embarrassed to get a wine or beer whilst they are here, and once I get to 6pm, I'm past the worst of the cravings.

How is everyone else this morning?

Mornings. I'm feeling great this morning, It's dry out so off for a walk down the beach with the hounds. Then going to finish off making curtains for our caravan. Have a great day everyone

Sounds like you have a bit of 'boing' there, Wasted, enjoy!

Morning all. Back from Poland and back to reality but am determined not to slip back into the old wine guzzling ways. No food in the house and Ds due back from his travels to London this afternoon so better get up and raid Aldi...

Erm, why am I the only person on the bus????

ma don't tell me that you got so big in Krakow that no-one else can fit in the bus

Hi Ma. Just squeezing past you there . At dd's gymnastics now ... Picked her up and came straight here after long week at work. Going to have Chinese takeaway when I get home - starving - so clear a space for me on the back seat Faire

Sadly, its true. Will get into the low carb thing from next week. I have an awards ceremony to go to on November 4th and need to shed a couple of tonnes pounds.
Hey hope will pm you...
Hey faire how's things?

Hi lovely babes,

So lovely to see so many newbies and veterans too.

I'm just nipping in quickly to tell wasted Dr Bachs rescue remedy is really really good for anxiety. I use the drops, they taste minging but they have really helped me in the past.

I've been reading every single post but my bipolar moods are exhausting and unpredictable so I feel my posts wouldn't be consistent or make much sense BUT it's posting that makes me feel less alone, more accepted and part of something wonderful and safe!!

Be back soon xxxxx

baby - if it helps YOU to post, then post. We are all big enough and ugly enough to deal with any inconsistency, and to be honest the combination of predictive text, typos and drunken thinking mean that there are many posts all over mn which are a bit, errr... random

Ugly enough?
Speak for yourself why don't you?
Keep posting baby always good to hear from you

Oops sorry ma I should have only spoken about how old you were

looking it's tough at the start, but I bet you're doing brilliantly

Baby we have an imaginery bus with two dogs, one squid, a horse and possibly a rogue mouse as pets. And you think you don't make much sense?

We really do have room for everything and everyone x

You've forgotten about my Ma's camel Faire. (gives Baby a big hug).

Venus, am knackered but it's going well I think. Glad I took the plunge, though drowning a tiny bit....

Bugger, yes I did forget about the camel.

And soon it will be time for choir practice again and ma will be displaying her triangle again.

Fnaar Fnaar (snigger)

Haven't posted for a while, but the mention of ma triangle drew me back in...

Morning. Ah you lovely ladies always make me want to hold back on. Got my MIL staying right now - slightly stressful churning out meals and pleasantries and never quite feeling good enough and hoping the kids behave. Oh and trying not to resort to bad old booze to cope. Had half a bottle of wine and a gin last night. They came out as a gun at first!! Ha ha!! I'm starting to feel pickled again from not enough nights off. I need a good long stretch. Great to see you all though ... ma it's hard to avoid those carbs as winter draws in. baby you are amazing to cope with all the world throws at you sweet Im so impressed you always manage so many words of support on here. venus and alias good to see you again faire hello and looking well done.

Ahem, I would like to point out that the camel does not belong to me. The triangle however, definitely does, and I shall be getting it in good shape soon for the winter festivities...
But you forgot another passenger on the bus; one whose time is coming as Halloween draws nigh......creepy music babes beware.......horrid baby doll lives!!!

Arggghhhhh screams followed by a thud and a creaking door.