DRY 9!!!!!

[CheesyNachos]

The DRY 8 thread suddenly came to an end! 1000 messages before we knew it.

THis is the thread for those who are abstaining and who want to abstain from alcohol. :)

All are welcome.

Previous thread is here.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/2432985-DRY-8?

Hi everyone. Can I join? I'm a bit scared as I think I have a problem with alcohol. I know that if I don't stop I'm going to let it ruin my life. And I don't want that. I love my job, my home and my family. But I've gone to work hungover three times this week after drinking in the house alone. I don't just want to stop, I NEED to stop.

So, today is day one for me. I'm so impressed at people making it in to the 100s, but for now I just need to fight the urge to go out and buy wine tonight. I'm thinking of spending the evening cleaning to keep my mind off things.

Anyone got any useful tips?

Welcome Jessica :) Get into your pj's the minute you get home! Have a bath even & treat yourself to a take-out and an early night. Change up your routine as much as possible and stay away from the shops where you buy wine. Oh and check in here. You can do this

Hi Jessica. Def change your evening routine. I timetable mine quite religiously as it keeps me from twitching!

Thanks Lucy! I'm already in my pjs. I've spent a fair proportion of the day crying that I let it get to this stage. But moping is useless, I need to focus on the fact that I've recognised there's an issue and I'm doing something about it. After about a year of trying and failing to stick to just one drink, I now know I can't do that so I don't want any.

Takeaway is a fab plan! I'm gonna watch some box sets on tv, have a takeaway and do some cross-stitch.

A timetable sounds good. I'll do one now.

Sticking to one drink is something I see as pointless anyway (evidently ) so I am kind of changing my view on that as being something to aim for. When I see OH sipping gently from his one glass of wine I now think 'idiot why didn't you just have a cup of tea'?
Btw I am not really aiming to be a one drink person. For the pointless issue and the fact that it aint ever going to happen.
something else that is really helpful if I get an urge is the phrase I read somewhere about not just watching the trailer and to watch the whole movie. I envisage the first drink, then the third, the vodka chasers and the passing out and then the hangover and the remorse. Looking at the puffy red faced woman in the mirror... thats what will happen if I have just one drink x

Dona we call that playing the drinking tape forward :) My favourite reminder and saying is: 'sobriety delivers everything alcohol promises'

I'm just not a person who can have just one drink. I have one glass, then another, then the rest of the bottle, then a walk to the shop to buy another bottle, then drink that, then I'm dizzy going to bed, having a crappy nights sleep, then waking up hungover and (more often than not) throwing up and feeling guilty.

I don't want to live like that.

Tea sounds like a good plan - I'm gonna put the kettle on!

Hi and welcome Jessica. None of us here can have just one glass - in fact I'd be insanely, pathetically proud of myself if I didn't open a second bottle it was such an unusual occurrence and took so much willpower

Trying to think back; yes to early on with the pjs, it wasn't unusual for me to get changed at 3pm in the early days to stop myself from leaving the house. Tomorrow it would be nice to get yourself some treats to eat and drink, you know those fancy cordials or nice teas you wouldn't have thought of buying before. I think most of us have spent a bit of time reading about stopping alcohol and addiction be in it books or blogs. Think of things to fill in your time at night, cross stitching is an excellent idea. I did knitting, colouring in books, a spot of jewellery making or even just painting my nails although I mostly just read or watch boxsets now.

You really can do this and Lucy's saying is so very true

My takeaway was lovely. Definitely going to get some nice food and substitute drinks in tomorrow. It's pouring down here and I'm cozy in my pjs so that's helping my willpower too!

Thanks for letting me use you all as a sounding board! And thanks for the advice.

I bought my sister a mindfulness colouring book for Christmas - I might start it and get her something else.

I also like colouring in books. I do find it relaxing. Desperate to learn to knit. My other 'thing' is I start ironing in front of bad tv (Jeremy Kyle/ Real Housewives) at my trigger times which is just after the school run. . I am even ironing socks. It is quite useful..... but not very soul-nourishing!!!

I am LOVING fancy cordials and herbal teas too.....I would never 'waste' my money on those in my drinking days.... but I just adore them now.

Great posts today. :)

I am in bed feeling grim with the cold hanging on. DH is down the pub with friends. I would rather my evening of bed, MNetting and herbal teas (and Ina Garten on FoodNetwork) than sitting/standing in a packed pub (near the train station so popular with commuters) shouting and being pushed and shoved. :)

Hi Jessica I'm only on day 7 myself so not much further on from you and still very early days. I'm not sure I can actually remember the last Friday that I didn't drink, but I'm very happy that I'm having a sober one this week.

Although I've eaten so much today I don't think I could even squeeze any alcohol in - not that I want to of course!

I'm finding that a lot of it is changing habits, I've been taking myself off to bed early to read and also eating a big meal in the evening, as I always drank on an empty stomach (for maximum effect).

Hope your cold clears soon Cheesy. I totally agree with you about not wanting to be squashed in a noisy, busy pub. I'm very happily settled on the settee in my PJs listening to the rain lashing down outside.

I totally agree cheesy, it's lovely to be indoors on a night like tonight. And I have the added bonus that I won't wake up tomorrow with lots of guilt.

lemons, it's nice to know there's someone else here just starting out! A whole week is so impressive - I'm pathetically proud of myself for managing almost one day. I don't remember the last Saturday I woke up without a hangover.

I hear ya Cheesy, who needs the pub. It's absolutely baltic here, much prefer sitting with my hot spiced apple drink in hand, peace and quiet (no kids) in front of the fire. Just back from kettlebells class and walked home behind a group of people stinking of drink, one near cleaning himself crossing the road misjudging the traffic. I like Real Housewives, much to my shame

Congrats on your first week Bitter, that definitely deserves a sober treat!

Hello all. I'm just back from a restaurant I drove and while a few of our party had a drink most of us were driving. when I saw the drinkers with their vats of red I did have a moment. By the end of the evening I had forgotten completely about alcohol.
its bloody freezing here and its so nice to be in my bed with a cup of tea... I'm looking forward to an early dance class and no hangover.
Hope you are feeling positive Jessica and bitter with nearly 7 days under your belt I hope you are starting to enjoy your AF evenings. X

Well done donajimena I'm not sure I'm ready for sober socialising yet, I've managed to avoid any arrangements for festive nights out as yet...

Thanks Brighit I actually had a bit of a treaty splurge yesterday and got myself a new ipod! I've needed a replacement for months and months as my really ancient one gave up the ghost, and I had some birthday money burning a hole in my pocket. I lay in bed listening to some tunes last night, lovely. I've just downloaded some Paul McKenna hypnotherapy tracks on too as they really help me sleep well.

I haven't been sleeping quite as well since quitting the vino, but I think it's maybe just because I'm not actually needing as much sleep now. I've been reading in bed til later than usual but still waking up feeling fine in the morning. Loving the lack of hangovers, gurgling guts and awful mouth. And I'm of course not waking up at 4am gasping for water like in my drinking days.

Hope you're doing ok Jessica and everyone else.

Hi all. I'm over half way through day two. lemons I turned down a trip to the pub tonight because I know I would find it way too hard. I've also told my mum that I'm not drinking, she was really kind. She hadn't realised how much I'd been drinking and she said she's proud of me for recognising that there's a problem.

I've got leftover takeaway for dinner tonight, and I've bought myself some herbal tea and smoothies.

Sounds good Jessica. I've got a bottle of AF wine in the fridge - I've never tried it before so am interested to see what it's like...

Hi everyone!

Dona, I LOVE driving home, it is one of my favourite things about having a sober party. Actually things I love.... waking up at 3 am, knowing I have not had a drink and turning over and falling back asleep happily. Waking up sober. Knowing that at 4 pm on a Saturday I can drive to the shops and get whatever I have forgotten because I am not halfway through a bottle.... so many things. :)

Conrats on the ipod Bitter! Good idea to avoid the pub tonight Jessicas. You will be able to soon, but Day 2? God, why do that to yourself? Seriously, your needs come first. Good for you for saying no. Let me know what you think of the AF wine, Bitter. I like the Sainsbury's own AF sparkling wine, that is pretty good. Brighit high five on Real Housewives. It is my guilty pleasure.... all that screeching !

I am about to head to bed again-it is windy and pouring here. I am shattered. Hope everyone is well. [waves]

Really glad I stayed in tonight because I've been itching for wine since 7pm. I got changed into pjs, made myself a herbal tea and I've cleaned the kitchen and bathroom so they are spotless! Now it's time for bed.

That's a good list of positives about being sober cheesy. Mine for today was getting in the car without having to calculate when I would be below the limit and safe to drive. I missed seeing my family last Sunday morning because I wasn't safe to drive, but will be seeing mum at 10am tomorrow.

Morning Jessica. :) Good on you for last night. Hope you have a lovely trip to see your mum. I know what you mean about calculating how much you have drunk. I have spent so many hours in the middle of the night counting back drinks and hours and so on. It's so emotionally debilitating. Actually..... that is also the problem about trying to moderate for me..... the endless calculating and planning and working things out.It's knackering. I feel .. liberated... by being sober.... (I am pondering out loud).

I started knitting last night!!! I have never ever knitted in my life and I got some wool and some beginners needles and with the aid of youtube I learned how to cast on!!! It took ages ages ages ages ages and I am immensely proud of myself. Ds asked me to make him a scarf and when I finally had 6 knobbly cast-on stitches on the needle I showed him and he said 'That's great mummy! Can you make me a hat tomorrow?'.

It is having something to do in the evenings in front of the tv that I need.... that was my time for burying myself in a bottle(s).

Lucy loved your blog post yesterday and today. Loved the Finnish booze ad.

ahangoverfreelife.com/

Hope everyone has a good day planned. I have lots of work to catch up on... I let things slide when I had the cold Plus housework. Plus a Christmas fair. Oh, and MNetting now doubt. ;)

Yay you on the knitting Cheesy :)
The ad is brilliant isn't it? Bloody hilarious I think & so true - that would have been me for sure
Just back from run in wind and rain & to in-laws for roast this arvo Yum!
Sober advent calendar starts on Tuesday and to get you in the mood here's a clue - he was in Trainspotting & I drool over him hence why he's day one

Oh oh Ewan McGregor?? Do we win anything if we guess correctly ? You're keen going out for a run in that.

Mmmmm. Ewan McGregor.Anyone seen him in The Impossible? I totally drooled through that.

Well done on not giving in to your wine thoughts Jessicas.

I didn't have my AF wine in the end, I'd had a Pepsi Max (my new guilty pleasure, I know it's not good for me, but it's much better than wine) and then I felt all full and bloated so I just had water. I've also stocked up with lots of nice chocolate and sweets as I like to have them to look forward to in the evening if I feel like a treat.

I've had a very productive (hangover free) Sunday - made it to my early aerobics class this morning, then have cracked on with lots of work. Think I might even get on with some cleaning now..!

Ewan McGregor - not really feeling it myself, Gary Barlow's more my bag