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?

Hello everyone! I have popped back to just say I hit TWO YEARS this weekend. I was trawling the threads to see how I felt right at the beginning and just though, if you don't mind, I would post a few things I said back in October 2013, just to prove it can be done:

I am going to be honest here and say I am still completely unsure if I can do it. I so so so so want to. I know I can but I need help to get rid of that stupid little voice in my head, that says 'gawannnn, you deserve a few, it's not like you were when you were younger is it~? You're not drinking first thing like you used to! You run, you don't smoke, so what if you have too much tonight - start again next week'. That bloody person in my head always always gets me - after 8 months, 2 months, a week. I need help to make that stop.

So many sober inspiring people - I want to be able to write 'X years sober' smile Anyway, good morning! Feeling very well today - good nights sleep after my run and my the hideous weekend has begun to start clearing. I have a ct scan at hospital this morning at 8am!!! early shock I won't talk about what for yet - not being 'mysterious' grin but it would out me completely and I'm not ready. Loving your story Mildred, so many similarities. So, I will hop in the shower and wish everyone a happy sober day.

My last binge was this weekend past. Having an enormously stressful time at the moment for several reasons and I just couldn't cope any more, so decided to go for it. Big mistake - and has led me to this place, physically - this thread - like a 'sign' or something grin and mentally and emotionally, I cannot take that risk anymore. What is happening in my life is happening anyway so why fuck it up further?

What I have come to realize in all my years of trying and breaking and trying and breaking – the same incidentally with smoking – is that I cannot stay sober unless I make some massive changes in my life in other ways. So, what is the point of thinking ‘right this is it this is the time that will work’, when I just do exactly the same things every day? A plan is needed. I have my running – that is a huge thing, and I have my books, but then my books have always been there. What to do? I am going to start doing ‘things’, going out with the children (well dd really, ds13 is at ‘that age..) I am going to take her out tomorrow morning, just to the woods, just for a walk. That will be a start. I can’t change going to work, but maybe I can change the furniture in my office – move it round, maybe I can change from coffee to water or something a bit fancy! I have wanted to join an am dram group for years, so I will look for one.

And this was up to day 8!!

I just want people to know that it is possible. Reading back, I can remember how scared I was, how difficult it seemed and yet I have done it for TWO years!!
My life is completely different and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Molly You are a true inspiration.

Whoop molly massive well done, you've come such a long way! Yay now you can write 'so many years sober'. Did you do anything nice for hitting the two year mark?

Jealous Bam, we still have another week of hols here. I am enjoying the peace myself after having a bunch of raucous, noisy boys here all afternoon. Fab being on day 6 and getting through the first weekend - and with your dp's big milestone birthday too. Fantastic!!

Good luck getting everything done and deadlines met Cheesy

Nice cheerful article RainyBow thanks. Anything else you can do to separate the days from night now? Go for a walk or have a nice 'treat' drink? I never expected I would be that sort of person either but something has changed in me since giving up alcohol. I really love pushing myself physically now, maybe it's a teeny bit addicted to exercise or the endorphins?

Early night for me tonight. Horrible weather here and think I'm finally getting the dc's cold as my throat is killing me. Will get dc settled in bed and catch up on some e-mails I've to send and then cosy in bed myself with Netflix.

Thank you! We went for a lovely meal!

Thanks for that Molly. It is really very encouraging indeed.

Yay Molly! Good heavens,2 years! I want to be able to say that too. :) Thanks for posting that. :)

Thanks custard :)

Hi everyone!

Day 27 for me!

I feel a different woman- getting up early, ( love early mornings) focussed at work, feel healthy and positive and my meno symptoms have really calmed down.

I was really beginning to worry about the damage I was doing to my health !

I've been sober for years in the past so know it can be done. And the benefits far outweigh any fleeting high or short cut to oblivion.

I love not drinking.

Morning everyone! Just checking in - Day 7 here!

Hope everyone is fine.

Molly thank you for sharing that. Well done

I am still plodding on and on Day 9 (can't actually believe I am sticking to it!) I have had so many triggers this week that I am so proud of myself. Last night I was out with friends and normally drink too much with these friends. I drove and thoroughly enjoyed the food instead.

Well done BamBam on reaching Day 7. It sounds like we are at a similar point, and we've both managed a weekend!

Words I still don't quite believe I will make almost a month so well done. I am noticing some of those symptoms you describe already. I feel more like a good version of myself.

Custard thanks for your advice. I had a nice cold can of coke yesterday and really took my time to enjoy it. It is funny as we had stopped buying it as it was a bad habit. Ironic really, as I kept on buying the bottles of wine!

I hope everyone else is doing well.

I finally managed an AF day yesterday, and it was OK, the worst thing was the insomnia (which was one of the things that I started to increase my drinking to 'fix').

So I'm going for a repeat today

Molly HUGE congrats on 2 years you sober warrior you
BamBam kudos to day 7!! :)
Sigma day one is ace
I have the hideous cold that DH & DC's had and just in time for my birthday yesterday Had day in London planned at Science Museum cravings exhibition so dosed up and powered through like I used to do with hangovers. How the f*ck did I do that every day?! Don't miss that at all.

Well done on Day 1 Sigma

Happy Birthday Lucy I am sorry that the cold got in the way. I suppose at least it wasn't a cold and a hangover. Well done for not drinking on your birthday by the way. I haven't got any special occasions for a little while which I am very grateful for.

Happy birthday Lucy! Colds are so horrible - you feel awful, but not quite awful enough to be an invalid! Did you enjoy the exhibition?

Yay sigma! Summoning up the willpower and strength to make the start is so difficult.

Rainybow it's nice that we are at similar points. I have had some really difficult times with real cravings, but the last couple of days have been better. I am sleeping well, but could easily sleep 18 hours a day! It's funny that you had a can of coke as a treat. I never drink coke as a soft drink, but I had gallons of it as a mixer! Without booze, I hardly ever drink cold soft drinks - it's tea and coffee all the way, with the odd milk.

BamBam That's bang on about feeling crap but not bad enough to be justifiably bedridden. It was smaller than I was expecting tbh but the quality was excellent of what there was. So much else to see too so never a wasted journey and the kids wore themselves out so all good :)

Glad you enjoyed it Lucy! I'm always jealous of anyone who can easily get to London, even for just a day. We are in Fife, so it would be a long journey, and then a night or two staying there, and we can't afford that just now, but I would love to see the British Museum and the British Library and the tower etc. I'm a history geek, so it would be my idea of heaven!

Molly that's amazing. I logged on because I haven't checked in for a couple of weeks and to see your post was just right for me today! I am on day 60 of my promised 100. It feels really good to be over the halfway mark. I know I can't be complacent but I am starting to feel some stability in the new patterns I've been forging, like coming in after work and hydrating a lot and breathing, rather than reaching for a drink. Now that I'm in the second half of the 100 day project I am wondering what is going to happen at the end of the 100. It feels like there should be some glittering prize but really I know it's going to be a quiet anticlimax - just another nice calm AF day. Wondering about thinking about a splurgy clothing or shoe purchase for that day and then what the next stage is. I think I will probably do another 100, pure and simple, no lifelong promises, just more good AF living for another few months. ANd then maybe another... procrastination in the best possible way?? it's a weird set of plans to be making...

Waves to all.

Thank you. I know I don't post much but I so remember how it felt in the early days and was simply convinced that six months let alone more than a year was out of my reach, that I would never stop drinking and that but was impossible. I drank from the age of 16 to 49 and that is a long time!!!! Please don't give up giving up. Life is just so much better. Things still piss me off, upset me, make me cry and irritate me, but not reaching for that drink makes it so much easier to get through. Xx

Evening all.

My name's RivieraKid and I'm an alcoholic. Been at Turning Point for a while which has been helpful but I haven't quit drinking. Tried AA a while back but found it wasn't for me, I'm not sure why, but I used to go straight from meetings to the pub anyhow.

I've already got liver and possibly heart damage from my alcoholism, i recently also broke my nose on a pavement and gave myself whiplash and severe concussion as well. I'm 29. And I want this to stop.

xx

BamBam seems like we have a lot in common. I am a massive history geek too I am lucky enough to be just a train ride from London but don't get there nearly enough. My DC are not compatible with busy cities. I am also sleeping a lot more and feel so tired. I wonder whether that is a thing to do with giving up alcohol. I do feel like I am more refreshed in the morning, just that I could still do with another 2 hours.

Welcome Riviera This is really working as a place of support for me. I am still very early in my journey so have no words of wisdom but happy to listen and keep chatting.

Sirenetta you sound like you're in a really good place. I can't wait to be as far along as you.

Thanks :) It seems like a great thread.

welcome Rivierakid and hello Yes it is a great thread :)
Molly :) :) Well done!!
Everyone else hello :)

Still here, still sober :) Not much else to add really :)

Hi everyone. :) Welcome RivieraKid

It is a great thread. I would not have gotten as far as I have without you all.

xx

HI everyone

Well, didn't manage it last night. My habit is stopping off at the shops on the way home. I'm sitting at work with absolutely no desire to drink, but on the way home

Yesterday we needed bread and milk and vegetables, so I couldn't skip the shop. I managed not to buy alcohol... then when I got back to the car I put the shopping in and went back to the shop. Luckily I had left my purse in the bag of shopping so didn't get any then. But then went to another shop after I picked up DD .

No shopping needed today, and I am going to get back in the habit of a big shop at the weekend, and put things like milk and bread in the freezer for the second half of the week.

Then the challenge is to leave work, collect DD and get home without stopping off. I have been known to go out again specifically for alcohol but it's a lot easier to resist once I'm home and focussed on supper/bath/bed for DD.

Morning all, how are you all doing?

I am going to need more than one coffee this morning to help me wake up. I have started to sleep so well but my dreams are really vivid. I am obviously processing something as people from my past are popping up in them.

Sigma it sounds like you and I have the same drinking triggers. I have also been known to go back out just for alcohol. I filled my evening with other treats - I am now eating more sugar than I ever would have believed but figure it will be easier to stop that soon. Don't worry about having a slip. It took me a long time to get here (I make it sound as if I have been doing it ages and I am only on Day 10). I do have to say though that Day 10 would have felt unbelievable just 2 weeks ago. I already feel like I have challenged my original home drinking triggers. Good luck today!

It's good to meet a fellow history geek rainybow! Despite being Scottish, I'm mainly interested in English history, so London would be fab. I would like to maybe take DS1 sometime for a weekend.

Welcome Riviera!

Sigma don't beat yourself up. Today is a new day. Our routine was always that me and the boys would meet DP from the train and then he would nip into the shop for the booze on the way home. We only have one shop in the village, and it's owned by a twat, so the thought that we aren't giving him any cash is good!

I felt awful this morning. I think the room had been too hot, as both of us woke up feeling hungover and headachey. Mad to think we must have felt like that most mornings after booze. On top of that, I was woken in the night with the period from hell and horrible stomach cramps. Did anyone else find their first period after going AF was particularly awful?

Day 8 today.