The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Battling The Wicked Wine Witch, One Day At A Time!

[Mouseface]

Hello, I'm mouse, one of the Babes who have been on this lovely, rickety bus called Gerald for some time now!

There's no judgy pants worn on this bus, nor hoking of bosoms!! It's filled with every day life, love and laundry. As simple as that. The rest falls in between.

We're a welcoming, supporting thread, filled with a mine of information from many years of experience, from those who have consumed alcohol day in, day out...hidden the 'habit', the lie, disguised our drinking with many an excuse. So perfected over the years or new to the guilt of drinking more than you think you should.....

Anyway, old or new, lurker or not, come and say hello to us if you feel the need. We'd love to meet you if we haven't already :)

Thank you for reading this, find a seat, hide green opal fruits if you find any, they're like gold dust around here! Aren't they ma!!

See you soon, I hope.

Mouse x

And, if you'd like to see where we all began, sit with a cup of tea/coffee and have a peek at this - the beginning

And our latest thread that will take you back to many others enjoy your read!

Thank you Ma I love a good hig however I really do hope all the TUPE stuff goes ok. It really can be stressful.

Babes, I've had a thought about this. I have a friend (well kind of a friend, we kissed and not been so close lately but still able to chat) who's a mature student and worked a lot with addicts. I'm wondering if talking to him might help a little bit? I'm really unsure, and will need to talk it over with cousellor, but debating it.

I think this sounds like a really positive step Made and I think you are completely correct about talking to your professional help in the first instance. Your mate might be put in a comprising position, but if you have no attachment isn't that what friends are for?

Made I would advise against that. He is not a trained counsellor, you have an emotional attachment (albeit a mild one) and once you tell friends you can't take it back, as you found with your other friends.

Talk to the professionals, talk to us as we all have relevant experience and this is a safe place to be as honest as you like but keep your friends out of it for now.

I agree with Elba that now might be a very stressful time to try and tackle this. Being mindful of your drinking is a really good start. You can't go back from that. I know you want to deal with this now but it is not an overnight fix, it is a process. That process has started and you will get there but don't ask too much of yourself.

You're doing really well by posting here and going back to your counselling. Focus on the things that are currently helping you and take each day as it comes.

Elba your posts are great, you are working through everything that is happening to you and you are also sharing your support to others. Keep posting as it really does help to stay connected with the rest of us. Remember, no-one will judge you, this is a safe space.

Shout out to baby and beaches, hope you're both doing ok x

The man is question is always really nice, more like a big brother than anything else. He is a student but worked with homeless people and addicts a lot, he may be able to help. I dont want to tell friends 1, 2 and 3 about me maybe talking to him cos it might cause even more tension. I will speak to counsellor though and see what he thinks, and then message the guy asking if we can have a chat or something.

Sorry elephant, I crossed posts with you there

Fairenuff you put it much better than I did. Thank you.

I think I'll wait until the morning (well more like afternoon) to decide. I still feel like shit and useless etc but had a bit of a cry so feel better.

I've talked to a flatmate. I walked in earlier and all it took was her to ask how I was before I burst into tears. I haven't explained what mine and my friends argument was about, or my drink problem, just that things are going on and it makes me sad (true). She assured me they're there for me and also that they've noticed because I've been hiding in my room (also true). I hope things will now be easier. I wont bitch about my mates (thats what counsellor is for) but at least 2 of my other flatmates know now.

Funny how we both immediately said to go for the professional counselling and then questioned how attached you are to the friend, made. It does rather depend on the circumstances but professionals are trained for a reason and can obviously give you totally impartial advice.

They are also guaranteed to keep your confidences and you never have to see them again once you have what you need.

Lots of things to think about, don't feel that you have to rush into anything.

Dear Made I am going to have a hot chocolate and go go to bed. Can you do similar? My DCs do nutella in warm milk. Ok I understand it is student accommodation. What about honey, lemon and ginger in hot water?

Thank you faire

Someone posted this link on the thread a while back, possibly sober. It so perfectly sums up how I feel at the moment, much better than I could express.

The thing is faire and elephant I'm not sure what professional services there are. There's my counsellor, and he's fab, but only so much he can do. Im really reluctant to try AA. Maybe I can talk to my counsellor on Friday and see what he suggests . Have stopped drinking now but uni internet being shite so sorry if I reply late

Am now tucked up in bed,already regretting drinking and wondering what hangover tomorrow will bring but all self inflicted I suppose. Night all.

Morning All.

Lots of Babes having tough times, but you are all so wonderful and supportive, sorry I can't be around in the evenings at the moment.

Ma, fingers crossed all the work stuff happens in the best way it could for you.

Made you will only find out what help is available by asking - but stick with the professionals for now.

Elba, "what is mental health and what is alcohol" it's all part of the same thing, and while we are desperate for the light at the end of the tunnel, the 'fix' seems so slow, but you are making progress.

Claret I just found out you are not the only person I know in Iceland this week! Keep on having a Fab time.

Small, Mouse, Wry, Beaches, Isinde, Baby missing you all, hope you are safe and well.

Everyone else, make this a day you don't drink, just today, and be the best Babe you can be.

Morning all,

First AF day yesterday. Prompted by a busy day with a crazy 2 year old and a screamy 2 month old. So tired I went to bed at 8. Feel like I 'm a bad mum at the moment, 2 year old ate Rubbish and watched tv all day. However using this as the start and planning a AF weekend. Hope everyone else is good xx

Morning Elba when I first heard that song I couldn't stop playing it. It just summed up everything for me. I still play it most days as it reminds me of where I don't want to be.
My main concern is that I am now in my fifties and I know that I have got away with abusing my body for a long time now but I do feel that I must be on borrowed time . I am due a health check up and I have been putting it off for so long as I fear that it will involve a discussion about diet / exercise which I cba having.
Anyway onwards and upwards the sun is shining and I am off to buy some new shoes 😀😀

Going to adopt my daft dogs attitude to life......😀😀
She lives in the moment and forgets what happened yesterday or even 10 mins ago and it works for her

Love it, Sober

SweetDog is being a bit of a pickle this morning, pretending like he's never encountered the concept of training before, but his tail wags everytime I look at him, so it's hard to be cross!

Is he going through adolescence sweetLathrus mine nearly broke me at this stage .
Running away was a favourite at the end of a walk 😡😡
It passes but yes very hard to get cross when 2 big brown eyes are staring up at you 😀

Good morning my lovely babe friends,

faire thanks for the shout out, been very busy in RL and my Crohn's is kicking my ass (literally) at the moment so I'm struggling a bit with pain. I'm also decorating so my whole house is a tip and this is not good for my mind because chaos around me feeds chaos in my mind. I do at least have the coping skills to know that this is only a temporary blip and all will be well. Despite having triggers all around me, pain, anxiety, frustration and being very tired I'm sober and know that this would all look a lot worse with a raging hangover so I guess that's progress.

I have so much I want to say to all you lovely braves struggling but my carpet is en route so I must go for now but can I just say I have been in the bowels of despair with my depression and alcohol use, a lot further down the line than you guys, I'm only saying this to prove there is always a way back to a happy, fulfilling life, I once truly believed I was lost forever and would ultimately die through drink (4 bottles a day sometimes) and I did find my way back. Been sober since October last year. Please keep faith in yourself and these amazing warriors on here who will help you fight and carry you when you cannot.

The magic will happen if you believe it can!!!

Much love and strength to you all xxx

Ps getting my bedroom decorated is very cathartic for me, I spent many many dark days in my bedroom with wine bottles hidden all around me, I nearly drank myself to death in my room which o renamed my cell. So in a few days it will be be completely finished and it will be bright, full of colour and warmth and light and not a wine bottle in sight, kind of like my life xxx

Amazingly I dont feel too bad this morning. Tired through a not very good nights sleep but apart from that, ok. I'm sorry for being so emotional - I really need to work on finding a different outlet for my emotions other than drinking, the drink just made it worse. I'm going to go back to bed for an hour for the tiredness and will get on with some household jobs then.

He's a Working Cocker, Sober - I think they are in a state of permanent adolescence . He's 14 months.

Morning babes, just checking in xx Waves to all babes

Hi babes,

I haven't been around since January! But I just wanted to let you know I am coming up to three months af now.
Had my last drink on January 2 and I'm going strong still. I had originally planned to stay off either for January or best case scenario until April, but the way I feel now I won't be going back on it any time soon.
In my heart of hearts I know that I will drink again one day, but at the moment I have no desire to and so I'm keeping going.
I've always been a massive drinker, but in the past six years or so have had a least one dry period every year and am trying to get to a stage where I'm af more than I'm drinking. Deep down I know I should give it up for good - at the moment, I feel so strong and in control,but as soon as I drink again it will be quick slippery slope back to the point of a bottle of wine a night, more at weekends.

Love and luck to you all.

sweet he's gorgeous 😀
ma any news about your job.?