DRY 11

[TeapotDictator]

Time for a shiny new thread.

Old thread here

I'll be around later too howbad

I think daat is drug and alcohol action team. Hope it all goes well tang, don't be scared, they are there to help and will be very experienced. Let us know how you get on.

Enjoy your shopping notgrumpy and your freedom!

Yes drug and alcohol action team.

I'm scared because I don't want to be told what I know. I don't want to face up to it.

But I will report back because it might help someone else to take that step, to not be afraid.

lilybetsy

Sewandso.co.uk have some really good starter kits

tang I don't think any of us want to face up to it. I can't use The A Word or even describe myself as having A Drink Problem but there it is. If somebody else told me what I could tell them about myself, the amounts I was drinking, my behaviour when I was drunk, I'd think those things about them so it must be true. How can it apply to them but not to me? But you're here on this thread and you've made contact with them so you must want to do something about it and that's a really brave thing to do. Check in later and let us know how you got on. In the meantime let's all have a brew

brewing up now.

I know what you say though...... I have not yet shared anything in any AA meeting, because they all starts with 'My name is... etc'. I am not ready to call myself an alcoholic. I am a problem drinker, and I want to remove it from my life. That is all I need to know about myself for now really.

Hope everyone is well. I have mentioned this book on these threads many times, but I am re-reading it after a good 18 months or so since last time and getting alot out of it afresh.

www.amazon.co.uk/Drink-Intimate-Relationship-Johnston-Paperback/dp/B00GOHM8W6/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1458215188&sr=8-2-fkmr0&keywords=ann+dowsett+johnson

Hi slim I'll have an Earl Grey please

DP has left for the pub and looks like shit after the 2 bottles of red he put away last night, as would I had I partaken but no, I'm fresh as a daisy. One thing I picked up from another similar thread on here was they were taking selfies on a regular basis to track the reduction in eye bags/ puffiness/ looking haggard in general and I've decided to give that a go as well. I do look a bit better than usual but that might be down to being off work this week and getting enough sleep, we shall see!

selfies are a good idea. I planned to take a photo of me on the first of every month as I have also started paying attention to eating healthily and drinking loads of water. Then I forgot. I will start again. :) :) :)

Oh, and for today's 'Happy and Sober' post..... I have planted trays and trays of the most beautiful purple and yellow pansies in the garden. :)

What Happy and Sober things is everyone doing today? (not sure about the grammar there, but you get my drift. :) )

I'm not sure if humping furniture around and re-arranging piles of DH's papers and general man-crap - why oh why did I marry a hoarder - counts as Happy and Sober activities but am glad I'm not doing it hungover! Because then I really would be losing patience!!! We are getting some work done in the house soon and need to squeeze into two bedrooms for a couple of weeks.
Your flowers sound lovely *slim!

Ooo a daily Happy And Sober activity post, I like that slim and I lurve pansies too. I have bought new Wonder Woman knickers and some lamps. I am now awaiting my lunch at the garden centre. I have a J20. I am driving. The only thing that could go wrong is I might break my credit card on the way out!

jojo I'm feeling your pain out here in the glorious spring sunshine

Well, that was an emotional rollercoaster!

2 hours of questioning and more than a few tears from me. Bloody promised myself I wouldn't cry. Another fail.

I have made a commitment to go back to the Women's Group on Tuesday though.

Hi, just checking in before I go out. thank you for jojo and notgrumpy for the support!

Not a fail tang...don't think like that, be kind to yourself. You did a big thing today so for you!

Good luck howbad you can do this! I will be around in a bit, my two boys (8 and 4) seem to be killing each other so this could be a long tea/bed time!!

tang you didn't fail. You met with them as arranged. That sounds like success to me. There's nothing wrong with getting upset. If it was easy we wouldn't all be posting on here saying how difficult we were finding it, would we? You did it and you made commitment to go back next week. Good on you! Stay with us as we all root for how

Thank you.

Yes, I'm rooting for How tonight.....I'm rooting for us all. This journey is not easy but we will make it.

That's a bit more like it! Did you arrange a treat for yourself as a reward for going?

Great stuff tang - it's tough, and nothing wrong with tears

Well, I'm off to the pub quiz tonight... Once upon a time this was one of my binge nights - a bottle of wine in the pub then beer, whisky, whatever was in at home... These days? Sparkling water or - if they have some - perhaps a Becks Blue. And a head fit for work the next day .

Ooo yes pub quiz binges, I'm a bugger for those. It's a wonder how we ever managed to win. Am quite looking forward to trying it sober. I should think the staff in my local will laugh out loud when I go in next and ask for a soft drink

Day 6 . DP asked me this morning if we had anything social planned for the weekend and I said no, because I want a decent amount of days 'under my belt' before i face the world of socialising without a drink. He commented that I just need to moderate my drinking and that sometimes I do. Maybe, but it's not reliable and if it were that easy I wouldn't fall over drunk ever...

I just know that I'm better without alcohol. I accept it, I just have trouble believing that I will ever stop wanting to drink... And not WANTING to drink has to be the key ...

Tang, thank you for that suggestion, and very well done on your DAAT meeting ! I don't know what more you could have asked of yourself ...

Hope everyone is ok tonight. I'm ok today, but dreading Friday night when I have been drinking ... Need to plan something nice for the weekend ...

Hi all, quick dip into the thread before bed. (I am exhausted).

Brand shiny new sober blog here

haplesshomsteaders.wordpress.com/

I just found this through Mrs D's site.....Kate has been sober just over a year but has just started this blog. A few very thoughtful interesting posts about the early days, and attempts to moderate.

Tang I echo everyone else. You were amazing today.

Thinking of you How.

Howbad how is it going?

I had bad news today then I had good news then more good news. Then I brought a bottle of Champage with the weekly shop. So much news to deal with.

DH went to the pub straight from work for the good news. The Champagne sat chilling with permission for me to go ahead and start without DH.

DH was late home. Champagne is still chilling.

All this news what to do with it.

Sounds intriguing matron

Are you ok there matron?

Well, we lost badly in the quiz, but it was a laugh which we all needed, so all good. I splashed out on a cranberry & soda in a nice wine glass. Classy stuff

Lily have you tried the Allen Carr / Jason Vale type books? These focus on why we want to drink vs the idea of 'the alcoholic' and I found them useful early on. But actually I read everything I could get my hands on, esp from women; blogs, books, fora. Still do, and enjoy feeling like I am in such good company!

Hello

Overwhelmed to see me being name-checked when I was out! Thank you all, and I am sure your good vibes were helping me.

I was in a basement with no reception or otherwise I would have been on my phone. It was a tough night in some ways: loud, long and boring. I don't like getting stuck in places when out with a group like that; it was a work do and it didn't seem possible to get up and go, although it got to the point by around 10 or even before where there was no one for me to network with usefully as they were all shitfaced. If I had been on my own I would have left and no one would have noticed; being with my two bosses it didn't seem possible

Lairy men in the city centre, blocking my path calling me "princess"

Well here I am in a hotel bed and I did it. Thank you all for thinking of me.
Day 12.