Brave Babes Battle Bus is Racing Along.....

[venusandmars]

Our lovely mouseface usually starts these threads but I've just noticed that the previous one is almost full, so I'm facing technology and get the next one set up.

Anyone, absolutely anyone, who feels they have a problem with drink is welcome here. Whether you're trying to stop, or cut down a little, whether you've been sober for years, or even if you're too scared even to contemplate what is happening. If you think it will help you to post, or lurk, then please do.

There's often a lot of nonsense and banter, but lots of good sound advice.

And there is always lots of support and care and no judgement.

This is the link to the previous thread, if you want to read what's been going on so far The Previous Thread

And this is the link to JesusWhatNext 's original thread started 6 years ago The Original Thread

spanna that's incredible. Huge well done, you're an inspiration

Also spanna no she's still not sleeping before 10pm, it's really hard and very stressful xxx

Ive not met you before spanna but that's fab. Im new to the bus. Messed up yesterday big time and now I'm regretting it that much it's making me itch for more today. It's a beautiful day, and I have beer,cider,vodka,koppabergs in the fridge and im dying to have some to have some. My husbands best mate probably Ragin with me to as he has pulled me up for how I talk to hubby before! Feel so ashamed xxx

Hello, just popping in. 161 days sober here, haven't touched a drop.

Halle I'm here to give you a friendly kick up the arse. THROW AWAY THE BOOZE. Seriously pour it away. You have nothing to gain by having it there and from what you've said previously, your husband won't mind if it means you stop drinking.

Please.

Well done Spanna!

Halle, if as Marry says your husband won't mind you throwing the drink out, then do it, or put it somewhere out of sight and out of mind. Decide that just for today, or even the next hour, you won't drink.

halle babe, shame was my middle name, this weather is making us all a bit twitchy, I've been sober since Oct and even I felt a bit jumpy yesterday, every friend I popped in to see had wine on the go or chilling. Even when I'm tempted I just play it to the end and it soon reminds me that while a few glasses of rose is perfectly normal for most people in the bloody country it ends very badly for me. I still hate that I'm not "normal" but for reasons beyond me once the wine starts flowing, I cannot and will not stop!!!

I know exactly how your feeling, been there too many times, chin up and know that your definitely not alone, this weather screams alcohol, I feel everywhere I look, shops, gardens, even at the school run everyone is salivating for that cold Pinot in the garden.... I have to remember I'm not like them, but I've worked to hard for my sobriety and I love that no ones watching over my shoulder anymore to watch me Incase I cave and if those whose I've let down so terribly can trust me then I need to trust myself and honour theirs....

Love and hugs, you babes inspire me every single day xxx

What else can you put in your fridge - soda? tonic? iced lemonade? ice-cream? all so much better than alcohol.

In the end alcohol will just leave you feeling sticky and hot and headachy, not refreshed and cool and bright.

Sometimes we just have to get tough with ourselves, say 'No' and mean it. Yes, it's hard at first but anyone can get through a few hours without alcohol if we really try. It's just for today and it's just until bedtime.

Find other things to do. Eat, exercise and distract. Unlike hunger that needs feeding, this craving for alcohol will not get worse until it is satiated, it will actually go away. Believe it. Try it. Do something different. Just for today

Hi spanna, great to hear from you and your fantastic success. You sound so much happier in your sober life than you ever could have imagine. Also rural, I missed you the other day, thanks for popping in x

Welome to the bus Marry, another inspirational story

Just chucking my oar in... Ice cream soda anyone? Yum. Been off work today for hospital appointment - they literally drained me of all blood, then charged me £75 (!!!!!!) for my prescriptions. Oh happy day. Not. Referred for further tests etc, so not a complete waste of time.

Off to take doglet to the vet. She has got a dodgy tummy so I hope she doesn't shit herself when they give her her jabs...

Hope all of you are ok.

Evening all. Having a bit of a wobble here. Planned an AF today, worked last night and had nothing this morning so I get through tonight it will be my longest stretch to date (Tuesday am to Thursday night). But I'm totally overwhelmed and overtired. Just been a total bitch to someone I love for no real reason. I whistle blew on someone at work and handed in a written statement this morning, it needed to be done and I would be negligent if I didn't but I think it is potentially serious enough to be career ending and I feel awful. Plus had counselling this afternoon and feel really raw and panicky. Keep crying and my ginger beer just isn't cutting it, but then at some point I'm going to have to learn to cope with emotions without a drink aren't I???

Logically I know I need to eat and get an early night, I will be glad of it in the morning, and that's still the plan. I've only had two hours sleep today so that isn't helping. I'm really worried about stuff health wise (not totally irrationally) and if I don't manage to do this I'm scared I will actually drink myself to death, so I've got to try. I'm going away tomorrow and have a long drive anyway, so if I do drink I'll have to moderate and that will be just as hard.

Sorry, being a miserable cow and totally 'me, me, me', just needed to vent a bit. I haven't caught up on the last couple of days but will have a read back in a minute. Hope everyone's ok

No problem was ever improved by taking a drink. Sorry you're having a crap day. Just get through tonight and focus on posting tomorrow to say "I stayed dry last night!"

So far so
Good ... Not touched a drop. Why do the days feel like they absolutely drag in when your sober though??? Hi marry nice to see you again xx

evening all.

elba how's it going? Everything you wrote make sense and you know what's best...just head down and get through this evening. Minute by minute if needs be.

halle time is one of those things I find I have in abudence when I don't drink. Turns out sitting half cut on the sofa wastes a lot of time!! I try to always have something I can do if feeling twitchy...online jigsaws, adult colouring, a magazine etc. Well done on not having a drink today!

Elba can you take an activity to bed with you? Reading fiction or non fiction, in bed with a cup of tea. Or try these puzzles

Mumsnet Classics is good for whiling away an hour or so.

It is literally all about distraction and gritting your teeth until the day is done.

Ma what happened at the meeting? Did they snap you up there and then and run away with you?

faire thank you so much for suggesting mumsnet classics....I am in tears over here

Thanks everyone am in bed (probably the earliest bedtime in years for me!), no alcohol. Going to put Mrs browns boys on the iPad and have a go at those puzzles faire suggested. It's a novelty to be in bed at this time, but quite nice and cosy, just hoping my body clock doesn't ping me back I to nightshift mode as often happens in the early hours. I know I've not yet managed day 2, but do you reckon I can count being AF after work this morning and tonight as day 1.5?!?!

Off on a girly weekend tomorrow, I will be drinking, but only aim is to control it enough that I avoid any embarrassing moments. Going to try and mirror my eating and drinking on my friends.

claret how are you doing lovely? Are you back home now?

lala hope your doing OK tonight and that pup behaved herself at the vets!

will missing you, hope everything's ok.

Hi to everyone else, sorry not to name check everyone but thinking of you all. Thanks again for all your support xxx

No drink has passed my lips. Having a right pity myself moment though. Why the hell is this happening to me? Why can't I drink like a normal person? Why do I have to be different and also how much im going to miss the times When alcohol was nice and have me fun and laugher. Now once i start I can't wait for my next, I Keep
Going til im nasty or argumentative or Fallin over or pissin my bed .... I just can't get passed thinking one day maybe i will be different and learn to control xx if only!!!!

Halle, when you stop drinking you also stop wetting the bed, upsetting your family, letting people down, giving your kids less than they deserve, and doing all the things that make you ashamed. All of that goes.

And is replaced very quickly with peace, a feeling of calm, being able to be present for those you love, and being your best self.

I remember thinking there was no way that this could be true, but it totally, utterly is.

Spanna. I am so touched by your thoughts flower We are a long way from the fires thank goodness but many people from here have friends or family affected. I wish I could say I was following in your footsteps but I seem to be dragging my heels in and out of the sidecar - still I am so proud and pleased for you though pumpkin, you are an amazing babe and I love to read about how your life so much better sober. Keep blazing the trail xx

Rural and Baby you are both amazing, and inspiring, well done

Love to all, ma, faire, Isinde, obrigada, hope, Venus, Joey, sweet, mouse and all of you lovely new babes

Morning All

Corr it rained & rained down sarf last night!

Elba so so well done on not picking up a drink last night - you must feeling proper fantastic this morning - YOU SEE - YOU CAN DO IT (sorry I'll stop shouting!!) You are a Another milestone achieved. And a huge well done on whistleblowing - hard as it is, it has to be done and you know in your heart that you've done the right thing

Halle Well Done lovely. I agree with the other Babes, just get rid of the booze, it's too much of a temptation. Are you going to join me with another AF day?

Claret glad you're still with us, sounds like you had a lovely break in Sweden. Have a good day babes x

Beaches I am so glad that you're all ok, it's been really bothering me! So sorry for your friends who have been affected, bloody frightening! How are you honey? what you been up to and how are your boys? (yes all 3 of them!!) Are you still flogging diamonds? Have a good day my friend, fancy an AF day?

Baby oh babe, it is so tough when they don't sleep, DD2 has always been a 'non-sleeper' little shit still like it now, but 12, tired & grumpy for the best part of the week. I am also so so proud of you, it's been a hell of a journey, hasn't it? We are the proof that it can be done. Luffs ya babe

Marry Congratulations Babe - awesome achievement. Keep going, it only gets better & easier, that I can promise you. Stick with us darling, safety in numbers and all that jazz. You are a

Nuff thanks babe, your wise words over the past 2 years have really helped me & Venus same goes to you lovely

Lala Well Done lovely. Your pup is so cute x

So it turns out that my DD1 has cut her arm again (at least she's told me) and I'd already made appt with a Doc. Doc was lovely (I cried for best part of the appt, as did DD) so she's being referred back as an emergency to CAHMS to see a psychiatrist & to possibly go on medication. So at least we're going forward in the system. So very sad about Sally Brampton, she was a local down where I live, I ordered her book 'shoot the dog' last night, I'm hoping it will give me an insight into living with depression.

Anyhooooo, come and say hello, babes who are lurking, safety in numbers, as the BBQs come out, warm whether hits, and the urge for something nice and cold grips us full of temptation. Don't give up Babes, we will beat this ugly bitch, worty wine witch, she lurks everywhere and at anytime of the day, honestly she comes around at breakfast sometimes, little bitch

Right, off to get day started. Just don't pick up that first drink, you'll be even more proud of yourself tomorrow x

Thanks everyone. Yep another AF day for me to. I have got loads of plans made today (partly on purpose to keep me busy and also most of the things require me to have to drive, so I defo can't drink today or tonight). Hope you all have a great AF day xxxx

Well done Halle.

Got to dash off to work, but will catch up with everyone later x

Well done elba - a sober evening after a shit day - you are doing brilliantly. It would be all too easy to give in, but you didn't. And every day is something new learned. You don't have to do it again today or tomorrow, but at least you know it is possible. Well done.

halle isn't it easier when you have lots of plans made in advance. You wake up in the morning and the decision is already made - not drinking today. Then it doesn't consume your head all day like it would if you were doing the 'shall I / shan't I' dance.

Thanks spanna and venus, very glad I didn't drink. I guess it would of been a shit day whether I drank or not, but today is less shit as I didn't drink if that makes any sense!

spanna sorry to hear about your DD. I think it's really positive that she's told you though and is accepting help though. I did the same as a teenager, but hid it from my mum until things were really bad, but I'm pleased to say that that is something that I left well and truly in my past so things can and will improve with the right support. It's only as an adult though that I realised how hard it must of been for my mum- obviously it's awful for DD but make sure you are getting support too. I'm happy for you to pm me if you want any insight from the other side, or to talk about it

Just finished packing and waiting for friends to pick me up. Will be away untill Sunday but will try and check in. Hope everyone's ok