Dry 14

[glad2016]

This is the thread for all those who are living, or committed to living, life free from alcohol.
Go sober warriors !

Hey tattoos. Not a big fat fail. A learning experience.

Roger Bannister did not run the mile in 4 minutes the first time. He practiced and practiced. He got better and better.

I hate relapsing, but every time it serves to cement a little bit more in my brain that attempting to moderate is a big fucking disaster for me and i cannot do it. Every time I start again I have more experience and knowledge behind me, so it is not like starting again from scratch, but starting again from a position of knowledge.

In other words.... pls do not feel ashamed - it's done and past. Dust yourself off, go forth with confidence in yourself. Can you call someone from AA and just talk to them and plan to go to a live meeting when you can? I think RL support is important also. I have not been to AA for several weeks, as life just got in the way, and I am missing the interaction a bit. Post here a thousand times if you need to. I am planning on posting a bit too, as I have some RL stresses around me that triggers me badly. But, I am determined that for today, I Will Not Drink.

KOKO sober warriors.

So I've spent a fortune on luxury bath/skin products in the hope of bribing myself for a few days. I've also bought a cookery magazine to read later. Feeling positive so far, the promise of a good nights sleep after a fancy bath sounds more appealing right now than my usual post work vino. Just have to avoid the wine chiller when stopping for petrol then I'm set.

Thank you SlimCheesy, I actually filled up a little at your post, it was lovely

I have a few phone numbers from AA but I would feel silly ringing as I don't know any of them that well. I would have been better ringing them before I picked up a drink but there you have it. I believe there is a community drug and alcohol advisory clinic here but living in a small town I'd be worried running into people I know. I might screw up the courage to ring them tomorrow anyway. It's becoming fairly obvious I'm struggling doing it myself.

I hope your stresses resolve themselves soon and thanks once again for the post. Feeling a tiny bit more positive now and I'll join you in the today I will not drink

That sounds like a lovely treat to yourself Buono. Is there a petrol station you could stop at that doesn't have a wine chiller?

Not fully caught up on thread as am in a caravan in Wales with dodgy wifi and having one of the most rubbish holidays ever! Started with food poisoning or a d&v bug on the first day (Sat)...thankfully (I suppose) it was just me, not the kids. Was still being ill at 4 am on Sunday and the kids were up at 6. I have realised we are not suited to caravans!! Managed to pull together a reasonable day yesterday despite hallucinating with tiredness at times and thought I was doing really well today by putting a casserole in the slow cooker this morning (will only trust my own food now!) and then going out for the day. We got lost this afternoon, spent hours in the car, kids are fed up and we get back to find DH switched off the slow cooker to put the kettle in before we left! Aaargh!!!

I realise this is not disastrous in the grand scheme of things and am aware that DH is as exhausted if not more so than I am so I am trying to be zen and calm. Thank goodness I am sober or things really would unravel. Perhaps we should just cut our losses and head home - it's now forecast to rain for the rest of the week. Sigh.

Keep on sober warriors...and be thankful you are not with me in this caravan!

tattoos
Not a fail - you are back here and that's the main thing,

Do you really have to go to the social thing ? Really really ? I would say avoid it if you can - it is already causing you anxiety. You are the most important thing right now. Look after you first.

I have used my local drugs service and they have been great but I had to fight at first to get help. I am sure the old AA contacts you have would be happy to speak to you. Is there anyone IRL who could have the DCs while you go to a meeting ? I know that may not be realistic - I didn't tell anyone what was going on but that meant there was no one I could ask for help. Now I have a couple of people it's much better.

Keep posting xxx

Hello all,

Apologies, I haven't yet read through the whole thread, but I will in a minute.

I joined one of the older threads, and I think probably managed about 2 weeks AF. My longest has been a month, before I decide that I've made too big a deal of things and I'll be fine just having the occasional drink! The past few weeks I've been attempting to moderate and even set up a tracker to record what I was having each week. Even when trying my best to limit my alcohol, I only ever seemed to manage 1 day off at a time inbetween drinks. My aim had been to stick to government guidelines of 14 units, but even trying my hardest I never once made that. My average was about 25 units, so not too horrific, but bear in mind this was when I was making an effort to stick to only 14!

Anyway, it's all got too exhausting and I've come to realise that I just don't even enjoy the bloody stuff any more and yet still feel compelled to drink it almost every night.

I had a night out on Saturday, and for once drove and didn't drive - it was a genuinely enjoyable evening and I was really pleased with myself that I'd made the right decision not to drink. But then Sunday happened, and I rewarded myself with 1 glass of wine, which then became 3 (big glasses - so a whole bottle eventually) plus a pimms. Enough's enough, and I'm calling it quits - this time hopefully forever.

I go on holiday abroad for a week next Monday, and desperately want to experience my first sober holiday. I know it's a big challenge but I'm hoping that the more enjoyable sober experiences I have, the stronger I'll be in my resolve.

So I've stocked up with AF wine (which I've found a real help in the past) and I'll be checking in regularly to keep me on track.

I'll bob back now and catch up on the rest of the thread.

Still here and still sober.

I'm knackered - it's been a heavy day at work. I plan to do some journalling tonight and set some goals to make some proper changes.

There is no getting out of it unfortunately vxa. Dp has stumped up a lot of money too for a fancy hotel and I wouldn't do that to them. The only thing I can think of is to fib and say I'm on antibiotics, I do have an upcoming dental appointment anyway and know you can't drink on metronidazole which I've had before for an abscess. Hate lying but needs must.

No one to look after the dc either. Do you mind me asking in what way did you have to fight for the support off your local drugs service?

Hi jellybean. Sober holiday sounds lovely, are you going anywhere nice?

You poor thing jojo, that's a horrendous start to your holiday being unwell I hope the rest of your time away picks up. I'm away caravanning next week too, hope the weather picks up.

Thanks everyone for keeping me on track. I didn't buy wine but some becks blue. I've had it before when I need to drive and its nice. I'm home for the night with a booze free house so I reckon today has been beaten 😊

Well done Buono Enjoy your Becks.

Best of evenings everyone. I am about to go see a film with some friends, and am designated driver. :)

Hi all, lurking a bit as on holiday and on my phone. Still sober. but 'listening' to others further along - do your sober homework etc etc and don't get complacent.

Onewhitepillow your posts over the last day or so have been incredibly insightful....reading what you've written about your DH my suggestion would be that if he is going back to work then that's a great, objective reason to redistribute division of responsibilities regardless of the changes you have made re alcohol.

Evening everyone.

I have 2 very positive sober stories from today! One important and another just plain vain!

1. Had Botox this evening- I've had it once before a year ago. He keeps photos and compared today with last year- my skin is so much better, I definately had a wine face last time!

1. I was anaemic at the beginning of this year. I have also suffered with very heavy and unpredictable periods. I was even due to go on a waiting list to have an ablation. So now 9 weeks without alcohol and I have been regular and light twice in this time. Reading up on alcohol and hormones I am certain I was messing my cycle up by drinking heavily. I really hope it continues and to think I might of had a surgical procedure.

I have been suffering with depression and stopped drinking two weeks ago it was making it worse

Oh and to add my iron levels are all normal now.

I know I need to stay sober to keep my health.

please sorry cross posted. So pleased you find being sober is helping. Welcome to the thread!

jojo really hope you feel better being ill in a caravan is the worst.

Thanks lizzytee. I think you're right: time for a fresh start and this is going to involve me getting my finger out.

And welcome to all newcomers. Don't forget: if a lazy drunken arse like me can manage this (so far and with the help of everyone here), then anyone can. This thread has been like my personal AA and I check it every day. It has helped so much.

Welcome please, loads of support here without criticism or judgement.

Jojo bummer. Nothing worse than being ill on holiday. Gastric bugs in a caravan....eeek.

Yay efc! Glad for you on both points.

hello all!

Safely home now, and the kids are in bed. How exciting it will be to sleep in a proper bed tonight!

Welcolme please

I agree with onewhite - this thread is my personal AA, and I know that thinking of you guys helped me stay strong this week. I managed 2 gigs and a pub quiz sober (drinking non-alcoholic ginger beer) - and I have been looking forward to telling you guys all about it!

I know I'm pink clouding again, but the previous 4 weeks felt so dire, and now I know I can get through those times sober, and move onto having a good time, I'm hoping will stand me in good stead.

I've finally started to say to other people 'I think this needs to be forever' - which I didn't dare to do before, because I wanted to be able to get back into drinking. Right now, sober forever sounds good. This is the first time I've thought that in this process, so I'm taking this as a good sign.

I really like the driving analagy though - especially as driving while angry/tired is probably time to take more care (not sure about Hungry or lonley though!)

efc - great news on your health front.

jojo - hope your holiday improves! but a staycation is always an option if the caravan is no fun for anyone :)

Welcome please congratulations on 2 weeks and I'm glad you are feeling the benefit. My anxiety is so much better and my meds are getting a chance to work

tattoo Re having to fight for support what I meant is that I had to keep chasing the process. I self referred and I had to chase for the first appointment and then for the appointment with the dr and them for the allocation of a worker but once everything was in place it was fine. I just think that if I had not been pushy I might have been forgotten. Once I had reached the point of deciding I needed to stop and I needed help to do so - I had failed to do it on my own countless times - it was important to take action while I was in the right place mentally to make the change. If I hadn't been determined I could easily have told myself I didn't really have a problem and just carried on.

Hello all! On phone in tent n France with v dodgy signal and its pissing down with rain. But I made the channel crossing and the supermarket trip sober! Got drowned setting up my lovely huge tent all by my self, which is home for next three weeks. Now in lovely sleepng bag on air bed which i set up, having got though opening social event sober despite having loads of toasts made to me as lead person on the dig. Toasted back with Ambar gf af beer which is lovely :) Go me! To all new and all existing sober warriors. Koko it is great being sober.