Brave Babes...braving the Autumn

[Mrsmimsy]

??? Xxx

Tis right bonny ma

I have been filling my face. Not done Christmas tree. Not written my cards.
I am going to have seconds in about 3 minutes.

Oink.

I have sausage casserole in the oven. After that, we will all watch the Grinch!

Hello
Can I join you Brave Babes please? I am at my wits end really and don't know what to do. My drinking has got completely beyond my control and is now ruining my life really. I have a doctor's appointment booked for this Thursday and don't really know what to expect. I have tried moderation, but I am still in this situation so obviously that hasn't worked out well! Such a hard time of year to even fathom giving up drinking - how is everyone else coping? Any tips? All my family and my husband drink - but they seem able to control it, unlike me.... I can happily drink all day long if I can get away with it!
Has anyone tried any of the medications that doctors prescribe? Do they work? Help! xx

Hi owens plenty of people on here for advice.
It is a hard time of the year iv just bee talking to my dp and agreed that we are not getting caught up with boozing over Xmas, it's for our children and only time he really has off work and want quality time together. I will be having a glass with our xmas dinner it's a unwritten rule! We have had such a bad year regarding our relationship and want to start off the next well.

I'm still ill woke up with swollen glands anything else my body wants to do whilst I got so much to do!

Oh take everyday as day one. Today I'm not going to drink today!

Thanks chocoholic89. Taking one day at a time sounds a lot more do-able than a vast abyss of no drinking to look into. I shall try it. I think I just mourn the person that I used to be - the one who could just enjoy one or two drinks and the ocassional blow-out like other people - what happened to her to turn me into this??? I am sure she is still there - it has been a really stressful year and somehow alcohol seems to have become my go-to solution to any stress at all - noisy arguing children, work, social situations - you name it. Has anyone else been in a similar situation and managed to get back to a normal type of drinking? Or is abstinence really the only way forward?
Has anyone got any good experiences of a helpful GP or a medication that has helped to curb cravings?

Nice tree ma

today I am not going to drink either

Aw u sound down. Don't dwell on things we have all been there and done things but you just have to move on, start a fresh booze does make people into different people sometimes, Im a right gobby little mare after a few wines with out it I'm a sahm who works hard!

Thank you - I am having a down day. The thing is, after an AF day I know I will feel so much brighter tomorrow - and that is definitely something to look forward to isn't it! Thanks for your reply. xx

Hi owens and well done for booking the appointment. GP is a good start- they may offer to refer you to your local drugs and alcohol team (you can usually refer your self too if you want to bypass the GP).

Really struggling at the moment. I drank far too much this weekend (was away with a friend), just drinking far too much in general. I think as I've got the idea of dry January in my head I'm sort of trying to fit in as much drinking as possible

Hate this time of year too (sorry to be miserable), and irrationally upset and crying today over something stupid.

Aw Elba

definitely one day at a time. ODAAT
Easier said than done, I know, but tell yourself it's just for today

Thanks choc xx

Today is a crying day, I've just resigned myself to that. Went to bed..cried. Woke up...cried. Managed to stop enough to go to Sainsbury's, but got home and it's started again. Literally can't bloody stop, it's ridiculous, and I look a fucking state. It's just a totally disproportionate reaction to something minor I found out this morning.

On the plus side, elderly neighbour has decorated two miniature trees in his front garden. From a certain angle driving down the road, they look like a pair of sparkling cock and balls. No idea how he managed it but it makes me laugh every time I drive past.

Oi elba, you are allowed a weep ye know, if that's what it takes to get you through. If it's affecting you like this it isn't minor, it may be easier to cope with on another day, but just not today. We all have a tipping point, when something lands on our scales and sets them off balance.

In my head we are all sat in Gerald, on our way down to yours armed with sleeping bags. We'll grab a takeaway, you will drive to where the cock and balls twinkle the brightest and we will laugh ourselves silly til the sun comes up.

I personally have not seen a cock and balls (socially) in months and quite like the thought of sparkling ones. January is a while away my darling, ma is right y'know. One day at a time. xx

owens hello there, how has your day been? Well done for getting an appointment with your GP. I wonder if I will ever find the old me too. I went to my GP to get some ADs and some much needed support. She has been incredible, kind and patient and ready to kick everything up a notch if ever I need it. She has been quietly in the background, I know she's there if I start really struggling again.

I am a binger when I am off duty, haven't done it for a while because a hairy being needs me not to be tripping over her and making sure she doesn't decorate her crate. I have been sticking to one or maximum two. The first gulp is my aaaaah moment, where I feel a relief/release/calm. After that nowt.

So that is doable for me at the moment. Mainly because I have a drink three or four nights a week. I don't know if that's better or not. Work is a bit stressful and I am kidding myself a bit that I need my aaaaah moment when things are a bit shit. I am aiming for a drier January.

The way I am getting through December is to pick my battles. I chose three parties to attend where I feel I will be supported, one down and two to go. The first one went very well, I didn't drink at all that night and had a smashing time. My best pal kept me topped up with lovely alcohol free raspberry mojitos and my non drink hand filled with the most fab party food. I didn't feel like I had dipped out at all. She always invites a great mix of people, who just seem to click. She's a genius, and a kind and generous host.

Stay on the bus owens. That is the best advice I have ever had and can ever offer, xx

choc and Faire how are you feeling today? Did your honey and lemons do the trick?

dubh thanks yeah the cold seams to have faded a little but now on my chest.
Coughin crap up! Tmi sorry.
Got to plod on tho as my dc have illness too. Must all get better soon for the festivities.

Thanks dubh xxx

Have literally cried my way through the last 24 hours. Totally bizarre but can't control it. Have to go to work in a bit, got to try and hold it together. And I look like total crap. Just so stupidly sad about something ridiculous.

Hi all, sorry about being a bit rubbish about posting lately! Been busy at work and to top it all off got food poisoning Sunday night which I'm only now getting over. Bit of good news though - Tesco have given in their reference and so my 'file has been sent for review' and then the childrens home will let me know - I so hope this is just a formality and I can start the job soon!

Choc feel better soon!
Welcome all new comers
Kinetic I’m glad your date went well
Ma lovely tree! Ours still not up yet …
Owens, hello and how are you doing? For me personally I was able to turn my drinking around – I was always able to drink ‘normally’ in normal circumstances, but when I was stressed I turned to drink and as 3rd year at uni was v stressful I drank too much. They are two different areas of my drinking, and when I’m stressed/upset/angry I do crave a drink and obliteration, but I am mostly able not to succumb. For me, drinking when I’m stressed is the issue, not drinking for recreational purposes.

Hi all. Hope you're ok.
My Mum left me a bottle of wine yesterday so I drank that last night. Sigh.
Am up and doing work and all is well except I wish I'd not drunk it!
Going to try AF Weds - Fri now, trying to have a bit of control.
See, it was in the house so I had to drink it Justified it cos I had a long conversation with H, which was useful but it's all so difficult.
And tricky days with DC as they're shattered at end of term (they're little) and so are grumpy/ emotional. Rather like their DM
Hope everyone's week is going alright.

Hi theanser don't beat yourself up, we have all been there its that itch isn't it.
Hope everyone is ok hugging my .

Thanks choc cheers

Merry Christmas, joyeux noel, gutenstrudel, fit like loon.... [specially for wry]
I am always here and watching.

I am well and healthy and I read the posts every day. I needed to take a break from posting for a while because I was feeling too drawn in. Over the years I have gone from being a drunken mess consuming in excess of 100 units per week to someone who values her soberness (sobriety?).

I have found a place in my life where I can drink a glass of wine 3 or 4 times a year (enough to cover special events). I have had the occasional blow-out [like once a year] and it has taken a lot of effort to get back from each of those. Now, I plan for those too, so that in the following weeks I am careful and supported.

ma elba mouse faire .... keep on going xx

Hi venus that's an amazing transformation! theanswer hope today went well.

Hi everyone
Disappeared there for a bit. Thanks for making feel so welcome here.
Off to my gp tomorrow- she is very nice and has helped me with depression in the past so I think I am kind of hoping she'll have some kind of magic solution to stop me drinking... Was trying to pluck up the courage to try an AA meeting too. I was doing really well this week but then for some unknown reason glugged back a considerable amount of gin yesterday and now feel back to square one
Venus, you sound like you have done so well - any tips?
Theanswer- I'm like that, the minute there is booze available in the house, I have to drink it 😞

venus so lovely to hear from you! I would love to get to where you are, you are a total inspiration. Xxx

owens good luck for the gp tomorrow, and well done for making the appointment.

I'm struggling massively at the moment. I was trying not to post too much as it's all going to be negative and I don't want to bring people down, but after next Tuesday I have a three week gap from therapy over the worst time of year for me and I'm terrified.

I'm drinking far too much, very low mood (chicken or egg situation re the alcohol), not eating, and just scraping through. I just have to stay well enough to work as otherwise I will totally lose the plot. Having quite frightening thoughts, but then fine at work. It's a weird, almost dissociative, way of life. Today I've eaten two bananas, two bits of toast, an avocado, and have been working on a packet or crisps for the last 30 minutes. Mainly because I want to drink more and I can't have as much as I want without some food in me.

This time of year is all about family, food and drink...it's about the worst combination you could get for me. I think I've kind of given myself permission to self destruct for a while though to get through it in some weird way. Not sure if this is all just self harm- I know what would make me feel better and am deliberately not doing it. Although how deliberate it is I'm not sure. Just very confused, and desperately want to just fast forward to january.

Sorry for the miserable post. If there is a role going in the Christmas bus nativity I would make a great Scrooge (or I could also do the grinch?).

Hope everyone's ok xxx