DRY 16

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If you're quitting alcohol for a brighter sober future come and join us here. A very welcoming bunch supporting each other every step of the way.

Link to Dry 15

http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/2726334-Dry-15?msgid=65047780#65047780

I can't look them in the face any more.

Hi I also need to ditch the booze. Last time I had a day off was 1 sept and now it's um yes, gah. Not sure I'm ready but I'm feeling mega unhealthy. Got into bad ways with stressful job, 3 kids and one husband. I still have a lot of stress in my life and seem to simply exist. Feeling shattered all the time. I drink between 7-9 units most nights and at weekends more☹️. The last time I had a prolonged periods was when I was pg and breast feeding my dd3. I had a couple of failed dry January's but feel so crap and don't feel like doing much. I used to exercise a lot and would like to get back to that - as I'm sure I have a fatty liver now. I get a lot of GERD and my eyes are not pearly white and my face has red patches I never used to have. Every morning I wake up going day 1 today but always crumble. Today I do want to have no alcohol tonight to break the habit.

You can do this Lush! I have no words of wisdom to offer though, just and . I'm sure someone more knowledgable and articulate will be along shortly. Last week I felt my liver groaning most mornings and it scared me.

Really well done everyone....I always think it is difficult to be AF this time of year with all the parties going on. I also find the dark evenings a bit difficult. It's great to see lots of us making a start now, not waiting until the new year....we'll all be bright eyed and bushy tailed on New Year's Day ! And thumbs up to Nottoday for giving up smoking at the same time....must be REALLY hard ! Now I'm off to to hoover up the cobwebs so the fairy light can go up !

Welcome lush - glad you found this board. The support here is wonderful. I would never have made it this far without the ladies here - we have a gent too now !!

Just take it day by day. In the early stages sometimes I had to think minute by minute or hour by hour. If you don't have that first sip (or gulp in my case) you can't have a second third and more.

You need to be really kind to yourself - self care is all right now so try and get early nights, have a relaxing bath, eat well but if you crave sugar don't worry about it for now - not drinking is what matters for now. For distraction or inspiration read sober blogs, listen to sober podcasts - try the Bubble Hour - try Headspace which is a meditation app which lots of people find really helpful.

And keep posting here

What she said

Blimey nottoday - That's brilliant! You will have legs of steel

Can I join in? (twiddles fingers shyly)

I'm on day 16 of not drinking and not smoking. It was a tough decision to try to sort them at the same time, and I did wonder if I was setting myself up to fail.

But I can't do just one without the other -also am quite asthmatic and have admissions to hospital, although am really well between admissions. So it's been 16 days now. It's been tough but in some ways I feel better and others not.

It's slightly less scary not having alcohol to fall back on than it was a couple of weeks ago and the evenings are a mix of anxiety and proper relaxation not artificially induced by alcohol. I love it when the day is over and I can sit down with my knitting in front of the telly with my youngest. I went riding today with oldest boy - it was great! Come home and the cravings hit. So I'm reading in bed trying to sooth myself whilst they pass...

Gaah! and Hurrah!

Knackered! - another duel, pincer approach! Same reason as you - have one, (drink)and the other (cig) wants in. I just couldn't drop one so both have to go. WELL DONE on the 16 days!!
I've been so 'ill' dealing with the physical withdrawls from both that the cravings have been really okay to manage. A dollop of grim determination has seen them off so far. The anxiety pit in my stomach is beginning to subside. And last night I had 5 hours sleep and only disturbed once.
Another 11 miles each way tomorrow by bike.

Love the idea of sitting with some knitting to knit the cravings away. Utterly perfect. This is fantastic.

Yay! Glad someone else is doing both too! Are you using any nicotine replacement stuff? I have gum and a mouthspray which helps a bit, but for me a lot of it is mental and also the alcohol too!

I thought I'd wake up feeling great - but I don't yet.

BUT - I can look at my face in the mirror, I don't have the horrors at 3am feeling that Iam dying and wondering how I will cope at work, Ive managed to sort through loads of work stuff. If I need to go out in the car at night I can cos am not pissed ( realising THAT was a novelty!)

I spent the money I saved on an extra riding lesson today - it was a gorgeous afternoon cantering up and down in the crisp sunshine! There are so many bright things starting to open, but sometimes it feels like Iam walking on a tightrope!

There are so many bright things starting to open, but it feels like I am walking on a tightrope

I really like this!

Big day almost complete, just the celebratory dinner to endure... actually might fall asleep in my dinner!! Left hotel at 730, it's now 10pm.... not great!

Been assisting with a fraud investigation.... into transnational trading of spirits, been surrounded by booze all day

And now for more sparkling water....

Evening everyone lots of positive things going on in this thread!

What my dh is not helpful at all trying to encourage me to drink- mainly so he can normalise his drinking. Bit stuck on how to sort that- it does make being sober harder!

But feel great for not drinking- staff night out this weekend and I'm driving, know atleast 2 others coming don't drink so not pressure!

Well done BGJ, first time I did a work function dry I was really anxious beforehand. One of the lovely people here advised me to plan - and it worked really well. It worked for me tonight when someone bought a drink for me without asking and....well I didn't drink it. Didn't touch it in fact.

This was unthinkable for me a few months ago.

Knackered - no NR stuff. Just the cold turkey for both. Legs were really sore when I got home but some dinner, fluids, watching The Matrix with my friend next door, and a good nights sleep will set me up for tomorrow's riding. Feeling thinner already.

Well done BGJ - all the booze can happily stay in the bottles!

Day 12 tomorrow. Who'da thunk it!!

Finally at the hotel, day 4 done!

Efc.

Wait until DH buys you a bottle of say wine....now make sure he sees this....let him watch you pour it down the toilet....when he asks you what you're doing ....tell him that it's just wasting his money it's going to end up there anyway and you thought you would cut out the middle (wo)man

Well sober warriors how is everyone today? Just going a walk down by the river and was thinking if I had been drinking last night I probably wouldn't even be out of bed!!!!

Went to climb on my bike this morning and my legs asked "And where do you think you're going exactly? And what role do you think we are going to play in this little adventure. Exactly?" I could take a hint so I got the train.

🖑 Not going to drink tonight as gotta be up early, taking dc to see father Christmas, feeling very christmassy and positive I have slipped tho late sat night, not a bad one tho! I do aim to have a drink free life. I think I have the habit of oh it's weekend!

My life's become a little easier so feeling a little less stressed!
Hope everyone is ok.

Slow day on the thread!
Creaking toward the two week mark. Still have throaty stuff going on and sleep continues to be fairly random. Now been awake since 3.30 a.m. Still , it's better than applying a liquid cosh and bunging up with smoke. What was I thinking!?

Soo, Friday night, and day 5 - I actually can't believe I'm here... I've done four days before simply due to shift patterns... but Friday night is wine night... Actually can't remember when I was 5 days sober....

And not even tempted tonight, on the fancy pants herbal teas... thought tonight would be harder, I'm sure that night is coming - I'd bet on it!!

Onwards team...

Well done everyone. Think of a nice sober Saturday morning!

Friday, just like any other day, and we should take them one at a time! Drinking tea and watching old films!!

BGJ - Friday ISN'T wine night though, is it?!!! To your body it IS just like any other day. 'Protecting' a sobriety is a big job isn't it? Herbal tea sounds perfect. For a sober Saturday, with things to do.

Onward and sideways!

BGJ - Herbal teas are fantastic imho

Am now on a number of Boots products to get rid of stuff hanging around my respiratory tract and head space. Just not doing this ever ever again.
Wine on a Friday? It's a thing that has to be unlearned I'd think. There were times I'd actually be planning where I would be buying booze from whilst on the way home. What exactly and how much, always knowing I can easily get back up supplies when necessary. There are 6 outlets to get booze from within a 10 min walk from the house. Until a few months ago we had a 24 hr Tesco where you could shop for booze at any time.
My BFF would be available for a walk out anywhere, or stay in too. We are/were surrounded by booze.