DRY 16

[vxa2]

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

Thanks Guys! No kittens were harmed either...

Apparentley they normally just have biscuits, but someone brought some chocolates in - she'd been given a box, and she brought in the ones she didn't like!

She was disarmingly honest about it,and it would have been rude not to help her out

I'm in bed now with 'Living sober ' a plate of cheese and crackers and the dog.

Well done knackered you did so well. Absolutely brilliant. Huge hugs. How are you feeling today ?

I have decided to go to a SMART Recovery meeting today. I have never been to any kind of meeting before and I am really nervous. I so need to connect with other people in a similar position to me.

I need a hand hold while I psych myself up

I can only think vxa2 that you will be 'among friends' there and they will be pleased to see you. The greatest attachment-making gambit is "you too?" isn't it.
From what I know the SMART people are just that.

good luck!

Day 17.

To quote Vizzini from The Princess Bride..."It's inconceivable!"

vxa I have heard of long term alcoholics talking of going to groups to be "among my people" what I think that means is people who understand a problem that others don't, simply because they have lived it. I hope the meeting goes well!

Nottoday gals to see and hope there are many more! Day 92 for me - as long as I stay sober today!

Bloody auto correct, that should be great not gals.

Got home after busy 11 hour day at work and said to DH 'God I really need a glass of fake wine after that'. He laughed but I wasn't trying to be funny or ironic! Schloer hit the spot

Hey there was on here a while back after 6months dry and back here again new start new beginnings hi to all xx

Hi all,

Have been lazy posting but am still reading regularly & enjoying the AF roller coaster this time! Obviously Christmas is a busy time for alot of us & it's been great doing alot of preparation this year AF and clear headed - Im lucky to not really feel pressure with social occasions to drink but have my AL brain had me thinking of drinking earlier in the week nonetheless. So regardless of how long I'm AF or how well planned out I keep my time, it always helps to remind myself how much better off I am and not give those thoughts any power. I can let them come & let them go again & those thoughts don't have to own me ☺

Vxa - good luck with your meeting, I don't know what Smart is, but ive been giving thought to trying AA again. I went along time ago once or twice (I was 19 at the time) and felt a bit odd! I'm hoping as I'm a bit older now I won't feel so weird ☺ Support groups are a good idea & helpful & I think it's good to be in the company of like minded folk. In unrelated matters I found a breast feeding support group & a mums & tots helpful lol!

Hi rose, I'm back off the booze after a relapse too - felt a bit sad I'd started to drink again but not everyone gets it first time so onward & upwards ☺

My sleeps still shitty but I think it's more winter blues than anything else - I'm wide awake at night & struggles to get out of bed in the morning!

Wishing all a safe & sober Wednesday
LS

Morning...

Yesterday saw me hit double figures - woohoo!!

A testing day yesterday as my roof rack and it's contents decided to try and leave my car as I was scooting down the outside lane of the motorway - what a fright!!

But stuck to the herbal tea and more yoga.... Sleep a bit hit or miss, but it has been for so long it's the norm!

Away this weekend, off to visit friend who knows i'm sober - she's made sure there's no gin in her house, so we won't be tempted!! Just need to dodge the gluewein at the Christmas markets - nice hot chocolate I think, maybe even with marshmallows....

Loosing weight - partly due to no alcohol, and partly because I am keeping myself super busy to distract my brain!! A nice 'side effect' all the same

Keep on it - this chat feels like my meeting for now - a safe place to talk, to vent, to confess, to be inspired.....

BGJ the glueing at the Christmas market sounds like a big thing for you, would you consider not going to the market?

user tbf I think it's me that has noted the gluwein thing previously, not BGJ so much. (well done on making the double digits!).

I wouldn't think of not going as I enjoy the markets so much and I will be going with a Muslim woman friend who doesn't drink so there will be no 'encouragement' from her to drink - it would be only my self-generated thing due to the 'tradition' of hot wine at Christmas. We go on Saturday and I am feeling super-confident about it. I have the Christmas works do tomorrow night and I am feeling rather invincible.
Someone noted up thread re the importance of having a plan for these events, so I have one. Don't go to the pub before the meal like everyone else is bar one person who is driving. Stick with them, be polite, buy one juice and water drink, drink it slowly, eat meal. Leave. Sorted.

Feeling good, positive.... the friend I'm visiting knows what's going on and will most likely join in with my soberness..... despite me saying she can have a wine if she wants! It's that selfish 'it's all about me' thing... can only worry about me, my actions, my decisions.....

I bought some mulled punch in Lidl to take with me - its alcohol free... not sure how it will taste, can only give it a whirl.....

Onwards team, feeling the collective encouragement and loving it...

Was only suggesting! It's like yet another one I heard - if you sit n a barber shop long enough you'll get your haircut.

Basically meaning - if you keep sitting in pubs you'll end up taking a drink.

I'm not suggesting that's what any of you are doing btw.

I didn't read that gluewein was a particular "issue" for anyone?? I wouldn't avoid every single situation where alcohol is involved otherwise it is going to be a very long and lonely existence!

Getting the right substitute is actually key for me in this battle and I don't think I would have got through without my becks blue! It really hits the spot for me, much like VXA's fake wine. The jury is out on advice regarding alcohol lookey likey substitutes but for me I truly believe I would not be a 86 days without them. There are many accepted substitutes for quitting smoking yet not many really for alcohol rather than just eating a load of crap. I personally don't believe that eating a load of sweets would work for me as I think an awful lot of alcohol addiction is actually sugar addiction, however the tried and tested advice out there everywhere is to eat a load of sugar to quit alcohol abuse.

One size doesn't fit all and I am nervous to advise "fake" alcohol if the general opinion is that it is not the best advice. However for me it has proved absolutely key when the WW comes a calling (which she does often) for me to picture her as a little figure on my shoulder, shake the silly cow off and crack open a becks blue - within a few minutes I am coping rather than letting her voice get bigger and bigger in my ear!

This time of year is massively hard, the lure of alcohol is bloody everywhere! I just went onto the Jaeger website to look at their sale and they were even up selling a jumper by mentioning drinking a glass of wine it it!!!!!! WTF.....dreadful

Sorry... gotta's fake wine not vxa's

Love my fake wine

Totally agree lou it is bloody everywhere. Adverts, magazines, huge glass of wine window sticker plastred over window of the Co-op. People go on about drinking so much too. I think some of it is getting validation from others.

Hello all, everyone seems to be doing really well... well done on getting to those support groups :)

I've got the class christmas night out tonight, wasnt going to go at first but have decided that I would rather go and be part of the fun than sit at home. So I've told people I've stopped drinking and offered to be the designated driver. (so need to go hoover my car out now lol) I've had some pretty mixed reactions to the not drinking, but most people have been really supportive and we all agree we hate the hangovers. Only one has looked at me like I've grown an extra head!

I stupidly bought about 6 bottles of wine before I decided to go sober. Its sitting on the top of the kitchen cupboards. I think I will return it...

Captainladder. Perfect for Christmas presents (and you can sit on the high horse in the morning and laugh at all the hungover heads).

Re the adverts, yes I have seen them like the huge massive Gordon's Gin one at the top of this page last night. I think sometimes people just don't think.

I was at an AA day of gratitude a few weeks ago, the hotel knew what the event was and had extra bar staff on, as well as door staff.

I think they thought a load of alcoholics would have drunk the bar dry - well I suppose there was no J20 left at the end of the night

loubilou I drank alcohol beer until fairly recently.. it helped a lot actually and for me I didn't feel like it was then too tempting to go and drink alcohol..
I don't fancy it so much now - but it's definitely helped in the past.
My faves were Erdinger blue and Brew Dog Nanny State is very good for a darker beer.

Oh and I saw a sign yesterday outside a restaurant that said "hangover hero's inside" - inside were full of christmas office parties. So weird!

misscookie maybe because you were drinking alcoholic beer you didn't look for the alcohol - I take it you missed the word free lol - almost as funny as my nuns autocorrect

How good is it being AF? I went for my first Reiki session tonight, had thought it was all psycho babble, but I def think there is something in it! Better than pouring tons of beer down my throat anyway.

VXA2 - how did the smart recovery go - I was wondering how you got on?

User the reiki sounds interesting - and - hey it won't give you a hangover

Captain I'd certainly give em away as christmas presents - kill two birds with one stone

LoubilouI think if it works for you and helps you kick the wine witch into touch- Well thats great! Jobs a good un...

NTT2 - it sounds like you have thought it through and have a great plan - hows the cycling going?

BG - Well done on double figures! Like you Ive lost a bit of weight since stopping too!

Day 23 for me today - and I continue to plod gracelessly onwards - have started going to meetings as they do feel helpful for me. My first meeting I just cried -Ive stopped that now...

Hope everyone is Ok tonight