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

I think you know the answer already throughtheviolets

I suppose it's like relapsing on milestones. God, I've done that so many times.

I think the usual posters that may have joined before in January now head to the dry January thread. I briefly glanced at a few posts that are considering using it as a kickstart to quitting.

I really like that idea Cider. I love story times with my littliest one (unless it's The Grinch for the millionth time) and she gets so much out of it. Well done on day 5.

Noooo violets, why? What is you said to me two days ago, 'you know drinking won't make it any better'?

Day 11 now and feeling a little bit of trepidation at the approaching weekend. Dp is taking me out to dinner tomorrow night and I'm staying at hers. It will be very strange not guzzling down wine til the early hours chatting nonsense as per our usual Friday nights and I know she has a fridge stocked with booze I drink but she doesn't. Ridiculous to feel nervous about this, any tips?

The usual one from me, just don't take the first drink....

I can't find this years dry Jan thread?

The dilemma of whether to drink tomorrow has now dominated my thinking for the last 12 hours. My head is like a washing machine - something I haven't experienced in months.

I also had a dreadful nightmare last night about not turning up to something special with my mum, due to being pissed. I've only really started to establish a great relationship in the last few months (a direct result of me not drinking) and the feeling of utter, utter shame in my dream used to be my reality ALL THE TIME.

So in conclusion I will definitely not be drinking tomorrow!!!!

Morning,

Still here, still sober.... wifi a bit temperamental here...

Not entirely sure how days, I've kinda lost count, almost 40 I think!

Skiing holiday going great, really nice alcohol free beer, and even an AF cranberry radler... even they feel like little treats now

Reading all the posts has been great, really motivational, really supportive... reinforcing why I'm here, why I'm sober.... for me it was the same thought process/thoughts that ended my marriage (looong time ago) - I don't know what I want, but I don't want THIS anymore.... it's working for now. That and chatting here.... love you guys

Onwards....

It's in chat Sarah, Penguin huddle thread.

Yeah it's that first one that causes all the problems user.

She knows I'm 'doing Dry January' so hopefully shouldn't be too much pressure. I'm going to do my meditation today before I go and read over my list of advantages of not drinking, think I've about 50 there so far. Might nip out and treat myself to something new to wear over lunch. Yay for sober treats!

Shaking the pompoms at violets subconscious It's got this!!

Well done BG, glad you're enjoying your holiday. I have actually never been skiing in my life.

Vidorra, just for today, see the list of 50 advantages that you have, try doing without say half of them.

I.e. Go and lay in your bed for an hour (getting up with a clear head in the middle ending versus taking an hour to come around)

Start a massive row with your OH over something trivial, like leaving a sweet wrapper on the coffee table.

Call your mother and tell her she is a bitch (I really hope she isn't)

Or the easier way to do all of the above is crack open a bottle of wine and sit and enjoy it ......the rest of the above will come about eventually after that!!!!

Really though I'm not suggesting you actually do any of the above but I hope it gets the point across of what can sometimes happen?

lol'd @ the bob comments. Still not got the courage up to find a meeting. I did attend one online the other day, feels a bit strange, the way people take turns to speak but you can't interject and have a chat about it. Also, how people can take swipes a bout what you said (not me but someone was arguing that fear is not useful which was mentioned in the opening of the meeting and the next person basically said they were talking shite in a roundabout way), when they speak and you can't comment about it at the time. I mean I get it, it can't be a free for all. Just feels a bit weird and that's online!

Still sober - 6 days now. Gotta get through this first weekend which is my usual drinking time and I should be ok.

user or perhaps go the cash machine, lift out all my money, drop it down the toilet and flush?

I'm quietly confident now. Had to take painkillers for my back anyway so mixing them and booze is never a good idea.

It's not so bad in person monica, gives everyone a chance to have their say without being talked over and for you to listen properly without distraction. Everyone has their own opinions and what they believe works for them.

Although there was one person in the one that I used to go to and she never stopped talking during the share bit when it was her turn. Inwardly I used to think oh please hurry up and you could see everyone else shifting in their seats

Vidorra flushing the cash down the toilet is just silly. I'll send you my address

Hi all. Found the dry thread thanks! Lots of people on there!
Sleeping 12 hours a night at the moment , so tired! Think its catch up from when I had the dreadful cough infection and didn't sleep much at all. Want to go back to bed, now. Oh well, up and at it all :)

Hi Guys

Just popping in to say hi and see how everyone is doing!

Still sober, still loving it! Finding it pretty easy now, although I'm still wanting to stay vigilant as the occasional thought of wine still crops up!

Hi all. Glad to report got through the first friday sober. I made virgin mojito's and drank them all nigh. Seemed a bit strange watching big brother without my glass of red. My dh asked if I would mind if he bought a bottle of wine, and it didn't bother me in the slightest. I am feeling really strong and determined. Sleep is crap, but last night was okay. Not had a drink since monday. 5 days. This is the longest I have gone without alcohol for as long as I can remember. Probably since I had my dc 8 years ago. I can feel a change in me, like something has clicked. But I am not counting my chickens. But for now, my resolve is strong. Good to wake up without a fuzzy head. And instead of going for a full english, I have had fruit and yogurt. Unbelievable on a Saturday morning for me!!

donaldscott I swear to you, this is only the beginning....there are thousands of more and better things to come.

Day 9. Thank you for all your posts. This thread is really helping me.
My lovely niece has text she has booked us a champagne supper next week as a birthday present. Nooooooooo! Bubbles are my big weakness & what broke me over Christmas after doing well from November 1.
I know I can't. One glass is my fast track to being a substandard mother especially to my child with autism who needs me to be at my very best. Also will mean no sleep, high anxiety, bad skin, flare up of my rheumatoid arthritis and so much more.
I am feeling positive right now about dealing with some of the huge stress in my life - if I drink one glass after briefly feeling full of the joys it will have me sliding down a path where I will feel all the despair in full force again.
I may stick to a small amount that first evening & then be lulled into thinking I can handle this & find a few nights later I'm back on a bottle of wine+ a day.
Or I may cut out any pretence after first glass & just go for it that evening.
What I won't do is have a few glasses with no backlash. It will happen.
I can not do this. It will ruin my life & my children's. Its logical. It's common sense. Why is it so hard for me to make the right choice knowing all this?!

Thanks user looking forward to the benefits. My skin has gone awful dry today though. I am wondering if it is connected. I feel the same as you Asahai. At the moment, I don't think I would be able to have just one glass. It would definitely be the beginning of a rocky road. That is why it is so important for me to do dry Jan. I really want to re-evaluate my relationship with alcohol. I want to be able to have 1 glass of wine and not be searching for more. I would love to get to that point.

Donaldstott when I have stopped before my skin tends to go through 2 weeks of getting worse before it gets much better. Maybe a detox of sorts.
It's good to hear something has clicked with you
I really want to hold on to this positive feeling & new start & not sabotage myself under the delusion I can handle a few drinks.
Virgin mojitos sound great!

Asana I'm a sucker for bubbles too, and unfortunately my best friends birthday is in Jan and it's tradition to spend a day wasted. Thankfully I'm away on business which I'm embracing as it's my get out of an awkward situation card.
Well I'm now on day 7 and have survived the Fri night pull of popping the wine, always strongest at the weekend, even though I glugged a bottle most days, if I had to abstain in the week, the weekends were focused on drink. This will be my first AF weekend in over 4 years I think, possibly more. Today I went wedding dress shopping with my daughter then met my DH in the pub after, where he was drinking and I ordered an appletizer. I did ask for it to be poured into a wine glass :)
Tonight I'm having cordial with sparkling water, and feeling fine. Again I'm not counting my chickens as I know the immediate determination will lessen and the demons will start knocking at my door.
One positive is I finally managed a good nights sleep with the aid of Nytol, then last night it came naturally. I'm hoping this now remains the case.
Also waking with a clear head has been lovely.

Well done everyone for getting through Friday night without a drink donald, Ashahai and Balibabe

At the start of last night I found it extremely difficult myself, more habits than anything. Turns out dp didn't drink herself for other reasons so made it much easier. Another sober day ticked off. Loaded with the cold now, actually don't feel like anything other than the ginger tea I'm drinking.

Asahai, what are you going to do? Can you cancel? I feel exactly the same way as you, I cannot do one glass. I may be able to moderate for a short period of time but I end up back where I started every time. Everything you have said I completely agree with.

Lovely way to spend a day Balibabe wedding dress shopping.

Gald to hear you are still doing so well finnish

Balibabe that's handy being away at the time of your friends birthday. I'm feeling fairly strong so far too (like you not counting chickens either!), the usual 5pm calling hasn't happened yet majorly, but it's these kind of events are going to be extra hard.
They are so tied up with drink in my head.
Vidorra - hope the cold passes soon - but glad to hear it's helping with making an AF Saturday night easier!
I'm not sure yet what to do about the meal. At least it's socially acceptable this month not to drink - but this meal is centred around alcohol so I can't see it working. Considering telling her but then we would spend the whole night talking about my addiction & it's such early days I don't feel that's right for me.
Maybe if I finally get round to reading the Jason vale book before then I'll not even be tempted!

Back again, and back to day 1. We moved to a new country 5 days ago, and all sorts has been going on. I guess one can always find an excuse though, mainly I think I haven't really decided to give up for good. Have had the occasional glass of wine with food and not felt tempted to go on even when DH has been drinking. But last night I had a whole bottle over the course of the evening and feel groggy and a bit down this morning so am going to try again. So helpful reading all your stories.

Don't feel too down wemayhave. Back on the horse today. I had visitors last night. 1 was drinking, 1 was driving. Again I abstained, but I was very, very tempted. Glad I never indulged this morning. So day 6. Sunday lunch consists of going to in laws, who live within walking distance, so we usually walk so we can drink wine with lunch. I am going to drive today so there is no temptation. Another by-product of not having a drink, is that I haven't smoked either. The two used to go hand in hand, have a wine when dd was in bed, have a fag in the garden. I only smoke if I have a drink, so that is also a positive for me.

Taking a step back, I cannot believe how much my life revolves around alcohol and how much time I spend thinking about it. It's crazy.