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

Hi muddle and welcome from me :)

Hi muddle, that's a familiar story to me. Hit my worst a few years and thought time off sober meant I could learn to moderate. Alas, no. Big welcome from me too, glad you've found us

Good day here. Actually set my alarm early for a change as I'm fed up rushing around in the morning getting stressed. That never, ever would have happened when drinking.

Have a mad cleaning urge the last two days, wanting to get some organisation and order into my life again. Had a thought with my wire wool in one hand and bleach in the other, it felt like nesting. Like sobriety is kind of like a pregnancy, there's this new life growing inside you. The changes happen so slowly at the start you don't particularly notice them and it can be hard going adjusting emotionally, physically and mentally but one of these days you will come face to face with what you've nurtured and created. Yes, my brain goes off on one when I clean

Hello Vidorra and Sarah.
Completely get that idea of having a new life inside of you. Great analogy.
Thanks for welcoming me.
Have just been for a run and, when the children are in bed, will be indulging in some nice soft drinks and a TV binge.
Feeling great. I think this is the pink cloud!!

Hello muddle......

Feeling very like the old days today, and I don't like it......

Finished work, post office, grocery shopping - fairy standard stuff! Home, a drink (AF) and my own body weight in gummy bears and then a sleep...

Feels a little close to finishing work, drinking beer and then passing out... Haven't achieved what I wanted, and feeling very flat about it... but can't for the life of me think why...

Possibly just part of the process of healing, dunno... I AM tired, so maybe just that...

It's come a little sideways at me, and thrown me... Uff

Now drinking coffee in an attempt to claw back some of those chores I hoped to get done, and a run...

But not drinking, so can even live with the quantity of gummy bears I have consumed - the lesser of two evils...

Tomorrow is another day...

Hang in there BG Sometimes its just, you know, life? A bit shit, a bit flat ...and definitely NOT made better by the application of alcohol ! I find an early night is a general cure all :)

No drinking here...

Forced myself out for a run instead.... still flat, but feeling less bad about the gummy bears!!

Sleep not the problem!!

Onwards!

sobersarah you know, you're right - life is a bit shit sometimes...

And it doesn't really care where we are with our sober journey...

Thank crunchie for you guys - our GPS through the crap!

Yep could be just one of those things BG. If you are UK based lack of vitamin D this time of year probably doesn't help. I always have struggled with the blues this season.

Yay I love that pink cloud feeling muddle, enjoy

Must say I'm a bit jealous of you all getting out for a run. I have a thing in my bedroom that holds all my running event related paraphernalia, PB times and that and I took most of it down today. Was getting exasperated every time it caught my eye. Appointment with a highly recommended physio tomorrow so hoping he can do something with me.

I'm trying to look on the bright side that it's giving me the opportunity to develop different sober tools and concentrate on the mental side rather than relying on exercise too heavily as I have done in the past.

On that note, time to settle down with Headspace and read my fiction but history of philosophy book. Whatever happened to the book club idea now it's popped into my head? Was it a no-go after all?

It was popular but we didn't seem to get it together enough on here for it to work for every one - maybe it needs its own thread to co ordinate it and keep it going? I'd be up to start a thread IF we can settle on the first book first - NOT going to start it unless we have a book to read, though! (I coordinated a book club online once in a forum I moderated - where we all had to decide the first book, once we had signed up - never again! herding cats springs to mind lol and tbh it was a complete nightmare and so much overwhelm ... not what I need being sober!)

I'm actually pretty lucky - I work shifts so I get sunlight all year round... Think I'm just a little over tired....

You guys are awesome!

Hi everyone, hey Muddle.

Well done on going for a run BGJ. I've started swimming since I gave up the wine. I'd been paying gum membership for ages but I'd have probably drowned with the amount of booze in me.

Feeling a lot happier today. DH is away for work and I've been painting the ugly fire surround in the living room. He's away a lot and I've decided I should see it as an opportunity to do those little home improvements that he can't be arsed with but that I think make a massive difference.

Hope everyone else is ok.
Are you injured Vidorra? I've been a run earlier but feeling the need to get out for another one if I can find a baby sitter for half an hour. Cravings have kicked in big time today, and children playing up right on cue.
Thinkthe best thing for it is to get to bed for 8 and hide under the covers. S*, I hate this. It is torture!

Hi all,

I'm now 24 days booze free and 15 days ciggie free! Feeling so much better and am finally getting my shit together with regards to losing weight and getting some exercise.

The only thing is I am worried about socialising. At the moment I'm just avoiding it as I'm not sure I'm strong enough not to smoke or drink. I've done a year off booze before and was fine but this time I feel awkward not drinking and I'm very worried about smoking when I see my friends. I'm going to end up a right loner at this rate!

I did exactly the same yesterday Rrross and starting doing paint touch ups I've been meaning to do for ohhh, the last year and a half Glad you're feeling better now.

Yeah, my back is away muddle, think I've come to the slow conclusion I can no longer run, too much high impact. Are your children little? Shame after you feeling so good yesterday too. Sometimes that the best plan, get them tucked away for the night to give you some breathing space. A night's sleep often sorts a lot of ills.

Talking of back, more bad news today from the physio. He believes there is also a disc protrusion which is what is giving me referred pain elsewhere (that the GP fobbed me off as muscular and nothing to do with my back) and there's sweet FA I can do until I get a MRI. 18 months to 2 year waiting list here too.

I have never craved a bottle of wine so bad as I did earlier after that wonderful news. I didn't and played the I might get fucked up on wine tomorrow, for today I'll stay off it and reconsider in the morning.

Not so bad now, had a very ranty expletive soaked messages to dp and cuddled up in the pjs. Plan is to watch some easy going nonsense on netflix soon.

Name change alert! MN screwed up my log in :( So there we go :)

Well, that was fun. Not.

Everything ok Sarah?

Seems all ok now? Bit of a pain tbh but hey ho

Main annoying thing is I have lost all the threads I was watching! Ah well.
Hope everyone is ok - its cold here and getting dark. Off to sit in front of the fire with a cuppa and a cat :)

Hello everyone.
Bad news about your back [vidorra]. I wonder if you can find some other form of exercise to fill the gap that running has left? I'm getting a bit out of running but am trying to generally take better care of myself and not do too much. I have two DC under 5 so life is busy.
I hope the rest of your evening improved and the cravings left quickly.
[sarah] Hard luck with the log in - what happened there? I have decamped in front of the fire too with a mug of hot tea and some chocolate biscuits. DC worn out and already asleep.

How long has everyone else managed to stay off the nasty stuff? I'm about 10 days in. I'm making a point of not deliberately counting as I know for sure that counting the days doesn't work for me, it just turns into a stick to beat myself with when I fall off the wagon after a fortnight! I've been doing a lot of stop/start over the last 5 years but I was 3 and a bit years AF before DC. I suppose a bit advantage of having a block of sobriety is that I know that it does get easier, that the cravings do subside and that it's not as bad being sober as you think it is going to be.

I found this earlier and found it such a brilliant read. I'm posting the link here (if I'm allowed to) for anyone who hasn't seen it already. It's so true mummywasasecretdrinker.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/the-obstacle-course.html

If I'm truly honest, what I really want is to be able to enjoy a drink now and again but sadly I've proved time and again that I don't control alcohol - it controls me. I always slip back into it and I'm just completely sick and tired of battling it now. I've completely had enough and am ready to admit defeat. Or admit I've beaten it? I'm not sure which!!

Thanks for being here X

That's a good strategy vidorra. I can see how postponing would really help.
Hope you are having a better evening today X

I feel the same mumble, got exhausted of the constant battle of trying to moderate. Life is simplier by making the choice just not to drink. I'd love to be able to moderate, to be more 'normal' but once I have a drink I want more.

I came across the saying 'when I controlled drinking I didn't enjoy it, and when I enjoyed it I couldn't control it'. It describes me perfectly to a tee. I can control it but it's hard work and I'd rather not have to.

Eek 2 under 5? You have your hands full! I have one under 5 and one older and they are exhausting. I'm impressed with over three years sober before. I think that's really positive that you've done it before and have experienced all that sobriety has to bring. Did you do any programs/forums or anything that time or just stop yourself?

I'm only 30 days in this time - one month tomorrow (yay) and will probably stop counting myself then. Did 11 months before which sorted out the heaviest of my drinking. Have been stop/start and binging since then. No way drinking the same amount I was in the past but was concerned with the binges and where they might lead again.

I am feeling much better cheers, glad I didn't push the fuck it button yesterday. I can't change it so I have to learn to accept it. Some people have it far worse, I should count the blessings I have. I'll check the link later once eldest is in bed, thanks.

Have been randomly getting the warm fuzzies with the dc the last few days. They are amazing, funny, smart little individuals and I feel we have been bonding much more lately. Despite everything my general mood has improved and I have a lot more patience. On that note, story time is a-calling

Hi [vidorra].
30 days in is magnificent. No going back now you've done the really hard bit. I can see so many parallels with out drinking 'careers'! I love that saying about the control, it's just so true.
There is no doubt that staying away from the drink helps with our relationships. Long may the warm fuzzies continue! It makes you wonder why we ever go back to it when the benefits to ourselves and our children are just so clear, even from a week or so AF.

I went to AA for about 6 years from 2002 and managed good blocks of sobriety there, usually 6 to 9 months a time. I could never get on with 'the steps' but the people were wonderful. Then I stopped that and went for hypnosis. It cost quite a lot of money but I believed in it and it was very effective. I stopped for a long time and it didn't really bother me ; I really believe this is the root of cracking this thing. I didn't feel that I was missing out and I didn't want to drink alcohol . I stupidly started having the odd drink now and again when the children were little.I think it was a reward to myself but I know the bottle at the end of the day is something that a lot of us do to get the the chaotic days. In the bad old days (before children) i'd drink round the clock for days on end and have to get medical intervention to stop. Thankfully I haven't had that since having the children but that's not to say it might never happen again, and I think that is what is really worrying me. Maybe one day I just won't be able to stop.
The DC were at my parents after new year and DC and I went out. The next day I went to the OL at about half 9 while he slept, dumped myself in the spare bed and drank all day. I didn't want to but I just couldn't stop. It was like a flashback to how things used to be and it scared me. I told him to collect the DC as i felt too poorly. Time to stop!
I'm using the hypnosis to support me this time. I've got some CDs and it definitely helps. Something to do with speaking directly to the subconscious I think! I'd be happy to send MP3s to anyone if they want to give the hypno a try.
I'm back to bed to do half an hour now before DC wake up.
Have a lovely day everyone X

hi.

day 1.

things have been getting out of hand recently.

Hi all, day 30 for me and doing well. I think it's easy this time of year because so many people are on health kicks and doing Dry January that it is all perfectly normal.

I have thrown myself into exercise which I am really enjoying and it is stopping me drinking quite so many AF beers in the evening....I do believe a lot of my drinking both wine and more recently AF beers was to do with boredom! I am going to lots of different classes and just not giving drink a single thought...how far we can come in such a short space of time is quite amazing.

KOKO people