DRY 17

[Loubilou09]

[This message is actually from Sober Sarah! She wanted this thread to start with links everyone will find useful. MNHQ]

If you're quitting alcohol for a brighter sober future come and join us here. A very welcoming bunch supporting ebach other every step of the way. smile
We have put together some helpful info and links, to help you do this Smile tiredofthinkingaboutdrinking.com

Tired of thinking about drinking, Belle's website filled with free stuff as well as subscription courses and an account of her four years sober.

joinclubsoda.co.uk/ Club Soda - to help you make the change you want.
www.sobersassylife.com Sober Sassy Life - A Selection of Articles, Blogs and Freebies to get you unstuck, and on the way to your Sober Sassy Life! Also has paid for courses.
thesoberschool.com/ - an online hub with the mission of inspiring and supporting women who are tired of feeling hungover

www.blogtalkradio.com/bubblehour - podcasts on a huge range of issues relating to addiction and recovery

www.smartrecovery.org.uk/ - an alternative to AA. Meetings nationwide and online.

Useful meditation or relaxation apps
www.headspace.com Headspace for calming the brain chatter
www.withandrewjohnson.com Andrew Johnson stop drinking app
Helpful blogs from people who are sober
sothisissober.com/ our own vxa's blog
www.alcoholfree2016.com our own Lily's blog
www.alcoholfree2016.com our own Lucy's blog
www.sobergrowing/blogspot.co.uk our own Sober Sarah's blog

All of these blogs contain links to loads of other brilliant blogs.

Sobriety counters
meetnomo.com/index.html
www.pilanites.com/streaks/

Hope this helps you ! Love Sober Sarah and Vxa

Hi everyone - thread has moved on a lot since I was last on! I'm now I day 23 I think.
I've been worried about cracking as coming to realise just how much I was using alcohol through boredom/laziness/habit - which, of course, was just adding to it. The good news is that DH recognises it too - even though he is still drinking. Guess so many things need to be changed and this is the start.

Hi Kiki

I'm new too. I agree, forever seems like a long time. One Day At A Time forever sounds exhausting as well though.
There's a 100 day challenge on the tiredofthinkingaboutdrinking blog from the opening post. That seems about manageable for me, would that maybe work for you for now?

I'm doing 30 days at the moment!

I don't know whether to let myself have occasions like nights out special occasions or not. My BF is well up for this challenge too but not long term, we don't really feel the need to drink together but I think he feels nights out with friends once a month is acceptable, and I am conflicted about whether I want to do that too, or not at all

Hi kiki I'm a newbie too.Day 4 for me. Same as you I would sit and drink wine in my own.

It's Friday and I've been in a supermarket and corner shop. Bypassed the wine aisle and bought cranberry juice. Slept like a log last night for the first time in a long time.

Hope everyone's Fridays are going well?

I was talking to a friend today and she jokingly prescribed a strict diet of 'fags and carbs' to help with the initial hurdles. So hats off to everyone who has managed to stop both!
Kiki why don't you take the 30 days for now and see how you feel when you're getting towards the end?

Well done Rarity, Cranberry juice, full of ice with a big wedge of lime sounds delicious. I love sparkling water so I've got litres of that coming with my shopping delivery tomorrow- I'll spend so much time in the loo I won't have time to think about booze!

Evening ladies, how are you all? I'm child free and DP free tonight. Me and the cats are watching tv.
Having a chilled day, did some housework, made a stew and painted my nails.
I feel better than I have in weeks, more energy and a more positive outlook. Don't know if it is purely psychological (or my AD's kicking in) but I'm liking it!

Onwards day 4 nearly done!

Hi everyone. Welcome kiki. :)

How you feeling jenny? You sounded a bit brighter in your later posts.

Rarity your day sounds great. :)

I'm okay here. We had a late text at about 7 pm from friends saying they were all meeting at our local for belated birthday drinks for one of us. I just thought; 'NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!' But felt I had to suck it up. We went about 8 pm, just got back. I drank lemonade and cola and chatted and it was all fine and I felt fine. Someone asked why I was not drinking and I said before I could think about it; 'Dry March!'. People just laughed and no further questions. I was not the only one- one friend also was not and when HE was asked he just said he was finding it harder to cope with the hangovers.

Had a good evening. Chatted, caught up with some people I have not seen for ages, then when people started getting to the slightly drunker side of tipsy we left and I am now home feeling content.

:)

Hope everyone has a restful night and good sleep.

kiki I just re-read your post about how to label yourself.

I also do not know how to label myself, and I in some ways think we don't have to right now. Too early for labels. I have wondered and thought and mused, but I don't feel happy right now calling myself this or that. I will say with confidence that alcohol simply does not agree with me. It makes me tired, fearful, anxious, angry and makes me hate myself.

That is the only thing I know right now. Not easy to come to terms with, but I think and hope I am getting there.

Hi cocoa glad you had a good time and didn't get pressured into a drink. I'm avoiding such situations for the forseeable. Also realised DP has not had a drink since Tuesday either. He is the kind who has a can on return from work but can take it or leave it. Think he is being unusually sensitive by not drinking. I appreciate it. He hasn't given up smoking though I just think he is rather smelly and don't fancy one at all!

Off to bed with my camomile tea. Big declutter planned for tomorrow. Night night

I'm not labelling myself either. I don't think it is particularly helpful for me. Like you cocoa I just feel that alcohol affects me negatively.

I have not had a period in my life alcohol free (apart from pregnancy) for many years. I'm tentatively enjoying the journey and the clear headedness. I'm looking forward to finding out who I am on my own without a crutch.

Enough psychobabble for one night! Murder mystery awaits in my DCI Banks book and cuddle with the kittens.

That seems like a big achievement HRH, not only for resisting temptation but it sounds like you had fun as well.
I am feeling much better thanks. Started my period which is always like flicking a switch for my mood and managed to have a lovely day at home with my boy, building lego to his exact specifications.
Got my referral to the NHS addiction service sorted alot quicker and easier than I'd hoped. It seems to have a million different euphemistic names in keeping with Kiki labeling discussions. I think for now I am settling for Person Who Cannot Drink. Emphasis on 'person'.
Hoping for some sleep tonight so Day 3 can begin on a more normal note.

Hello, can I join you, please? I've been feeling like I should for a while but finally had the night last night where now I know I need to. I'm scared but happy to have made the decision now.

Hi everyone. :)

Lego with children.... all good jenny. :)

Welcome Sunshine. Good to have you with us. I hope you are okay. What do you need to do today, can you rest and recover? The opening post of this thread has loads of links and fantastic tools for the sober toolbox.

Stick with us and post lots.

Any plans for the weekend? DH is working in another city today and I have decided we will tag along for the ride. There is a sort of mega softplay there and a restaurant I have been wanting to try, so that is lunch sorted. Three weeks ago I would have used DH being out of the house for the day to start drinking at lunchtime. (Or maybe a little bit before). I feel ever so much more joyful to be planning something real.

Back to day one for me (would've been day 24).

Had some wine last night when out for a meal - no where near as much as I would normally have but that's not really the point. I regret it now but at least I know that it is more important than ever that I don't drink tonight.

I've decided to view it as the end of a phase and now start a new one - this time tackling my weight too - so Day 1 diet for me as well.

Thank you. I will probably post lots. I'm already minimising last night to myself and thinking it's not so bad. But I know I have problems with alcohol (and maybe addiction in general? Seem to swap fags for ecigs for alcohol for food etc etc, one goes down and the other goes up) and if I don't stop I'll probably have health problems in the future as a result. I just need to keep remembering this come evening time. Going to drink becks blue tonight. Have read this thread many times but never posted. This time I've told dh and everything. Hopefully this means no going back.

Hey all, glad you all ok.

I've never spoken about all this to anyone in real life really, because when I have tried everyone just says oh don't worry about it because drinking culture is so normalised!

I bought BF some alcohol free beer last night with our meal, I had a soft drink and actually as i have a stinking cold I am not missing booze at all but I think that will change when I feel better. He wasn't impressed by the fake beer lol, but I thought it was nice when I tasted it. And it didn't make me want a real beer.
So apart from feeling ill, I am 7 days no drinking and feel good so far

Good luck this weekend everyone

Sunshine I could have written that! I am also addictive personally. I managed to stop smoking but am addicted to vaping and Diet Coke. So addictions still there...

Morning all and welcome to the gang kiki and sunshine

Well done for going out last night and doing it sober Cocoa, I love the 'dry march' answer.

Glad your referral is going through so quick jenny, hope you haven't too long to wait for a definite date.

Ahh Sung, it's done now, slip not a slide and kudos for getting back on the horse so quick I've often seen on recovery forums not to do too much, focus on the stop drinking only but honestly I find it easier to make other lifestyle changes. Gives me something else to concentrate on. I make an arrangement with myself though that if something has to give, alcohol is the most important will not be one of them.Best of luck!

We must have quit smoking at the same time Rarity, I just checked my nomo clock for the first time since I quit and it's sitting at 67 days

Was a quiet one for me last night, at one stage I was cranky and had vague 'fuck it' thoughts going through my head. Ended up watching a Harry Potter movie with the dc, I'd never seen any of them so we are working our way through the series. By the time that was over I crashed in bed and slept like a log, I must have been tired.

Today I'm very sore with my back, probably as a result of house cleaning yesterday so going to take it easy for a few hours. Eldest has already made me coffee and bacon sandwiches this morning, some advantages to dc growing up even if he has been a cheeky, grumpy Kevin like pre-teen this week. The kitchen now looks like a bomb has gone off in it as he 'made' himself eggs too Out for dinner this evening with dp for our 'anniversary', I've to be back to pick up the dc so at least I'll not be tempted for a late one or to party after.

Have a super Saturday everyone

Morning all. Hello and welcome to kiki and sunshine. I joined the thread this week and have posted loads! It helps me stay motivated.

We must have stopped at the same time viddora I've tried and failed on numerous occasions before but this time feels different iyswim. I can't imagine wanting to smoke again. How's it going for you?

DP is away today for 2 nights with friends to watch a sporting event. Normally I would stock up on the wine. Instead I'm planning some quality time with DD and a shed load of housework to physically tire me out. Had another good nights sleep and I'm enjoying waking up and not feeling like a bag of shite.

Happy Saturday everyone!

The iPhone app I have is really helpful by the way, it's called drink less and it asks you daily how you feel and also gives you an overview of your drinking which is quite honest. I put in it every day my mood and can write notes, it will count units too. I feel like it's helping me stay on track because I can visually see good progress (and money I have saved!)

Anything worked for anyone else?

Thank you Vidorra - I'm thinking along the same lines. Been thinking hard this morning and I'm going to make quite a few changes - not all the ones I want to make but the ones that seem obvious and manageable now. Not drinking for those 23 days really has put me in a much better place to do it. I'm spending way too much time on MN at the moment, so I'm going to lie low with that too for a while.

Have a lovely weekend everyone

The stopping smoking isn't too bad Rarity, like you I have stopped countless times before. Friday nights are the only times I find the cravings hit as it was my night the dc go to their dad so I drank and smoked heavy. First time I have quit for any good period of time without a reason like pregnancy or training for running events in the background to keep me off them. Can't imagine going back to them either, horrible stinky things that cost a fortune.

My phone is android kiki but I use a bullet journal and have on it a habit tracker that I like colouring in every night. Things like no alcohol or cigarettes, water, fruit and veg, meditation, sufficent sleep - that one I always fail at First month I kept a mood tracker too but got fed up with that sharpish.

I spent far too much time on forums at the start too Sung. I'm not so bad now and put the tablet/phone away, trying to also set an example to the dc.

Ok so DP left for his weekend away at 11am, I went to make lunch and the flipping induction hob is knackered . Rang service centre and they are shut until Monday . So now I am stuck without a hob until at least the middle of next week, and that's if it is repairable. Arghhh!!
I'm slightly annoyed as you may be able to tell needed a vent.

Well I hope everyone has been busy having a lovely day.... or I've killed the thread with my oven issues!

Saturday evening a big trigger for me so I've bought alcohol free beer. I'm not a big beer drinker but it's a substitute of sorts.